Toshiba Satellite Pro S300/S300M ships w/2yr warranty...

Toshiba’s on Monday announced two new Satellite Pro notebooks: both the Satellite Pro S300M and Satellite Pro S300 are value-/entry-level business laptops and now ship with a two-year warranty and port replicator support for (hot) docking. The 14.1-inch laptops include Fingerprint readers, business card reader software, and face recognition software for security by using the integrated webcam to grant/deny access to the laptop as well as fourth-generation EasyGuard Technology with PC Health Monitor, a preventative maintenance utility that continuously checks the performance and functionality of a laptop’s critical hardware components and will alert users when the system is in need of a tune up.

Microsoft still claims "Apple tax" when buying a Mac...

In advance of Apple's alleged sub-$1000 laptop announcement, Microsoft's vice president of Windows Consumer Product Marketing Brad Brooks claims that potential users will still be subject to a hidden "Apple tax". According to an interview with CNET, Brooks cites the lack of Windows or the cost of adding it to the machine as a defining factor, or the availability of technology like Blu-ray or HDMI. It is interesting to note the presence of Entourage on the Mac, however, since Brooks says the lack of Outlook on the Mac is a setback.

Microsoft adds upgrade incentives for X360 owners...

Microsoft is enticing Xbox 360 Core and Arcade system owners to acquire a high-capacity 512MB memory module or 20GB hard drive, offering an upgrade path for interested users. The program is designed to prepare lower-end Xbox 360 owners for the upcoming user interface update, coming November 19th. Core systems can be eligible for either a free 512MB memory module, or a $20 20GB hard drive, while Arcade owners can pay $30 for the 20GB hard drive, with three months of Xbox Live Gold.

ATTO demos new 6-Gb host adapters, 8-Gb controller...

Storage device company ATTO has unveiled new products at the Storage Networking World trade show, a line of ExpressSAS 6-Gb SAS/SATA host adapters, and the FastStream SC 8500 8-Gb RAID storage controller. The ExpressSAS 6-Gb SAS/SATA host adapters combine the company's Advanced Data Streaming (ADS) technology with management software for Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms. Six models will be released in the line, which are in the process of being shipped to OEMs and partners for certification and qualification.

Yoggie adds Mac enterprise security cards...

Yoggie has introduced two new security devices for Mac computers, the Gatekeeper Pico and Gatekeeper Card Pro. Both contain complete mini-computer systems including a processor, memory, and secured operating system. The Pico version is roughly the size of a USB-key and connects through the USB port, while the Card Pro slides into an ExpressCard slot. Each will boot with the computer and hijack the network connections using a low-level driver, which routes internet traffic through the device first so an attack doesn't reach the host computer.

Microsoft keeps Windows 7 moniker, unveiling soon...

Microsoft on Monday officially dubbed the next version of its operating system Windows 7, the company reveals in its Windows Vista blog. Corporate VP of Windows Product Management Mike Nash notes that while Microsoft has used codenames during final product releases in the past, he believes this to be a first for Windows. Nash admits that, since this would be the seventh incarnation of the NT kernel, Windows 7 "just makes sense" as a product title.

Bush signs tougher anti-piracy law...

US President George Bush on Monday signed the PRO-IP Act into law, increasing the federal government's attempts to crack down on copyright violations and other intellectual property infringement in the country. The Act will bring in a cabinet member dedicated to improving copyright protection and also increases punishments for both basic copyright violations as well as physical counterfeits.

NetGear launches first six-bay desktop NAS...

NetGear on Monday announced it is now shipping the industry's first six-bay desktop network-attached storage (NAS) devices, with its ReadyNAS Pro range, meant for use in small- and medium-sized businesses with up to 200 users. Available in 1.5TB, 3TB and 6TB capacities, the products allow users connected in local or wireless networks to store, back up and share data whether operating on Windows, Mac or Linux platforms.

Averatec brings Atom-based all-in-one to US...

Averatec today brought over a new addition to its All-in-One series that was previously available only in Europe. Once called the A1, the All-in-One 18.4-inch PC takes the uncommon approach of attaching a large 16:9 display to a nettop, giving it the stature of a desktop but a relatively low price. The system continues to run a 1.6GHz Atom processor and also carries 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive and Wi-Fi.

First Look: Microsoft SideWinder X6 Keyboard...

Video game consoles like the Xbox or PlayStation are easy to use because they offer special game controllers designed to play video games. Unfortunately, most computers are saddled with an ordinary keyboard designed for general use. If you prefer a specialized keyboard optimized for video game playing, consider Microsoft’s SideWinder X6 Keyboard.

Images of Sirius SUB-X2 Boombox leaked...

Images of an upcoming Sirius Boombox, the SUB-X2, have leaked on Monday, thanks to Monday's Orbitcast report. Like the current SUB-X1 boombox, the photos reveal the new Boombox will sport a front-panel headphone jack and auxiliary input that will enable users to plug in their personal MP3 players and non universal docking Sirius radios.

