ELECTRONICS

Microsoft Corp will stop making video players based on the HD DVD standard for its Xbox 360 game system, a move that comes days after Toshiba Corp pulled the plug on the high definition movie technology.

PionPioneer Corp will stop making 42-inch plasma panels and instead buy panels in that size and smaller from Panasonic maker Matsushita Electric Industrial or Hitachi Ltd to turn around its loss-making flat TV business, the Asahi newspaper said.eer Corp will stop making 42-inch plasma panels and instead buy panels in that size and smaller from Panasonic maker Matsushita Electric Industrial or Hitachi Ltd to turn around its loss-making flat TV business, the Asahi newspaper said.

The Federal Communications Commission will back off from plans to force TV stations to air more advertisements about the upcoming transition to digital TV next year, according to several news reports.

China has appealed to the United States for fair and legal treatment of a Chinese investment in US communications equipment company 3Com after the deal caused the United States national security concerns.

All six major Hollywood studios are now in the Blu-ray DVD camp, a day after Toshiba pulled the plug on HD DVD and Blu-ray became effectively the only next-generation game in town. Paramount Home Entertainment quietly came onboard via a statement issued Wednesday to The Hollywood Reporter: We are pleased that the industry is moving to a single high-definition format, as we believe it is in the best interest of the consumer, the statement read. As we look to (begin) releasing our titles on ...

Toshiba's decision to quit the format war on Tuesday allows developments in high definition video to progress, however, analysts say consumers are the ones that bear the brunt of the costs.

Bain Capital Partners said on Wednesday it withdrew its application for U.S. national security approval for its planned $2.2 billion acquisition of network-equipment maker 3Com Corp.

It will be tougher to persuade shoppers to buy Sony's Blu-ray discs in an industry which is looking ahead to the download era.

Amazon.com Inc announced its support for Sony Corp's Blu-ray format on Wednesday, days after Toshiba Corp pulled the plug on the rival HD DVD format, as key studios and retailers also took Blu-ray's side. The online retailer said it would continue to sell HD DVD products for customers who already use that format.

Nokia highlighted the role of its N-Gage mobile telephone and handheld game system, in evolving mobile games industry including the impact of the mobile devices on entertainment around the world, during the on-going Games Developers Conference in San Francisco.

The end of the format battle is finally here. Toshiba said overnight that it would withdraw from the HD DVD business causing U.S.-listed shares of Sony Corp rallied to a 3-week high on Tuesday on optimism about sales of its PlayStation 3 video game consoles and Blu-ray DVD players.

The release of software from a firm run by a notorious Norwegian hacker, DVD Jon, is likely to leave the music and film download world in a frenzy. The music sharing startup, doubleTwist, released a self-titled program which allows consumers to move music files, images and video from their computers onto other devices, like Sony's PSP and a handful of cell phones.

Apple iPhones are being smuggled into China through word-of-mouth networks, helping to deal a blow to Apple's efforts to create official distribution channels for its popular devices, according to a report.

Microsoft Corp does not expect sales of its Xbox 360 game console to suffer if Toshiba Corp discontinues HD DVD technology, Microsoft said in a statement on Monday.

An impending end to a format war over next-generation DVDs boosted shares in both victorious Sony, in the Blu-ray corner, and Toshiba, in the losing HD DVD camp, on Monday as consumers cheered an end to confusion over which discs will carry high-definition movies.

Motorola's declining fortunes are sending shock waves through the wireless industry

Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has decided that it will exclusively sell second generation DVDs in the Blu-Ray format, dealing one in a series of blows to the rival HD DVD format.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc has decided to exclusively sell high-definition DVDs in the Blu-Ray format, dealing what could be a crippling blow to the rival HD DVD technology backed by Toshiba Corp.

The high-definition DVD format war has turned into a format death watch.

Reports surfaced on Wednesday that chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices may be struggling with its latest notebook platform which may cause a leadership shakeup, or even acquisition.

A senior U.S. lawmaker said on Wednesday he had introduced legislation designed to prevent broadband Internet providers from unreasonable interference with subscribers' access to content.