NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — A landmark court battle between Google and Oracle has begun — and its result will shape the future of the Android ecosystem fueling most of the world’s smartphones.

Silicon Valley’s power players are always in the throes of nasty patent fights against each other, but this one is especially potent. Oracle claims that Google’s Android violates two patents plus several copyrights that Oracle holds on its Java software, a ubiquitous programming language powering everything from phones to websites.

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The Royal Canadian Mint wants to get rid of pocket change — and it’s enlisting hacker-types for help. Less than a week after the government announced the penny’s impending death, the Mint quietly unveiled its digital currency called MintChip.

Still in the research and development phase, MintChip will ultimately let people pay each other directly using smartphones, USB sticks, computers, tablets and clouds. The digital currency will be anonymous and good for small transactions — just like cash, the Mint says.

To make sure its technology meets the gold standard in a world where digital transactions are gaining steam, the Mint is holding a contest for software developers to create applications using the MintChip.

The old-fashioned prize? Solid gold wafers and coins worth about $50,000. It’s such an unusual move from the crown corporation, which has been in the coin-making business for more than 100 years, that Hacker News questioned whether it was an “elaborate hoax.”……..(read the whole story)

BARCELONA, Spain (CNNMoney) — Microsoft gave consumers their first opportunity to download and play around with the company’s new Windows 8 operating system……(read the whole story)

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Kodak is exiting the digital camera business and it will instead license its brand name to other camera manufacturers, the company announced Thursday.

Kodak will “phase out its dedicated capture devices business” — which includes digital cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames — in the first half of 2012. The company’s consumer business will instead focus exclusively on photo printing, through retail and online services as well as desktop inkjet devices.

The iconic photography company, based in Rochester, N.Y, is looking for ways to monetize after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on January 19…….(read the whole story)

If you are one of the millions of people who use Google’s online search engine, email or YouTube video site, you might want to pay close attention.  Google is changing its privacy policy to allow it to track users across services.

The company says beginning March 1, it is turning its more than 60 different privacy policies into one policy that will cover multiple products and features to create a “simple and intuitive” experience……. (read the whole story)

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Hewlett-Packard announced Thursday that it will continue selling personal computers after all, reversing an earlier decision to exit one of its core business lines.

The company shocked Wall Street and the tech industry alike when it announced Aug. 18 that its board was exploring “strategic alternatives” for its Personal Systems unit. That division mainly comprises HP’s PC business, which is the world’s largest. A sale or spin-off were two of the options being considered.

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Can Windows 8 save the PC from extinction?

ANAHEIM, Calif. (CNNMoney) — There’s no question that Microsoft got the message: Mobile devices and tablets are the future of computing. Here’s the next quandary: Is Windows 8 enough to salvage the PC, or is it too late?

Love it or hate it, Microsoft made a bold bet with its radically redesigned, re-engineered Windows 8. It rejected Apple chairman Steve Jobs’ declaration in March that the post-PC era has begun……..(read the whole story)

Steve Jobs stepped down as Apple CEO on Wednesday. Here is his resignation letter.

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community: I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Hewlett-Packard is taking a hatchet to its business and doing some radical restructuring.

The company said Thursday that it is looking to spin off its industry-leading but struggling personal computer business. HP also killed off the TouchPad tablet it launched last month, as well as its webOS smartphone line.

The move essentially leaves for dead the webOS software HP got by acquiring Palm last year, though the company said it will continue trying to “optimize the value” of its purchase. Though the move was unexpected, it’s not all that surprising: Despite a huge marketing campaign, TouchPad sales struggled so much that HP almost immediately cut the tablet’s price by $100. HP said none of its webOS products reached the company’s internal sales targets.

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