The big stories on ZDNet this week: September 13, 2013
Brazil oil giant involved in NSA spying claims
Leaked documents suggest that Petrobras, the partly Brazilian government-owned oil giant, had its internal network monitored by the U.S. National Security Agency, reports ZDNet's Brazil editor Angelica Mari.
Read more: Brazil oil giant involved in NSA spying claims
Related: India govt reportedly monitors Web activities, without ISP knowledge | India's monitoring system to pilot in April | NSA provides Israel with raw, unchecked U.S. intelligence | Has the NSA broken our encryption?
Icahn drops Dell bid, says founder can have it
Dell shareholder Carl Icahn ended his chase for Dell, giving founder and chief executive Michael Dell to pursue the company's privatization bid in conjunction with investment firm Silver Lake. But Icahn didn't go out quietly.
Read more: Icahn: I'm done with Dell; Michael can have it
Related: Dell goes private for $24 billion | Dell, Silver Lake raise offer to $24.9B, reach last minute deal | Icahn sues Dell in buyout retaliation
Image via CBS News
Microsoft to launch new Surface tablets on September 23
Microsoft is planning to launch its Surface 2 and Surface 2 Pro devices at an invitation-only event in New York on September 23. ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley will be on the scene reporting live.
Read more: Microsoft to launch new Surfaces on September 23
Related: Microsoft's Haswell-based Surface Pro 2: The leaks begin | Microsoft's Surface 2: New reports on Surface RT's successor | Microsoft looks to roll out a Surface Pro docking station | Microsoft readies rumored Power Cover for Surface
New EU concessions from Samsung, Google in separate antitrust cases
First, Google submitted new proposals for alleged competitive behavior in the search and advertising market. Hours later, Samsung faced a similar fate of financial penalties should it fail to appease European regulators on its patent disputes.
Read more: EU demands Samsung offer new concessions to end patent antitrust charges | Google submits further concessions in bid to avoid EU antitrust fine
Related: Samsung negotiating EU antitrust case settlement: report | Samsung negotiating EU antitrust case settlement: report | Google: We did a 'pretty good job' on EU antitrust concessions
Patch Tuesday fixes dished out, withdrawn again
September's Patch Tuesday fixes includes 14 bulletins in total, fixing issues in Windows, and Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Office, including a serious flaw in Outlook 2007 and 2010. However, a non-security update for Outlook 2013 caused issues with the email software. The buggy update was subsequently withdrawn.
Read more: Severe flaw in Outlook 2007/2010 patched
Related: Patch Tuesday to fix four critical flaws in Windows, IE, Office | Update for Outlook 2013 breaks folder pane | Microsoft pulls buggy Outlook 2013 update
Apple unveils new iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iOS 7
Apple announced on Tuesday, after months of rumors, the iPhone 5S and 5C. ZDNet's global team of editors and writers amassed more tens of more than two-dozen articles on what you need to know.
Read more: Apple unveils new iPhones, iOS 7 (roundup)
Related: Apple launches iPhone 5C: Color, costs aimed at emerging markets | Apple announces iPhone 5S: What you need to know | iPhone 5S (images) | iPhone 5C (images) | Apple's iWork free on all new iOS devices | Apple iPhone 5C freakouts unwarranted | What's right (and wrong) with the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s
Windows 8.1 RTM: What's new, what's next?
Microsoft reversed its decision to hold off on dishing out the final bits of Windows 8.1 by releasing it to developers. "It's a welcome move by Microsoft, even if one wonders why they didn’t do this in the first place," reports ZDNet's Ed Bott.
Read more: Windows 8.1 RTM: What's new, what's next?
Related: What's changed in the Windows 8.1 RTM release? | Why is Microsoft keeping the final release of Windows 8.1 secret? | Microsoft reverses course; releases Windows 8.1 RTM to developers
Google's Campus and what makes London's Tech City tick
ZDNet U.K. editor-in-chief Steve Ranger speaks to Eze Vidra, head of Google Campus London, on what makes the London startup scene tick and how Tech City compares to other hubs.
Read more: 'Doing a startup is a very lonely thing': Google's Campus and what makes Tech City tick
Related: Microsoft seeks cloud, mobile and gaming startups in London's Tech City | Huddle chief: Here's how the government can help Tech City | Suggestion box 2.0: Startup aims to help turn smart ideas into reality
U.S. government uses travel alerts for warrantless electronics search
One U.S. privacy has released documents showing how the U.S. government uses border searches to take citizens' electronics and rifle through private data to its heart's content.
Read more: No warrant, no problem: US gov't uses travel alerts for warrantless electronics search
Related: When authorities confiscate your electronics: The fate of David Miranda's computer and phone | Welcome to the United States: Discriminated, detained, searched, interrogated (special report)
Vodafone Germany suffers insider hack, two million customers hit
The European mobile giant said personal details of more than two million of its German customer base have been stolen by a hacker.
Read more: Vodafone Germany confirms insider data theft: Two million customers affected
Related: Vodafone increases 4G speeds in Germany to 150Mbps | Verizon, Vodafone reach $130 billion buyout agreement | Verizon grabs control of Verizon Wireless: $130 billion has its risks
Twitter (finally) files to float on the stock exchange
After many months of rumors (and years in the making), Twitter files confidential paperwork to float publicly on the stock exchange. The microblogging site announced the move in a single tweet, no less.
Read more: It's official: Twitter has filed an IPO
Related: Twitter IPO talk resurfaces amid Wall Street chats | Twitter looks to boost mobile advertising strategy with MoPub purchase | New Twitter executive hire heightens IPO rumors
Dell shareholders vote to take the PC maker private for $24.9B
Dell shareholders have voted to take the company off the stock market for $24.9 billion — a modest increase in price from the initial pitch — in one of the largest privatization deals in modern technology history.
Read more: Dell cleared to go private for $24.9B after shareholders vote in favor of deal
Related: Dell, Silver Lake raise offer to $24.9B, reach last minute deal | Icahn: I'm done with Dell; Michael can have it | Dell committee rejects Icahn's bid as 'inconsistent' | Worldwide PC shipments expected to plunge by 10 percent
Apple releases OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.5
Apple released an incremental update to OS X Mountain Lion, version 10.8.5, which includes a number of bug fixes and improves networking reliabilty.
Read more: Apple releases OS X 10.8.5 with fixes for Mail, Wi-Fi, Xsan and Open Directory
Related: Why Apple went 64-bit with the iPhone 5S | Making the case for an ARM-based MacBook | Apple's OS X Mavericks hands-on, in pictures (gallery)
Microsoft launches iPad trade-in promotion
ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley dishes out the details on Microsoft's latest limited-time iPad trade-in offer in its brick-and-mortar Microsoft retail outlets.
Read more: Microsoft launches iPad trade-in promotion
Related: Microsoft's Surface 2: New reports on Surface RT's successor | Nvidia CEO reveals Microsoft Surface 2 plans, includes 'the killer app' | Microsoft's Haswell-based Surface Pro 2: The leaks begin
Looking ahead, 8 big tech announcements on deck this fall
Expect a busy, and possibly memorable, autumn for the tech industry, explains ZDNet editor and TechRepublic chief Jason Hiner, because there are eight announcements we're still expecting before the December holiday season.
Read more: Look out: 8 big tech announcements we're expecting this fall
Related: Microsoft's $900 million Surface RT write-down: How did this happen? | Chromebooks: A bright spot in the dark PC market | CNET: Apple's OS X Mavericks set for October launch (report)