Sharp exits US PDA market

Sharp Electronics plans to stop selling its Linux-based personal digital assistant (PDA) in the US, reports Associated Press.

The company will continue to sell PDAs in its home market of Japan but "has made a business decision to cycle out of development activities for the Zaurus SL6000" in the US market.

Two other electronic companies, Sony and Toshiba, announced similar withdrawals from the US earlier this year.

According to the International Data Corporation, worldwide sales of PDAs without phone functions dropped 18% last year.

Sony has unveiled its first MP3-based Flash memory digital music players under the Walkman brand, according to Newsfactor.com.

The company is promoting the new Walkman NW-E99 and NW-E95 players as superior alternatives with greater battery life than the rival iPod Mini from Apple Computer.

Sony hopes the devices will help garner support for its Sony Connect online store, which launched in Europe and the US earlier this year and offers music tracks for download.

Industry analysts predict that when the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas PlayStation 2 title is released today its sales could eclipse some of Hollywood`s most successful movies.

Developed by Take-Two Interactive, analysts believe San Andreas will sell more than 4.5 million units globally in its first week, making it one of the best-selling games of all time, reports Reuters.

The plot revolves around a gangster returning to a city modelled after Los Angeles, to find his mother has been murdered and the police have blamed him for another killing. This is followed by 150 hours of story-driven gameplay in which users can steal vehicles, manoeuvre out-of-control car chases and shoot opponents.