Google gets China OK for Motorola deal

NEW YORK (AP) ? Authorities in China have approved Google Inc.'s bid to buy phone maker Motorola Mobility, clearing the way for the $12.5 billion deal to close early next week.

But Chinese regulators attached a big condition: That Google's Android operating system for mobile devices remain available to all at no cost for the next five years.

The approval brings the Internet search giant closer to sealing its biggest acquisition ever. Buying Motorola allows Google to expand into manufacturing phones, tablet computers and other consumer devices for the first time. The deal also gives Google access to more than 17,000 Motorola patents.

The Chinese government approved the deal on Saturday, Google spokeswoman Niki Fenwick said. "We look forward to closing the deal," she said.

The deal was announced last August and had received all necessary regulatory approvals except in China, where Google's government relations have been strained since it moved its search engine out of the country two years ago in a dispute over censorship and computer security.

Google's Android software powers more than 250 million mobile devices made by a variety of manufacturers, including Motorola Mobility. The latest versions must be made available free of charge for the next five years, apparently in response to concerns that competition could be hurt if Google gives updated versions to Motorola Mobility and withholds them from others. Google doesn't currently charge for Android.

Google earlier had pledged to make Android available to all its mobile partners. Even if Google were to discriminate, cellphone makers still could rely on mobile software from Microsoft Corp., Research in Motion and Hewlett-Packard Co., among others.

Google prizes Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc.'s patents as a crucial weapon in the intellectual arms race with Apple, Microsoft and other rivals maneuvering to gain more control over smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices.

Earlier, the U.S. Justice Department found no evidence that Google's ownership of Motorola Mobility would lessen competition in a mobile device market that is becoming increasingly important as more people connect to the Internet on smartphones and tablet computers instead of desktop and laptop computers.

The union with Motorola Mobility will open new opportunities and pose potentially troublesome challenges for a management team that so far has concentrated on Internet search, ad sales and other software-driven online services.

Motorola Mobility's expertise in mobile devices and set-top boxes for cable TV will allow Google to play an even more influential role in shaping the future of hand-held computing and home entertainment.

The $12.5 billion price paid by Google is more than the combined amount that Google has paid for the 185 other acquisitions that it has completed since going public in 2004.

Google is based in Mountain View, California, while Motorola Mobility has its headquarters in Libertyville, Illinois.

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FREEKEY Press to Open Keyring Review

I love it when someone takes an item that we all use everyday and reinvents it to make it more convenient. For example, when was the last time you thought to yourself that you love the design of the everyday ordinary keychain split ring? Probably never… More likely, you swear under your breath every time [...]

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Today at The Browser

By Bora Zivkovic?| May 19, 2012 |??

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I am today?s guest editor at The Browser. The Browser curates and aggregates the best reads from around the Web, in several categories. It is a great honor to be asked to serve as a day editor there.

The only difficulty is the limit ? I had to choose six articles or blog posts from the past month. Only six!?!

I am used to compiling many more links ? per day, let alone month!

I collect all the #SciAmBlogs posts every work-day evening. I collect the best of the Web weekly. Khalil and I take turns collecting all the young science writers? work every Friday. Not to mention all the links I tweet that never make it into any of those linkfests!

How to reduce an entire month to only six? Yikes ? that was hard. So many excellent posts and articles had to be, one by one, eliminated from my list. And my list started out huge. But in the end, late last night, I had my six and I sent them in.

Which six?

You?ll have to see for yourself!

About the Author: Bora Zivkovic is the Blog Editor at Scientific American, chronobiologist, biology teacher, organizer of ScienceOnline conferences and editor of Open Laboratory anthologies of best science writing on the Web. Follow on Twitter @boraz.

More??

The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

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Conservative donors slow to back Romney's campaign

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney and his party raised a sizable $40 million last month from donors who want him to replace President Barack Obama. But even as Romney solidifies his position as the eventual GOP nominee, many supporters who backed his primary election challengers have not yet come to his aid.

An Associated Press review of campaign finance data found that only a few hundred donors who contributed to candidates like Newt Gingrich or Rick Santorum have changed course and gave to Romney's campaign or the Republican Party in April. That's as GOP stalwarts and some former rivals have called on supporters to rally around Romney's White House run.

Romney is hardly hurting for cash, having reported more than $61 million in the bank by the end of April. But financial reports released Sunday reveal a potential struggle for Romney in persuading his party's more conservative donors to open their wallets for him, although there are still more than five months until Election Day.

Out of more than 50,000 donors who gave to other GOP candidates like Gingrich, Santorum and Texas Gov. Rick Perry since the start of the nomination race, fewer than 600 appeared to write checks to Romney in April, the AP's review of Federal Election Commission reports found. Roughly the same number contributed to the Republican National Committee, which is now helping Romney's campaign.

