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Apple has reported a strong second quarter with its sales growing by 38 per cent over the period.

US analyst firm Gartner found that the company now holds 8.5 per cent of the US market and is seeing its sales growing at a faster rate than any other manufacturer.

Vnunet.com reports that it sits behind Hewlett Packard, which has consolidated its market leader position with a market share of 31.9 per cent.

HP experienced 11 per cent sales growth over the second quarter of 2008.

Mika Kitagawa, principal analyst for Gartner’s client computing markets group, said that IT budgets are "tightening" due to "growing economic uncertainty".

"Desk-based PCs gained traction among some professional users. Because desk-based PC deployment costs are still lower than that of mobile PCs, they provide a less expensive option for buyers with tighter budgets," added Mr Kitagawa.

Apple recently announced that it sold one million iPhone 3Gs in the first three days of its launch.



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The computer mouse could disappear within five years, according to a technology expert.

Steve Prentice, analyst for Gartner, has predicted that touch screens and facial recognition programs could result in the mouse’s days "being numbered".

He told the BBC that his forecast is based upon the number of electronics firms who are developing new interactive interfaces for gaming.

Devices such as Nintendo’s MotionPlus for the Wii and Apple’s iPhone are "pointing the way for the future", he claimed.

Mr Prentice told the news agency: "For all its faults, the keyboard will remain the primary text input device.

"Nothing is easily going to replace it. But the idea of a keyboard with a mouse as a control interface is the paradigm that I am talking about breaking down."

Dvice.com recently reported on the launch of a new mouse which is designed to look like it comes from "some alternative Victorian history", with the only negative being that it weighs almost ten pounds.



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Sony has unveiled the new addition to its VAIO range of laptops, which are aimed at business professionals.

The VAIO BZ-Series is described as a "robust" portable device which features a 15.4-inch screen and is "highly practical for business", according to Sony.

It also incorporates energy-saving features including low power consumption LED screen use which reduces battery drain.

The BZ-Series also has a X-Black LCD screen which Sony claims "delivers bright, vibrant colours".

Hidetoshi Takigawa, marketing director for VAIO Europe, said that the range is "constantly evolving".

"Security, reliability and manageability are primary requirements for business customers, so these form the bedrock of all VAIO Professional portables," he added.

The VAIO laptop recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, having first been launched in Europe in 1998.

In 2006 it became the first laptop to integrate a Blu-ray Disc player into its design.



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An online technology company has launched a watch with a concealed USB flash drive.

Currently available on website Think Geek, the James Bond-style gadget hides a 4GB flash drive which can easily be removed and used in PCs.

Pocket-lint.co.uk reports that the device costs $60 (£30) and the watch has a plastic case covered by a stainless steel mask with a brushed sliver finish.

The USB flash drive fits "flush" within the "contours of the watch case", according to the company.

"Simply remove, add data and then re-insert and you’re ready to conduct secret missions," explains the manufacturers.

Fellow technology firm Super Talent has also launched a new 8GB flash drive that is covered in 24-karat gold plating.

Slipperybrick.com reports that the device also comes with a gold carrying chain.



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Nikon’s D700 SLR camera has "class-leading high-ISO performance" according to a review.

Techradar.com says that the device has a ultra high-resolution LCD screen and a 12 million pixel sensor, which makes the D700 a "pretty amazing camera".

Nikon claims that the camera is "professional" and is completely water and dust resistant.

The website described the D700’s auto-focus as the "best" it had "ever used", saying it can track a moving subject across the frame.

"The camera is programmed to look out for skin tones and facial features, making the focusing system as close to infallible as you’ll find on any other DSLR," explained the site.

According to the review, the only thing that may not appeal is the price tag of £2,000, which it claims is "not particularly cheap".

Nikon recently revealed that Japan astronaut Akihiko Hoshide took one of its D2XS digital SLR cameras with him on a space trip to the International Space Station, reports i4u.com.



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The amount of malware blocked online has increased by 278 per cent in the first half of 2008, according to a leading web security firm.

ScanSafe’s Global Threat Report found that 66 per cent of all the malware which it blocked during the time period came from legitimate websites.

