France's president proposed a sweeping new law Thursday that would see repeat visitors to extremist web sites put behind bars — one of several tough measures floated in the wake of a murderous shooting spree.

The proposed rules, unveiled by Nicolas Sarkozy after the death of an Islamist fanatic wanted for a horrifying series of execution-style murders, have alarmed journalists and legal experts, who say they risk pulling the plug on free expression.

Chinese web users frustrated by the blocking of sensitive terms have come up with a system of bizarre code words to allow them to post on a political saga that has gripped the blogosphere.

China blocks all information deemed sensitive under a vast censorship system known as the "Great Firewall", but the huge rise of weibos -- microblogs similar to Twitter -- is making this task increasingly difficult.

The free-ranging Internet is under assault by mobile applications that connect people exclusively to content kept in "walled gardens" online, according to a US study released Thursday.

While 59 percent of the experts surveyed for the study felt that the Web would continue to thrive, they also thought "apps" for gadgets such as smartphones and tablets would power an "anti-Internet" used only to connect to services such as films or Facebook feeds instead of for open exploration.

Google's free online map service on Wednesday began letting people explore portions of the Amazon Basin from the comfort of their homes.

Pictures taken along the Rio Negro in Brazil last year using camera-mounted three wheeled bicycles have been woven into Google Maps, allowing users to virtually venture on waterways and trails and in even villages.

Beware the new iPad, not because it's an inferior product, but because it's a superior one. Using one is like living the life of a millionaire for a day, then getting dumped back in your regular life. Your eyes are now opened to how miserable your existence is.

The big culprit here is its stunner screen. It has four times the resolution of the previous models. That's a big, big jump, which makes text and high-resolution images look amazingly sharp and clear. High-definition movies look amazingly detailed.

Social games star Zynga on Wednesday said it has bought the young company behind a playful "Draw Something" application that rocketed in popularity in recent weeks.

Zynga did not disclose how much it paid for New York City-based OMGPOP but unofficial estimates valued the deal at approximately $200 million.

Mobile phone maker Nokia is seeking a U.S. patent for tattoos that vibrate to let people know when they have calls on their mobile phones.

Technology laid out in a patent application available online Wednesday would enable tattoos to receive magnetic waves emitted by mobile phones.

Apple made computers sexy. Can it do the same for the musty old dividend?

Issuing a regular payment to your stockholders after years of just amassing cash used to be an admission that your company has run out of creative ideas to grow profits.

India's Tech Mahindra announced its long-awaited buyout of IT outsourcer Satyam Computer on Wednesday, creating a new force in the sector with annual revenue of $2.26 billion.

Tech Mahindra bought a 42.7-percent stake in Hyderabad-based Satyam in April 2009 when the group was on the verge of collapse following an accounting scandal.

Three major U.S. online dating agencies have pledged action to protect users from sexual predators and financial scammers, California's attorney general said.

Dating services eHarmony, Match.com and Spark Networks -- which operates websites including JDate and ChristianMingle -- said they notably look for fake profiles and check subscribers against sex offender registries.