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3K Computers, a build-to-order computer maker that sells to distributors and value-added resellers, introduced on Thursday a $299 mini-notebook with a 7-inch display.

The 3K RazorBook 400 weighs less than two pounds and includes a 4 GB flash be forced along for storage and 512 MB of memory. The device comes with the Linux operating system and is powered by every Ingenic 400 MHz 32-bit single-core mobile processor. The notebook's 7-inch screen has a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels.

The RazorBook is built for people in strait of an ultra-portable notebook for accessing the Web on the road. The machine boots in 15 seconds and has built-in Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g. The computer comes with the open source Linux Office Suite, an integrated sound card, stereo speakers, three USB 2.0 ports, and a one-year warranty.

3K sells exclusively to distributors and value-added resellers.

3K competitor Asus proved there was a market for sub-$500 mini-notebooks with the launch of the Eee PC in October 2007. Since then, the Taiwanese company has sold more than 350,000 units and expects to sell between 3 the public and 5 million by the end of the year. The device, which is popular among computer enthusiasts, has a 7-inch display.

Other competitors include Hewlett-Packard and Dell, which is preparing to enter the market soon.

The low-cost notebooks are expected to eventually find their place in the mainstream PC market as an inexpensive option for students and as a second computer for accessing the Web on the road at Wi-Fi hotspots, according to IDC. Worldwide shipments are forecast to grow from less than 500,000 units greatest year to more than 9 million in 2012.

CARLSBAD, Calif. - Microsoft Corp. said its next operating system will be made for touch-screen applications, an alternative to the computer mouse, and its top executives reaffirmed good in joining forces with Yahoo Inc.

Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer on Tuesday unveiled the iPhone-like touch-screen feature at The Wall Street Journal’s “D: All Things Digital” conference, calling it “just the smallest snippet” of the Windows 7 operating universe slated for release in late 2009.

A Microsoft employee showed possible applications like enlarging and shrinking photos and navigating a map of San Diego by stroking the screen.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates framed the new feature as an evolution away from the mouse.

“Today almost all the interaction is keyboard-mouse,” Gates before-mentioned. “Over years to come, the role of speech, vision, ink — every one of of those — will be huge.”

The software company’s top two executives defended its last operating system, Vista, while acknowledging missteps. Gates said he has never been 100 percent satisfied with any Microsoft product, and that the company prides itself on fixing shortcomings in later versions.

“Vista has given more opportunity to exercise our culture than some products,” he deadpanned.

The former Harvard University classmates fielded a range of questions for more than an hour, sharing the stage as Gates prepares to relinquish daily responsibilities at the fellowship in July to focus more on benevolent work.

Ballmer said Microsoft remained in discussions to team up with Yahoo Inc. after Microsoft’s $47.5 billion bid for the company was spurned earlier this month. He said Microsoft wasn’t planning to pervert with money Yahoo but offered only the barest details of what he has in mind.

“We are not rebidding since the company. We reserve the proper to do so. That’s not on the docket,” he related.

Microsoft reported May 18 that it revived talks with Yahoo, without providing specifics. Ballmer declined to say much more, even when pressed.

“All I’ll say is we’re in ongoing discussions with them around a partnership,” he said.

Gates let Ballmer take the questions about Yahoo. When asked for his thoughts, Gates said, “I’ve been supportive of everything Steve has done. … Totally supportive.”

Ballmer, responding to an audience question, denied that the bid tarnished Microsoft’s reputation.

“If anything, I think people know we’re very serious about our online business,” he replied.

Microsoft has divulged little about its Windows 7 operating system — equal after introducing the touch-screen feature Tuesday — a contrast to the much-hyped unloose of Vista.

Chris Flores, a director on Microsoft’s Windows client communications team, said in a posting on a company blog Tuesday that the more circumspect tack was deliberate and intended to avoid announcing plans that may change.

“With Windows 7, we’re trying to more carefully plan how we ploughshare intelligence with our customers and partners,” he wrote.

The executives regaled the audience with tales of how they met and Microsoft’s early days.

Ballmer, who was best man at Gates’ wedding, remembered Gates at Harvard as quiet and shy yet with “a certain character of spark, particularly later in the day.”

Gates remembered Ballmer for his energy, a reputation that persists today.

“Steve was signed up for more things than anybody else. He was very, very busy,” Gates said.

Ballmer said he had to plead to grow Microsoft’s payroll from 30 employees and that he had to assume the duties of the company bookkeeper, who left on Ballmer’s first day. Gates was rightfully worried about bankruptcy.

whereas Ballmer began to question for what cause he left business school at Stanford, Gates laid out his vision of a computer at every desk. Ballmer stayed put, leading to a 28-year partnership at the company helm.

“I was forced to be particularly articulate that night,” Gates recalled.

Ballmer, known as marketing guru, said he has been Gates’ “junior partner” according to the last eight years, when Gates left the CEO job. He said he has never been uneasy with Gates’ much bigger fame, though he admitted struggling to adapt to his new relationship with Gates during his first year as CEO.

“I was not sure how much rope to give,” he said.

