Tech Roundup: IE Loses Ground, Monty Disses MySQL 5.1, iPhone Linux, More

(MoneyWatch)  Microsoft loses Internet gateway ground -- The number of people using Internet Explorer dropped to below 70 percent as both Apple's Safari and Mozilla's Firefox made gains. [Source: ZDNet's Between the Lines]

CES to feel the spending heat -- January's Consumer Electronics Show is feeling consumer pain. The trade show expects to be smaller than in 2008 or even 2007. Even more amazing, some hotels are offering discounts. [Source: Silicon Alley Insider]

My SQL co-creator pans latest Sun release -- It's not a good sign when the creator of a product raises questions about it. No sooner did Sun release MySQL 5.1 than Michael Widenius, main author of the original, said that it has "many known and unknown fatal bugs" that undermine its quality, and that Sun is emphasizing "timeliness and features" rather than quality. [Source: Ars Technica, Monty Says]

Blockbuster tries catching Netflix stream lead -- Blockbuster is looking for partners for its streaming service, so it can chase Netflix. In fact, it is teaming with Microsoft to broaden digital movie rentals, possibly through airport kiosks that would let people download movies to portable devices. Nevertheless, Netflix continues to move ahead, striking a deal with LG Electronics to include Netflix on one of its Blu-ray players. [Source: Silicon Alley Insider, Dallas Morning News, TWICE]

Linux for iPhone-- Someone has managed to port the Linux kernel to Apple's iPhone. This is fueling speculation that someone could develop an alternative platform for the device, possibly eventually moving Google's Android to it. [Source: Ars Technica]