AMD preps sub-$250 reference PC

AMD is reported to be preparing to announce a design for a low cost PC aimed at under $250 without a monitor. According to CNet, AMD plans to unveil the machine this week. Dubbed the Personal Internet Communicator or PIC, the machine is targeted at emerging markets such as India, Brazil, China and Russia. ...more

IBM claims breakthrough in chip manufacture

IBM has announced that it has successfully developed a commercial technique for etching ever smaller circuits onto wafers. The claim means that etching techniques such as extreme ultraviolet (EUV) could be replaced by a process known as immersion lithography down to 45nm and below. Immersion lithography means the gap between the lens and the wafer is filled with a liquid, thus exposing photographic images through liquid rather than air. ...more

UK company to trial nationwide lamp post Wi-Fi

A UK company has announced plans to begin trials to provide a nationwide WiFi network by turning lamp posts into wireless hotspots. The aptly named Last Mile Communications aims to install access points in more than 150,000 lamp posts, using the existing electrical cabling to carry signals to the Internet, and will begin testing later this year. The system was originally developed for traffic management and by using existing cables ensures no road digging is required. ...more

Sony launch baby PDA

Sony has announced three new Cli? PDAs, including its smallest ever model. Aimed at the low to mid level markets, the SL10 weighs only 103g and is only 16.5mm thick. ...more

ARM shows Intel and AMD how it's done

UK chip maker ARM has posted encouraging results, showing Intel and AMD there's still profit in processors. Revenues were up 62 per cent in 2000 to ?100.7m from ?62. ...more