Welcome to this morning's edition of “First To Know,” a series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. We’re keeping our eyes on seven particular stories of interest today.
Google Suspends Realtime Search
Google Realtime Search, the once company-lauded real-time search index displaying streaming updates, is temporarily down following the expiration of a contract that gave Google access to Twitter's feed of public updates.
Secret Service Investigates Fox News Twitter Hack
A hacker group calling themselves Scriptkiddies broke into a Fox News Twitter account over the weekend, using it to disseminate fake news about the assassination of President Obama. The Secret Service is now investigating the incident.
News of the World Caught in Phone Hacking Scandal of Missing Girl
News Corp-owned tabloid News of the World has been caught in yet another phone-hacking scandal, this time for accessing the cellphone of a murdered British schoolgirl who went missing in 2002, a lawyer for her family said.
Microsoft to Power English Search Services on China’s Baidu
Baidu, the largest Chinese-language search engine, is said to be partnering with Microsoft in a search deal that would go into effect before the end of the year.
PlayStation Network To Be Fully Restored This Week
Sony’s PlayStation Network will end its 11-week outage when it fully restores service in Japan on Wednesday.
Twitter Nixes Follow Back Requirement for DMs to Verified Accounts
It appears that Twitter users can now send direct messages to Verified Accounts even if those accounts are not following them part.
Facebook Blocks Friend Exporter Plugin
Facebook is actively trying to block Facebook Friend Exporter, a Google Chrome extension that lets users export the list and contact info of their Facebook friends for use in other services, its developer claims.
Further News
Amazon announced Monday that it will acquire The Book Depository, the UK's top online bookseller.
Google+ for iOS is currently waiting App Store approval.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden sent his first tweet on July 4.
A deposit of rich minerals used in the manufacture of iPads, LCD TVs and other electronic devices has been uncovered near Hawaii, threatening China's monopoly over these resources.
A scam masquerading as an invitation to Google+ is spreading through email.
HootSuite, the social media dashboard and analytics tool, has reached a new milestone: 2 million users.