INFOCHAT NEWS

Apple issued a software update for its iPhones that disables handhelds that some users have hacked so they can operate with non-AT&T phone carriers.  Apple has made it clear that applying the update to a modified or “hacked” iPhone can cause permanent and irreparable harm to the device which will NOT be covered under [...]

3Com said that it had reached a deal to be acquired by private equity firm Bain Capital and former partner Huawei Technology for US$2.2 billion in cash. Huawei would gain a minority stake in the 3Com as part of the transaction.
Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders will receive $5.30 in cash for [...]

Palm, Inc. and Sprint introduced the Palm Centro smart device, at $99.99.  With voice, text, IM, email, web, contact and calendar capabilities, a full-color touch screen and full keyboard, Centro brings Palm simplicity and organization to customers who want to stay connected with co-workers, friends and family.
Centro will be exclusive through Sprint in the [...]

Microsoft has announced it will continue to sell Windows XP for five months longer than it originally expected, because of customer feedback.
Microsoft will extend the availability of Windows XP to June 30, 2008. It previously had planned to be 100% transitioned to Vista in the US by the beginning of next year.
Microsoft also announced that it will [...]

Google’s latest acquisition is Zingku, a tech start-up working on social networking for mobile phones.  Zingku has implemented technology that allows mobile phone users to send photos, friend invites, and conduct polls through a universal platform.
The acquisition comes during a period of speculation that Google is eyeing the mobile market to possibly launch its own [...]

Disney has announced that it will stop offering specialized cell phone service by the end of the year.  The Disney service was targeted at children, allowing parents to set very strict safeguards. Parents could keep tabs on their kids with location-tracking software, and could set it so only certain numbers could be dialed out.
Disney [...]

A flaw in Microsoft Excel 2007 was recently found which causes certain numbers to be displayed incorrectly.
The problem occurs when Excel attempts to display 65,535 or 65,536. Rather than displaying the actual number, the cell instead shows the value at 100,000.  The issue occurs when any of six floating point numbers are displayed, and attributes it [...]

Microsoft has reportedly begun offering a downgrade option to PC makers who want to allow their customers to have the option of using XP over the pre-installed Vista software.
Computer manufacturers including Fujitsu, Lenovo, and HP now mainly offer PCs exclusively with Vista pre-installed. Customers who would prefer to have XP can request a downgrade [...]

Microsoft Corp.’s Halo 3 video game for the Xbox 360 became the biggest entertainment release in history after raking in $170M a day after it was released, eclipsing the $151-million debut of Spider-Man 3 for top spot on the list.
However, the good news was marred by news that some of the game’s special edition [...]

Digital photographers and scrapbookers now have even more creative options for printing their photographs – Canon U.S.A., Inc., has just announced the SELPHY ES2 Compact Photo Printer, the latest addition to the popular SELPHY line of Canon compact photo printers.
Combining new creative functions with advanced usability, the SELPHY ES2 Compact Photo Printer features an easy-to-use [...]