YouTube integrates Amazon, iTunes links...

YouTube is integrating functionality for Amazon.com and Apple's iTunes Store into YouTube partner video pages, allowing users to purchase related content from record companies like EMI, or various software packages, books, and other media. The move comes in response to many users' requests of where to find a particular song, or when a game would be released. YouTube says the feature is designed to provide users with a non-obtrusive way to obtain legitimate copies of content.

Vodafone makes BB Storm official, giveaway offer...

Vodafone recently launched an official website for the upcoming BlackBerry Storm 9500 handheld for its customers in the United Kingdom, offering users a 360 degree view of the device, as well as views of several of its features. While Vodafone is silent on when to expect shipment (a notice on the page merely says "Coming Soon"), the company highlights a promotional give-away, in which there are 20 of the devices for users to win before October 25th.

Brother intros new line of multifunction printers...

Brother has launched its next generation of inkjet printers, with printing, copying, scanning and faxing capabilities on all three new models. Its flagship MFC-790CW also includes a 4.2-inch touch screen and wireless networking. The 790 model includes 802.11 b/g wireless network support for printing without wires and supporting multiple PCs at once, direct printing from media cards and through its PictBridge interface and a 15-page automatic document feeder. It also has front-loading inks, a telephone handset with a digital answering machine built in and prints at a 33 page per minute rate.

Sleek Audio and Kleer unveil wireless adapter ...

Sleek Audio and Kleer have collaborated on bringing a wireless music streaming adapter for use with Sleek Audio’s SA6 in-ear headphones. The Sleek Wireless adapter uses Kleer’s 2.4GHz radio link, which is said to achieve 10 times more battery life than a comparable Bluetooth headset, to deliver CD-quality sound. The adapter replaces the cable of the headphones by plugging into the SA6 earphones‘ 3.5mm stereo jack, and features a built-in battery rated for 10 hours of listening time, outlasting many of the source players’ battery ratings.

Investor: MS has "Google-envy," distracted...

Microsoft has distracted itself to where it's no longer a viable investment, Greenlight Capital investor David Einhorn says in a comment on the results of his company's summer quarter. He accuses the Windows developer of an "overaggressive and almost panicky" approach to competing with Google, at first launching an attempt to buy Yahoo only to overcompensate for its unsuccessful deal by spending large amounts of money on its own efforts to compete with Google in search and web ads.

Best Buy Mobile leak shows dates of future handsets...

A leaked Best Buy Mobile presentation slide that surfaced on Monday has revealed ship dates for a few upcoming handsets from various carriers. The leak revealed the Verizon Blitz in Titanium, which is priced at $300 on Best Buy’s site and only marked as Coming Soon, will ship on October 26th. Other handsets set to ship on the same date according to the slide include the HTC Touch Pro with Sprint, the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 with T-Mobile and the Samsung M540 Rant from Sprint in black, an exclusive-to-Best Buy purple or red.

Logitech launches Cordless Vantage Microphone...

Peripheral maker Logitech on Tuesday announced it will soon release the Cordless Vantage Microphone for avid gamers. The microphone connects to PCs and is compatible with the Sony PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 as well as the Microsoft Xbox 360 gaming systems thanks to a USB port. The microphone relies on the 2.4GHz frequency to provide the wireless connection to its USB base which doubles as a holder, with range of up to 30 feet. Logitech claims the two included AA batteries will last more than 20 hours.

Samsung adds ultra-fast 22X DVD burners ...

Samsung on Tuesday announced the upcoming release of three new DVD burners to add to its Super-WriteMaster series with the SH-S223Q SATA internal drive and the SH-S222A and SH-S222L PATA internal drives. All are capable of writing at 22X speeds, which translates to about 29.7MBps and, Samsung claims, is among the fastest speed currently available in commercial burners. The SH-S223Q and the SH-S222L also feature LightScribe technology that allows users to engrave CDs and DVDs with labels, photos and other designs.

Toshiba launches portable projector with USB port...

Toshiba on Tuesday announced the release of its portable TLP-X150U projector, which features a USB port that allows users to make presentations without the need for a PC and has closed captioning capabilities. The slim 3LCD projector features a native resolution of 1024x768 and 2600 lumens brightness along with a 600:1 contrast ratio. The projector weighs in at 4lbs, is less than 3 inches tall and comes with a carrying bag to promote its portability. Toshiba’s Natural Color Enhancer5 software sharpens up the colors.

BlackBerry Storm due Wed. at London event?...

The BlackBerry Storm should finally receive a more formal announcement as early as tomorrow, RBC analyst Mike Abramsky claims in an investment note issued today. The researcher expects RIM's first touchscreen smartphone will be announced this week and may appear on Wednesday in London. The venue would likely be used chiefly for the phone's launch on Vodafone but should be accompanied soon if not immediately by news of a Verizon model for the US.

