Microsoft demands royalties for open-source software

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News: Microsoft demands royalties for open-source software
News: Santa Rosa plays grinch to April laptop sales
News: AMD set to launch 'Phenom' desktop chip
News: Microsoft shows off new unified communications phones
News: Samsung puts finishing touches on DDR3 memory
News: Acer lawsuit puts suppliers in a bind
ITWhirled: Electric Japanese bidets go haywire


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Microsoft demands royalties for open-source software
Microsoft Corp. reportedly wants open-source software users to pay royalties on 235 alleged patent violations.


Santa Rosa plays grinch to April laptop sales
The May launch of Intel Corp.'s Santa Rosa laptop PC chips, an upgrade to its popular Centrino package, put a damper on April notebook sales.


AMD set to launch 'Phenom' desktop chip
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. will make a quad-core chip for desktop PCs, replacing its venerable Athlon processor with the new "Phenom" design in an attempt to compete better with Intel Corp.


Microsoft shows off new unified communications phones
Microsoft Corp. is launching a qualification program for phones that are compatible with its unified communications products.


Samsung puts finishing touches on DDR3 memory
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. is putting the finishing touches on its DDR3 memory chips ahead of their commercial release later this year.


Acer lawsuit puts suppliers in a bind
An Acer Inc. lawsuit that seeks to force its PC suppliers to stand by its side in a legal battle with Hewlett-Packard Co. puts the companies in a bind because they provide PCs to both companies.


ITWHIRLED

Electric Japanese bidets go haywire
Toto Limited, Japan's biggest toilet manufacturer, offers a state-of-the-art series of bidets that feature a pulsating massage spray, a built-in-the-bowl deodorizer, and a lid that opens and closes automatically. Unfortunately, they also have occasionally burst into flames, prompting a government investigation.