Emily Price

Apple confirmed it is holding a special event September 1 for reporters, bloggers, and analyst for what is likely a media-centric debut of products and services. The invite is not forthcoming about the details of the event, simply giving the date and time accompanying a photo of a guitar with an apple shaped sound hole.

So what could the announcement be? Let's look at some of the options:

Net neutrality advocates claim Google and Verizon's joint policy proposal for an "open Internet" will do more harm than good when it comes to keeping networks as open to all data. Critics claim the proposal is "worse than feared" and if adopted will result in users paying premium rates to access content such as critical health care services and access to online gaming platfoms.

A new, more social Google is on the way. Google confirmed reports it is headed into the world of social media Wednesday with its purchase of Slide.

Watch out Apple. Android phones are now more popular than the iPhone when it comes to new buyers, according to a report released Monday by the Nielsen company. The victory is a milestone for Android-based phones; both proving that the iPhone's successful run can be slowed and that Android-based phones offer a competitive alternative to what is currently available. According to Nielsen, in 2010 Android-based phones accounted for 27 percent of the overall smartphone sales in the United States compared to iPhone sales that only accounted for 23 percent. (click images below to zoom)

If you have a question, just ask. Facebook has an answer. The site launched a beta version of its new "Facebook Questions" service today, a feature which allows users to ask a question and then have anyone in the Facebook community take a crack at answering it.

Questions are posed from a new "Ask Question" button on a users profile, and are visible to all of that persons friends, as well as the entire Facebook community. Users also have the option to add a photo or poll to the question, making it easy to get an opinion on everything from what color paint would look best in your bathroom to your next hairstyle. (click on either image to zoom)

One hundred million Facebook user profiles containing personal information such as e-mail addresses and phone numbers, are now available as a 2.8GB torrent download. Ron Bowes of Skull Security created the torrent using a Web crawler program, harvesting data from public profiles of users who have chosen not to change their privacy settings.

The Library of Congress added five new exemptions to its Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Monday, a copyright law that criminalizes attempts to bypass digital copyrights. Originally passed in 1998, the act is revisited every three years, with new exceptions added based on changing technology.

Apple's attempt to quell iPhone 4 antennagate grumps by giving away free bumper cases has begun. iPhone owners can download an Apple iPhone application called iPhone 4 Case Program to browse a selection of eight cases from manufacturers Apple, Incase, Belkin, Griffin, and Spec.

The program, which launched Friday, gives a free bumper case to anyone who purchases an iPhone 4 before September 30. However, if you purchased an iPhone 4 before July 23, the deadline to request a free bumper is August 22, according to an Apple information page. For previously purchased iPhone 4 bumpers bought at Apple Retail Stores, Apple says customers will receive an automatic refund via a charge back to credit cards used for the purchase. AT&T store customers will need to fill out a rebate coupon form (PDF) and mail it to Apple by September 30.

British Petroleum admits it doctored an image posted on its Website of its Houston, Texas crisis room, and has replaced that image with the original version. The photo in question shows workers sitting in front of television screens, presumably watching cleanup efforts after the companies catastrophic oil spill. Three of the television screens depicted in the photo have had pictures of underwater cleanup efforts superimposed over them using image editing software.

(See Related: 10 More Tech Company Photoshop Disasters )

A California judge agreed to withdraw a search warrant against Gizmodo editor Jason Chen and return computers, hard drives, and other electronics seized on behalf of the San Mateo, Calif., District Attorney's Office. The move comes after Chen voluntarily agreed to turn over key information to authorities regarding the case of Apple's missing iPhone 4. However, the police investigation into the iPhone 4 prototype continues.

Chen's computers and hard drives were confiscated on April 23 after Gizmodo obtained a prototype of the iPhone 4 and published pictures and information about the device. The warrant was issued as part of an investigation over the possible theft of that phone.

Good news for those salivating for the Droid X; Verizon says there will be no shortage for the much anticipated phone. Launch day for Motorola's Droid X is Thursday, and despite long delays for the HTC Droid Incredible, Verizon insists retail shoppers and those who pre-ordered the Droid X will not be disappointed. Several Websites are reporting that individual Verizon Wireless stores have indicated ample stock. Verizon spokesperson told CNET that it has "done everything possible to ensure we have inventory to meet customer needs."

Nokia is making a move into the teen phone market with its Nokia X5-01 square-faced slider hailed by the handset maker as "a social media maven's mobile" phone. It supports IM and e-mail services as well as social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and Hi5 directly out of the box.

The Nokia X5-01 is expected to be released in Indonesia later this year for around $200. No word yet on when or if we will see this chubby phone here in the US.