Research turns LEDs into 10Mbps wireless...

Boston University says that it has developed the basics of a new wireless data method that would allow computers and other devices to communicate in a room without the traditional weaknesses of Wi-Fi. Instead of using radio waves, the new approach would use an optical wireless system that would translate very rapid pulses in LED lighting into data signals. Each light would be capable of as much as 10Mbps and would effectively serve as an access point for a central network node by broadcasting to network devices with a line of sight.

Analyst: NVIDIA to exit chipsets in 2009...

According to an analyst with the Pacific Crest Securities, chipset manufacturer NVIDIA will stop making media and communications chipsets in 2009, representing 21 percent of the company‘s current revenue. While the Tuesday report notes that NVIDIA had flat-out denied similar rumors back in August, its partners AMD and Intel are both are breaking into the mainboard chipset business themselves, Intel with in-house efforts and AMD with the recent purchase of chipmaker ATI.

HTC: No Touch HD coming to US...

Americans will not have access to the Touch HD phone, maker HTC has announced through its Twitter feed. The company says that although it "looked into it," it has decided that by the time the HD could be converted and imported into the US, the device would be "old news." It is promising "other cool stuff" later down the line, but has not specified what this may mean.

Nintendo dashes hopes of early Wii HD info...

Claims of leaked early details for a Wii HD console are false, Nintendo of America head Reggie Fils-Aime says in a new interview with VentureBeat. The rumor, which described an upgraded console fast enough to output HD video and with permanent storage, is described as "pure rumor and speculation" by the executive that has been misinterpreted as fact by some outlets. Fils-Aime doesn't deny an eventual update but debunks the notion that Nintendo would gauge first reactions to an update by showing a prototype to developers.

Nikon intros Wi-Fi video player, headset combo...

Breaking out of its normal camera business, Nikon this morning unveiled its unique Media Port UP300x media player. The device mounts a video eyepiece on headphones that supplies a 640x480 picture equivalent to a 50-inch screen viewed from 10 feet away. The unusual trick lets owners watch MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and WMV videos while on foot, on public transit or other areas where users want large-screened video without access to a regular TV. It also builds in 802.11g Wi-Fi and supports not just web browsing with Flash and Javascript but also buying music and video directly from an online store.

MS Surface SDK available later this month...

Microsoft will release the long-promised Software Development Kit (SDK) for its Surface tabletop computer at its Professional Developer Conference set to begin on October 27. according to a Tuesday report. Apart from distributing the SDK to developers other than current partners AT&T and Starwood hotels, both of whom have been using Surface computers in their retail and hotel locations, the software giant will hold a tutorial on how to take advantage of the new platform when writing Surface applications.

Chumby gets Pandora Internet radio, more...

Chumby today added support for a new set of features on its namesake customizable Internet media device. The updates are headlined by the addition of Pandora's radio streams; users can now listen to their personal Internet music feeds on the device and flag songs as they would on a computer or cellphone to favorite certain music styles or exclude others. Pandora can also be used as the default alarm along with other usual sources. Using the new stream on the Chumby is free.

HP moving industry to 13in, 16:9 notebooks?...

A design decision from HP could lead much of the notebook business to making small 16:9 aspect ratio displays, according to alleged tips from manufacturers. The American PC builder is purportedly set to focus much of its energy on portables with 13- to 13.9-inch LCDs in the significantly wider proportions starting from the fall, pulling much of the industry with it by making the extra-wide displays common. The shift is said to be prompted by the lower price of making 13-inch screens versus 14-inch equivalents with the same ratio.

ASUS 1st with true quad-core gaming notebook...

ASUS on Tuesday set out to claim a first for notebooks by launching the 17-inch G71 notebook. The system is the first gaming-oriented notebook to have the option a true mobile quad-core processor rather than using a large, hot-running desktop part. The shift not only lets ASUS produce a reasonably-sized system but also removes some of the barriers on performance; although the stock Core 2 Extreme chip runs at 2.53GHz, the lack of hardware restrictions lets owners overclock the processor to levels that more closely match desktops.

AMD splits into design, chipmaking firms...

AMD this morning took a radical step to improve its fortunes by launching into its promised split into two separate companies. The plan will see AMD break off its semiconductor manufacturing business into a separate company, for now known as the The Foundry Company, and will result in the new company both assuming about $1.2 billion of AMD's debt and the Abu Dhabi-based firm Advanced Technology Investment Company (ATIC) supplying about $2.1 billion to both start up the new company as well as to help earn a majority stake in the project, which will also give it 55.6 percent of shares.

Digital Foci intros 140PPI 5.7-inch photo frame...

