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Verizon, Redbox Target Netflix; Google Removes Content; Anonymous Strikes

Verizon and Redbox owner Coinstar topped headlines Monday as the companies announced plans to launch a joint venture to offer DVD rentals and streaming video.

February 7, 2012

Verizon and Redbox owner Coinstar topped headlines Monday as the companies to offer DVD rentals and streaming video in a bid to compete with services like Netflix. The service will launch in the second half of the year, and it will combine Redbox DVD and Blu-ray rentals with an on-demand streaming and download service from Verizon.

Meanwhile,Google and Facebook . The Internet giants are among 21 companies being forced to take down photographs, videos, text, and other items officials consider anti-religious or anti-social. The crackdown extends to Google sites like YouTube and Blogger.

The hacking group Anonymous also made news after in which security giant Symantec reportedly offered $50,000 in return for the guaranteed destruction of code tied to its pcAnywhere and Norton Antivirus tools. Members of the collective on Monday also , the staff sergeant who led an assault on the Iraqi city of Haditha that left 24 unarmed civilians dead.

In other security news, not to click on any links in status updates about the U.S. attacking Iran and Saudi Arabia in a bid to start World War III. The updates are bogus and aim to spread malware.

Also making headlines Monday:

  • : The web giant launched a new site that appears to be a kind of think tank project aimed at radical problem solving, along the lines of TED.
  • : Experts say the operation might open the door for the use of more 3D-printed specific transplant parts.
  • : The free-to-play, unofficial sequel to the Flight Simulator franchise launches on on Feb. 29.
  • : The ads may show up as "featured stories" in the app's newsfeed.
  • : Moving 37 million iPhones during the fourth quarter, Apple reached a new shipment volume record and managed to edge out Samsung to become the top mobile phone manufacturer.
  • : The Megaupload shutdown claimed another victim.