Nintendo Wii sales surge in Japan

Sales of Nintendo's Wii surged in the third week of December in Japan as more supplies of the hard-to-get game console arrived in shops across the country, reports Computerworld.

Sales totalled 279 277 units for the week, according to figures from Media Create, more than double the number sold a week earlier. This represents the greatest weekly sales yet with the exception of launch week, when 350 358 consoles were sold.

Sony's PlayStation 3 also saw sales jump on the previous week, although the climb was much more modest. A total of 76 882 units were sold, says Media Create.

The first batch of computers built for the One Laptop Per Child project could reach users by July this year, reports BBC News.

The scheme is hoping to put low-cost computers into the hands of people in developing countries. Ultimately the project's backers hope the machines could sell for as little as $100.

The first countries to sign up to buying the machine include Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Nigeria, Libya, Pakistan and Thailand.

A Microsoft marketing strategy, which saw the US-based software firm hand out brand new laptops with Windows Vista to selected bloggers, has backfired with claims that Microsoft tried to "buy" bloggers, reports The Register.

At least six bloggers each received a sleek, black, highly-specified Ferrari machine running the as-yet-to-be released Windows Vista from Microsoft and Acer just before Christmas.

At least one recipient claimed his machine was a gift. Microsoft watcher Long Zheng called the PC a "Christmas present [that was] officially" a review machine.

While Steve Jobs retains control of the Apple helm, the company faces other legal challenges this year, over patents and monopoly law, reports InformationWeek.

Apple's annual report - delayed to include the results of an investigation of its past stock option grant practices - last week delivered some good news for investors and fans of the company: It appears that Steve Jobs will keep his job.

However, Apple faces legal threats beyond its options quagmire that may not be resolved in the company's favour, one of which is a patent infringement claim.