AFP
Technology - AFP

A young man is seen playing games at an Internet cafe in Shanghai. Around four million Chinese youngsters are addicted to the Internet, mainly attracted by "unhealthy" online games, state media reported Friday, citing a top legislator.(AFP/File/Liu Jin)

Millions of young Chinese addicted to 'unhealthy' Internet games: report

Fri Aug 29, 2:40 AM ET

BEIJING (AFP) - Around four million Chinese youngsters are addicted to the Internet, mainly attracted by "unhealthy" online games, state media reported Friday, citing a top legislator.

  • People play video games at a fair. Lifelike graphics are breaking free of elite computer games and spreading throughout society in what industry insiders proclaim is the dawning of a "visual computing era."(AFP/File/Barbara Sax)
    Eyes turn to dawn of 'visual computing' Fri Aug 29, 3:04 AM ET

    SAN JOSE, California (AFP) - Lifelike graphics are breaking free of elite computer games and spreading throughout society in what industry insiders proclaim is the dawning of a "visual computing era."

  • A "decomposed" washing machine at the stand of German household appliances giant Miele at the IFA (Internationale Funkaustellung) Consumer Electronics Trade Fair, at Berlin's fair ground August 27. The IFA, one of the largest consumer electronics trade fairs in the world, takes place from 29 August to 03 September.(AFP/John Macdougall)
    Futuristic fridges invade Berlin consumer electronics show Thu Aug 28, 3:10 PM ET

    BERLIN (AFP) - The Ifa, Europe's top consumer electronics show, is normally all about gadgets that make life more entertaining with the latest flat screen televisions, stereo equipment and the like.

  • A model from Japan's Sony Corporation poses with a new Bravia 40-inch LCD televison (ZX1 series) at their headquarters in Tokyo. Sony Corp. has said it will launch the new ZX1 model, the world's thinnest and lightest 40-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) television, seeking to trump its rivals ahead of the key year-end shopping season.(AFP/Kazuhiro Nogi)
    Sony to launch world's slimmest 40-inch LCD TV Thu Aug 28, 8:49 AM ET

    TOKYO (AFP) - Sony Corp. said Thursday it will launch the world's thinnest and lightest 40-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) television, seeking to trump its rivals ahead of the key year-end shopping season.

  • Malaysians work on their laptop computers at a Starbucks outlet providing wireless Internet in downtown Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia on Thursday defended blocking access to a prominent political website that has attacked top leaders, saying it had ignored warnings against publishing "slanderous" articles.(AFP/File/Jimin Lai)
    Popular Malaysian political website blocked: government Thu Aug 28, 12:14 PM ET

    KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Malaysia on Thursday defended blocking access to a prominent political website that has attacked top leaders, saying it had ignored warnings against publishing "slanderous" articles.

  • The International Space Station in June 2008 as seen from the US space shuttle Discovery as it moved away from the station after completing nine days of joint operations. NASA confirmed on Wednesday that a computer virus sneaked aboard the International Space Station only to be tossed into quarantine on July 25 by security software.(AFP/HO NASA/File/null)
    Computer virus goes into orbit Wed Aug 27, 6:22 PM ET

    SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - NASA confirmed on Wednesday that a computer virus sneaked aboard the International Space Station only to be tossed into quarantine on July 25 by security software.

  • Members of the media are seen during the Democratic National Convention 2008 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, on August 26, 2008. A new media army has descended on the Democratic convention in Colorado this week, boldly claiming to offer a fresh perspective on US politics distinct from the mainstream media.(AFP/File/Stan Honda)
    New media army descends on convention Wed Aug 27, 5:24 PM ET

    DENVER, Colorado (AFP) - A new media army has descended on the Democratic convention in Colorado this week, boldly claiming to offer a fresh perspective on US politics distinct from the mainstream media.

  • Toyota vehicles wait to be loaded on a cargo ship for export. The world's first cargo ship partly propelled by solar power is set to take to the seas later this year in a joint project between two Japanese companies, an official said Wednesday.(AFP/File/Toshifumi Kitamura)
    Japanese firms plan solar-powered cargo ship Wed Aug 27, 12:13 PM ET

    TOKYO (AFP) - The world's first cargo ship partly propelled by solar power is set to take to the seas later this year in a joint project between two Japanese companies, an official said Wednesday.

  • A couple tend to their child who is suspected to be infected with bird flu at a hospital in Medan on August 6. Japan's Sharp Corp. has said that it has developed an air purifier that eliminates 99.9 percent of the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu within 10 minutes.(AFP/File)
    Sharp unveils new anti-bird flu air purifier Wed Aug 27, 6:28 AM ET

    TOKYO (AFP) - Japan's Sharp Corp. said Wednesday that it has developed an air purifier that eliminates 99.9 percent of the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu within 10 minutes.

