New Congress, same approach to hot-button Internet issues? (Ars Technica)

Influential online privacy advocate Rick Boucher (D-VA) has lost his seat as the Republicans take control of the House of Representatives. But likely ascendant Joe Barton (R-TX) is still talking loud and tough about Facebook and other social networks. Does privacy legislation have a chance in the new Congress?

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Opinion: Yep, Apple Killed The CD Today (TechCrunch)

The CD and other optical discs, like DVDs and Blu-rays, are obviously going to live on for a while as a way to transport media. But make no mistake that today, with two unveilings, Apple has effectively sealed the fate of the optical disc in the computer industry. Soon, it will go the way of the floppy disk.

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What If Google’s Social Layer Is Chrome? What If Facebook Builds A Browser? (TechCrunch)

Since being wrestled back from Microsoft’s death grip, the web browser has thrived thanks to its openness. All of the popular browsers beyond IE — Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera — are either based on open-source or have a thriving community that helps develop and expand each of them. And it’s relatively easy for a user to switch between any of them. But what if that were to change?

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Microsoft Rolls Up Cloud Services Into Office 365, Takes Aim At Google Apps (TechCrunch)

Today at an event in San Francisco, Microsoft's Office division is unveiling a new product: a suite of the company’s productivity services called Office 365

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Food stamps for broadband would bring slow 'Net to the poor (Ars Technica)

A former FCC Commissioner wonders aloud about a crazy new idea: "broadband stamps" that would provide truly terrible Internet service to the poor.

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Exclusive: Coca-Cola taps new drink textures (Reuters)

Scientists at Coca-Cola Co are working on developments ranging from plant-derived plastic to beverages with new textures, as the world's largest soft drink maker aims to stay ahead of consumers' quickly changing tastes.

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