The Technology newsbucket: Star Wars, XBox Live, Apple darts and more

Today's selection of links, as crafted by the Technology team Sales through Xbox Live "probably" topped $1billion last year >> Gizmodo Over half of Microsoft's 25million Live users pay for a Gold subscription, racking up $600m alone. Photo by Butchicun.info :) on Flickr. Some rights reserved 'Star Wars' creator says laser too much like lightsaber >> CNN George Lucas has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Hong Kong-based Wicked Lasers, which seems to be aimed a dissuading the company from ever making a product which some - technology blogs, for example, might refer to as lightsabre-like. Android Twitter application Twidroid had to change it's name to Twidroyd because Lucas owns the trademark "droid." Darts from the iPhone to the iPad >> The Unofficial Apple Weblog "This is probably the coolest bit of iOS connectivity I've seen so far" - we'd have to agree. 57% Android apps are free >> Download Squad Highlighting the differences in the ecosystems between mobile platforms, the lowest being Windows Marketplace with only 22% of applications being free Apple bans 'fraudulent' developer from iTunes >> BBC News User hacked into 400 accounts to boost sales of comic book apps, which has lead to tightened security in iTunes Store. Twenty-five resellers caught in Microsoft piracy probe >> CRN Out of court settlements for the UK resellers trading illegal software. Both independent shops and eBay sellers were part of the anti-piracy clampdown by Microsoft. Amazon moves into grocery sales >> The Inquirer Taking on traditional retailers such as Tesco and Waitrose as well as online retailer Ocada, Amazon offers 22,000 products for delivery Split/Second 'sploding on PSP this holiday >> Joystiq Disney Interactive's Split/Second is coming soon, unlike online multiplayer. Grump. AT&T seeks a piece of the $663 mobile payment pie >> GigaOM AT&T announce they have joined forces with Apriva to deliver new mobile payment applications to turn smartphones into point-of-sale devices that accept credit and debit card transactions.