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It's official: Pandora has been sending your personal information to third-party advertising clients.

The news comes via security firm Veracode, who performed an analysis after the streaming music company revealed it had been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury to show off documents relating to its data collection practices on mobile devices.

Veracode (via Ars) says Pandora does, in fact, send your Android ID, date of birth, gender and GPS location to a number of ad companies.

The app integrates with Google.ads, AdMarvel, AdMob, comScore and Medialets.

Writes Veracode:

The analysis into the remaining libraries resulted in even more of the same. The SecureStudies library accesses the android_id and directly sends a hash of the data to [ link ] while the Medialets library accesses the device’s GPS location, bearing, altitude, android_id, connection status, network information, device brand, model, release revision, and current IP address.

The U.S. government is said to be considering using social networking sites as a way to release terror alerts and other relevant info from the Department of Homeland Security.

Additionally, the 5-level system will be removed and replaced with just two; elevated and imminent.

Each level will have an "expiration date," and will be removed after that date or extended if extra caution is still required.

The new system should begin at the end of this month.

Says the AP:

According to the draft plan, before an official alert is issued, there is a multi-step process that must be followed, starting with intelligence sharing among multiple federal, state and local agencies, including the FBI, the National Counterterrorism Center and the White House. If the threat is considered serious enough, a Homeland Security official will call for a meeting of a special counterterrorism advisory board. That board would be expected to meet within 30 minutes of being called. If it's decided an alert is necessary, it would need to be issued within two hours."

After days of assaulting the PSN (more info here), the hacking group 'Anonymous' has decided to change up its plan of attack, to one that will not affect Sony customers as much.

Says the group:

During the last few days, Anonymous has been targeting Sony for their outrageous treatment of not only PS3 users and jailbreakers, but also of the general public. Their propaganda regarding jailbreaking implies that it encourages piracy and thereby makes people lose their jobs, whereas jailbreaking actually just means you are making YOUR device do what it should do. Imagine if Microsoft forced you to use Internet Explorer instead of Firefox or Chrome. Imagine if they denied users from using any other web browser than their own. Many people would obviously be pissed... but then, why aren't you pissed at Sony?

The fact that their litigation demanded information on everyone who had viewed the material, was completely unacceptable. This is a threat not only to the gaming community, but to freedom of information in general. The fact that the privacy of individuals can be violated, simply for accessing information, and legal action can be taken for doing something with something you own, are steps far beyond the line. Anonymous decided it could not allow this to stand. If jailbreaking a phone for use of legal (unsigned) apps is found legal, why would this be any different for the Geohot case, seeing as Geohot explicitly states he does not support piracy?

Modmyi has reported today that the iPad 2 is headed to Toys 'R' Us stores, adding to the growing list of retailers which will have the tablet on sale.

Beginning next month, stores will get the iPad 2 along with Smart Covers, the iPad Camera Connection Kit, and a VGA connector.

As proof, the site has a picture of the employee training guide prepping them for the launch.

The iPad 2 is available in Apple stores, Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, Radioshack, Verizon and AT&T alongside e-tailers like Amazon.

Although numbers have not been released, the iPad 2 is expected to have sold over 2 million units since launch last month.

Microsoft has announced today that it will patch a record 64 flaws for its upcoming 'Patch Tuesday,' fixing vulnerabilities in Windows, IE, Office and other software.

The 64 flaws are attached to 17 bulletins, which ties for the most ever issued by the company in a single week.

Previously, the record for most flaws patched was 49, in October of last year.

9 of the 17 bulletins are "critical," while the rest are "important." Critical is the highest threat level while 'important' is second highest.

One security analyst was very surprised by how high the number was (via CW):

We were expecting the larger release this month, based on the normal cadence. But a whopping 64 CVEs is out of line with anything normal for Microsoft. All hands on deck will be required next week.

Google is planning to add up to 20 premium channels to YouTube, with each producing between 5 and 10 hours of original content every week.

The company is willing to spend $100 million on the creation of the content.

Says the WSJ:

The company is planning changes to the homepage that would highlight sets of channels around topics such as arts and sports. YouTube is looking to introduce 20 or so "premium channels" that would feature five to 10 hours of professionally-produced original programming a week, one of these people said. Additional channels would be assembled from content already on the site.

Google seems to be going the way of Hulu and Netflix, which are opting for new, original content, as a supplement to their broadcast and studio content.

The updated YouTube should be available by the end of the year.

Hotfile, the cyberlocker which quickly became one of the 100 most trafficked sites in the world, has filed a motion to dismiss the case brought against it by the MPAA, which is accusing the company and its owner of building a business off the profits of digital piracy.

The MPAA and the major movie studios claim the site both directly and indirectly supports copyright infringement.

In the motion, Hotfile denies that it "has the specific intent to promote infringement," or promotes piracy, at all.

Citing MGM v. Grokster, Hotfile also denies the charge of "contributory infringement."

As with other cyberlockers, Hotfile says it complies with every DMCA takedown notice from copyright holders and it does not offer a search function.

Concludes the company (via DMW):

Multiple frustrated iPhone 4 owners have complained this week that their device's front-side camera is taking pictures of them when it is supposed to be inactive.

Those photos then show up on the iPhone screen when the user tries to start a FaceTime video call.