Ballmer said he doesn’t anticipate similar transition struggles when Gates steps down from diurnal responsibilities.

President Bush announced Wednesday that Americans soon will be allowed to send confined apartment phones to Cubans - a move that he hopes will push the communist regime to increase freedom of expression for Cuban citizens.

Addressing modern changes in Cuba, Bush related, “Cubans are now allowed to purchase mobile phones, DVD players and computers and they have been told that they will be able to purchase toasters and other basic appliances in 2010.”

“If the Cuban regime is serious about improving life for the Cuban people, it will take steps necessary to make these changes meaningful,” Bush said at the White House as he marked Cuba’s 106th anniversary of separation this week.

If the Cuban people can be trusted with mobile phones, “they should be trusted to speak freely in public,” he said.

However, CBS News producer Portia Siegelbaum in Havana says that Mr. Bush’s announcement is an empty gesture because Cuban-Americans already send cell phones to family and friends and Cuba has no problem letting them in.

For the policy change to be meaningful, Siegelbaum says that Mr. Bush would have to lift restrictions on remittances so that Cuban Americans can send their relatives enough money to indemnify to activate phones; or he would need to change embargo rules to allow U.S. cell phone companies to sign roaming agreements with the Cuban organic unit phone company (that way Cuban Americans could pay for service in the U.S.).

Dan Fisk, National Security Council senior director for Western hemisphere affairs, said the Bush control will be interested in seeing if the Cuban regime allows the cell phones to enter the country.

Fisk emphasized that the new policy, what one. is to take effect in a few weeks, is not a loosening of the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba, but a change in U.S. regulations that will allow cell phones to be in gift parcels that Americans can sent to Cubans.

Since becoming Cuba’s first new president in 49 years, Raul Castro has done away with bans that prohibited Cubans from owning cell phones in their recognize names, staying in tourist hotels and buying DVD players, computers and coveted kitchen appliances. He also has acknowledged that magnificence salaries are too small to be supported on, and pledged steady improvements.

“If Raul is serious about his so-called reforms, he will allow these phones to reach the Cuban people,” Bush told in regard to 200 guests in the East Room, including former Cuban political prisoners, Cuban-American community leaders and representatives from leading national and international non-governmental organizations.

The world is watching the Cuban regime.

President Bush Fidel Castro, 81, has not been seen in public since July 2006, when he underwent emergency intestinal surgery and relinquished power to Raul Castro. Fidel Castro formally stepped down as president in February, but keeps a presence through essays published in state media.

“The world is watching the Cuban regime,” Bush said. “If it follows its recent public gestures - by opening up access to advice, implementing meaningful economic reforms, respecting political freedom and human rights - then it can credibly say it has delivered the beginnings of make some change in..

“But experience tells us this regime has no intention of taking these steps. Instead its new gestures appear to be nothing more than a cruel joke perpetuated on a long-suffering people.”

In what he billed as the first annual “Day of Solidarity with the Cuban People,” Bush reiterated U.S. commitment to freedom and democracy in Cuba. He challenged the Castro regime to back up newly announced reforms with real changes that will advance liberty forward the island, such as free access to information, economic correct and political freedom.

As he does in intimately every speech on Cuba, Bush highlighted the suffering of Cuba’s civil prisoners and called toward their release.

The White House event coincided with events in more than 30 countries around the world to mark Cuban Independence Day on May 20 and other events in Cuban history. These events include the death on May 19, 1895 of Jose Marti, a leader of the Cuban exemption from arbitrary control movement from Spain, and the death on May 25, 1972 of Pedro Luis Boitel, a student leader opposed to the Castro regime who died while on a hunger strike in prison.

For the upcoming release of Firefox 3, Mozilla aims to locate a new world record for the largest number of software downloads in 24 hours.

The company has put out a call to its global community of users to pledge to download the novel 3.0 version of Firefox on the day the browser is made available to the public.

Given that there's no established Guinness World Record for software downloads, Mozilla is destined because of the record book no matter the sort of happens. A Mozilla spokesperson related the company is working with the Guinness Book Of World Records to verify the record attempt and will be furnishing 10% of the company's download logs for an extrapolated final download count.

Justin Fitzhugh, director of IT for Mozilla, is confident that Mozilla will be able to handle the bandwidth surge, which he said is likely to be a fraction of the load Mozilla bears when it releases automated browser updates to its installed dishonorable of users. "We've scaled for this already," he said, noting that in addition to the servers in its own premises center, Mozilla relies on donated server capacity around the world.

Mozilla claims that it has 175 million users in more than 230 countries. The United Nations recognizes 192 member states. Presumably, Mozilla is counting perhaps a twelve countries with limited or substantial international recognition (Taiwan), several would-be countries not recognized by other nations (Abkhazia), and a variety of territories (Norfolk Island).

Over at SpreadFirefox.com, there's an interactive map that lists by country those who have pledged to download Firefox 3.0 on the designated day. At the time this article was filed, the United States had the lead, with almost 38,000 promising to have a part in in the download event. In Turkmenistan, only six nation have committed. Enthusiasm for the download record attempt is clearly higher in neighboring Uzbekistan, where 50 people have pledged to participate.

