* Not so fast AT&T and T-Mobile. Julius Genachowski, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, has come out against the merger of the two cellphone firms. His proposal? Sending AT&T Inc.’s proposed $39 billion takeover of T-Mobile to an administrative law judge for review. In FCC-land, that’s what serious opposition to a merger looks like. (Associated Press via BusinessWeek.)
* Bloomberg reports that Nokia Siemens Networks, the sagging telephone-equipment venture netween Nokia and Siemens will eliminate 17,000 jobs worldwide. The move, which will reportedly save the joint venture some $1.3 billion is intended to help it catch up with market leader Ericsson AB.
* Google is saying goodbye to at least six of its products in a round of spring cleaning that’s either really early or much too late, depending on how you look at it. Wave, Knol, Search Timeline and Google Gears, along with a slew of other features are being axed. The company’s blog says it is making the move in order to build up fewer products with more integrated features. (Google)
* Apple’s iPad 3 is one step closer to reality. CNET reports that production has started on the high-resolution display units designed the next-generation iPad. An analyst also told the tech site that Cupertino is mulling a smaller iPad with a 7.85-inch display “further down the road.”
* Samsung hits Apple with humor. Fortune‘s Philip Elmer-DeWitt reports: “Samsung has certainly stepped up its marketing game in advance of the 2011 holiday selling season. Last week it was a TV ad for the new Galaxy Nexus — due to arrive in the U.S. in December — that had the look and feel of an iPhone spot. This week it’s an ad for the six-month-old Galaxy S II that takes aim at Apple’s most devoted customer base: the people who line up to buy the latest iPhone. Watch the funny spot here.
LIGHTER FARE
* Gearing up for the Super Bowl of shopping this Friday? CNNMoney has you covered with its 7 must-have Black Friday apps. Check them out.
* The pepper spray incident at the University of California Davis campus has gone viral. Check out Know Your Meme’s website, run by Seattle startup Cheezburger Network, which is chronicling the spread.
Don’t miss the latest tech news. Sign up now to get Today in Tech emailed each and every morning.
