NVIDIA's miserly approach to graphics

Laptops get 3D boost and battery life is increased NVIDIA has developed a "radical new mobile technology", designed to provide 2D and 3D graphics to power-starved laptop PCs, without running the batteries down. The power management system is called PowerMizer, and Nvidia claims that it can reduce power consumption by more than four watts. PowerMizer is a combination of a software interface and hardware functions that are already built into the GeForce2 Go mobile chips. ...more

Turn your mobile into a virtual pet

If you think playing computer games on your mobile phone is fun then one man in Scotland wants to turn your phone into a tamagotchi. Kevin Bradshaw's company Digital Bridges is developing games for the mobile phone format. At the moment, it offers games such as hangman and noughts and crosses but it is developing fantasy football league (without any famous players) and the virtual pet system. ...more

Apple introduces new U2-branded iPod

Apple has introduced a new version of the U2-branded iPod. The new iPod U2 Special Edition is based on the fifth generation 30GB iPod, which stores some 7,500 songs, 25,000 photos or over 75 hours of video. Apple claims a maximum 14 hour battery life for the portable music, video and podcast player, which connects to Mac or PC via USB 2. ...more

Shareholders approve Palm split and Handspring acquisition

Palm shareholders have approved the company's decision to split into separate hardware and operating system companies. The Palm OS operating system will now be the sole concern of PalmSource, though the nascent company has been effectively independent for some time now. The hardware division, which produces the Tungsten and Zire PDA ranges, will be renamed palmOne. ...more

BT plugs talking SMS into landlines

Owners of standard landlines can now receive SMS messages via a new BT service. SMS messages are converted to automated speech using a mechanical-sounding female voice. Likewise speech can be converted to text. ...more