Personal Technology News

A man looks at Sony Vaio laptops at a showroom in Singapore September 5, 2008. Sony shares fell more than 4 percent to hit the lowest in almost three years on Friday after the electronics maker announced a recall of 438,000 Vaio portable computers due to possible overheating that could burn users. (Vivek Prakash/Reuters)

Sony shares hit 3-yr low after Vaio laptop recall

Reuters - Fri Sep 5, 12:42 AM ET

TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony Corp (6758.T) shares fell more than 4 percent to hit the lowest in almost three years on Friday after the electronics maker announced a recall of 438,000 Vaio portable computers due to possible overheating that could burn users.

  • Ruling in TiVo, EchoStar case could be delayed Reuters - Thu Sep 4, 10:01 PM ET

    LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A federal judge in Texas on Thursday delayed ruling until as late as November on whether EchoStar Corp owes TiVo Inc more damages for infringing on its "Time Warp" digital video recorder, or DVR, technology.

  • Microsoft Slashes Prices of Xbox 360 Models NewsFactor - Thu Sep 4, 5:11 PM ET

    There is something for everyone, according to Microsoft officials who are touting the company's new prices for all three models of its video game console, the Xbox 360.

  • Sony recalls laptops for possible overheating AP - Thu Sep 4, 4:51 PM ET

    TOKYO - Sony Corp. is recalling 440,000 Vaio laptop computers worldwide because of a wiring flaw that could cause overheating.

  • Google touts iPhone, Chrome browser InfoWorld - Thu Sep 4, 4:30 PM ET

    San Francisco - A Google executive Thursday heaped praise on Apple's iPhone, even with his company set to challenge Apple in this same space with its Android mobile computing platform.

  • Hands On with 'Spore' PC Magazine - Thu Sep 4, 12:37 PM ET

    I'm pretty sure that I do not have an addictive personality. I don't drink or smoke -- I'm just not into doing anything in excess. However Will Wright's new game, the remarkably immersive Spore ($49.95, PC and Mac only), could have me signing up for the nearest 12-step program any day now.

  • Sony Recalls VAIO Laptops To Avoid Overheating NewsFactor - Thu Sep 4, 12:24 PM ET

    Sony has issued a recall for thousands of its VAIO laptop computers in the U.S. because of possible overheating or short-circuits.

  • Sony's latest "Vaio" laptop computers are displayed during their press preview in Tokyo in July 2008. Sony Corp. said Thursday that overheating notebook computers slightly injured seven people and urged customers to bring in some 440,000 units for repairs.(AFP/File/Toshifumi Kitamura)
    Sony says laptops overheat, urges repairs AFP - Thu Sep 4, 12:14 PM ET

    TOKYO (AFP) - Sony Corp. said Thursday that overheating notebook computers slightly injured seven people and urged customers to bring in some 440,000 units for repairs.

  • ProteMac Meter logs network activity Macworld.com - Thu Sep 4, 6:15 AM ET

    ProteMac has announced the release of ProteMac Meter, a network activity monitor and traffic logging utility for Mac O SX. It costs $29.95 for a single-user license. A download is available.

  • Sprint's Touch Diamond Leaks Out PC Magazine - Thu Sep 4, 6:13 AM ET

    The HTC Touch Diamond is a Windows Mobile smart phone with a new 3-D interface and possible problems.

  • Should IT form a union? InfoWorld - Thu Sep 4, 6:00 AM ET

    San Francisco - Sixty-hour work weeks with no overtime or comp time, a BlackBerry hitched to your belt 24/7, mandates from managers who have no clue what you actually do ??? all for a job that could be outsourced tomorrow. Is it finally time for technology workers to form a union and demand better working conditions?

