Apple to unveil new laptops for consumers on tight budgets

Apple to unveil new laptops for consumers on tight budgets

Apple is to unveil new notebook computers, perhaps even one priced for those with tight budgets, at a townhall gathering at its northern California headquarters this week.

Apple's Macintosh computers remain a distant second place to world-dominating PCs based on Windows operating systems from Microsoft but have been gaining market share.

The Internet is buzzing with rumours and unconfirmed reports that Apple will try to shake off its reputation for selling premium machines at premium prices by introducing its first model priced at less than US$1,000 (Bt34,244).

Baker says it is more likely Apple is giving its MacBook Pro line of laptops a thinner, more industrial design that proved successful with its MacBook Air model. - Agence France-Presse

Google-sponsored satellite sends first image back to Earth

A Google-sponsored satellite has beamed its first picture back to Earth in a successful test of a camera that will supply images for the Internet giant's free online map and navigation services.

"We expect the quality of the imagery to be even better as we continue the calibration activity," GeoEye vice president of operations Brad Peterson said.

GeoEye-1's main client is the US government's mapping arm, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency but Google is a major sponsor of the US$500-million (Bt17 billion) satellite and has exclusive commercial rights to its images.

- Agence France-Presse

EU scientists launch 'unbreakable' encryption system in Vienna

A new encryption system, which its creators say is unbreakable, got its first test run in Vienna, scientists from the European Union project SECOQC announced.

The successful demonstration, developed by the EU's Development of a Global Network for Secure Communication based on Quantum Cryptography (SECOQC) paves the way for it to be used in ordinary communications networks.

"Potential users of this network, such as government agencies, financial institutions or companies with distributed subsidiaries, can encrypt their confidential communication with the highest level of security," a SECOQC statement said.

This kind of network should be commercialised within three years, the project's Austrian coordinator, Christian Monyk said. - Agence France-Presse

RIM unveils its first 'clickable' touchscreen Blackberry

Research in Motion (RIM), maker of the Blackberry, unveiled its first smartphone with a touchscreen, its answer to the popular Apple iPhone.

The phone, the Blackberry Storm, will be available later this year through Verizon Wireless in the United States and Vodafone in Europe, India, Australia and New Zealand.

The Storm resembles the iPhone but its colour touchscreen differs in that it is "clickable" - the screen depresses slightly when touched like a typewriter key. RIM president Mike Lazaridis described the touchscreen as a "truly tactile touch interface". - Agence France-Presse