Digital Foci on Monday unveiled its Image Moments 6 high-resolution digital frame built around a 5.7-inch, 640x480 LCD screen with a 300:1 contrast ratio. What the company claims is the highest pixel density (at 140ppi) digital photo frame on the market is also dubbed as The Executive, and features an LED backlight that delivers more colors than other technologies. The frame is also unique in that it allows users to display photos and play music or videos at the same time and from multiple sources, be it the internal memory or any one of the seven supported memory cards.

Specs, product page suggest BenQ S6 MID going global...

The previously announced BenQ S6 mobile Internet device (MID) that launched in Italy will be making its way to other markets soon, as indicated by BenQ’s global product page for the gadget. The device uses an Intel Atom processor running at 800MHz and a 4.8-inch, 800x480 touchscreen for data access that is faster than 3G but not quite up to 4G network speeds. A video user guide has also surfaced, showcasing the device’s Free Surf user interface.

Sega Vision a multimedia player, not gaming device...

Late last week, rumors started appearing, touting a new portable gaming device is being brought out by Sega, following up its Genesis portable gaming system from the ’90s. The device, to be called the Vision, would compete with the likes of Nintendo’s DS and Sony’s PSP, many believed. But another Friday report dispelled the misconceptions, by getting confirmation from Sega USA itself that, while the device is indeed real and coming to market in 2009, it will not aim to compete with the DS or PSP. Instead, the Vision is an MP4 video player capable of entertaining users with basic Java games like ones users can find on cellphones.

AT&T to stop pre-paid unlimited GoPhone data plan...

A recent report reveals AT&T will stop offering its $20 per month prepaid unlimited data plan on November 12. As part of the wireless network provider’s GoPhone service, the plan was the cheapest offered anywhere for access to unlimited data on fast 3G networks. AT&T officially explains the discontinuation as the end of a trial and the company is now looking into other prepaid data offerings. Critics argue that AT&T was losing data plan subscribers, who saved money by switching to the pre-paid GoPhone option.

MSI Wind to land in US Best Buy shops...

MSI today said that its Wind netbook is shipping to Best Buy, marking one of the first times the portable has been available in a major US retail chain. The netbook ships in just one configuration for the store and comes with Windows XP pre-loaded as well as the necessary 1GB of RAM and a 120GB hard drive; MSI keeps pricing under check by using the stock three-cell battery rather than the larger six-cell pack.

Sonnet launches 802.11n wireless PCI adapter card ...

Sonnet Technologies recently launched its Aria Extreme N PCI 802.11n wireless PCI card for Power Mac G4 and G5 as well as Windows desktop computers. The new product has three 2TX/3RX antennas, and the card is backwards compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g routers and related equipment. It connects to any Windows PC via a PCI or PCI-X card slot and supports WEP, WPA and WPA2 security protocols, while network encryption is handled by AES and TKIP standards.

Logitech launches Harmony 510 remote...

Logitech has recently added another universal remote to its Harmony line with the Harmony 510. The entry-level remote sports 45 buttons and is capable of controlling five different devices. Based on the familiar shape shared with new and old remotes such as the Harmony 550 and Advanced Universal Remote for Xbox 360, the Harmony 510 has a different color scheme and a slightly different key configuration, including two fewer buttons. Unlike the 550, however, the less expensive 510 includes a battery status indicator and guided online set-up, in addition to what Logitech calls Onboard Intelligence and One-Touch Activity-Based control functions.

Apple, Dell, HP stock forecasts cut...

Financial researchers at UBS today helped trigger a major share sell-off at the three top US-owned computer builders by dramatically reducing the institution's target share prices. Company analyst Maynard Um today dropped the expected prices of Apple, Dell and HP from their original $195, $50 and $20 to $125, $48 and $17 respectively and attributed the cut exclusively to poor economies in Europe, the UK and the US having a negative impact on PC buying.

AOL, Yahoo to merge by October's end?...

AOL and Yahoo have revived and even accelerated merger talks and may be ready to strike a deal by the end of October, say alleged sources of TechCrunch. The claimed proposal would have Yahoo pick up all of AOL's content business as well as a $2 billion cash infusion in exchange for a one-third Time Warner stake in the resulting company.

Sony intros first iPod-ready marine head units...

Sony on Monday introduced its first marine CD receivers that are able to connect directly to compatible iPod, iPhone and other music players through a USB cable. The CDX-H910UI and CDX-M60UI head units also come with Sony’s MemoryBackup and ZAPPIN features, with the former saving radio station presets when the boat is in storage and the latter offering a short preview of a song to allow users to navigate large music collections. At the same time, the company rolled out the Remote Commander RM-X60M remote control, which is compatible with the head units. All three new products were unveiled at the International Boatbuilders' Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) show.

Netflix drops estimates based on economy...

