Weekly high-tech hot topics in the blogs: Facebook Phone, Twitter mouseover incident

(Facebook)

Hot topics in the tech blogs for the week ending September 24 include rumors about Facebook's mobile plans, Twitter gets hacked, Angel investors hold "secret" meetings, Google implements increased security measures for Apps and enhances document edition on the iPad and Android devices, and talk of RIM getting ready to release its BlackBerry tablet.

Facebook phone
Rumors about a Faccebook phone started with a post by TechCrunch founder & co-editor Michael Arrington and blew up into a story that took over the blogs for the entire week. Arrington suggested Facebook was working on an inexpensive mobile phone that seamlessly integrates social networking with your mobile device and real-life friends. Facebook flat out denied the claims before admitting it was working to "design the best integrations in the widest variety of phones." Bloomberg later suggested Facebook was working with handset manufacturer INQ Mobile to develop two different social networking phones.

Twitter mouseover incident
A security flaw on Twitter.com resulted in a "mess of JavaScript, mouseover effects, and spam retweets" this week. Twitter quickly identified the attack and fixed the issue but not before the rogue code opened windows and pointed some user's browsers in the direction of websites showing porn. Twitter reassured users that "The vast majority of exploits related to this incident fell under the prank or promotional categories" and that no computers or accounts had been compromised by the attack.

"Angelgate"
A "'secret meeting" between a group of "super Angels" has caused controversy in the blogs after TechCrunch blogger Michael Arrington suggested Silicon Valley's top investors were colluding. "When Angels Fight, Silicon Valley Loses," "The secret hell of tech industry angel investors" and "Can we trust Michael Arrington?" read the headlines of news articles across the blogs.

Enhanced security for Google Apps & Google Docs editing on iPad and Android
This week Google announced it is taking steps to make using cloud-based applications more secure for users with the introduction of a new two-step verification process. Google also revealed it will be introducing mobile editing in Google Docs for Android and iPad devices in next few weeks, enabling two or more users to "co-edit files simultaneously from an even wider array of devices."

RIM tablet
Rumors about a forthcoming tablet designed by Research In Motion (RIM) have been rife for months but a post in the Wall Street Journal suggested the tablet was due within the next few weeks. Some bloggers believe the "BlackPad" will be announced during a special press event in San Francisco on Monday, September 27.