  • File photo shows the skull and crossbones flag draped over a hacker's computer. Police in Taiwan have arrested six people suspected of stealing personal data from state firms, including information about the island's current and former presidents, officials have said(AFP/File/Joel Saget)
    Taiwan cracks major hacking ring, data on president stolen Wed Aug 27, 3:09 AM ET

    TAIPEI (AFP) - Police in Taiwan have arrested six people suspected of stealing personal data from state firms, including information about the island's current and former presidents, officials said Wednesday.

  • Thom Yorke of British rock group Radiohead, seen here performing in 2006. As music lovers mobbed an outdoor stage, vying for views of Radiohead, Beck and other rockers, Keith McPhail enjoyed a prime view of the show from a couch in an Internet "living room."(AFP/File/Leon Neal)
    Internet socializing keeps time with the music scene Tue Aug 26, 7:37 AM ET

    SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - As music lovers mobbed an outdoor stage, vying for views of Radiohead, Beck and other rockers, Keith McPhail enjoyed a prime view of the show from a couch in an Internet "living room."

  • The exiled Tibetan spiritual guide, the Dalai Lama salutes as he arrives at the temple of Lerab Ling in Roqueredonde, southern France. The Dalai Lama said 400 people have been killed in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa since March.(AFP/File/Pascal Guyot)
    China keeps pro-Tibet websites blocked Fri Aug 22, 3:13 PM ET

    BEIJING (AFP) - Pro-Tibet websites remained blocked in the Olympic press centre and elsewhere on Friday, amid reports that Chinese troops had opened fire on protesters in a remote area of southwest China.

  • An Indian trader, seen in July 2008, uses his cellular telephone to check prices of Mosambi (Citrus Sinensis) at Gaddiannaram Fruit Market in Hyderabad. Battle lines are being drawn after India's telecoms regulator called for full-blown telephone services via the Internet, paving the way for another fall in the nation's already cheap call rates.(AFP/File/Noah Seelam)
    Low cost Internet phone revolution beckons for India Fri Aug 22, 3:07 PM ET

    NEW DELHI (AFP) - Battle lines are being drawn after India's telecoms regulator called for full-blown telephone services via the Internet, paving the way for another fall in the nation's already cheap call rates.

  • An eBay employee in Paris. Flocks of eBay sellers were squawking as the pioneering online auction website continued "bold changes" aimed at wrenching market share from Internet retail giant Amazon(AFP/File/Jacques Demarthon)
    Sellers squawk as eBay evolves to combat rivals Fri Aug 22, 2:49 PM ET

    SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Flocks of eBay sellers were squawking as the pioneering online auction website continued "bold changes" aimed at wrenching market share from Internet retail giant Amazon.

  • An Apple Nano and iTunes music card on a computer keyboard, May 2007. Apple have said they are investigating why access to iTunes appeared to be blocked for users in China after a pro-Tibet album became a hit on the online music store.(AFP/File/Robert Sullivan)
    Apple investigating after iTunes blocked in China Fri Aug 22, 8:13 AM ET

    BEIJING (AFP) - Apple said Friday they were investigating why access to iTunes appeared to be blocked for users in China after a pro-Tibet album became a hit on the online music store.

  • The tiny South Pacific nation of Niue Thursday became the first nation in the world to issue laptop computers to all its children, officials said. Every primary and secondary school student was this week given a rugged "relatively waterproof and breakproof" little green laptop, which has wireless connection to the Internet as part of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative.(AFP/File/Ernesto Benavides)
    Tiny nation of Niue gets laptop for every child Fri Aug 22, 2:40 AM ET

    NIUE (AFP) - The tiny South Pacific nation of Niue Thursday became the first nation in the world to issue laptop computers to all its children, officials said.

  • An Intel sign is displayed in front of the computer chip maker's headquarters in Santa Clara, California. Intel on Thursday showed off a wireless electric power system that analysts say could revolutionize modern life by freeing devices from transformers and wall outlets.(AFP/Getty Images/File/Justin Sullivan)
    Intel cuts electric cords with wireless power system Thu Aug 21, 5:30 PM ET

    SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Intel on Thursday showed off a wireless electric power system that analysts say could revolutionize modern life by freeing devices from transformers and wall outlets.

  • Yahoo! corporate headquarters in Sunnyvale, California. Yahoo is building an Internet-age news service, leveraging its global audience of a half-billion people to win exclusive interviews with world leaders.(AFP/YAHOO-HO/Brian Mcguiness)
    Yahoo mixes old and new in Internet-age news service Thu Aug 21, 4:05 PM ET

    SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Yahoo is building an Internet-age news service, leveraging its global audience of a half-billion people to win exclusive interviews with world leaders.

  • Apple's iconic iPhone is slated to make its debut in India on August 22. Indoa is the world's fastest-growing mobile market.(AFP/Getty Images/File/Mario Tama)
    Apple's iPhone to launch in India on Friday Thu Aug 21, 1:25 PM ET

    NEW DELHI (AFP) - Apple's iconic iPhone was slated to make its debut Friday in India, home to the world's fastest-growing mobile market, officials said.

