MLC FLASH NEWS

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. intelligence community on Tuesday unveiled its own secretive version of Wikipedia, saying the popular online encyclopedia format known for its openness is key to the future of American espionage.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. and the Oscar-winning team behind "The Lord of the Rings" movies are delaying plans for a feature film based on "Halo," the software company's popular alien shoot-up video games.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google Inc. said on Tuesday it bought JotSpot, a Silicon Valley start-up that helped pioneer the market for Web-based business software like spreadsheets, in the latest move by the Web search leader into an area dominated by Microsoft Corp..

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. said on Tuesday it plans to launch a set of Web services next month aimed at helping small companies manage business contacts, calendars and online communications.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. and open source software maker Zend, whose products create programs that compete with ones built for Windows, said on Tuesday the two companies have struck a long-term partnership.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. and Zend, a key supplier of tools used to design open-source software that competes with Microsoft Windows programs, said on Tuesday the two companies have struck a long-term partnership.

Apple’s new iPod shuffle, the world’s smallest digital music player, will be available in Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers this Friday, November 3. Nearly half the size of the original and priced at $79, the new 1GB iPod shuffle is just half a cubic inch in volume, weighs just half an ounce and features a minimal aluminum design with a built-in clip, making it the most wearable iPod ever.

ATHENS (Reuters) - China's control of the Internet stirred controversy at the first global Internet governance forum on Tuesday when a rights group accused western firms of providing Chinese police with technology to limit Web freedom.