Stories by Martyn Williams

At a glance: How HP-Compaq compares

A quick look at how Hewlett-Packard Co., Compaq Computer Corp. and the planned new company to be formed by the acquisition of Compaq by HP measures up against major industry players.

Sony gets cute with new Aibo models

Sony Corp. unveiled a new version of its pet robot, Aibo, on Wednesday. In the 11 months since the company launched its previous model, Aibo has been given a face lift, improved speech recognition and a lower price.

NEC develops fuel-cell for handhelds

The days of racing to get work done before the notebook battery runs out of juice may soon be over.

Toshiba announces restructuring, 18,800 jobs to go

Taking a path already traveled by several other Japanese companies, Toshiba announced corporate-wide restructuring plans Monday that will see it focus on strong business sectors at the expense of unprofitable divisions and thousands of jobs.

Seiko, Nike put flexible LCD into watch

Seiko Instruments and Nike are putting some of the latest LCD (liquid crystal display) technology to use in a new watch the two companies have jointly developed.

Nintendo unveils Gamecube launch plans

With less than a month to go before its new game console hits shelves in Japan, Nintendo Co. Ltd. unveiled Thursday more details about the Gamecube console, its launch plans and the software that will be available to consumers buying the new system.

Fujitsu smashes hard disk recording density record

Researchers from Fujitsu Ltd. say they have developed technology that allows more than 100G bits of data to be stored on one square inch of hard disk space -- a new record that is expected to lead to notebook computer drives with capacities over 100G...

Toshiba unveils DVD-RAM reader drive for notebooks

Toshiba Corp. is starting mass production of a new DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) drive for notebook computers that features the ability to read DVD-RAM discs.

Sony goes PC-less with network camcorder

Sony Corp. has unveiled its latest contribution to the wireless home -- a pair of camcorders that can be directly connected to the Internet without the need for wires. One of the cameras, the DCR-IP7, also has the distinction of being the company's s...

Samsung to begin DDR333 production

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has begun sample production of a new type of DDR (double data rate) SDRAM (synchronous dynamic random access memory) chip that is 25 percent faster that the current fastest memory chips in widespread use.

Report: Fujitsu to restructure, cut 15,000 jobs

Fujitsu will announce later Monday its plans for a wide restructuring of its business after it previously said expects to a report group net loss of 220 billion yen (US$1.8 billion) for the current financial year. Details will be unveiled at a 2pm ne...

Nokia signs up for Samsung's new cell phone DRAM

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., the world's largest memory maker, has developed a new type of DRAM (dynamic random access memory) for cellular telephone handsets and Nokia Corp., the world's largest cellular handset manufacturer, has signed a deal to b...

Sony planning to license Aibo

With worldwide sales about to pass the 100,000 unit mark, Sony Corp. is planning to boost its pet robot business by launching a range of new Aibo robots at different prices and also by licensing the basic hardware and software specifications to other...

Toshiba wires the Libretto for broadband

Toshiba Corp. has upgraded its Libretto mini-notebook computer by building in an Ethernet local area network adapter to make it easier to connect to broadband networks.

Toshiba to cut memory chip output by 25 per cent

In the face of what it describes as a "deepening global downturn" in the semiconductor sector, Toshiba plans to permanently close by September a memory chip production line at its Yokkaichi plant in western Japan, it said Wednesday.