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Filed under: Google (GOOG), Time Warner (TWX)

According to a Reuters story based on an internal memo, AOL will trim some 2,000 positions starting tomorrow. Job cuts at the Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) unit have been rumored for some time.

If this number of cuts is accurate, it will represent roughly 20% of the unit’s global workforce. Reuters is saying the cuts will be spread out over the United States and Europe. It also notes that spending will increase in higher growth areas, such as advertising.

It looks like AOL is trying to make its operations run much leaner ahead of what very well could be an independent, or partially independent, AOL stock. Time Warner already has a tracking stock for its cable unit, and a separate AOL tracking stock would give it a currency that could be used to make acquisitions or do strategic deals that wouldn’t rely solely upon cash outlays. Part of AOL’s year and a half old deal with Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), in which the search giant bought a 5% stake for a $1 billion investment, requires some sort of liquidity event, but any amendments to original terms could change that.

AOL already switched to a free service a year ago, except for the old customers who just won’t stop using their dial-up access. That move already resulted in job cuts. AOL is also in the process of moving its headquarters to New York City to be closer to advertising customers. We’ll have to see where the actual cuts in this mega-round of layoffs come from before any verdict can be made.

Jon C. Ogg produces the Special Situation Investing Newsletter for 247WallSt.com; he does not own securities in the companies he covers.

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Abhishek has different plans from his father. When Amitabh and Jaya Bachan got married they faced lot of problems which the Hindi film industry is Aware, and these problems came to an end with Jaya Bachan Quitting her work in the film industry. Unlike his father Abhishek Bachan wants his wife to continue her work. […]

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Filed under: Action & Adventure, Drama, Scripts & Screenwriting, Politics, Comic/Superhero/Geek, War

300 fans (and if the Cinematical reader comments are any indication, that would be all of you), take note. Variety is reporting that much of the creative team behind that “abs n’ stabs” action extravaganza is reuniting for a new film called The Last Photograph. Photograph is based on an original idea by 300 director Zack Snyder, and is billed as a drama about “a photograph that becomes the catalyst for a journey two men undertake through war-torn Afghanistan.” 300 co-screenwriter Kurt Johnstad will write the film for Snyder to possibly direct. The producers of the film intend to develop the film and then put it up for auction.

Reading between the lines of the Variety article, it seems like Snyder wants to direct the project, but doesn’t know if he’ll have time. And he doesn’t know if he’ll have time because he’s involved with, like, everything! He’s currently shooting the highly anticipated Watchmen (check out an update from Snyder on the film’s progress here). He intends to direct an adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s The Illustrated Man (read more about that project here). He may direct Army of the Dead, a “zombies in Vegas” flick you can learn more about right here. And he’s co-writing and might direct an action fantasy film called Sucker Punch (which you can read more about here). Though I admired the look of the film, I was no fan of 300. On the other hand, I really loved Snyder’s remake of Dawn of the Dead. So consider me cautiously optimistic about all the Snyder in our future.

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Filed under: Cellphones

Apple’s no stranger to being slammed by Greenpeace, and while Steve certainly spoke of a “Greener Apple,” it seems that the iPhone wasn’t included. According to tests arranged by the entity, it was found that the iPhone contained “toxic brominated compounds (indicating the presence of brominated flame retardants) and hazardous PVC,” which are said to be disallowed across the pond due to RoHS requirements. More specifically, the independent testing found “brominated compounds in half the samples, including in the phone’s antenna, in which they made up 10-percent of the total weight of the flexible circuit board.” As expected, Greenpeace wasted no time pointing to rival firms that have received pats on the back for their green efforts, and subsequently shook a finger at Apple while murmuring “tsk tsk” — but we’ll leave the actual politicking to you all in comments, cool?

Update: Our bad, Greenpeace does not claim that Apple is in violation of RoHS requirements.

[Via Switched, thanks Laura]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

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Filed under: Cell Phones, Green Tech, iPhone

Yesterday’s story on Greenpeace calling out Apple regarding the nasty (as in toxic) innards of the iPhone has caused quite a stir. Apple was compelled to respond, reminding readers that their recent “greener Apple” pledge was an initiative not set to be fully put into motion until the end of 2008. Given that we haven’t even hit the end of 2007 yet, Jobs & Co. are asking for a bit of patience from the eco faction.

However, patience isn’t something that the company is getting from the California Center for Environmental Health, or CEH, which filed notice of an impending lawsuit. The CEH hasn’t actually tested the phone yet (chances are it sent someone running to the closest Apple Store yesterday evening).

If the findings of Greenpeace’s report are verified, Apple will be forced to put warning labels on the device and send letters to existing customers. However, the center will press for Apple remove the toxic compounds, which have been found to cause reproductive issues in children. If Apple doesn’t do anything it will be subject to some stiff monetary damages.

So, Apple did indeed respond and respond quickly to the Greenpeace report, but with the potential CEH lawsuit hovering over the iPhone like a dark cloud it may be forced to accelerate those greener plans.

From Engadget

Related Links:

• iPhone Bad For Environment, Says Greenpeace
• Earth Day’s Tech Losers
• Apple Getting Greener

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Filed under: Peripherals

[Update: After this story was published, Sony contacted this individual and is working with them to correct this problem. Using surge protectors will not void your PS3 warranty.]

While it may be common knowledge to some, it still appears that a problem arises every now and then about utilizing surge protectors and what that does to the warranty of your electronics. Some electronics do, in fact, void their warranty if you admit to using a surge protector. User Danjak over at the PlayStation Forums found that out the hard way, even though he or she still managed to get by Sony’s inquisitive staff and retain coverage.

See, surge protectors generally come with very large amounts of coverage for your electronics, because if something happens to them, blame will probably be placed on the surge protector (just bear with us, this seems logical). That’s why surge protectors have such large warranty coverages — because they generally have to deal with replacing electronics that go bad whilst plugged into them. So, ladies and gentlemen, in case you didn’t know, either don’t use a surge protector for your PS3 or bother the makers of the surge protector if something goes awry. Or lie, whichever is easiest for you. We’d prefer you choose one of the first two options.

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Nokia is finally added a Qwerty keyboard to its N810 Tablet, a move that was long overdue. It’s really annoying to type URLs or type emails on a virtual keyboard. Thanks Nokia! There’s also a GPS chip in there and Nokia promises a “true web 2.0 experience”, thanks to Flash 9 and AJAX support.

Other details include a webcam for video calls. It will be connected via WiFi for sure, but we don’t know if it’s WiFi G (54mbps) or N (100+mbps), although I suspect that it will be “G”. Now, if it could sync to Exchange, that’d be fantastic. Price: $479.

Update: We’ve received official information from Nokia. Specs in the full post.

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Filed under: Gaming

The Wii reverse-engineering hat trick is now complete. The Vii clone just spat out a whole host of new games ready to slake your need for Happy Tennis and Alacrity Golf. Or maybe Fry Egg is more your style. No worries, plenty of options to choose from — soon, in fact, judging by the pace of these leaks. Too bad your choice of Miis appears limited to a fluffy bunny or albino rat at this point.
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[Thanks, Anonymouse]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

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