Security breaches affecting a number of major websites topped tech headlines on Thursday. Dating website eHarmony acknowledged that it too was caught up in the hack that compromised about 6 million LinkedIn passwords. Later in the day, music site Last.fm also confirmed that it was caught up in the hack as well.
Meanwhile, in mobile news, Virgin Mobile USA is set to become the second U.S. mobile phone carrier to offer the Apple iPhone on a pay-as-you-go basis. Confirming earlier rumors, the Sprint-owned pre-paid carrier announced Thursday that it will begin offering the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S on June 29. The basic model 8GB iPhone 4 will be available for $549 while the 16GB iPhone 4S will sell for $649. For more, see Virgin Mobile's $30 iPhone Plan Gamble.
Also, Facebook officially unveiled its App Center on Thursday night, a collection of free social applications for the Web and mobile platforms. In total, the App Center launched with 600 social apps, including Nike+ GPS, Ubisoft Ghost Recon Commander, Stitcher Radio, Draw Something, and Pinterest.
Also making news on Thursday:
- Report: No Windows 8 for You, HTC: Microsoft is "locking out" the struggling smartphone maker from the initial run of Windows 8 and Windows RT devices when the OS is released later this year, Bloomberg reported.
- Eyes On Windows RT at Nvidia's Computex Booth: PCMag went to the Nvidia booth at Computex to catch a glimpse of Windows RT and the hardware that runs it.
- Of Orcs and Men Flips the RPG Script: The role-playing genre typically features human lead characters on epic adventures where the fate of the world/planet/galaxy hangs in the balance.
- RIM Ditching 16GB BlackBerry PlayBook: Research in Motion confirmed that it will no longer produce the 16GB version of its troubled BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.
- NASA Scuttles Black Hole-Seeking Space Telescope: NASA is cancelling a project to build an X-ray telescope designed to look for black holes, neutron stars, and the remnants of dead star systems due to cost overruns, the U.S. space agency said Thursday.
- Facebook Brings More Security Features to Mobile: Facebook on Thursday unveiled several app updates that boost the social network's security features on mobile.
- Teen Gets Jail Time for Texting-While-Driving Death: A Massachusetts teenager this week became the first person in the state convicted of causing a traffic death while texting.
- FTC: Patent-Related Gadget Bans Cause 'Substantial Harm': The Federal Trade Commission this week urged the International Trade Commission (ITC) to avoid implementing a patent-related ban on Microsoft's Xbox gaming console or other gadgets covered by standards-essential patents.
- Twitter Unveils New Logo as Mobile Revenue Soars: Twitter's famous blue bird is ready to leave the nest. This week, the company revealed its universally recognizable symbol, without any frills.
- Foursquare Finally Rolls Out App Redesign: Foursquare teased its way to yesterday's unveiling of the redesigned iOS and Android apps, available now in the respective marketplaces.
- iPhone Buyers Ignore Older Models, Opt for 4S: When it comes to their iPhone, most American buyers are willing to shell out the money for the latest and greatest model available.
For more from Angela, follow her on Twitter @amoscaritolo.