  • The iPod Nano. The Apple is offering to replace faulty batteries in iPod nanos in Japan following a government warning that the popular music players may pose a fire hazard, a company spokesman said Thursday.(AFP/File/Sajjad Hussain)
    Apple offers to replace faulty iPod batteries Thu Aug 21, 12:03 PM ET

    TOKYO (AFP) - Apple is offering to replace faulty batteries in iPod nanos in Japan following a government warning that the popular music players may pose a fire hazard, a company spokesman said Thursday.

  • Yahoo and Intel on Wednesday unveiled plans to make television more interactive with online capabilities. The Internet pioneer and the chip-making titan said they are working together on a "Widget Channel" that will use computer programs to add online features to television shows and advertising.(DDP/AFP/File/Michael Gottschalk)
    Yahoo unveils plan to mesh Internet and television Wed Aug 20, 8:46 PM ET

    SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Yahoo and Intel on Wednesday unveiled plans to make television more interactive with online capabilities.

  • Mario Pirchala holds the Wii control as he participate in the Wiimbledon Wii Tennis tournament in June 2008 in Brooklyn, New York. A US firm said Wednesday it had filed legal actions against Japanese-based Nintendo claiming patent infringement by the wildly popular Wii game console.(AFP/Getty Images/File/Joshua Lott)
    US firm files patent claim against Nintendo Wii Wed Aug 20, 8:24 PM ET

    WASHINGTON (AFP) - A US firm said Wednesday it had filed legal actions against Japanese-based Nintendo claiming patent infringement by the wildly popular Wii game console.

  • A screen grab of the video arcade game "Space Invaders." Europe's biggest games convention in Leipzig, Germany, marks 30 years since "Space Invaders" this week with a homage to the alien 'shoot-em-up' as well as 500 exhibitors showing how far the industry has come since then.(AFP/OFF)
    All hail to 'Space Invaders' at Europe's biggest games show Wed Aug 20, 12:15 PM ET

    BERLIN (AFP) - Europe's biggest games convention marks 30 years since "Space Invaders" this week with a homage to the alien 'shoot-em-up' as well as 500 exhibitors showing how far the industry has come since then.

  • Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin heads up a meeting just outside Moscow in Novo-Ogarevo. Russia is to invest 600 billion rubles (24.6 billion dollars, 16.7 billion euros) in hi-tech industries over two years, Putin said Wednesday.(AFP/RIA/Alexey Druzhinin)
    Putin vows 24 billion dollars for Russian hi-tech: report Wed Aug 20, 12:05 PM ET

    MOSCOW (AFP) - Russia is to invest 600 billion rubles (24.6 billion dollars, 16.7 billion euros) in hi-tech industries over two years, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Wednesday.

  • A packed Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, central London. Sony Corp. plans to use its latest high-definition video technology to show operas staged in England in cinemas in Japan, the electronics giant has said.(AFP/Pool/File/John Stillwell)
    Operas from British stage to hit Japanese big screens Wed Aug 20, 8:19 AM ET

    TOKYO (AFP) - Sony Corp. plans to use its latest high-definition video technology to show operas staged in England in cinemas in Japan, the electronics giant said Wednesday.

  • Google will be pampering bloggers and tutoring US policy makers at Democratic and Republican national conventions as Internet culture flexes growing political muscle.(AFP/File/Jose Luis Roca)
    Google courts bloggers-politicos at US presidential conventions Wed Aug 20, 4:50 AM ET

    SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Google will be pampering bloggers and tutoring US policy makers at Democratic and Republican national conventions as Internet culture flexes growing political muscle.

  • Ever since the online auction site eBay sprung up 10 years ago as a hub for selling just about everything imaginable, a handful of Americans has tried to sell votes, even though it is illegal.(AFP/File/Jacques Demarthon)
    A modern electoral tradition: selling votes on eBay Wed Aug 20, 3:02 AM ET

    WASHINGTON (AFP) - Ever since the online auction site eBay sprung up 10 years ago as a hub for selling just about everything imaginable, a handful of Americans has tried to sell votes, even though it is illegal.

  • A South Korean woman passes mobile handsets on display at an electronics shop in Seoul. The tech-savvy nation now has 45 million mobile phones, equivalent to 91 percent of the total population(AFP/File/Jung Yeon-Je)
    Almost one mobile phone for every South Korean, statistics show Wed Aug 20, 12:06 AM ET

    SEOUL (AFP) - Tech-savvy South Korea now has 45 million mobile phones, equivalent to 91 percent of the total population, the Korea Communications Commission said Wednesday.

  • Hundreds of Olympians are updating blogs about their experiences in Beijing and the unwritten rule appears to be: The bigger the star the blander the blog(AFP/Getty Images/File/Justin Sullivan)
    Olympian blogs range from the bland to the bitter Tue Aug 19, 11:25 PM ET

    BEIJING (AFP) - Hugh MacDonald, Canadian's reserve archer for the Olympics, was not a happy blogger.