A lawsuit that was filed on Tuesday alleges that huge furniture rental company holds software in their computers that will allow them to track keystrokes, screenshots and webcam images of their clients while they use the rented furniture at home.

The lawsuit was filed for a couple from Wyoming. The couple said that they found out about the “spying software” when they saw the PC Rental Agent device in the computer they rented in 2010.

On December 22, an Aaron’s incorporated store manager from Casper came to their home and shed some light on the matter.

The said store manager tried to reclaim their computer because he thought the couple failed to pay for it. Brian Byrd, 26-year old, said that the manager showed him a photo of Byrd while using the computer, apparently taken using the computer’s webcam and with the help of the spying software.

The lawsuit argues that the software is made and distributed by Designerware LLC. The same software is installed on each one of Aaron’s rental computers.

Byrd said that he felt violated and invaded, as if a stranger was in their house. He further said that the store manager did not explain why the photos were taken.

Aaron’s lawyer, David Katz, said that he is unaware of the lawsuit and will issue a response as soon as he has reviewed a copy. Tim Kelly of Designerware LLC said that he is also unfamiliar of the lawsuit and refused to comment.

The makers of the famous Blackberry, Research in Motion Ltd., said on Thursday that they have slashed their sales forecast for this quarter because they saw a significant decline in their sales. They further said that they are selling cheaper and less phones than they originally expected.

Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of the company said that the decrease in sales is due greatly on the delay of the release of their high-end phones. He also confirmed that the company is transitioning to a new line of phones.

In a conference, Balsillie told reporters that the company is in the process of shifting over to a new product line. The co-CEO said he, along with the rest of the company, is very excited for the upcoming changes. They are committed to strategies that will yield long term results.

This is the second hit on their stocks in a month. On the 24th of March they announced that they are expecting total sales of $1.47 to $1.55 per share for this quarter. That is lower than what analysts predicted earlier this year. On Thursday, they further lowered the range to $1.30 to $1.37. The company also confirmed that they will also lower the number of shipment to around 13.5 million.

Balsillie promised that the company will amaze everyone during their Orlando, Florida World Conference. Analysts take Balsillie’s word as BlackBerry has been strongly trusted for providing email devices. However, they are still yet to keep up with Apple’s iPhones and other Android phones.

Synthes Inc. has confirmed Tuesday that it is in negotiations with Johnson & Johnson for its possible takeover. The alleged agreement is rumored worth nearly $20 billion, probably the largest deal J&J will commit in its history.

However, Synthes refuses to provide additional information until a precise agreement has been reached or negotiations have been closed with the American pharmaceutical and medical devices manufacturer, the company said on Monday.

Johnson & Johnson, which was involved in a legal suit in 2010, is still gaining confidence after more than 50 of its products were pulled off in the market. Because of that, some believes J&J might face some problems on how they can prove to some investors that they are already capable of managing big acquisitions.

There have been several months of speculations regarding J&J’s talks with British device manufacturer, Smith & Nephew. On Monday, Smith & Nephew’s stock dropped 3 percent in London trading, the company’s largest one-day decline for three months.

Speculations will end once the $20 billion agreement pursues between J&J and Synthes, the largest manufacturer of devices used to treat trauma, as well as bone fractures.

Synthes is expected to provide New Jersey-based Johnson & Johnson a line of surgical power tools, hip scews and equipment used to treat soft-tisse and spinal injuries. This will certainly boost the American company’s shares in the trauma care market.

Johnson & Johnson refused to comment about the negotiations. J&J’s stock stock, which has dropped 7 percent in the past 12 months, fell 10 cents to $60.46 in New York.

As the most-anticipated movie series comes to an end, part 1 of the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow was released today in DVD and Blu-Ray copies.

The Harry Potter Movie series is something that kids and adults look forward to each year for the last ten years. We have all seen Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson mature in the big screen. The movie itself has also evolved – both in depths of the storyline and in cinematography. Because of the movies, Harry Potter books have become more than just play thing for kids.

The last installment of the story we all followed is dark, sinister, and that is exactly why it keeps you at the edge of your seats. People are expecting that Part 2 of the Deathly Hallows will even be more heart-stopping than the first part.

That brings us to the DVD and Blu-ray copies of this movie. Even the home entertainment factions of the billion-dollar franchise have evolved over the years. Now that the Blu-ray disc technology has emerged, Warner Brothers also had the chance to improve what they offer with DVD/Blu-ray edition.

Because Blu-ray discs have more space, Warner Brothers was able to add more bonus activities. Now, this home entertainment is more than something that we watch on the television, it has become more interactive with games.

Moreover, they have added the deleted scenes which mean more viewing time for Harry Potter fanatics. Also, the 3-disc package includes a menu that will show viewers how the movie was made – Maximum Movie Mode.

There is no doubt that the home entertainment series of the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 had a massive overhaul.

Apple’s iPad will continue to reign the swelling tablet market this year even though it already has several competitors from various computer and mobile-device companies, according to a report released by research firm Gartner.

Gartner said iPad, which is synonymous to the term “tablet,” sets the standards for what the device really is, thus, leaving a small room for alternatives.

The firm expects 70 million tablets to be sold within this year and about 108 million in 2012. The expected number is way beyond the 17.6 million tablet sales in 2011.

Google trails behind Apple in the second position. The firm said Google’s Android operating system is still insufficient to match up with Apple.

However, Gartner said Google’s shares will rise to 39 percent in 2015 from 20 percent this year while Apple’s shares will gradually drop to 47 percent from 69 percent.

Research in Motion’s Playbook tablet, which uses the new QNX platform, gets the third spot in the market this year with a 5.6 percent market shares, which Gartner believes will rise to 10 percent in 2015.