One angry owner said her FaceTime picture showed her in her office, despite never using the app while at work.

The glitch also freezes FaceTime, forcing owners to keep trying until it loads correctly.

Apparently those with the glitch are running either iOS 4.3 and iOS 4.3.1.

Video via Wired:

Despite their word that ChromeOS would be "for keyboard"-based devices and Android would be "for touchscreen" devices, Cnet has uncovered some source-code that implies Google may be working on a tablet/touchscreen optimized version of the operating system.

In a statement, Google confirmed that "we are engaging in early open-source work for the tablet form factor, but we have nothing new to announce at this time."

However, in the near-term, netbooks will be priority for ChromeOS, explains the search giant:

Chrome OS was designed from the beginning to work across a variety of form factors. We expect to see different partners build different kinds of devices based on Chrome OS, but for this initial release we are targeting the notebook form factor.

A few of the added changes in the ChromeOS source code (according to Cnet) are:

• The "user-agent string" text that browsers supply so Web servers can deliver the appropriate version of a Web site--for touch user interfaces. The string includes the term "CrOS Touch," not just CrOS as before.
"This lets Web sites that are already customizing for tablet experiences easily adapt to support tablet ChromeOS devices," the programming change log notes.
• A "virtual keyboard" with a number of keys--tab, delete, microphone, return, and shift, for example--drawn in SVG so they can be shown by a browser. Screen keyboards are, of course, a necessity with tablets.
• A variety of moves to make the browser more touch-friendly, for example by increasing the space around items to make it easier to select them with a touch interface.
• A revamped new-tab page (which people see when they open a new, blank tab) that's "optimized for touch."

Gartner has followed in the footsteps of other research firms by claiming that Windows Phone 7 will become a major player in the smartphone market by 2015, taking as much as 19.5 share and surpassing RIM and Apple.

Android will continue to be a juggernaut and reach around 49 percent in 2012 and holding that number.

Says the firm: "By 2015, 67 percent of all open OS devices will have an average selling price of $300 or below, proving that smartphones have been finally truly democratized."

Overall smartphone sales will hit 468 million units this year, a large 57.7 percent increase year-over-year.

The list:

Android will jump to 539,318,000 million phones sold by 2015, good for 48.8 percent market share. RIM will sell 122,865,000 million BlackBerrys, but market share will fall to just 11.1 percent share.

Apple will sell 189,924,000 iPhones but drop to 17.2 percent share.

Microsoft will be the big winner due to its partnership with Nokia, moving to 215,998,000 Windows Phone 7 devices sold, good for 19.5 percent market share. Microsoft currently has 5.6 share.

An article from Digitimes today has pointed to an embarrassing reason as to why the RIM PlayBook tablet was delayed.

Short answer: Blame Apple.

The report explains that "sources from touch screen panel makers also pointed out that PlayBook shipments were postponed for about a month from the original schedule due to a delay in software testing as well as shortage of touch panels because Apple already booked up most of the available capacity."

It has been reported that Apple pre-paid for up to $4 billion worth of components, making sure that it can somewhat corner the market and ensure the iPad 2 is produced with no delays.

The RIM BlackBerry PlayBook tablet will hit the US and Canada on April 19th with a price tag of $500 USD.

Fring, the Android and iOS-based IM client, has said this week that it has begun testing group video calling, a first for smartphones.

The feature is now in private beta.

Using Fring for group calling will allow four friends to talk simultaneously.

The screen will be cut into quarters.

More info via Fring: http://www.fring.com/blog/?p=2857

A federal judge has overturned a $625.5 million verdict against Apple over patent violations this week.

The jury had ruled in favor of small tech company Mirror Worlds LLC and granted them one of the largest patent violation settlements, ever.

Says the judge:

Mirror Worlds may have painted an appealing picture for the jury, but failed to lay a solid foundation sufficient to support important elements it was required to establish under the law.

Last October a jury ruled that Apple had infringed on three patents relating to Cover Flow, Time Machine and Spotlight. Each of the techs are used on most Apple hardware.

Apple asked the judge to postpone enforcing the award since it objected to how the fines were calculated. The company applauded the decision to toss out the case.

Google has pulled the popular Grooveshark music app from the Android Market, following accusations from the record labels that the service facilitates piracy.

When asked for comment, Google only said that it "removes apps from Android Market that violate [its] terms of service."

Apple removed the app from the iOS store last August after it received a complaint from the Universal Music Group.

Google is currently in the midst of speaking before the House Judiciary Committee, which is investigating whether the search giant aids piracy by offering AdSense to all sites, including those that offer pirated movies, music and more.

Grooveshark hosts over 6 million tracks.

Jack Tretton, president of Sony Computer Entertainment of America has confirmed this week that the upcoming NGP (PSP2) may be delayed due to the earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands in Japan and disrupted production for hundreds of companies.

Instead of being released in Asia, North America and Europe in September, Tretton says the company may have to release the device in just one region, delaying the release until 2012 for the other two major regions, due to the disaster.

Analysts immediately worried about what a delay would do to Sony, as Nintendo recently launched the 3DS gaming handheld in all major regions and Apple is expected to release its updated iPod Touch in September.

For controls, the updated handheld adds dual micro-analog sticks, giving gamers a feature they begged for on the original PSP.