AMD to launch new chips

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is expected to announce faster new models of its dual-core Opteron processor today in an attempt to stay ahead of rival Intel in the market, reports ZDNet.

The company is to introduce three new Opteron 2.4GHz chips geared for computers with one, two and up to eight processors, respectively.

AMD introduced Opteron processors with dual cores or processing engines in April, but Intel`s first dual-core server chips are not expected until later this year even though it has numerous dual-core and multicore processor designs under way.

Microsoft, Palm and Verizon Wireless are expected to today officially launch a Palm Treo smartphone running the Windows Mobile operating system.

VNU Net.com says the launch of a Treo phone running the mobile version of Windows has been rumoured ever since Palm One bought back the Palm naming rights from PalmSource last May.

PalmSource develops the Palm OS operating system and was spun off from the device maker Palm One in 2003. Access of Japan acquired PalmSource earlier this month.

The report says a Windows version of the Treo could increase the appeal of the device to enterprise customers who want their devices to offer close integration with their existing Windows systems.

Microsoft is to launch its own system for selling Web advertising as it struggles to compete with Google and Yahoo in the expanding Web search business, reports News.com.

The system, to be used by MSN, is meant to improve on those of Microsoft`s rivals by allowing marketers to aim ads on Web search pages to users based on their gender, age or location.

The report says the move is part of Microsoft`s response to the threat from Google, which is using its advertising sales network to support an expanding range of free software products and Internet services.

Some owners of Apple Computer`s new iPod Nano are complaining that the screen gets scratched extremely easily.

According to News.com, several users have also complained about screens cracking, or failing, inexplicably.

The report says no Apple officials were immediately available for comment on the alleged problems with Nano screens.