COMPANIES

Google is fast catching up with Apple as the tech giant marked this week the 10 billionth download form its Android Market, signalling the dwindling gap between the current dominant App Store and its closest rival.

A federal judge imposed on Friday a $1.25 million fine on Australian online retailer Harvey Norman (ASX: HVN) for its misleading advertisement. The fine was initiated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Woodside Petroleum (ASX: WPL) announced on Friday that it got on Thursday the go signal from its joint venture partner to proceed with the $2.5-billion natural gas fields project.

But with the BlackBerry 10 not even being released until 2012 can RIM still generate enough consumer interest or should it jump sides?

Google's Ice Cream Sandwich, the latest generation of Android software will debut with the Samsung Galaxy Nexus but other smartphone owners are clamoring for their upgrade to Android 4.0.

RIM's woes continue as it loses a trademark case that resulted in a name change for its BBX operating system to BlackBerry 10.

Microsoft Corp. released an update on Tuesday for its Xbox 360 console that will allow users to interact with their televisions in a completely new way. Now users with Kinect can tell their televisions to play movies or switch channels with a simple voice command.

A letter that arrived at the Deutsche Bank headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany Wednesday was found to contain an explosive device after it passed through a mail room security X-ray.

From Morrison Securities: U.S. stocks fell in afternoon trading as investor focus shifted from disappointment over the European Central Bank to the closely watched summit on Europe's sovereign-debt crisis. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 171 points, or 1.4%, to 12026 in recent action. The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index shed 23 points, or 1.8%, to 1238 and the Nasdaq Composite lost 42 points, or 1.6%, to 2607.

The Android Market has reached 10 billion downloads and still counting as of this past weekend. To celebrate and reward Android customers, Google selected paid apps to be available for only 10 cents each and new set of apps for promotion each day for the next 10 days. Here are some of the applications and a mini review if these apps are at least your effort and time.

If Aussie children would have their way, most of the gifts they want to receive this Christmas would be techie gadgets and toys from popular cartoon or movie characters.

Mining firm Atlantic (ASX: ATI), based in Perth, has admitted on Thursday there are delays in reviving its Windimurra vanadium mine in Western Australia. To address the delay, the firm will resume trading after a self-imposed trading halt.

The Maria's Farm Vegetables in New South Wales will use coal seam gas (CSG) to power a $65-million glasshouse it would build near Fullerton Cover.

European Union antitrust regulators are looking into allegations that Apple Inc. and five other e-book publishers have planned to fix the price of e-books in Europe.

More cash awaits app developers who intend to gear their products towards Microsoft's upcoming platform, the Windows 8, which the company said will be deployed to personal computers, tablets and smartphones.

Former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates said on Wednesday that he is in the process of developing of a new generation of nuclear reactors with China, with emphasis on safety, waste reduction and reasonable funding.

Sony Ericsson is a joint venture between the Japanese company Sony Corporation and the Swedish telecom company Ericsson to manufacture mobile phones. It used to be the 4th largest mobile manufacturer in the world after Nokia, Samsung, and LG. However, in 2010, its market share fell to sixth place.

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Construction Index was 4.9 points stronger in November at 39.6, although it was still well below the 50 point level separating expansion from contraction. November marked the 18th straight month the national construction industry index has been in the red.

An Australian businessman was sentenced Tuesday by a Chinese court to 13 years imprisonment for bribery and embezzlement.

Chinese police said Tuesday that a Coca-Cola yogurt drink that killed a boy last month was deliberately laced with pesticide ingredients and was not contaminated at the soft drink maker's factory.

Xstrata Copper's shift to underground from open pit mining has extended the life of its Ernest Henry mine for 12 years. It also provides ongoing economic security for the Cloncurry community where the mine is located, said Myles Johnston, the general manager of the mines.

Woodside Petroleum said on Wednesday that there would be no delay on its $30-billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Western Australia (WA) despite an adverse court decision.

More and more corporate people are now moving from Blackberry to iPhone. This makes iPhone the latest apple of the eye to many techie professionals while BlackBerry steps aside.

Major structural and operational overhauls planned at Sydney Airport stand to deliver much needed cash to Qantas Airways, analysts said, as the airline is set to negotiate for the possible termination of its lease contracts at the terminal premises.

Australians are spending less on gambling compared to previous years. A report by Roy Morgan released on Tuesday said that Aussies spent $18.5 billion on all forms of gambling in the past 12 months to September 2011. It is down from the $20.2 billion they spend for 2002.

While Black Friday may be a great American tradition, Cyber Monday is proving to be one of the best ideas that Wal-Mart has ever had.

Many Australians have a sweet tooth and indulge in consuming lollies, toffees, éclairs and caramels. A study by Roy Morgan Research released on Tuesday found that 39 per cent or 7.2 million Aussies aged 14 and above ate sweets in the last four weeks.

Overnight US market closed higher after a mid-session glitch that saw the index slide over 50points on the news that the Financial Times, out of London, had reported the rating agency Standard's & Poor's was likely to cut 6 key European nations AAA credit ratings. After the initial shock the market turned higher. Dow Jones Index and NASDAQ both ended stronger.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) had conceded defeat in the $215-million Metcash purchase of Franklins Supermarkets. After a prolonged legal battle, a Federal Court judge ruled last week in favour of Metcash despite opposition by the competition regulator.