The firm said time and remarkable effort is required for RIM to obtain more customers and developers that will deliver a more innovative group of services and applications around QNX. Carolina Milanesi, Gartner analyst said this method will make a feasible alternative to Android or Apple.

Milanesi said organizations that will be interested in RIM’s new QNX-run tablet will consist of those who have RIM’s infrastructurre or those who have strict security requirements.

iPads will supplement crayons and flashcards in kindergarten classes. Many supporters are excited with this technological development in the country’s educational system, but detractors think that we may be wasting a lot of money on something pupils may be too young to appreciate.

Next fall, around 300 young children in kindergarten in central Maine will receive iPad2 tablets to help them learn 1-2-3s, ABCs, drawing, and all other things we learn in kindergarten. Amy Heimerl, kindergarten teacher from Auburn, said that she is excited for this entirely new adventure where both students and teachers will share a learning experience. Heimerl said she is thrilled to see where this innovation will take teachers and students alike.

Sue Millard, a mother of two, said that the $200,000 proposed budget on the iPads could be used on other school programs that could produce bigger gain for students. She said she understands that everyone has to keep up with latest advancements in technology but thinks kindergarteners may be too young to appreciate the worth of iPads.

In 2002 and 2003, Maine was the first state to distribute laptops among their seventh and eighth grade students. Since then, the project expanded and now almost half of their students are equipped with laptops to aid them in their studies. Last week, the school board approved the plan of giving students iPad2 units next fall.

Superintendent Tom Morril said that iPad tablets are easy to use and can encourage students to enjoy learning with music and more colorful imagery.

A widespread search for victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami was launched by about 22,000 troops in Japan.

National Police Agency in Japan reported that death toll from the tragic incident had already risen to almost 13,000 people. Still, there is about 14,691 people missing. There were 4,683 people injured and 151,00 others have been displaced.

On Thursday, Japan was struck with a 7.1 magnitude aftershock. The earthquake killed 2 people and injured 283 others. It has caused power interruption, which has left 250,000 individuals to endure a dark Saturday night.

Sendai, which is one of the most-hit cities, is already preparing to begin operations. However, limited commercial service close the coast and at the airfield, which is located south of the city, will be restored by Wednesday.

Three “relief” flights going to and from Haneda airport in Tokyo will operate everyday as announced by the Japanese airline ANA. The airlines said it would be until last week of May before regular operations be restored in Sendai.

According to CNN, many of the region’s roads and railroads were knocked out by the incident. The opening of the airfield will bring much relief to the region.

Eastern Japan, as well as Tokyo, is likely to expect more aftershocks in the coming months, a Japanese researcher from Tokyo University’s Earthquake Research Institute said.

Satoko Oki said Japanese residents shouldn’t be surprised when aftershocks of magnitudes 7 will occur anywhere in Japan even a year after the March 11 incident.

A former Gucci Computer technician from New York’s headquarter was charged with computer hacking into Gucci’s computer system.

Yin was actually fired from Gucci because of abusing his employee’s discount privileges. According to the prosecutors, he bought bulk Gucci items and send them to Asia for resale. The disgruntled former Employee hacked into the computer system and deleted several files including virtual servers. He was also able to turn off a storage network and removed a network of storage area. Aside from those, he was able to delete a storage disk which contained corporate emails from the server.

Sam Chihlung Yin hacked into the luxury retailer’s system and caused about $200,000 worth of damage. He pleaded not guilty over all the charges against him. He was not just charged with computer tampering but the 34-year-old Sam was also charged with identity theft, falsification of business documents and many other charges. His charges were brought up in Manhattan Federal Court last Monday.

Despite all the allegations presented he was released without bail.

A former Gucci Computer technician from New York’s headquarter was charged with hacking into Gucci’s computer system.

Sam Chihlung Yin hacked into the luxury retailer’s system and caused about $200,000 worth of damage. He pleaded not guilty over all the charges against him. He was not just charged with computer tampering but the 34-year-old Sam was also charged with identity theft, falsification of business documents and many other charges. His charges were brought up in Manhattan Federal Court last Monday.

Despite all the allegations presented he was released without bail.

Yin was actually fired from Gucci because of abusing his employee’s discount privileges. According to the prosecutors, he bought bulk Gucci items and sent them to Asia for resale. The disgruntled former Employee hacked into the computer system and deleted several files including virtual servers. He was also able to turn off a storage network and removed a network of storage areas. Aside from those, he was able to delete a storage disk which contained corporate emails from the server.

Engineers at NASA are busy perfecting the mega-rover to Mars before they send it to Florida. The mega-rover is expected to be launched later this year.

A small group of NASA technicians are working 24/7 at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to assemble the craft. They are also testing the science instruments of the said mega-rover. This was supposed to be ready by 2009, but construction problems pushed the launch date by two years.

NASA already said that the craft is scheduled to launch late November of this year. They are doing everything to check the systems of the aircraft. Moreover, they want to make sure that any possible contamination here does not accidentally reach Mars.

Curiosity – the name of the $2.5 billion aircraft – will not leave with an HD 3D camera as originally planned. James Cameron helped build the camera but due to time restrictions, they will not have the chance to check the zoom capabilities before November.

Curiosity will be probing soil and rocks to establish if Mars have the appropriate environment to support life. The craft will carry high-end tools and one of which can blow-up big rocks from afar.

Completion of the aircraft was faced with a lot of problems. Engineers had to change the heat shield and do something about the parachute as they encountered a problem with it. NASA also experienced delays in delivery from subcontractors, causing a delay on the initial time table.

The launch window, which will last for three weeks, will open on November 25^th; after they begin shipping parts of the spacecraft to Cape Canaveral.