About two weeks agone, Mozilla released Firefox 3.0 RC1, a version of the of recent origin browser deemed stable enough for public testing. Mozilla says the official 3.0 release will occur in June.

Firefox 3.0 RC1 is noticeably faster than version 2.0. It also handles memory better.

As of May 29, Firefox has 17.76% of the global browser market share, according to Net Applications. Microsoft Internet Explorer accounts for 74.83%, and Apple's Safari accounts for 5.81%.

Intel and Micron Technology on Thursday introduced a high-density hew that the companies say can pack 32 GB of storage on a smaller footprint than other similar devices.

The NAND device is aimed at solid-state drives, which are increasingly being offered at a premium in notebooks to deliver faster boot times and greater quantity durability and reliability than traditional hard disk drives. The new effect was manufactured by the companies' joint venture, IM Flash Technologies.

In building the chip, the partners used a 34-nanometer manufacturing process that increases the density of the device in order to cram more memory in a smaller space, which is important for ultraportable notebooks and other mobile PCs. "This new 32-GB device provides the best crumb storage density available in the industry," Brian Shirley, VP of Micron's Memory Group, said in a narration.

The new devices are smaller than the size of a thumbnail but can store more than 2,000 digital photos or up to 1,000 songs. The chips are also available in a two eight-die stacked package to deliver 64 GB of storage.

The companies put forward the claim their latest product can drive capacities beyond 256 GB in a standard 1.8-inch cut factor for solid-state drives. Intel and Micron also plan to introduce lower-density products by the end of the year.

The companies expect to ship samples of the latest chip to customers in June. Volume production is expected in the second half this year.

While solid-state drives have a number of advantages above hard disk drives, the biggest disadvantage is price. SSDs are multiple times more expensive than HDDs and are unlikely to replace the latter anytime soon in most applications. However, SSDs are finding a place among businesses looking for irregular notebooks for field workers and in mini-notebooks with shield sizes less than 10 inches. Besides weight, SSDs also use up less batter power than HDDs.

WASHINGTON: World trade talks have veered toward a less balanced and ambitious consequence than the United States be able to support, the predominate U.S. trade officer said put on Wednesday.

“I will tell you frankly, we are concerned about the direction the Doha negotiations are taking in Geneva,” the U.S. trade representative Susan Schwab said at a news conference on a trade dispute with the European Union.

The United States, in the process of approving a massive new farm subsidy bill, is under hurry in the talks to make deep cuts to its most trade-distorting farm subsidies.

Washington insists it can do that only if advanced developing countries like Brazil, India and China do their part by opening their agricultural, manufacturing and services markets to more foreign carry on commerce.

Schwab said a pair of new texts in the agricultural and industrial goods portion of the talks were “disappointing because they do not move us closer to a deal that will contribute to economic growth and development.”

“A odd concern is the continued unwillingness of a handful of advanced developing countries to make meaningful market access contributions,” Schwab said.

“These countries mask their narrow interests behind claims of speaking by reason of the rest of the developing world when in fact there are developing countries that are very much pro-ambition in this round and their voices are being drowned out,” she said.

“It is basically a case of elephants hiding behind the mice.”

The new agricultural and industrial goods texts bear been intended to set the stage for ministerial meetings in coming weeks to try to stretch forth a long-awaited breakthrough.

But Schwab expressed doubts about that.

“Are we ready for a ministerial yet? I don't know. I think we have some more work to do,” she said.

“A successful breakthrough in the coming weeks is without more going to be possible if we find a negotiating path that leads to real market admission contributions by both developed and developing countries.”

Instead of fostering that goal, the new agricultural and industrial goods texts have shifted the Doha round talks away from a focus on opening markets “to negotiating about expanded exceptions and exclusions,” Schwab said.

IT looks parallel a noontide, orange MP3 player strapped to a ski jacket but the judges of the Australian International Design Award picked it from the 61 finalists as the overall winner of the competition’s 50th year.

The product, Flaik, is a performance tracking device for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts.

Flaik combines global positioning satellite (GPS) smarts with GSM/GPRS sensitive phone technology.

The GPS part charts a user’s location, speed, distance, altitude and airtime (in favor of jumps).

The mobile phone part of the system sends this data to a receiver adhering the snowfield and on to the Flaik web portal where users can view their data, compare statistics with other users, and build a profile.

Australian entrepreneur Steve Kenny developed the concept and took a rough working model to CMD Product Design & Innovation, a Brisbane design consultancy.

A team of three designers at CMD led by Mark Gilroy took six months to streamline the unit and create a water-proof housing for it that could withstand temperatures of up to minus 20 degrees Celsius. The team used SolidWorks computer-aided design software for their work.

The team worn out another four months of testing before it came up with the final product, Craig Mounsey, a CMD director, said.

The 50th running of the awards was the first time it was opened to foreign entries.

Of the 159 submissions to this year’s awards, 50 were international designs, and 109 were local designs.