LG Display intros privacy protection notebook LCDs...

LG Display intros privacy protection notebook LCDs LG Display on Monday announced it has developed a 14.1-inch LCD panel for notebook computers that can change its horizontal viewing angle from 175 degrees to 60 degrees with an adjustable control. Called Viewing-angle Image Control (VIC) display technology, the innovation gives users greater privacy without the need to use any plastic filters. According to an LG Display executive, reducing the viewing angle does not have a significant affect on screen brightness.

Dual SIM, touchscreen Samsung D980 out in Russia...

Samsung on Monday issued an announcement that it has launched its D980 handset in Russia. The handset is one of the very few that combines a 2.6-inch, 240x320 touchscreen with dual SIM card support, enabling users to use one card for making phone calls and the other for browsing the Internet and downloading data. The supported networks include the 900/1800/1900MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE bands, and 3G networks are not supported. Users get a stylus for navigating Samsung's TouchWiz interface, though it is not required.

Microsoft set to release Silverlight 2...

Microsoft is nearing a final release of its updated programmable browser plugin, Silverlight 2, with a beta version available for download. Many of the new features are designed to be attractive to developers, which will be a key factor for taking market share from its main competitor, Adobe Flash. Support for the full range of .NET framework has been added, which further expands the list of compatible programming languages that also includes Visual Basic, C#, JavaScript, IronPython, and IronRuby. The plugin now works across Windows, Mac, or Linux systems in Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer.

Inventory leak shows no price drop for new MacBooks...

An alleged Best Buy inventory printout for new MacBook models shows pricing unchanged from current versions, according to a leak on Gizmodo. The list uses color codes to represent the different models, and mentions prices ranging from $1,100 for the 13-inch base model up to $2,800 for the 17-inch MacBook Pro. Information such as dimensions and stock dates are believed to be temporary placeholders.

Lian Li launches Classic PC-9 mid tower chassis...

Taiwan's Lian Li on Monday announced the release of its newest PC chassis, the PC-9 mid-tower. The tower features five 5.25-inch bays for optical drives and an HDD Cage that has four slots for 3.5-inch hard disk drives. The SATA connections allow for hot swaps of the drives, while a lockable front door keeps the cage secure. A dedicated 4.7-inch fan cools the HDDs, while another fan of the same size is mounted in the rear for all other ventilation needs. Other cooling aids include an ATX or micro ATX motherboard tray that has additional holes for better ventilation. The 7x PCI slots are covered by a grill that is, again, meant to improve airflow. Each 5.25-inch bay cover contains a removable nylon filter that can be cleaned easily and keeps the inside of the case clean of dust and other particles.

Egypt GPS ban still locks out iPhone, more...

Egypt is under increasing pressure to lift GPS ban that effectively outlaws the use navigation devices for personal purposes. Passed in 2003, the restriction applies to all stand-alone GPS units as well as cellphones and other devices that don't explicitly receive government approval; companies that import hardware with GPS can lose their supplies if caught. The country is only one of three to still ban the technology and is joined by North Korea and Syria.

LG intros LG80 HDTV with built-in 3.1 audio...

LG on Monday attempted a different tack with HDTVs today by introducing the LG80 into its Scarlet series. The large-screen LCD aims to provide the built-in sound that often requires an external sound system and switches from the 2.0-channel audio only sound of most TVs to a 3.1-channel, 50W setup. Adding the center satellite and subwoofer not only improves dialog and low-end bass but enables a virtual surround sound mix that simulates a larger home theater without consuming extra space.

AMD: DOJ ends probe on GPU price fixing...

Late last week, the US Department of Justice officially told chipmaker AMD it has ended its antitrust investigation into the company's pricing and marketing practices and will not take any action, AMD announced on Monday. The subpoenas were issued at the end of 2006 for AMD and ATI Technologies, which was purchased by AMD earlier that year, as well as competitor NVIDIA. As the top two add-in graphics chipmakers were producing products similar in performance and pricing, industry analysts believed the two were involved in collusion and price fixing practices.

Sony: No PS3 price cut in time for Christmas...

Gamers should not expect the price of the PlayStation 3 to fall any farther in time for Christmas, says the president of Sony Computer Entertainment. "The answer is yes, if you’re asking, ‘Are these the prices we’re going with this Christmas,’" according to Kazuo Hirai. The PS3 has long been the most expensive of the current-generation consoles, originally starting at minimum of $499, though an 80GB model now costs $399. By comparison, a Nintendo Wii costs $249, while a barebones version of Microsoft's Xbox 360 is $199.

Nokia said prepping touchscreen Nseries...

Nokia already has a second touchscreen device in the works following the 5800 XpressMusic, the company's Indian marketing chief Devinder Kishore has reportedly told CellPassion at a New Delhi event. The phone would sit above the mid-range 5800 and instead join the Nseries, which so far has relied almost exclusively on traditional direction and number pads for controls but often has stronger cameras and other media features.

