China's population tops 200m
The number of Internet users in China soared past 200 million in 2007, according to a new report from the country's quasi-government Internet overseer, says PC World.
China's Internet population stood at 210 million at the end of last year, up 53% from the same time in 2006 when there were 137 million, the China Internet Network Information Centre said in its semi-annual report on Internet use.
That figure puts China just five million users away from becoming the world's largest wired nation, and with only about 16% of the population online. At its current growth rate, China will become the world's top Internet market sometime in the next few months.
Console vendors vie for sales
Microsoft last week reported that "consumers have spent nearly 45% of total industry figures on Xbox 360," and that "leading multi-platform blockbusters continue to sell better on Xbox 360," says PC World.
Indeed, Microsoft sells more games per console than any other system, but the company conveniently left out PS2, DS and PSP sales from its "total industry figures". And though to a lesser extent, Wii and PS2 sales of Guitar Hero III and Rock Band (PS2 only) were not included in the multi-platform blockbusters comparison.
Nintendo had such a good year when it came to hardware sales that it didn't have to mince words in its statement released late last week. The DS and Wii respectively finished the year as the top-selling systems, not to mention the best-selling platforms during the holidays.
Sony, Sharp offer free Blu-ray players
The Blu-ray camp has responded to the rather dramatic HD-DVD player price cut from last week: Sony and Sharp are throwing in a "free" Blu-ray player when certain LCD TV models are purchased, reports TG Daily.
Price has not been one of the advantages of Blu-ray players so far, but it appears Sony and others are beginning to take first shots at Toshiba on this battlefield as well.
The ad package in Sunday newspapers brought two especially interesting flyers - one from Sony and one from Best Buy.
YouTube video leads to arrest
A reputed gang member showed off his guns and taunted police on an Internet video to come and get him, and they did just that, says Fox News.
"Last night, we granted his wish," said US attorney Alexander Acosta on Wednesday.
"King Bird Road" Rudy Villanueva, 31, and another alleged gang member were arrested early on Wednesday on federal weapons charges after the video appeared on several Internet sites in recent weeks. Investigators said they were incensed when they saw the video and heard the threats.
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