TechBytes: Apple Buys Lala

Dec. 7, 2009— -- Apple's iTunes music store may soon expand. Apple has confirmed that it has purchased online music retailer Lala.com. Lala allows customers to buy the right to listen to songs online an unlimited number of times for 10 cents each. Apple did not say how much it paid or what it plans to do with Lala.

Facebook has formed a safety advisory board made up of five Internet safety organizations. The board will meet regularly to review Facebook's safety resources, develop new ones and get advice on best practices. This is part of an effort to eliminate registered sex offenders from the site.

Cell phones have become a popular way to spy on significant others. A recent survey finds more than 20 percent of 14- to 24-year-olds involved in a romantic relationship believe their partner uses a phone or the Web to check up on them too often. More than one in four says their boyfriend or girlfriend has checked the text messages on their phone without permission.

Google has quietly rolled out its own dictionary. Google Dictionary does exactly what you would expect, with a couple of added features. It allows users to star words in case they have trouble remembering them. Words may also be searched in multiple languages.

The Michigan mobile phone ensemble is a unique orchestra that only uses iPhones as instruments. The ensemble is made up of students from a class at the University of Michigan. The students actually create their own instruments on the devices and play them by running their fingers across the screen, blowing air into the mike and tilting or shaking the phone. The ensemble will be performing Wednesday for its final project of the semester.