Facebook simplifies security settings

Facebook is simplifying its privacy options as it simultaneously looks to make it easier for members of the social networking site to share content with anyone on the Internet, states eWeek.

The company is consolidating about six privacy pages and roughly 40 settings onto one page.

The site will also standardise the options for each setting so the choices are identical.

China's ambitions to strengthen control of the Internet with filtering software became a show of the limits of its power, as activists and industry groups welcomed an abrupt delay of the contentious plan, says The Washington Post.

The surprise turnaround was reported by Xinhua news agency, which said the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology would "delay the mandatory installation of the controversial 'Green Dam-Youth Escort' filtering software on new computers”.

Officials said the software was intended to stamp out Internet pornography, and computer companies had originally been told they had to bundle "Green Dam" with any personal computers heading to stores for sale in the country.

Oracle's latest platform roll-out, Fusion Middleware 11g, embraces new elements, such as social networking, even as some of its features seem geared toward businesses looking to streamline their processes in the midst of a recession, reports eWeek.

Oracle Middleware 11g's new elements are designed to simplify day-to-day aspects of enterprise networks such as IT governance, service-oriented security and development.

While not an integration of a separate social networking application or site into its software, Oracle's incorporation of some social networking elements into its newest middleware suggests developers continue to see social networking as valuable within the enterprise context.

Apple's work on the iPhone's operating system continues. Weeks after the release of version 3.0, it has given developers a software development kit for the 3.1 version of the software, states Information Week.

The company released the 3.0 software to the public two weeks ago, and it brought features such as cut-and-paste, a push-notification system, and Spotlight search to iPhone and iPod Touch owners.

The updated firmware was also preloaded on Apple's iPhone 3GS, which sold over a million units in its debut weekend.

Visa has signed a $13 million deal with Monitise for the development of a mobile payments network, states Computing.co.uk.

The financial services giant has also taken a 14.4% stake in the mobile payments specialist with the aim of extending Visa's services to four billion mobile devices worldwide.

The partnership intends to enable mobile phone users to purchase goods and services, make payments, receive information and offers, and transfer money between accounts, in a safe and secure manner, said head of global product innovation at Visa, Tim Attinger.