Acer to add Android into Aspire One models

Computer giant Acer have announced that they plan to ship all new versions of the Aspire One netbook with a version of Google's Android operating system, which is currently in use on phones such as the G1. The company said that, "the Android operating system will provide Acer netbook users with faster connection to the internet, further enhancing efficiency on-the-go."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2009/jun/03/acer-android-netbook

Dell to offer open source applications for SMBs

According to an article published by PC World, Dell are to offer pre-configured hardware bundles and open source software to SMBs.

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/166345/dell_bundling_open_source_applications_for_smbs.html

HP research mobile social networks

HP are in the process of testing an intelligent mobile-based social network. The system, Friendlee, analyses call data and messages to build a profile of a user's closest contacts, with regular contacts being displayed more prominently so that users do not have to trawl through their phone book.

A similar application already exists on Windows Mobile and Google Android handsets, and a prototype for Blackberry has also been unveiled.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8090427.stm

China orders PC manufacturers to install blocking software

The Chinese government, in push to control internet access in China, has ordered PC makers in the country to pre-install blocking software onto every hard drive starting from next month.

The software, which has been developed with the Chinese military, is aimed specifically to restrict access to pornography websites but could also be used to prevent users from accessing "politically sensitive webistes", according to the Guardian. The software also collects private user data.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/08/web-blocking-software-china

Computer injuries on the rise

Injuries related to computer use have risen sevenfold, the BBC reports. 

According to findings from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, over 78,000 patients were submitted to hospital with computer-related injuries between 1994 and 2006, mainly due to tripping over cables or head injuries from falling monitors. The main victims of such injuries are children under 15.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8088759.stm

The UK Media Landscape - what's hot and what's not

The below is a summary of a piece of research carried out by Chameleon PR, analysing the themes and topics which have featured in technology media in the last year. It covers off technology topics which have featured in national and regional newspapers, business techonlogy, vertical industry and so on. The company who compiled the research - Apollo - look at over 30,000 stories a month.

1) Biggest Technology Risers versus last quarter

Top 5

1) Facial Recognition

2) Video Phones

3) Service Orientated Architecture

4) Web Conferencing

5) Storage Services

- Facial recognition has seen largest rise in the past quarter as the recession takes hold and more companies use teleconferencing to cut costs

2) Subjects which have lost the most media coverage in the last quarter

Top 5

1) Digital signal processing

2) Data Warehousing

3) Storage Technology

4) Web Versions

5) XML

3) Most covered technology categories from November 2008 - January 2009

1) Mobile phones

2) Networks

3) Home Entertainment

4) Security

5) Games

4) Most popular themes covered in Q1 2001 vs Q1 2009

1) Games - software

2) Digital television

3) Mobile entertainment

4) Processors

5) Email

- As in most other sectors, the economic downturn and recession has also dominated the technology sector

"Buy Now, Pay Later" offers soar year-on-year

Hire-purchase borrowing has increased 24% year-on-year to £231 million in March, according to the Daily Mail. Experts are, however, warning customers of the dangers of such deals. 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1187871/Buy-pay-later-fashion-hire-purchase-borrowing-soars-24.html