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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: electronics

electronics stories: 22 news summaries

1 - 20 of 22 Stories | 1 2 Next >>

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 Race for Better Light Bulb 
 Heats Up 

Philips bids for US government's $10M 'L Prize'

Sep 25, 09 10:08 AM CDT
(Newser) - Dutch electronics giant Philips has created an LED light bulb that, if it lives up to its billing, could claim the US government’s coveted “L Prize.” More important, the new bulb could inherit the 60-watt bulb’s throne. The Energy Department is offering $10 million—and a... More »

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compact fluorescent bulbs • electronics • Netherlands • light bulb • US government • Philips • LEDs • fluorescent light bulbs • low-energy light bulbs • Energy Dept.

Scientists Capture Detailed Image of Molecule

Technique could help improve electronics, drugs

Aug 28, 09 9:32 AM CDT
(Newser) - In a scientific first, IBM researchers have produced a detailed image of a molecule’s structure, the BBC reports. The stunning image, made with an atomic force microscope that vibrates like a tuning fork, is so finely detailed that it shows chemical bonds. Such intricate familiarity with the molecule opens... More »

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drugs • science • electronics • IBM • image • microscopic • atom • scientific research • molecules

 NEC to Lay Off 20,000 

Japanese electronics giant hammered by falling demand, stronger yen

Jan 30, 09 6:03 AM CST
(Newser) - The Japanese electronics giant NEC announced today that it will cut 20,000 jobs worldwide after posting a fourth-quarter loss of $1.45 billion, reports the Wall Street Journal. NEC's losses ballooned as demand fell for its semiconductors and chips, and the strength of the yen further hurt its bottom... More »

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Japan • layoffs • electronics • quarterly reports • NEC Corporation • semiconductors

Product Review

 Sonos Zaps Tunes to All Rooms 

Listen to downloaded and internet music where you want it, when you want

Jan 17, 09 7:00 PM CST
(Newser) - A Sonos Music System has revolutionized the musical life of producer/director Barry Sonnenfeld. "It may be one of the electronic devices I can't do without," he writes in Esquire. What a Sonos can do:
  • It streams music wirelessly throughout the house, sending different tunes to different
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
radio • music downloads • electronics • stereo speakers • Sonos Music System • Barry Sonnenfeld

 Recession Bites Into Apple 

November sales down, stock falls

Dec 16, 08 4:57 AM CST
(Newser) - Even apparently recession-proof Apple is now beginning to show signs of strain, and some analysts are predicting a major slowdown for the computer giant next year, the Wall Street Journal reports. US sales of Macs last month declined 1% over a year ago, while PC sales rose 2%. One analyst... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Steve Jobs • Dell • iPhone • Goldman Sachs • electronics • Apple • recession • retail sales • Mac • Wal-Mart • computers • MacBook • Hewlett-Packard

Transistors
May Migrate
to Paper

Circuit-carrying cellulose undercuts silicon on price

Oct 20, 08 1:49 AM CDT
(Newser) - The future of electronics may be etched on paper, reports the Economist. Researchers have found a cheaper, easier way to make transistors using cellulose, paper’s key ingredient. Paper could soon replace silicon as a surface on which to mount transistors, which control the flow of electric currents and power... More »

MORE ABOUT:
electronics • cellulose • semiconductor • microprocessors • transistor • silicon chip • paper

Pragmatism Dictates China's Religious Policy

Strategic chip firm
given leeway for Christian worship

Jul 2, 08 8:51 PM CDT
(Newser) - China officially sanctions religious worship only at state facilities, but the Christian Science Monitor finds that plenty of wiggle room exists in the business world. It profiles one company whose Christian CEO is allowed to put up a church at every worksite. Why such accommodation in a formally atheist state?... More »

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China • technology • Christianity • electronics • religious freedom • semiconductor chip • atheism • religious conflict

Chill Chips May Take Heat Off Computers

Tiny cooling system could eliminate bulkier fans, enable new leaps

Jun 25, 08 3:49 PM CDT
(Newser) - Researchers have developed a tiny refrigeration system to keep computers cool, an invention that will do away with the clunky fan currently used—and potentially lead to much smaller and faster devices, Computerworld reports. The team at Purdue University expects the technology to be ready for installation within 2 years. More »

MORE ABOUT:
electronics • microchips • Purdue • chips • computers • laptops • cooling

Forget Batteries —Get Ready
for Fuel Cells

They could soon be a better choice to power laptops, phones

Jun 19, 08 8:20 PM CDT
(Newser) - Think fuel cells are just for cars? Think again. Their real value may be to power portable electronics such as laptops and cell phones. Fuel cells that use methanol, rather than gasoline, could replace batteries in electronics. They last much longer and take just a moment to refuel—and they're... More »

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cell phones • electronics • laptop • lithium ion batteries • hydrogen fuel cells • consumer electronics

Chip Makers Tussle for Gadget Niche

Intel, competitors stake out mobile internet device market

Jun 2, 08 10:16 AM CDT
(Newser) - Following the lead of Intel, builders of high-tech microchips are shifting their focus to portable gadgets dubbed MIDs—mobile internet devices that are bigger than cell phones but smaller than computers. industry leaders like Samsung and Nvidia are dashing to release the more powerful chips that boost battery life and... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Intel • electronics • Apple • Samsung • microchips • cell phone chips • gadget • chips

