Despite sluggish growth in many other retail sectors last month, sales of video game hardware and software grew 28 per cent in December, compared with a year ago, according to market research firm NPD Group, which said Thursday that shoppers grabbed hot items such as Nintendo’s Wii console. But NPD warns that the overall 43 per cent growth rate of 2007 will be hard to sustain this year when the emphasis will change from introducing new hardware to selling games.
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Japanese state broadcaster NHK will begin to offer downloads of its TV programmes next April for the first time. Viewers will be able to catch up on the last seven days of broadcasting through the service. The move has prompted a rewrite of Japanese broadcast law, which currently prohibits such a service. While the service will be free, it may be restricted to those paying NHK receiving fees.
Sling Media to let users boost net speed
Remote TV viewing specialists Sling Media, best know for the Slingbox system, says it will improve the performance of its service with a software enhancement later this year to increase internet speeds. It says the virtual broadband booster will help it deliver a more seamless TV experience to users viewing on PCs and mobile phones. For more click, the link above.
Toshiba Research Europe Ltd announced today that it has developed two new technologies to realize ‘unconditionally secure’ quantum key distribution (QKD). To achieve this, Toshiba has overcome a potential security loophole in current commercial QKD systems. Part of these technologies are exhibited in Nano Tech 2007 in Tokyo. (more…)
PC World has announced that it is launching a project to develop the world’s most energy-efficient and environmentally friendly PC. Whilst PC World recognizes that carbon neutrality cannot be entirely achieved using existing manufacturing processes, the chain says it will work with global suppliers on the development of a PC built with cutting edge environmentally friendly components. The first carbon-neutral PC could be on shelves as early as the summer. PC World own brand computers include Advent and Ei System.
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