Mobility

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) is moving fast to complete a planned acquisition of ATI Technologies Inc., offering US$1.7 million (Cdn$1.91) in salary and bonuses to hire the graphics card vendor's chief executive officer, David Orton.

IBM Corp. has improved the power efficiency of two models of PowerPC processors, making an effort to strengthen its position in markets from cars and printers to networking and communications equipment.

The latest remodel of the Microsoft Home, the software vendor's techno-fueled vision of domestic accoutrements of the future, showcases a variety of smart appliances, from lamps to interactive wallpaper, that can be controlled by tablet PCs or cell phone-wielding residents.

Toshiba Corp. is offering to replace a further 830,000 laptop batteries containing cells made by Sony Corp., it said. And Fujitsu Ltd. will offer owners of some of its laptop computers replacement batteries as part of Sony Corp.'s global battery exchange program, it said .

Appleby College in Oakville, Ont. signed a two-year, $2-million agreement with Lenovo Canada to be supplied with 880 ThinkPad X41 Tablet PCs for its students, faculty and administrators.

Dell Inc. has increased by 100,000 the number of laptop batteries it is recalling due to a potential fire hazard, while Toshiba Corp. said it would take part in Sony Corp.'s voluntary battery replacement program kicked off Thursday. Fujitsu Ltd. indicated that it was also considering a voluntary recall.

Intel this week said it is offering as much as US$1 million in prizes to the PC designer and maker that builds the most stylish small computer optimized for multimedia use at home.

IBM Corp. and Lenovo Group Ltd. recalled 526,000 Sony Corp. batteries for ThinkPad notebooks on Thursday, becoming the latest notebook vendors to act on fire-prone power sources.