Italian Firm to Buy DRS Technologies

$5.3B sale gives Finmeccanica entry into US defense market

May 12, 08 10:30 PM CDT
(Newser) - Italy's biggest defense contractor has agreed to buy DRS Technologies Inc. for $5.3 billion and grab a share of America's defense market, the Wall Street Journal reports. Finmeccanica will purchase the defense-electronics firm for $81 per share, a 32% premium on share price, pending approval by Washington. The deal... More »

MORE ABOUT:
mergers and acquisitions • electronics • military equipment • Military-Industrial Complex

Sony Profit Up, Forecast Down

PlayStation 3 is finally
in the black, but outlook for consumer  electronics is weak

Jan 31, 08 7:44 AM CST
(Newser) - Slowing US consumer spending and a strengthening yen are prompting Sony Corp to cut its profit forecast for the fiscal year that ends in March. Estimates released yesterday were cut nearly 8%, to $3.85 billion, despite its PlayStation division showing a profit for the first time in two years,... More »

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electronics • Sony • consumer spending • PlayStation 3

NEW RELEASE

Xiu Xiu's Women Breaks Ground

Intense indie musician drops electronics in 6th album

Jan 30, 08 2:06 PM CST
(Newser) - One of indie music’s most intense projects, Xiu Xiu is always innovating, and sixth album Women as Lovers is no slouch—at least its first half, says Tiny Mix Tapes’ Julie. Frontman Jamie Stewart has dropped electronics, hired a virtuoso drummer and reversed his recent “stasis.” But... More »

MORE ABOUT:
electronics • Beatles • lyrics • indie pop • Xiu Xiu • Jamie Stewart • music review

Bionic Vision Pioneers Unveil New Lenses

Electrical circuit and lights spark ideas for future gadgets

Jan 20, 08 4:46 PM CST
(Newser) - Bionic vision may cost less than $6 million after all: Scientists unveiled a new electronic contact lens this week that is already sparking ideas for future technology. Endowed with a circuit and lights, the gadget isn't ready yet, but makers say it is built with safe, organic materials. It even... More »

MORE ABOUT:
artificial intelligence • electronics • contact lenses • electricity • Harvey Hoo • gadget

Electronics Giants Join Forces

Panasonic, Hitachi, and Canon announce tie-up

Dec 26, 07 7:08 AM CST
(Newser) - Hitachi, Canon, and Panasonic have announced plans to work to together in moving flat-panel display technology forward, PC World reports. Competition is heating up in the industry, and the companies hope the alliance will accelerate development time. The firms will work together on LCD displays and organic light emitting diode... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Japan • electronics • Canon • flat screen TVs • Sharp • Panasonic • LCD • LEDs • Hitachi

Analog Shutdown
Strands OnStar Users

Network shutdown leaves drivers in the lurch

Dec 21, 07 10:12 PM CST
(Newser) - Users of the OnStar vehicle safety and communications system will be among those left in the lurch when analog cellphone systems are mothballed next year, AP reports. The government decided in 2002 to let carriers call time on the old cellular networks, but GM was still rolling out some cars... More »

MORE ABOUT:
wireless • electronics • telecommunications • OnStar

Robots Battle for Championship

Tokyo's 12th Robo-One Grand Championship match

Dec 3, 07 4:05 PM CST
(Newser) - Robots battled for the title of world champion Saturday at Tokyo's 12th Robo-One Grand Championship match, where amateur-built bipeds competed to stay on their feet. With companies giving up on consumer robotics projects due to high costs, "the future of robotics depends on amateurs," the chairman of the... More »

MORE ABOUT:
electronics • robots • robotics • research and development • Robo One Grand Championship

Semiconductor Sales Rise While Prices Fall

Main growth in Asian-Pacific region

Dec 3, 07 1:52 PM CST
(Newser) - Semiconductor sales in October went up 5% worldwide from last year, thanks to strong growth in the Asian-Pacific region and Japan, and an industry association forecasts 3.8% growth for the year, reports the Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile prices have dropped rapidly -- "Consumers are reaping huge benefits from... More »

MORE ABOUT:
electronics • computer chip • hardware sales • semiconductor • consumer electronics

On the Rebound, Sony Profits Soar

Despite Playstation 3 flop, technology giant prepares for recovery

Oct 25, 07 2:12 PM CDT
(Newser) - Despite big losses in Playstation 3 sales, Sony reported a slight quarterly profit jump, a signal that cost-cutting and downsizing have been effective economic spurs for the Japanese technology giant. Electronics profits increased 12-fold to $939 million, with sales, especially of digital cameras, up more than 20%, the New York ... More »

MORE ABOUT:
electronics • Sony • corporate earnings • quarterly profits

Turn Off the iPhone or
Go to Jail

Passenger detained
for using phone in 'airplane mode'

Oct 12, 07 7:33 AM CDT
(Newser) - An irate flight attendant attempted to have a passenger arrested for refusing to turn off an iPhone on a flight to Hawaii, even though it was reportedly in "airplane mode" and didn't violate any FAA rules. The mode turns off all cell, WiFi and Bluetooth signals, which could interfere... More »

MORE ABOUT:
FAA • iPhone • electronics • arrest • air travel • ATA • WiFi • Bluetooth • airplane

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