Linux-Enabled Notebook From Lenovo

First on our list is Lenovo’s announcement of the ThinkPad T60p, a Linux-based mobile computer. Weighing 4.7 pounds, the inch-thin notebook computer will run the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 operating system recently released by Novell. If the notebook computer would perform as claimed by its manufacturer, the Linux ThinkPad will offer a balanced combination of productivity and mobility. The highly portable computer offers processor speeds and memory capabilities enabling it to perform industrial applications including Computer-Aided Design.

This means engineers can do industrial design jobs while on the go. They can bring their latest product design projects while attending seminars and conventions, allowing more opportunities for losing sensitive company data and trade secrets to thieves and industrial spies.

AMD’s Dual-Core Processor

Meanwhile, Advanced Micro Devices introduced its latest Opteron dual-core processor. Designed to compete with rival Intel’s dual-core architecture, the next-generation Opteron offers more power without the need to gulp more energy than comparable processors do. It will pave the way for AMD’s eventual release of a quad-core processor by the middle of 2007.

Aside from showing off their dual-core engine, AMD executives also took a dig at Intel, claiming that their rival’s quad-core strategy consists of sandwiching or merely combining two Xeon dual-core processors.

Consumer Electronics Market Reaches 0 Billion in 2006

The Consumer Electronics Association forecasts US0 billion factory-to-dealer sales in 2006, an eight percent growth over the year 2005. According to the trade organization’s semi-annual “U.S.  Consumer Electronics Sales and Forecasts Report,” display technologies, DVD, MP3 players, and the video gaming sectors are the leading drivers of the market in the United States. A dramatic increase in shipments of portable navigation systems is fueling a 21-percent growth in the mobile video and navigation category.

4G Wireless Network in the Offing

U.S.-based wireless carrier Sprint Nextel Corp. announced plans to develop and put in place the first fourth-generation (4G) nationwide broadband mobile network in the country.

Working in partnership with Intel, Motorola and Samsung, Sprint Nextel will create a network infrastructure and WiMAX-capable chipsets supporting cutting-edge wireless broadband services for various applications including computing, mobile multimedia, and a wide range of consumer electronic products.

The mobile carrier plans to make the most of its enviable 2.5GHz spectrum holdings, which give it access to 85 percent of households in the 100 largest markets in the U.S., in realizing this bold wireless initiative.

So while 3G is struggling to spread its wings in this Third-World country of ours, somewhere else, people are busy putting up 4G networks.

Boeing Pulls Plug on Airline Broadband Service

U.S.-based aerospace company Boeing plans to fold up Connexion, the company’s unit that provides high-speed Internet service on planes. Only 12 airlines signed up for the service, which was supposed to be promoted by a joint venture with three U.S. airlines. The deal, however, fell through after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Boeing announced earlier in June that it was reviewing the unit’s business operations in light of Connexion’s dismal sales.

Online Anonymity Makes Decent People Dishonest?

Japan’s National Police Agency reported an 11.8-percent increase in Internet crime in the first half of 2006 over the same period last year. Fraud, the leading cyber crime category, grew nine percent to 733 cases. Most of the fraud cases involved online auctions. Other crimes included selling of counterfeit products and sex-related crimes.

Well, the Japanese are generally perceived of as law-abiding, decent people, but there must really be something with being anonymous online that makes people drop their inhibition or perhaps urges them to do things they normally would not do offline. (Allan D. Francisco)