San Bruno, Calif. - Google's (NASD: GOOG) YouTube has acted quickly to resolve issues with the audio quality of videos being uploaded to the site, which it was uncovered last week were being somewhat muffled thanks to new audio compression technology, Wired.com reported. "We remain committed to providing the best possible YouTube experience and take the community's feedback into account anytime we make enhancements," a Google spokeswoman told Wired. "Recent modifications have ensured that every video uploaded to YouTube retains its original audio levels."

New York - Some three million of Cablevision's (NYSE: CVC) subscribers aren't able to view all of the 2,200 hours of Olympics video on NBCOlympics.com, due to its reluctance to pay a premium NBC Universal is charging premium TV providers for the privilege, Cablevision-owned Newsday.com reports. Before viewing video, visitors to NBCOlympics.com must first enter their zip code and choose their cable or satellite provider from a list -- which generates local TV listings for Olympic events. "To date, Cablevision has not elected to offer its customers the enhanced Olympics package," NBC said in a statement.

Minneapolis - Consumer electronics and media retail chain Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) on Monday announced plans to deploy electronics vending machine kiosks in major U.S. airports as part of a pilot program of the technology. The Best Buy Express kiosks, powered by technology from ZoomSystems, will initially be installed at 12 airports, including LAX and SFO, and sell items including MP3 players, portable game devices, unlocked cell phones, digital cameras and various battery chargers.

Chicago - Indie music site Pitchfork announced on Monday that it has partnered with the Independent Film Channel on a new TV series that will feature content from the company's recently launched Web TV channel, Pitchfork.tv. Debuting on Aug. 24, "Pitchfork Airwaves on IFC" will be comprised of 10 shorts each week, and offer a mix of live performances, interviews and other video content from Pitchfork.tv shows like "Daytripping," "Don't Look Down" and "Juan's Basement."

San Francisco - Online magazine Salon.com on Monday announced the launch of a network of member-generated content, Open Salon, which will allow bloggers to receive payment in the form of "tips" from appreciative readers. The service's online payments technology will be powered by Revolution MoneyExchange. The company said the best submitted posts will appear on the home page of Salon.com.

St. Louis - Cable TV provider Charter Communications (NASD: CHTR) on Monday announced an agreement with Disney-ABC Domestic Television (NYSE: DIS), to launch a subscription video-on-demand service featuring classic and contemporary Disney movies and animated shorts. The service will cost $4.99 per month.

Los Angeles - Popular Swedish file-sharing hub The Pirate Bay has been blocked by most of the major Italian Internet service providers, the company said in a note on its blog.

New York - Averting a potentially crippling strike, Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) said that it has reached a tentative three-year deal with a pair of unions representing 65,000 of its workers.

Los Angeles - A federal judge has sided with the argument of a 16-year-old girl who claimed she had no knowledge or understanding of file-sharing or copyright infringement, and ruled she will only have to pay $200 per song, instead of the $750-30,000 allowed under the Copyright Act, Ars Technica reported.

Washington - In a move likely to appeal to younger, tech-savvy voters, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has unveiled plans to formally announce his running mate by sending text messages and emails to those who sign up on his website.

Beijing - NBC Universal (NYSE: GE) has announced record traffic to its NBCOlympics.com website, which counted over 70 million page views on Friday, the first days of the games -- up from the peak traffic day during the Athens games four years ago (20.6 million).

Bellevue, Wash. - Wireless carrier T-Mobile USA (NYSE: DT) plans in the fall to launch a platform similar to Apple's App Store for the iPhone, which will allow almost any developer to create applications for all of the carrier's handset line, MocoNews reported, citing multiple unnamed sources.

Cupertino, Calif. - Apple (NASD: AAPL) has served up more than 60 million applications for the iPhone and iPod touch since the company opened its App Store a month ago, netting the company about $30 million, or an average of $1 million a day, chief executive Steve Jobs told The Wall Street Journal. "This thing's going to crest a half a billion soon. Who knows, maybe it will be a $1 billion marketplace at some point in time," Jobs said.

At the current rate, the company is on track to see $360 million in annual App Store sales.

Torrance, Calif. - Knowledge Adventure, a developer of 3D virtual worlds for children, announced on Monday that it has closed on a $5 million second round of financing, led by Azure Capital and TeleSoft Partners.

Beijing, China - I have officially been in Beijing for 4 days now. I start this post with that admission, because before you read this I want you to know that I'm no expert on Beijing or China. Before this current trip, I have been here once before. Aside from a few useful phrases, I don't really speak any Mandarin ... and any experience benefit I might have from having been to Beijing before has surely been erased from more than ten years of development and more recent construction and preparation for the Olympics.