Romney has been aggressively courting conservatives, speaking out recently against China's "one-child policy" and addressing graduates at the evangelical Liberty University. Last month, Romney told the website Breitbart.com that the news media were involved in a "vast left-wing conspiracy to work together to put out their message and to attack me."

Wealthy donors like former Santorum supporter Foster Friess are now supporting Romney, realizing that his sizable delegate count and financial strength all but guarantee his nomination this summer. Other eventual Romney donors had already given early to his rivals, partly to support a spirited debate during the primary season.

Willis J. Johnson, founder of auto dealer Copart USA, contributed to Perry and Gingrich last year because he personally liked Perry and admired Gingrich's insistence on quizzing Romney during debates. "I think this administration is trying to take money away from small businesses," Johnson said, in part through tax hikes.

Other conservatives, however, have been warier. One blog post last week on the conservative RedState.com, referring to Romney's Liberty speech, asked: "Mr. Romney said that marriage is between one man and one woman. He got deafening applause. But where was he when it mattered?"

About a quarter of Romney April-turnaround donors gave checks of $2,500 or more, including amounts up to the maximum $30,800 legally allowed to a political party. In March ? just before Romney started raising general election cash ? about 300 former Santorum and Gingrich supporters contributed to the former Massachusetts governor's campaign.

Santorum dropped out of the race in April and Gingrich in May, even though Romney's momentum was growing before then. A report detailing the contributions of Romney's joint-fundraising committee is due out this summer.

A Romney spokeswoman did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment late Sunday.

April's financial reports, due to the FEC by midnight Sunday, showed that Obama and the Democratic Party brought in a combined $43.6 million last month. Obama's campaign has had to raise funds aggressively to answer ads from conservative "super" political committees.

Indeed, Romney's fundraising bounty doesn't include the hundreds of millions of dollars flowing into GOP super PACs. On Sunday, the Romney-supportive Restore Our Future said it raised $4.6 million last month, leaving the group with $8.2 million cash on hand.

Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited amounts of cash but can't coordinate with the candidates they support. GOP groups have largely outraised their Democratic counterparts, although Obama has a strong financial position that traditionally comes with being an incumbent.

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Follow Jack Gillum on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jackgillum

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Chelsea beats Bayern Munich in penalty shootout

MUNICH (AP) ? Didier Drogba tied the match with a header in the 88th minute, and then scored the decisive goal in the shootout as Chelsea beat Bayern Munich to win the Champions League final, 4-3 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw Saturday.

The unlikely storyline of an English team beating a German team on penalties in a high-profile match provided a fitting end to a dramatic night, as Chelsea became Europe's champion club for the first time.

The often theatrical 34-year-old Drogba, playing possibly his last game for the club as his Chelsea contract expires next month, was at the heart of the show.

Drogba sent goalkeeper Manuel Neuer the wrong way on the final kick of the shootout in front of massed Bayern fans in their home Allianz Arena. Bayern's Bastian Schweinsteiger missed the previous penalty, hitting the goalpost.

"It was written, I think, a long time ago," Drogba said to British broadcaster ITV of Chelsea's turnaround since its turmoil in March. "This team is amazing. They never give up until the end."

The shootout was needed after Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech saved Arjen Robben's spot-kick early in extra time.

It was awarded for a foul by Drogba, who earned Chelsea an unlikely reprieve.

After 83 minutes of Bayern domination, Thomas Mueller broke dogged Chelsea resistance with a header past the outstanding Cech.

Chelsea's first Champions League title came four years after losing in a shootout to Manchester United.

Drogba succeeded where his captain John Terry, who was suspended for Saturday's finale, failed in missing the fifth penalty in Moscow four years ago which would have given the club's Russian owner Roman Abramavich the Champions League title he has craved.

Abramovich must now make a fascinating decision on the future of interim coach Roberto di Matteo, who took over from the fired Andre Villas-Boas after a last-16, first-leg defeat to Napoli, and inspired a team which then appeared sulky and fading.

Victory also sealed Chelsea's last remaining route into next season's competition which is crucial to its elite status and finances.

Everything seemed stacked against Chelsea when Bayern won the toss to send the shootout to the home, south end of its stadium.

After Bayern captain Philipp Lahm scored first, Juan Mata has his kick saved by Neuer.

Cech then saved Ivica Olic's fourth penalty for Bayern to put the otherwise excellent Schweinsteiger in the spotlight.

He struck the post to Cech's left and covered his face with his shirt.

Drogba stepped up and sealed victory and awaited the adulation of his onrushing teammates.

"He's a hero. Without him we're not here," said Lampard, who scored with Chelsea's third penalty. "I'd love him to stay. What he did tonight he's been doing all his career."

With seven starters from the two teams suspended, Bayern settled quickly against a visiting team set up to absorb pressure.

The Germans' tempo was often dictated by Schweinsteiger, who excelled after collecting a needless yellow card in the second minute for handball.

