[January 08, 2009]

AP Technology NewsBrief at 12:27 a.m. EST

(AP Online Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Microsoft's Ballmer: Windows 7 is nearly finalLAS VEGAS (AP) _ Microsoft Corp.'s next version of the Windows operating system is almost ready for prime time. That's one message Chief Executive Steve Ballmer delivered on the eve of the official opening of the International Consumer Electronics Show.

Review: The Polaroid camera is back, in digitalLAS VEGAS (AP) _ A strange little ritual used to go along with Polaroid cameras. The shooter would grab the print as it came out of the camera and wave it in the air, as if that would stimulate the chemicals and make the picture appear faster. It didn't. Yet it felt dumb to just stand there, waiting for the picture to develop. Polaroid stopped making film packs last year, so this little piece of tech culture will soon be just a memory. But just as the film-based Polaroid camera is fading away, along comes its digital replacement.

China's Lenovo to cut 11 percent of workforceBEIJING (AP) _ Shares of Lenovo Group tumbled Thursday after the world's fourth-largest computer maker warned it expects a loss for its latest quarter and will lay off 11 percent of its workforce and cut executive pay. Lenovo said it will eliminate about 2,500 jobs worldwide, including some management positions. It said executive compensation would be cut by 30 to 50 percent.

Intel will miss its already-lowered 4Q targetsSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Even after sharply reducing its outlook for the fourth quarter, Intel Corp. said Wednesday that it would miss its revenue projection by about $500 million, a sign that PC makers and buyers are being more tightfisted than it seemed only two months ago. Intel shares closed down 6 percent.

Google cuts temporary workers but murky on detailsSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Google Inc. has jettisoned a substantial number of temporary workers in a recent austerity drive spurred by the recession, although the Internet search leader still intends to spend billions of dollars during the next two years on product research, development and acquisitions. The spending plans were outlined in a regulatory filing that also provided some clues about the magnitude of a recent payroll purge targeting Google's legion of contractors and other workers who aren't considered full-time or part-time employees.

Apple's Jobs takes $1 salary, but holdings sufferSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ As he's done for the last decade, Apple Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs took home his customary $1 annual salary in 2008, but the economic meltdown and Apple's falling stock price whacked half a billion dollars off the value of his personal holdings in the company. Apple said in a regulatory filing Wednesday that Jobs, 53, who holds 5.5 million shares of Apple's stock, hasn't sold any of the shares since rejoining the company in 1997. That means what he lacks in annual compensation is made up for in the enormous amount of stock he already holds _ a hoard that took a beating in 2008 amid fears about the Mac and iPhone maker's vulnerability to the U.S. recession.

China's Lenovo to slash 11 percent of work forceRESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (AP) _ Lenovo Group said Wednesday it will lay off 2,500 workers, or about 11 percent of its work force, as part of a plan aimed at helping the computer maker remain competitive amid the global economic downturn. The Beijing-based company, the world's fourth-largest PC maker, also warned it expects to report a loss for its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31.

Audiovox to expand availability of TV on the roadLAS VEGAS (AP) _ More options for watching TV in the car are on the way. Audiovox Corp. said Wednesday it will make an in-car receiver for Qualcomm Inc.'s subscription-based mobile TV broadcasts, previously available only on AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless cell phones.

Toyota to roll out safety, driver assist servicesNEW YORK (AP) _ Toyota said Wednesday that it plans to roll out new safety and driver-assist programs on certain Toyota and Lexus models beginning late this summer. That marks the first major competition for Detroit-based General Motors' OnStar service since it started up 12 years ago.

LG shows off `Dick Tracy' wristwatch phoneLAS VEGAS (AP) _ It looks like Dick Tracy may finally get his wristwatch cell phone, the one that does video calls. LG Electronics Inc. plans to introduce a wrist phone later this year, giving reality a chance of catching up with the comic-strip hero who famously used a two-way "Wrist TV."

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