Stories by Martyn Williams

LCD makers to work on energy-saving production

Six leading Japanese manufacturers of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are to work together on developing lower energy production methods and next-generation LCD panels.

LG launches Internet microwave

After launching an Internet refrigerator and washing machine in 2000, Seoul-based LG Electronics kicked off 2001 by unveiling a microwave oven that can be connected to the Internet.

Matsushita develops new high-capacity battery

Matsushita Battery Industrial announced Thursday it has developed a coin-type lithium-ion battery capable of delivery high currents, an industry first according to the company.

Sharp to slash LCD power consumption

Sharp has developed a new type of active-matrix LCD (liquid crystal display) that uses substantially less power than current models.

DVD boosts Japan electronics production in 2000

The upsurge in popularity of DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) during 2000 provided a boost to Japan's consumer electronics industry during the last year, according to data released by the Japan Electronics and Information Technologies Industry Associatio...

Sega dumps Dreamcast to focus on software

Sega threw in the towel Wednesday on its Dreamcast console with the announcement that it plans to restructure the company around its software business and turn around from four years of losses.

Sega licenses Dreamcast architecture

Sega has for the first time licensed out the architecture of its Dreamcast games console to another company, the Japanese company announced Tuesday. The company has signed a deal with UK-based Pace Micro Technology, a specialist manufacturer of cable...

NTT DoCoMo launches first Java mobile phones

NTT DoCoMo announced Thursday the long-awaited launch of a new generation of cellular telephones with support for the Java programming language, and provided details of launch content for the handsets.

Fujitsu debuts notebook with Bluetooth handset

Want to check your e-mail from the sofa but the PC is not within reach? Fujitsu has announced a new notebook computer with a remote terminal that allows users to check their mail and control the PC.

LG debuts Linux tablet PC

South Korea's LG Electronics has announced development of a Linux-based tablet PC that boasts wireless LAN connectivity.

Toshiba offers new MPEG-4 videophone chip

Toshiba has announced the development of a new chip that holds the promise of bringing video capabilities to cellular telephones.

Nintendo, Sega Strongly Deny Merger Talks

Video game manufacturers Nintendo and Sega today vehemently denied a New York Times report that the companies are in talks to merge.

Report: OECD to OK Net Taxes on Music, Software

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is likely to approve a tax on cross-border Internet-based music and software sales when it meets in June 2001, according to a report from Japan's Kyodo News Service.

Study: World DRAM Market Expansion to Slow in 2001

Worldwide demand for DRAM (dynamic random access memory) will increase by 50 percent to 370 petabits in 2001, down on the 65 percent jump estimated for the market during 2000, according to a forecast released Monday by Japanese market research compan...

Sony, DoCoMo, Others to Launch E-Money System

Sony Corp., NTT DoCoMo Inc. and nine other companies announced plans Monday for a full-scale launch within the year of an electronic money system. The companies intend to develop the system into a major payment system within five years, the companies...