Toni Kroos, Mario Gomez and Robben all failed to find the target, and anxiety rose in the Chelsea defense when Jose Bosingwa's miscue conceded a corner.

Robben, the former Chelsea winger, threatened again in the 21st when he wriggled through a tiny gap to create a left-footed shooting chance. So often Chelsea's Champions League savior, Cech blocked with his right leg and deflected the ball high up against his right post.

Drogba was being kept quiet before he linked with Frank Lampard to create Chelsea's first good chance in the 37th. Salomon Kalou was teed up to shoot low but Neuer's save was solid.

Gomez, with 13 goals in the competition this season, then wasted two good chances to draw level with Barcelona's Lionel Messi.

First, his control failed when Ribery's misdirected shot flew to his feet, then the big forward wrong-footed Gary Cahill but shot high and wide.

Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes stomped back to the bench throwing his hands in the air.

The second half resumed with the same pattern, and Cole's outstanding defending denied Robben.

The England left-back hunted down Robben's break, then blocked the Dutchman's clear sight of goal from 10 yards (meters) in the 54th. The loose ball found Ribery in an offside position before he thought he'd opened the scoring.

Cole repeated his heroics five minutes later, dashing across to block Robben's shot from 15 yards.

In the 76th, Cech stretched to tip the ball over the bar as Ribery's cross at the goal line squirted up from Cole's lunging challenge.

Cole was then booked for fouling Mueller, who responded by directing a header which Cech gathered.

One minute later, Mueller eluded Cole with a late run and headed home to spark delirious celebrations among the Bayern players and fans.

They underestimated Chelsea's admirable resolve, and Drogba soared to score with a header that Neuer couldn't keep out.

Drogba's taste for the dramatic flared up in the third minute of extra time, as he clipped Ribery's heels in the penalty area.

Referee Pedro Proenca's decision to point to the spot seemed to stun the Bayern fans, and their anxiety was well founded.

Robben fired low to Cech's left, and the Czech 'keeper blocked with his arm and body, then reached across to collect the loose ball.

Bayern came agonizingly close in the 108th, when substitute Olic slipped the ball across the goalmouth but teammate Daniel van Buyten failed to anticipate the simple tap-in.

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Lineups:

Bayern Munich: Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Jerome Boateng, Diego Contento, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos, Arjen Robben, Thomas Mueller (Daniel van Buyten, 87), Franck Ribery (Ivica Olic, 97), Mario Gomez.

Chelsea: Petr Cech, Jose Bosingwa, David Luiz, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, John Obi Mikel, Frank Lampard, Salomon Kalou (Fernando Torres, 84), Juan Mata, Ryan Bertrand (Florent Malouda, 73), Didier Drogba.

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Romney's Reset: Hard choices as GOP nominee

President Barack Obama speaks about the Buffett Rule, Wednesday, April 11, 2012, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

President Barack Obama speaks about the Buffett Rule, Wednesday, April 11, 2012, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is interviewed by Martha MacCallum, co-anchor of "America's Newsroom" on the Fox News Channel in New York, Wednesday, April 11, 2012. On Tuesday, Romney made clear that he would assault Obama's character as well, saying the president is not inept at economic policy, but he actively dislikes business. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks during a campaign stop at RC Fabricators on Tuesday, April 10, 2012, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/The Wilmington News-Journal, Suchat Pederson) NO SALES

Mitt Romney finally is free to focus on the November election. But the all-but-crowned GOP presidential nominee still has a difficult course to navigate.

Pushed to the right in the brutal primary battle, he now can try to repair the damage he was dealt and reach out to constituencies he will need in the general election. Polls show he trails seriously among women voters and has problems with Hispanics because of his hardline positions on immigration.

Romney aide Eric Fehrnstrom famously suggested that Romney, a moderate as governor of Massachusetts, could reset his strategy after nailing down the GOP nomination much like one would start a new picture on an Etch A Sketch toy.

With the exit of Rick Santorum, Romney "doesn't have to talk conservative anymore," said conservative radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh. "Will he continue to do so? We will find out. It won't take very long."

Of course, it's not that simple.

Romney can't afford to further alienate conservatives, who have yet to embrace him warmly. He needs to rally them for November. And any overt tack to the middle would reinforce criticism ? first leveled by Republicans ? of him as a flip-flopper. He'll likely look to his right for a running mate.

Also, President Barack Obama keeps highlighting wide differences between them, even suggesting the choice will be as stark as the 1964 race between President Lyndon B. Johnson and Barry Goldwater.

That may be a bit of a stretch, but it's a point Obama keeps hammering home as he continues to paint Romney as out of touch and beholden to the rich. He did it again Wednesday, promoting his proposal for a minimum tax on millionaires for the second day in a row.

___

Follow Tom Raum on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tomraum

Associated Press

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