| Non-profit may launch US$350 laptop by Christmas
A non-profit group that designs low-cost computers for poor children hopes to start selling multimedia laptops to consumers by Christmas, a foundation executive said on Monday. The One Laptop Per Child Foundation's rugged XO laptop could initially sell for just US$350, or twice its production cost, although the group is also considering a US$525 price tag, said OLPC chief technology officer Mary Lou Jepsen. If the XO laptop does make its way onto the market this year, it could surprise personal computer makers who have already spent months planning their strategy for the 2007 holiday season.In an interview with Reuters, Jepsen said the foundation -- founded by Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher Nicholas Negroponte -- is still working out the details of the plan and expects to know within about a month whether it is feasible.The green-and-white, kid-friendly laptops that can be powered with hand cranks were designed for use by poor children in the world's impoverished nations.
GCN Lab review | Antivirus programs seek and destroy malicious code waiting to pounce on remote systems
An antivirus program used to be like an insurance policy on your car: something that came in handy should you have an accident. But as the amount of malicious code has increased, antivirus has become more like oil in your engine. Your computer might run a little ways without it, but it wont get far.
The core of any good security system is antivirus, though anti-spyware and anti-spam protection are also important. During the past few years, the GCN Lab has reviewed appliances that sit at the gateway to a network and zap all kinds of malicious code before it even hits an agency e-mail server. But what about traveling employees or teleworkers? Sure, they can connect to the office via a virtual private network or other secure link, but that might not always be available. Those mobile warriors need personal protection when away from their agencys digital fortress.
Polypore International initiated with "market perform"
NEW YORK, August 14 (newratings.com) - Analyst William Benton of William Blair & Co initiates coverage of Polypore International Inc (ticker: PPO) with a "market perform" rating.
In a research note published yesterday, the analyst mentions that the company has a leading position in several membrane/separator markets. Polypore International is well-positioned to benefit going forward from robust growth in the lithium battery and hemodialysis industries, the analyst says. William Blair & Co expects the company to benefit in the foreseeable future from the increasing adoption of lithium batteries in the high-growth hybrid electric vehicle market, further penetration in specialty filtration applications and the increasing dominance of lithium batteries in power tools. .
Men caught with small lobsters
Defence Force officials nabbed a second Bahamian fishing vessel that had been illegally carrying a quantity of undersized crawfish on board as it traveled in the Nassau Harbor area over the holiday weekend. According to a Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) press release, five persons have been taken into custody. "Within a week of another Bahamian registered fishing vessel with five persons aboard, four Bahamians and one South African, were apprehended by members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force at 2:40 a.m. for violation of the Fisheries Act." The release added that while the RBDF Harbour Unit was on routine patrol of Nassau Harbour near the Paradise Island bridge, it intercepted the fishing vessel. Finally, it added that the vessel was en route to the Berry Islands.
Acacia Research Names William Anderson to its Board of Directors
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., BUSINESS WIRE -- Acacia Research Corporation (Nasdaq:ACTG) announced today that William S. Anderson has joined its Board of Directors. Mr. Anderson is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of National Beverage Properties, Inc. He is the former Executive Vice-President of Topa Equities, Ltd., a diversified holding company based in Los Angeles, and a family business started by Mr. Anderson's father, John Anderson, in 1956. Mr. Anderson is also the former President of Topa Properties, Ltd., a diversified real estate company. Prior to joining Topa, Mr. Anderson was an attorney with O'Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles. Bill sits on the Boards of Directors of 1st Century National Bank and Topa Insurance Company and is a Board Advisor to New Belgium Brewing Company.
China BAK Moves Toward HP Supply Deal
China BAK Battery Inc., which makes laptop and electronic device batteries, said Monday it signed a nonbinding letter of intent with Hewlett-Packard Co. that may lead to a supply agreement. Under the terms of the letter, the companies agreed to work toward a definitive agreement in which China BAK would supply lithium ion battery cells to HP China BAK said it agreed, subject to completion of negotiation, to allocate at least half of its monthly cylindrical lithium ion battery cell manufacturing capacity to HP or HP's designated battery pack manufacturers. Shares of China BAK rose $1.23, or 29.2 percent, to $5.44 Monday in after hours trading, following an earlier close at $4.21. The shares have ranged from $2.85 to $8.31 over the past year. Shares of HP rose $1.22, or 2.6 percent, to $48.43.
Green solutions for the guilt-stricken driver
We don't need to elaborate on the convenience of having your own car. You are your own master. You can go wherever you please, whenever you please, social conventions allowing. Yet some feel that the use of private cars has spiraled out of control.
About two million vehicles travel Israel's roads every day. According to the Israel Union for Environmental Defense, the nation's vehicles travel 41.7 billion kilometers each year. These vehicles are responsible for 98.16 percent of all carbon monoxide emissions in the country and cause grave harm to the environment and to the public's health as well.
Not convinced? Think of Yom Kippur, a 24-hour period when nothing but the odd ambulance and nonconformist moves on the roads. Smog plummets by 80 percent, only to rise when night falls.
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