Sam gustin

Web giant Google unveiled a new social-networking product called Google Buzz, but initial reactions to this souped-up version of its Gmail service were not positive. Some wonder whether Google's new offering may be too little, too late to stem the explosive growth of Facebook and Twitter.

Until now, Gmail has been primarily an email and instant messaging product. But Google is finally taking a shot at Facebook's and Twitter's social networking tools, apparently gearing up to turn Gmail into a hub for keeping track of friends, posting rolling updates, and more.

Led by Senator Al Franken, lawmakers Thursday clashed with top execs at Comcast and NBC Universal over their claim that the media giants' merger would benefit the public. Despite calling for "strong conditions," legislators seemed likely to let the deal go through.

Top executives from Comcast (CMCSA), the nation's largest cable company, and NBC Universal, the storied entertainment giant, are set to appear Thursday before Congress, as lawmakers and regulators examine the companies' proposed $30 billion new-media mega-merger.

The luxury electric-car maker, which just got a $465 million government loan, has filed to go public. And its IPO filing is eyebrow-raising. It reveals, for instance, that Chairman and CEO Elon Musk "does not devote his full time and attention to Tesla."

AOL posted a small profit in its first earnings report since the company spun off from Time Warner, following nearly a decade as part of the media giant. In results that beat Wall Street expectations, AOL said net income for the fourth quarter was $1.4 million.

President Obama's plan to scrap the Constellation space program designed to send U.S. astronauts to the moon is being blasted by senators from states with heavy space industries. The policy shift reignites questions about the mission of the U.S. space program and the role of private companies in that effort.

Irate eBay users are slamming the online auctioneer's recent fee change, saying it will drive up costs for many of the site's sellers. Critics say the company's deal allowing sellers to list up to 100 items every month for free means the company will try to wring more profit from each sale.

The cable giant tells the federal government that its proposed merger with NBC Universal will benefit the public. That claim was immediately denounced by critics, including one consumer advocacy group that called the argument "positively Orwellian."

The world's-largest software company posted a 60% jump in earnings on record revenue, powered by strong sales of its latest operating system. The results are further evidence of a recovery in consumer tech spending that began during the holiday season.