I've been watching Sony do just about everything right in regards to the consumer and what the consumer wants for awhile now. It is paying off. Sony is back in profit last quarter and raised its full-year earnings forecast, fueled by stronger demand for its PlayStation 3 gaming consoles, personal computers and televisions. Sony said that [...]

In a move that could bring Mickey Mouse into the online gaming world, Walt Disney Co. said it is buying social game developer Playdom Inc. in a deal worth up to $763 million. It makes sense as some Disney game titles have done well in recent years. Playdom is among the leading makers of online social [...]

In what is likely an industry first, Ford is pricing the new Lincoln's new MKZ Hybrid exactly the same as its gasoline version — $35,180 including destination fees. That's shocking news. We are all used to paying much more for hybrid versions. Ford's decision will surely entice more buyers to buy the hybrid as [...]

In an attempt to fill a $70 million budget hole, Newark's mayor is taking dramatic action in regards to the town's budget. He is even going so far as to cut toilet paper from the 2010 budget. The reductions include not buying toilet paper for city offices, cutting the work week to four [...]

Google said on Friday that Beijing has renewed the license it needs to continue operating a website in China, securing the search giant's foothold in the country's fast-growing Internet market despite some recent tensions over censorship. Google had closed its China search engine in March but wanted to keep a website that offers music and other [...]

As temperatures are on the rise in the Northeast, try out some of these strategies. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs produce the same light, but use a fraction of the heat and energy. Another good tip is to avoid using your dishwasher, oven or clothes drier at peak heat times and wash [...]

Amazon is buying shopping site Woot, where gadget geeks can get some good deals. Woot announced the deal on Wednesday using a self-deprecating letter from chief executive Matt Rutledge and a video of a dancing and rapping plush monkey. Launched in 2004, the site initially featured just one electronics product a day, offered at a steep discount. [...]

We've talked before about how the government thinks they can tax your bad habits. These things are bad for you, so please don't make a stink. Just pay us our tribute and we won't shake down your business. And enjoy $10 a pack cigarettes while you try to keep your business afloat while paying our [...]

It's not a good time to be a smoker. New York City smokers already pay the highest cigarette taxes in the nation, but a new state law will push those taxes even higher this summer. The state legislature approved a bill adding a state tax of $1.60 to every pack sold, effective July 1. The [...]

After a three year war, Google triumphed over Viacom on Wednesday as a federal court ruled that Google's YouTube subsidiary is not liable for its users' copyright infringements. A U.S. district court in New York ruled that YouTube is covered by a "safe harbor" clause in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which protects service providers [...]