Topping tech headlines on Tuesday was the PROTECTS Initiative, a new effort from the Federal Communications Commission intended to cut down on phone theft.
The agency teamed up with the nation's top wireless carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint to develop a database of stolen gadgets. Within six months, U.S. cell phone owners will be able to call their provider if their device is stolen and the carrier will lock it down and prevent it from being used. That database is expected to be fully operational within 18 months.
In other news, Google announced updates to test versions of both of its Chromes — the browser and the operating system. As for Chrome OS, the company has conceded to conventions of the incumbent PC operating systems, Windows and Mac OS X, by using actual windowing and a taskbar.
Meanwhile, Toshiba announced a slew of new products including three new additions to its family of Excite tablets. The most interesting is the Excite 13, a massive tablet with a 13.3-inch screen. Toshiba is also releasing a pair of newly designed touch-screen desktop models, and we got a chance to look at one — the Toshiba LX835. And you may not be thinking of back-to-school shopping just yet, but Toshiba is ready with five lines of laptops that will reach retailers at the beginning of the third quarter.
Also making headlines on Tuesday:
For more from Angela, follow her on Twitter @amoscaritolo.
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