Subscriber numbers for Netflix are on a slight decline, the company has announced. The movie rental outfit says that in figures for the third quarter of the year, it recorded only 8.672 million subscribers, below predictions of 8.675 to 8.875 million. Final revenue figures, which will be announced on October 20th, are expected to end up between $343 and $348 million. CFO Barry McCarthy notes that while July subscriber growth was fine, it dropped significantly in August, only to resume growth in September.

EchoStar, DISH pay TiVo $104m in long patent suit...

EchoStar and DISH today were told by the US Supreme Court to pay TiVo $104 million for allegedly infringing on some of the DVR maker's patents. The decision comes following an unsuccessful appeal of an original 2006 decision by EchoStar and DISH and will potentially increase further if additional patent lawsuits and claims of contempt are decided in TiVo's favor. The set-top box producer last month accused DISH and EchoStar of violating a stop placed on their own DVRs by continuing to sell satellite TV DVRs with software TiVo says copies its features.

Toshiba’s 14.1-inch E105 coming soon to Best Buy...

An online Best Buy store listing reveals the specs and prices of Toshiba’s new, 14.1-inch Satellite-series E105 notebook. The advertised version sports a backlit keyboard, Intel’s dual-core 2.26GHz processor and 4GB of RAM. The laptop includes a 320GB hard drive and is just 1.2 inches thick while weighing in at 5lbs. Graphics processing for the 1280x800 screen is handled by the onboard GMA 4500 MHD chipset that brings with it an HDMI output; an FM tuner is also unusually built-in.

Telstra readies 21Mbps 3G+ in late 2008...

Australian cell carrier Telstra this morning said it was on track to be one of the first providers in the world to use Enhanced HSPA, or eHSPA. Also known as HSPA+, the feature will give peak Internet download speeds of about 21Mbps per second, or about three times the best 7.2Mbps speed on regular HSPA devices. The move is made possible in part by having a new Ethernet-based network backbone and should supply 'true' mobile broadband across the island country.

Sanyo develops 12X, 100GB Blu-ray laser...

Sanyo on Monday revealed a new Blu-ray laser that could significantly speed up recording while also doubling the amount of available storage. By increasing the power of the laser to about 450mW, the Japanese electronics maker says it can not only produce the pits that hold data at a 12X rate versus the current 8X ceiling but penetrate up to four layers deep, allowing as much as 100GB on one disc versus the 50GB of a current two-layer disc.

iPhone 3G now 17% of US smartphone market...

The iPhone 3G's launch propelled Apple to the top of the US smartphone market in the summer and near the peak of the smartphone ranks in the US, according to NPD Group data. The phone outsold the BlackBerry Curve, BlackBerry Pearl and Palm Centro in the June through August window and used the spike generated by the launch to give all iPhones about 17 percent of the US smartphone business from January through August, or more than one in six smartphones sold in the country.

Verizon outs Moto Rapture VU30, VU204...

Verizon today continued its phone launches with a pair of Motorla phones as well as a Bluetooth headset. The Rapture VU30 carries the partly touch-sensitive external display concept of the RAZR2 flip phone to a lower-cost device while sacrificing few of the features from the earlier designer phone; it too carries a two-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, assist-only GPS and a microSDHC slot for its storage. EVDO provides direct access to Verizon's online music store.

AT&T picks up $29 Pantech 3G phone...

AT&T this morning set a baseline for its faster 3G network with the launch of the Pantech C610. The clamshell gets faster browsing and access to music downloads, media streaming and one-way video calls through HSDPA. In return, Pantech uses a handful of minor hardware choices to save on the final cost. A 1.3-megapixel camera and assist-only GPS help keep the price down, though the C610 still supports stereo Bluetooth audio and microSD Storage.

Samsung Sway music phone hits Verizon...

Verizon this morning added an unusual slider media phone that combines some budget and mid-range features in the same device. The Samsung Sway is capped at 1X RTT for data and so needs to use USB to sync with Verizon's V CAST Music store rather than download over EVDO. However, the phone counters this with a two-megapixel camera that supports video capture, full Bluetooth with stereo audio and a microSDHC slot that holds up to 8GB of music and other media.

BlackBerry Storm gets copy/paste, app store...

RIM's BlackBerry Storm will try to better the interface of the iPhone as well as emulate it, a pair of leaks show. A BGR scoop shows that the cellphone maker's first touch device will still include a copy-and-paste function despite the absence of typical controls; a multi-touch input lets users tap the ends of text to highlight the relevant sections; users can then refine where the text starts and copy it to paste it later.

Judge temporarily blocks RealDVD sales...

A judge today issued a temporary ban on sales of RealNetworks' RealDVD as part of proceedings for major movie studios' copyright lawsuit against the video software firm. The move, which officially lasts until Tuesday, is primarily to give the judge an opportunity to review filings made in the case but may be extended if more time is needed or the court decides to support a longer injunction against sales until the end of the case.