  • In this file photo a Chinese worker tests mobile phones at a production line of Ningbo Bird Co. Ltd in the eastern port city of Ningbo February 19, 2004. Asia will continue to deliver strong growth in the mobile phone market due to sustained demand from China and India, the world's two biggest markets of such services, industry officials said. (Claro Cortes IV/Reuters)
    Asia leads mobile growth, but lags on Internet Reuters - Thu Sep 4, 3:44 AM ET

    BANGKOK (Reuters) - Asia will continue to deliver strong growth in the mobile phone market due to sustained demand from China and India, the world's two biggest markets of such services, industry officials said.

  • Sandvox 1.5 improves media processing, pagelets Macworld.com - Thu Sep 4, 1:00 AM ET

    Karelia Software has announced the release of Sandvox 1.5, a "major upgrade" to the company's visual Web site editing software for the Mac. Sandvox 1.5 is a free upgrade for registered users, and costs $49 for the "Regular" version or $79 for the "Pro" version.

  • Lucas Charbit (C) and Thomas Latina, both of France, play Rock Band on a Xbox 360 console at the AMD 'Innovation Experience' during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada January 7, 2008. (Steve Marcus/Reuters)
    Microsoft to cut Xbox 360 U.S. price to below Wii Reuters - Wed Sep 3, 7:49 PM ET

    SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp said on Wednesday it plans to cut the U.S. prices of its Xbox 360 video game machine, lowering the price of its entry-level console to $50 below Nintendo Co Ltd's (7974.OS) top-selling Wii.

  • Customers queue to buy Apple's new 3G iPhone in Tokyo in July 2008. China Mobile, the country's largest handset operator, is in the final stages of talks with Apple to launch the iPhone in China, the world's largest mobile phone market, state media have reported.(AFP/File/Yoshikazu Tsuno)
    iTunes 8 coming at next week's Apple event? CNET - Wed Sep 3, 6:14 PM ET

    Add another possibility to the list of possible announcements at Apple's iPod event next week: a new version of iTunes.

  • Sony Corp.'s new Blu-ray disc player BDP-S5000ES is shown to the press during a news conference in Tokyo Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008. The new player will sell for a suggested price of 294,000 yen (US2,700 dollars) early December. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
    Sony, Pioneer Announce Pricey New Blu-ray Players NewsFactor - Wed Sep 3, 4:57 PM ET

    Sony, Pioneer and other manufacturers are expected to announce new Blu-ray DVD players for the U.S. market over the next few weeks. Sony, announcing new players and recorders in Japan this week, is expected to make a $2,000 Blu-ray player available for the upcoming holiday season in the U.S. Pioneer is expected to ship a similar model as well -- but many believe the price tags will doom their sales.

  • A prototype of the Google Android mobile by Qualcomm is on display at the Mobile World Congress (formerly 3GSM World Congress) in Barcelona, February 11, 2008. REUTERS/Albert Gea
    Smartphone Competition Heats Up with Many Choices NewsFactor - Wed Sep 3, 4:56 PM ET

    The market for smartphones is heating up and forcing competitors to make smart choices. With lots of players, including Apple going global with its iPhone 3G and HTC's Google Android-based phone, companies like Nokia-owned Symbian are paying attention.

  • A woman holds an iPhone handset in a Hong Kong street in early July. China Mobile, the country's largest handset operator, is in the final stages of talks with Apple to launch the iPhone in China, the world's largest mobile phone market, state media have reported.(AFP/File/Andrew Ross)
    Apple unlikely to unveil iTunes subscription service Tuesday CNET - Wed Sep 3, 4:11 PM ET

    Music industry insiders are buzzing about the press gathering Apple is hosting on Tuesday. The invitation shows a dancing man wearing an iPod and the slogan shouts, "Let's Rock."

  • An Apple iPhone is seen in New York, August 28, 2008. Russia's third largest mobile phone operator MegaFon said on Tuesday it had signed a distribution deal with Apple Inc. to sell iPhone 3G in Russia. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)
    AOL targets ads to the iPhone CNET - Wed Sep 3, 4:00 PM ET

    AOL has sharpened its ad-targeting tools for the iPhone in a nod to the popularity of the Apple smartphones.

