News Briefs

Microsoft buys some Facebook

Microsoft announced on Wednesday that it will be purchasing a 1.6% share of the social networking site, Facebook. This will cost the company $240 million, which puts Facebook at a total value of $15 billion. Part of the deal between the two companies is that Microsoft will now be the exclusive advertising agent for the website. They will be able to sell advertising in both the U.S. and internationally. This agreement was made after fierce competition took place between Microsoft and Google for a venture in the site. Microsoft is using this agreement to increase their presence in online advertising, which is currently being dominated by Google’s Adsense.



China shoots for the moon

On Wednesday, China launched its first probe destined for the moon. It is part of a 10-year plan to send a lunar rover to the moon and successfully return it to Earth. This launch came several weeks after Japan successfully put a probe into orbit around the moon. Tourists numbering about 2,000 paid 800 Yuan ($106) to watch the rocket carrying the probe lift off. Chinese officials also evacuated everybody living within 1.5 miles of the launch site to ensure their safety. The launch is part of a three-stage program. In 2012, there are plans for a moon landing with a lunar rover. In 2017, a second rover will land on the moon and collect rock samples and bring them back to Earth.



Samsung increasing their memory

Samsung Electronics Co. announced that it has created a flash memory chip that will allow for greater data storage in music players and other consumer products. The chip, a 64-gigabit NAND flash memory chip, contains circuit elements that are 30 nanometers wide. This is a decrease in width from the company’s previous 40-nanometer 32-gigabit NAND flash memory chip that they released last year. Production of the chip will begin in 2009. The memory chip will also require less power to operate. Currently, the majority of chips produced by Samsung feature their 50-nanometer technology.