IOGEAR intros 3-Port USB 2.0 Mobile Hub with mini-USB...

IOGEAR on Monday announced the release of its 3-port USB 2.0 Mobile Hub, which not only expands the available USB ports of a Windows or Mac laptop or PC, but also includes a mini USB cord for transferring data from or charging cellphones or other compatible portable electronics. Both the mini-USB and USB cords tuck away into the sides of the hub for a clean and organized package.

AT&T gets W760 as first 3G Walkman phone...

Wireless provider AT&T and handset maker Sony Ericsson on Monday announced the availability of the Sony Ericsson W760a Walkman phone, unique as the first Walkman-branded handset to offer access to 3G data networks on AT&T and possessing a built-in accelerometer that allows users to switch tracks by shaking or tilting the device. The new interface method can also be used as a controller when playing video games.

FCC greenlights free mobile Internet spec...

The FCC has approved the technical details of frequencies for free long-range broadband, a new report (PDF) states. The government body's testing has concluded that there is a minimal risk at best of interference with the particular Advanced Wireless Spectrum frequencies used by the technology. Critics, including cell carrier T-Mobile, had previously tried to dissuade the FCC by asserting that compatible hardware would disrupt their own networks.

Foxconn boasts high revenues based on iPhone, others...

Foxconn Electronics -- the Chinese company that does final assembly on iPhones -- has posted its highest September revenues ever, figures show. The company accumulated the equivalent of $4.86 billion, a 9.61 percent growth over August and a 36.65 increase year-over-year. Notably, the growth is being attributed to increased shipments of specific products, namely the iPhone, Sony's PlayStation 3 console and various PCs. This seems to have defied global economic problems, though the full impact of the credit crisis would not be felt until October.

Acer intros multimedia PC and high-def 24-inch LCD...

Acer on Monday announced it will begin shipping the Aspire X3200 desktop PC optimized to work as a multimedia entertainment center along with a 24-inch Acer P244W widescreen LCD that is capable of displaying 1920x1080, 16:9 ratio images. To take advantage of the monitor's resolution, the X3200-U3630A PC includes a Blu-ray drive and NVIDIA's GeForce 8200 integrated graphics. The PC also sports a 2.1GHz AMD Phenom X3 CPU along with 4GB of RAM.

ASUS iMac rival on pre-order, to hit $450 in US...

ASUS' first attempt at an all-in-one desktop will cost even less than expected and is already surfacing online, according to multiple sources. Previously known as the Eee Monitor, the Eee Top is now said by PC industry contacts to be scaling down in size and will include both a version with a 15.6-inch display as well as an originally planned 19-inch model. The reduction, combined with the use of Linux and Intel's 1.6GHz Atom processor, will reportedly lead to just a $450 US price when it goes on sale in the near future. Previous leaks had hinted a figure closer to $500.

iPods, MacBooks to get WiMAX in Korea?...

Apple is giving both its iPods and MacBooks wide-area wireless in South Korea, a statement reads. The American company has signed a memorandum of understanding with major telecoms provider KT Corp to bundle KT's WiBro (WiMAX in Korea) mobile broadband service with Apple's portable music players and notebooks. Neither firm is specific on details, though the iPod touch and similar devices would require built-in hardware to support the feature where MacBooks could use USB or ExpressCard adapters depending on the model.

T-Mobile sells 1.5 million G1 pre-orders...

T-Mobile will immediately launch into direct competition with iPhone-level sales numbers when the Android-based G1 goes on sale in just over a week, according to claims by the Motley Fool. The carrier has reportedly not only sold out its initial pre-order allotment but a three times larger second wave as well; the tally sets aside 1.5 million G1s just for existing customers willing to buy the device without a first hands-on.

LG unveils full-keyboard Prada II phone...

LG Electronics, along with PRADA Group, have announced the second Prada phone with a new slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Confirming earlier reports, the upcoming update to the designer phone is -- due by the end of the year -- is nearly identical to the original, but features a slide-out full metallic silver QWERTY keyboard. The iPhone competitor also offers other new features such as additional on-screen, call and hang-up buttons and addresses other shortcoming in the first version by adding 3G compatibility with video calling, 7.2Mbps HSDPA for connectivity, and a new finer five megapixel camera with a Schneider-Kreuznach lens. The company said it also brings Wi-Fi support and a full HTML browser to surf the internet.

T-Mobile offers BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 for $150...

T-Mobile on Monday announced that the first BlackBerry flip phone – the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 -- is now available in the U.S., exclusively from T-Mobile. Originally announced in early September, the new BlackBerry Pearl Flip smartphone includes the same features as the BlackBerry Pearl, but adds a "spacious" keyboard for improved typing and dialing. The 3.6oz device is only 3.9" x 1.96" x 0.68" and will be available at launch in black (with a red variant planned for the "coming weeks"--as early as October 20, according to reports). The phone will cost $149.99 with a two-year contract.