Skype incorporates video conferencing

Skype has brought out the beta version 2.0 of its Internet voice calling app, which includes a video-conferencing component. The video component can be used full screen or windowed, or the user can choose not use the option at all. ...more

Sony speculation behind Apple share rise

The rumour that Sony is interested in buying Apple comes around periodically, but the latest occasion was taken more seriously than normal, at least by some Wall Street investors. Heavy trading on Thursday and Friday took Apple's share price from $23.93 to $27. ...more

IGF - ICANN protesters face human rights protesters

The forum established to debate the future of the global Internet is already running towards a major split in Athens. The Internet Governance Forum was set up by the United Nations following a meeting of the World Summit on the Internet Society. Although the US is slowly loosening its control of ICANN, this is not enough for some of the delegates. ...more

Critical Temperature Switch tackles overheating batteries

A Korean company has developed an electronic switch to prevent the overheating of batteries in mobile devices. ETRI's Critical Temperature Switch employs a Mott Metal-Insulator Transistor to prevent batteries from swelling and exploding in a violent discharge triggered by overheating. The device has characteristics that enable it to act both as a transistor and as an insulator, reports TelecomsKorea [via Engadget]. ...more

TSMC and Nvidia reaffirm ties amid reports that IBM has won Nvidia orders

Nvidia and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) reaffirmed their close cooperation following reports that IBM won a multiyear contract to build new computer-graphics chips for Nvidia. IBM said on Wednesday that it will make new graphics chip for Nvidia, winning business that would have otherwise gone to TSMC, Reuters reported. Nvidia contracts TSMC to produce its graphics and core logic chipsets used in personal computers, laptops, workstations and Microsoft's Xbox game console. ...more