Appconomy is a start-up company that develops mobile applications that is based in Austin, Texas. Appconomy has two divisions, a Studios and Labs division. Appconomy Studios works with enterprises to develop applications for businesses. Appconomy Labs helps enterprises with mobile research and strategy. Palo Alto based VC firm True Ventures led the funding in Appconomy. [VentureBeat]

The United Nations, Harvard University, Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), and Not On Our Watch is watching Sudan using satellites for war crimes. Known as The Satellite Sentinel Project, the collaborations between these organizations will provide an “early warning system” for human rights and security violations.

Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) signed a contract with NASA that is valued at $2.5 billion. The $2.5 billion contract is good for the next 10 years. “It’s basically everything that’s plugged into the wall that’s IT,” stated NASA spokesman Michael Sweigart. “This contract combines some services on a number of different contracts across the agency.”

Scientists in Camp Blanding, Florida have artificially triggered lightning using rockets and wires. The lightning bolts were triggered when the scientists launched small rockets into the thunderstorms trailed with wires behind them. When the lightning stuck, a very fast 1,500 lb. X-ray camera captured the picture. The camera can shoot at ten million frames per second. Researches at the Florida Institute of Technology built the X-ray camera. [National Geographic]

Sears Holding Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD) and Kmart are partnering with Sonic Solutions to launch a service called Alphaline Entertainment. Alphaline Entertainment is an online service that will be selling downloadable movies online. Sonic’s RoxioNow is also known for powering the online movie rental service for Best Buy and Blockbuster. Alphaline will be renting out movies for $3.99 or $19.99 to buy new movies. Below is the full press release:

Pictured above is the ProForm Trailrunner 4.0. The ProForm has a 10-inch non-removable Android tablet so exercise slash Internet junkies can read the news, browse their e-mail, and check Facebook while getting their cardio on. If you actually want to see your exercise stats, then you can see speed, time, distance, calories burner, pulse, etc. on the tablet. The Android tablet is integrated with iFit Live to map progress as well. There is a built in speaker system and auxiliary input so you don’t necessarily need to strap an iPod on to your arm. The Trailrunner treadmill costs $2,999. [ProForm via Engadget]

Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE:ALU) is going to be making a payment of over $137 million to settle bribery cases brought forth by U.S. authorities. The case concerns Alcatel-Lucent and its subsidiaries between the 1990s through 2006.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is going to expand their WiFi networks across public areas in New York and San Francisco. The AT&T WiFi hotspots are known as “hot zones.” AT&T is expanding WiFi coverage to Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York and the Embarcadero waterfront district in San Francisco. AT&T is going to spend $2 billion to improve their wireless network with HSPA technology. [Mashable]