The much-delayed rollout of broadband-over-powerline technology has received a boost from the IEEE, which announced that a working group has developed requirements for a baseline BPL standard.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony Corp. (6758.T) will cut back on future chip spending and may not produce advanced chips used in its PlayStation 3 (PS3) in-house, a senior executive said on Tuesday, in a move aimed at driving the semiconductor unit's nascent earnings recovery.

Princeton University Computer Scientists Confirm 'Secret' Key For Every Diebold Voting Machine 'Revealed' on Company Website

JANUARY 22, 2007 -- More than 50 mobile charging stations are to be installed at John F. Kennedy International Airport this month to allow travelers to power up their cell phones, computers and PDAs free of charge, according to a release by Samsung Mobile and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Scientists have created a tiny cable -- much thinner than a human hair -- through which they can transmit visible light, potentially paving the way for improvements in solar energy, computing and medicine. The achievement, described in research published on Monday in the journal Applied Physics Letters, involves a re-imagining of the coaxial cable -- that commonplace conduit of cable television, telephone and Internet service -- on a minuscule scale.

A new online video program by engineers for engineers has gone live from the guys behind Electronic Design, Machine Design, EEPN, Microwaves & RF magazines. Focused on B2B engineering topics, Engineering TV covers emerging technologies, best practices, new products, the latest developments, behind the scenes footage, and insights into the people at the forefront of design engineering - all delivered in a visual, highly compelling format. Housed at www.EngineeringTV.com, the program features two 5-8 minute episodes per week.

A U.S. research institute has sued Nokia, Samsung Electronics and Panasonic for violating a patent for Bluetooth technology, potentially putting the free wireless standard at risk. The Washington Research Foundation, which markets technology from the University of Washington, is seeking damages from the three mobile-phone makers for using a radio frequency receiver technology without paying royalties, according to court papers obtained by Reuters on Wednesday.

Micro-series USB technology will replace Mini-series USB in OTG products BEAVERTON, Ore --The USB Implementers Forum, Inc. (USB-IF) today announced the completion of the Micro-USB specification, a new connector technology that will replace many of the Mini-series plugs and receptacles currently used in portable products. This USB-IF connector specification was developed to support the growing miniaturization trend for portable devices, as well as the continued adoption of USB in mobile phones.

The good news for the semiconductor industry is that 2007 will represent the peak year of its present growth cycle, with double-digit growth expected. The bad news for the semiconductor industry in 2007 is that due to the changing dynamics of the business, growth will amount to only 10.6 percent for the year—far below historical market peaks.