With Advanced Micro Devices Inc.'s cash reserves dwindling and the chip maker's overall financial health deteriorating to dangerous levels last year, the company was thrown a lifeline by Lehman Brothers, the investment bank now in bankruptcy. The $1.5 billion in AMD debt that Lehman scooped up in August 2007 demonstrates the important role that banks like Lehman and other investment firms play in helping prop up wobbly companies by pouring money into them when they're down.

In AMD's case, Lehman's problems won't affect the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company's balance sheet, which at the end of June showed AMD holding about $1.6 billion in cash while carrying $5.3 billion in debt. That's because AMD has already spent the proceeds, and its debt offering was sold off by Lehman to other banks or held by its subsidiaries that are now being sold to other firms.

Microsoft has informed some of its partners that it has had to delay Windows Mobile 7, a much anticipated update to its cell phone operating system. Although Microsoft has not publicly said when to expect Windows Mobile 7, partners who had expected to have a final release in their hands by early next year have been told now that it won't be ready until the second half of next year.

The delay is a significant blow for the software maker, which has been counting on the next version of Windows Mobile to enable devices that better rival Apple's iPhone. Among the features widely expected to be part of the release is advanced gesture recognition, perhaps along the lines of the iPhone, but possibly also using the camera as a means for reading gestures. Microsoft's Tellme unit, which focuses on speech input, has also been working on Windows Mobile 7 features.

BGR is reporting that Palm plans to offer its Treo Pro Windows Mobile handset through an American wireless carrier.  Since, BGR suggests, Palm has no relationship with T-Mobile, that leaves AT&T Mobility.

This is unconfirmed information, so take it for what it’s worth.  But such a move would certainly prove beneficial for Palm, who currently plans to offer the Palm Treo Pro as a direct-sell, unlocked handset.

Micron's investigation into acquiring Qimonda has progressed and a deal is likely to happen, according to a note from analyst Doug Freedman of American Technology Research. One of the key drivers for the deal is the fact Micron will be able to leverage Qimonda's Inotera joint venture, which would add additional Taiwan facilities and IP revenue opportunities for Micron, in addition to its existing MeiYa joint venture with Nanya Technologies.

Qimonda's fab assets are also more valuable to Micron, compared with other potential buyers, such as Hynix or Nanya, as their common geographies allow logistics synergy, Freedman noted. Since Qimonda cannot fund projected losses through fiscal year 2009, Freedman expects that a deal could be done for US$350 million, near US$1 per share, or 25% of the US$4 per share book value. Freedman estimates an additional cost of about US$100 million would be required to convert Qimonda fabs to Micron processes.

In a glitzy multimedia event reminiscent of some other high-profile phone we probably don’t need to mention, Google and T-Mobile today introduced the T-Mobile G1, the first Android-based cell phone.  Pricing and availability details (that’s all you care about, right?) are as follows:Existing T-Mobile customers can order today.  However, delivery and store availability won’t be until Oct. 22nd.  Pricing is $179 with a two-year plan.  For other countries, November will see the device in the

In a glitzy multimedia event reminiscent of some other high-profile phone we probably don’t need to mention, Google and T-Mobile today introduced the T-Mobile G1, the first Android-based cell phone.  Pricing and availability details (that’s all you care about, right?) are as follows:Existing T-Mobile customers can order today.  However, delivery and store availability won’t be until Oct. 22nd.  Pricing is $179 with a two-year plan.  For other countries, November will see the device in the

Sub-$400 Model Leaps Ahead in Recording Speed; Includes Blu-ray Disc Movie Title ‘Men In Black’ SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Electronics today announced its third generation internal Blu-ray Disc(TM) (BD) writer for the computer aftermarket, which at about $400 achieves a new level of affordability for BD enthusiasts.The new BWU-300S model burns single and dual layer BD-R media at up to 8X speed, recording a full 25GB disc in about 15 minutes and a full 50GB disc in about 30 minutes. The 8X

Thermaltake is ready to formally introduce its Xpressar RCS100 Micro Refrigeration Cooling System, which was first shown off at Computex in June. If you haven’t yet seen the Xpressar RCS100, it is somewhat similar to the famed VapoChill Vapor Phase-Change Cooling systems we have shown you a few occasions in the past, but Thermaltake’s offering differs in that it utilizes a DC Inverter type micro compressor to cool the PC. In fact, Thermaltake is claiming to be the first to use such a design.To quote Thermaltake,

Games for Windows Celebrates Two-Year Anniversary Like a Rockstar“Grand Theft Auto IV” ignites cocktail of hot PC titles coming exclusively to Games for Windows and Games for Windows – LIVE. REDMOND, Wash. – Sept. 22, 2008 – Microsoft Corp. celebrates its second anniversary of the Games for Windows initiative this month with the news that the year’s biggest blockbuster, “Grand Theft Auto IV” (Rockstar Games), will debut on the PC this November exclusively as a Games for Windows-branded title, joining a

Asus has pulled out all the stops with the creation of it's Rampage Extreme motherboard. Just when you thought all innovation was finished with the LGA775 platform, Asus pulls a fast one on you. The Rampage Extreme is a physical manifestation of an overclockers dream motherboard. Read on to see what makes this board one of the best motherboards of all time!