ELECTRONICS

Lenovo Group Ltd., the world’s third-largest computer maker, announced on Tuesday that it is in talks to acquire Netherlands-based Packard Bell.

A U.S. judge on Monday threw out a record $1.5 billion verdict against Microsoft Corp, ruling the world's largest software had not infringed on audio technology patents held by France's Alcatel-Lucent.

Nokia has agreed to use Microsoft’s PlayReady content access delivery technology its S60 and Series 40 mobile device platforms starting in 2008, Microsoft announced Monday.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. shares opened lower on Monday after a power outage at a major plant near Seoul on Friday affected some of its chip production lines, but the stock quickly pared back losses.

Image problems will force out weaker firms and prepare savvy ones for the global marketplace, experts say.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. said on Friday it shut down six of its chip production lines after a power cut at a plant near Seoul, prompting expectations of tighter supply and a rise in prices.

Japan's Pioneer Corp. said on Thursday it will launch its first full high-definition plasma televisions in October, playing catch-up with larger rivals such as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.

Strong cellphone demand in Asian emerging markets boosted Nokia Oyj's second-quarter sales and profits, sending its shares to their highest level in more than five years.

Music and video capable mobile phones have been driving revenue growth on the handset accessories market, with revenue for the this year expected to jump to more that $32 billion, according to a report.

Telecoms equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent produced a bigger-than-expected quarterly loss on Tuesday as merger costs and pricing pressures took their toll, sending its shares down as much as 9 percent.

China's Lenovo Group, the world's third-largest computer maker, is expected to post a six-fold rise in quarterly profit on Thursday on strong corporate demand but faces unrelenting price pressure at home.

Sony Corp. said its first-quarter profit more than tripled, beating expectations, after strong contributions from digital camera sales and a softer yen far outweighed losses on the slow selling PlayStation 3 game console.

Infineon is actively seeking ways to cut its stake in its loss-making memory-chip subsidiary Qimonda, Infineon's chief executive said, lifting Infineon shares after unspectacular quarterly results.

Japan's Toshiba Corp., the world's No.2 maker of flash memory chips, posted a 1.6 percent rise in quarterly operating profit on Friday and raised its first-half forecast as chip prices recover.

Target plans to carry only Blu-ray high definition DVD players through the holiday shopping season, a move that boosts the Sony-backed technology and may deal a blow to rival HD-DVD.

Sony Corp. currently has no plans for a further price cut to its PlayStation 3 (PS3) game console following a $100 cut in the U.S., the electronics conglomerate's president said on Friday.

The science-fiction classic film Blade Runner will get a new Final Cut treatment by Director Ridley Scott for a short theatrical run and DVD release later this year.

Microsoft Corp. will drop the retail price of its add-on HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360 game console to $179 and include five free HD-DVD movies for a limited time, the company said Thursday.

Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday it would lower the price of the high-definition DVD player accessory for its Xbox 360 game console in the United States to $179 from $199, and add five free movies to anyone who buys the machine in August or September.

Nintendo Co. Ltd. zipped passed telecoms giant NTT and a major financial group to become Japan's fifth-biggest company by market value on Thursday, propelled higher by a stellar earnings performance on demand for its Wii and DS game gear.

Sony Corp. said its first-quarter profit more than trippled, beating expectations, after strong digital camera sales and a softer yen far outweighed losses on the struggling PlayStation 3 game console.