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Today in Tech: News around the Web

Every day, the Fortune staff spends hours poring over tech stories, posts, and reviews from all over the Web to keep tabs on the companies that matter. We've assembled the day's most newsworthy bits below.

Rated ugly: Will TV Everywhere free us from bad cable box menus?

As cable companies take on Netflix and Hulu with TV Everywhere, they'd do well to remember that where video content is concerned, a polished interface is part of the package, and the main area where they've been beat.

At a time when more than 21 million people now regularly stream film or television content from services like Netflix Instant and Hulu, cable companies still think they have the consumer by the eyeballs, MORE

3D plays a practice round at Masters

The Masters golf tournament in Augusta, GA, is one of the hottest tickets in sports. Unless you know someone on the inside, plan on paying thousands for entry onto the hallowed grounds.

Or, you could spend that money on a 3D-ready television and let Augusta National's famous azaleas and manicured fairways come to you. Starting today, 3D coverage of the tournament will be broadcast live on Comcast (CMCSA), which is also MORE

Why Congress is Comcastic

By David A. Kaplan, contributor

A federal appeals court sided with Comcast, saying the FCC overstepped its bounds in enforcing net neutrality. But the real slap is on Congress.

In an important decision already being attacked by supporters of "net neutrality," the court ruled that the FCC lacked the power to force Comcast (CMCSA) to treat all traffic equally on its broadband network.  Thus, Comcast—and other telecom and cable companies—are MORE

Starz goes from second-tier movie channel to Hollywood power broker

In the battle over home video distribution, the Hollywood studios may finally be realizing they have to give up some control, or risk losing millions.

Earlier this month, Disney (DIS) announced that it is renewing its licensing agreement with Starz Entertainment, giving the premium movie provider behind the Starz and Encore movie channels exclusive pay-TV rights to show content from Walt Disney Studios.

But this deal was a little different than MORE

For Google, provoking ISPs is the only way to build the Internet

By Paul Smalera, contributor

Google's recent push to provide ultra-high-speed Internet is more about injecting competition in the dysfunctional Internet business than about creating a new revenue stream.

It's the 21st century equivalent of the Oklahoma land rush: Just days after Google announced it was seeking some trial areas in which to deploy its new ultra-high-speed fiber network, cities and towns began throwing themselves at the Internet giant. And why shouldn't they? MORE

Can Steve Jobs unplug cable TV?

CBS and Disney may join Apple's $30 per month TV service, says the Wall St. Journal

This could be totally disruptive. Or it could be another "hobby" like Apple TV that never quite takes off.

In a front-page story published Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that CBS (CBS) and Disney (DIS) are "considering participating" in Apple's (AAPL) plan to offer television subscriptions over the Internet.

It was the first hint of interest MORE

And the walls came tumbling down

Is the NBCU-Comcast deal really about a new business model for cable?

By Tom MacIsaac, CEO, ExtendMedia

That cracking sound you hear is the walls of the clubby world of cable beginning to crumble. Everything in the media world -- ­ especially the world of media distribution --has changed as a result of Comcast (CMCSA) taking control of GE's (GE) NBCUniversal.

Many people think this is a deal to preserve the status quo MORE

Will "TV Everywhere" go anywhere?

Only if industry players successfully balance content, customer experience and revenue models

By Tom MacIsaac, CEO, ExtendMedia

Add this to the list of things the Internet has changed: Your cable or satellite company now wants to let you, as a subscriber, watch the content you've paid for on any device you want, any time you want.

The cable crowd has little choice: consumers are accustomed to time shifting their television viewing MORE

Cablevision considers a dividend and spin-off

By Scott Moritz

Cablevision's Dolan family is weighing its options again. But while the chilly credit market puts some boundaries on the scope of the Long Island cable company's options, some of the more likely moves include a dividend and a spinoff of its Rainbow Media unit, say analysts.

"We arrive at the view that given the current state of the credit markets and $1.7 billion in maturities [Cablevision faces] next year, the MORE