The report was compiled from the 60 billion web requests the company scanned and the 600 million threats which ScanSafe blocked in the first six months of 2008.

It also found that password-stealing trojans were the most commonly-blocked malware viruses, rising to 27 per cent of all occurrences in June from four per cent in January.

Mary Landesman, senior security researcher for ScanSafe, said: "The impacted websites are typically known, legitimate and trusted sites with a business purpose.

"These are sites that users visit frequently and the attacks are so stealthy and unobtrusive, that most visitors don’t know that they’ve been infected."

In related news, Nigella Lawson’s website has been "compromised" by hackers who installed a malware program, reports vnunet.com.



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Dell has revealed that its future Latitude laptops will feature touch-screen capabilities.

The computer manufacturer claims that it will be the first "convertible tablet with multi-touch capabilities".

According to Dell, the touch-screen technology will allow users to scroll and zoom using two fingers on the screen and moving them horizontally or vertically.

Users can also navigate programmes using a "double tap" which can be specially assigned to specific commands.

Jeff Clarke, senior vice president of Dell Product Group, said: "We introduced the Latitude XT as a revolutionary product in the tablet space.

"Today Dell is taking that commitment to a new level with multi-touch functionality. We plan to finish this year with 50 per cent more products in our laptop portfolio and deliver innovation our competitors can’t match."

Dell recently established its US College Gaming League as the official amateur partner to the Championship Gaming Series.




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Specialist printer manufacturers Zebra have launched its new G-Series line of thermal desktop printers.

The products are available in both direct thermal and a combination of direct thermal/thermal transfer versions and have best-in-class speed, performance and heritage, according to the manufacturer.

Zebra claims that the new printers are "ideal" for printing labels, receipts, price marking tags, identification wristbands "and much more".

Glenn Williams, desktop senior product manager for Zebra, said that the G-Series are a "sophisticated new generation of desktop printers".

"In addition to available wireless connectivity, this new flagship desktop line demonstrates Zebra’s long-held practice of listening to the needs and concerns of our customers and developing comprehensive solutions that meet their current and emerging application requirements," he added.

Online Labels, a supplier of blank labels for printers, recently announced its new Maestro Label Designer web-based software which allows companies to create, save and print labels "with no downloads necessary".



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The cheapest netbook to be equipped with Windows XP has been described as a "great portable" in a new review.

Advent’s 4211 Netbook costs £329 and comes in a two-tone black and silver finish, which Andrew Harrison from PC Advisor says that some consumers "may be tempted" by.

The device has a 10-inch screen which results in a keyboard that is more comfortable to use than on some of its rivals, according to the reviewer, who also praised its trackpad for being "responsive and accurate".

On the 4211 Netbook there are two USB ports and an Ethernet port, together with integrated webcam and speakers built into the design.

"The Advent 4211’s screen, it’s worth noting, is crisp and clear with a refreshingly matte finish, going against the trend of many recent laptops that come fitted with mirror-like glossy screens," explained the writer.

Pocket-Lint.co.uk reports that Advent’s netbook competitor Asus has shipped 1.7 million of its Eee PC’s during the first half of 2008 and hopes to sell five million by the end of the year.




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A new pocket-sized printer is set to be released onto the European market after proving successful in North America.

The Printstik, devised by PlanOn, measures only 48mm x 25mm x 280 mm and connects to laptops, PDAs or smart-phones using Bluetooth technology.

It is the smallest handheld to have a self contained paper solution and can print up to three pages a minute.

The connectivity in the Printstik is provided by firm Cambridge Consultants’ BlueStack software and Interface Express suite which enables application level communication with external devices.

Neale Dass, manufacturing director for PlanOn, said: "This flexibility and ease-of-integration, together with the package of full support provided by Cambridge Consultants has enabled us to quickly take Printstik from concept to production, creating the competitive lead we need in this fast-paced market."

Competitor printer manufacturer Canon recently unveiled its Pxma iP100 portable inkjet printer which it claims is small enough to fit in a work travel bag and describes as "the ultimate travel companion".



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