  • Microsoft Makes Xbox 360 the Cheapest Console PC Magazine - Wed Sep 3, 3:57 PM ET

    It's official: the Xbox 360 has received a price cut, matching lowered prices that had been the subject of rumors.

  • An undated handout photo released by Breakaway Communications shows people using a digital video recorder. Digital video recorders don't just save TV shows, according to a new survey; they save relationships. Some 79 percent of 1,000 DVR owners reported that the technology has improved their relationship, according to the NDS DVR Report. (Handout/Reuters)
    DVRs save relationships: study Reuters - Wed Sep 3, 3:56 PM ET

    LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Digital video recorders don't just save TV shows, according to a new survey; they save relationships.

  • Sharp Unveils New HD Lineup PC Magazine - Wed Sep 3, 2:23 PM ET

    Sharp showcased a new Blu-ray player and several 1080p liquid crystal TVs at the CEDIA Expo.

  • Michael Dell, chief executive of Dell Inc., speaks during a news conference in New Delhi August 13, 2008. (B Mathur/Reuters)
    Dell may compete with iPhone eventually Reuters - Wed Sep 3, 2:12 PM ET

    BOSTON (Reuters) - Dell Inc Chief Executive Michael Dell said his company may one day sell a device that competes with Apple Inc's iPhone, though he does not plan to get into that market any time soon.

  • Fairway app for iPhone acts as 'virtual caddie' Macworld.com - Wed Sep 3, 12:15 PM ET

    WideAsleep LLC has announced the release of Fairway 1.0, a "virtual caddie" utility for the iPhone and iPod touch, now available for purchase and download from the App Store for $9.99.

  • Panasonic Updates Blu-ray Players PC Magazine - Wed Sep 3, 12:06 PM ET

    Panasonic's latest home-theater components highlight picture quality and integrated features.

  • A TiVo box and navigation screen are seen in an undated handout photo. (PRNewsFoto/Reuters)
    TiVo, DirecTV to develop new DVR Reuters - Wed Sep 3, 10:30 AM ET

    NEW YORK (Reuters) - TiVo Inc is developing a new digital video recorder for satellite TV provider DirecTV , rekindling a strained relationship and potentially opening the door to boosting the number of its subscribers.

  • From left, Popcuts co-founders Hannes Hesse, CEO Kevin Mateo Lim, and Yiming Liu, are photographed in Somerville, Mass., Friday, Aug. 29, 2008. The new Web site is trying to make it profitable for music lovers to stay ahead of the curve — by paying them when other people purchase MP3s they've bought. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)
    New music site gives fans a cut of tune sales AP - Wed Sep 3, 10:13 AM ET

    NEW YORK - Being a trendsetter can be pricey. As any fashionista or gadget hound knows, the latest frocks and tech toys don't pay for themselves. But a new Web site is trying to make it profitable for music lovers to stay ahead of the curve — by paying them when other people purchase MP3s they've bought.

  • A man passes by a poster advertising VIP Mobile in Belgrade in this picture taken June 21, 2008. (Ivan Milutinovic/Reuters)
    Consumers seen holding on to mobile phones longer Reuters - Wed Sep 3, 8:55 AM ET

    NEW YORK (Reuters) - Qualcomm Inc is seeing some signs that customers are slower to upgrade their mobile phones than before, Chief Executive Paul Jacobs said on Wednesday in an interview with cable television network CNBC.

  • Nokia's N96 handset is seen in an undated handout image. (Nokia/Handout/Reuters)
    Nokia says flagship N96 model begins shipping Reuters - Wed Sep 3, 8:30 AM ET

    HELSINKI (Reuters) - Nokia (NOK1V.HE), the world's top mobile phone maker, said on Wednesday it had started shipping its new flagship phone, the N96.

  • DirecTV, TiVo Plan HD DVR PC Magazine - Wed Sep 3, 7:35 AM ET

    DirecTV and TiVo are extending their partnership to develop a high-definition DVR set-top box for DirecTV customers a year from now.

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