Google is converting its renowned headquarters to run partly on solar power, hoping to set an example for corporate America. The Internet search leader announced what is believed to be the largest solar project undertaken by a U.S. company during a solar energy conference in Silicon Valley on Monday. Google believes the sun eventually can deliver as much as 30 percent of the power at its 1-million-square-foot campus in Mountain View–a suburb about 35 miles south of San Francisco.

Apple Computer doesn’t expect the iPod media player to be hurt by Microsoft’s Zune, Chief Executive Steve Jobs said in a magazine interview. Microsoft has touted Zune, a portable media player due to be launched in the United States in time for the holiday shopping season, as a potential threat to the dominant iPod because of its ability to share music wirelessly. Jobs was equally unconcerned about the prospect of the iPod losing its cool factor as it becomes increasingly ubiquitous.

Palm announced the availability of the new Palm Treo 750v smartphone in Indonesia on the XL network, bringing for the first time to Indonesia the hallmark Palm experience on Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 over a wireless 3G/UMTS network. The new Treo 750v will be available next month through XL, Vodafone’s network partner in Indonesia.

Palm announced the availability of the new Palm Treo 750v smartphone in Malaysia on the Celcom network, bringing for the first time to Malaysia the hallmark Palm experience on Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 over a wireless 3G/UMTS network. The new Treo 750v will be available next month through Celcom, Vodafone’s network partner in Malaysia.

MobiMate announced that its WorldMate application comes pre-installed in the Nokia Eseries devices. Nokia has licensed a basic version of the application for inclusion with the Nokia E50, Nokia E60, Nokia E61, Nokia E62 and Nokia E70. Customers will have access to weather forecasts, world clocks, currency rates and day/night information on their phones. MobiMate will also offer customers the opportunity to upgrade to future WorldMate products including advanced travel services regarding flights, weather and travel planning.

ThinkPad notebooks from Chinese computer-maker Lenovo, which already let the user log on with a thumbprint instead of a password, will now allow users to encrypt their hard drives at the press of a finger. The company planned to announce the new security technology on Monday. The program works with Utimaco’s SafeGuard Easy software, which has received certification from the U.S. government for purchase by its agencies, according to Clain Anderson, director of the company’s ThinkVantage technologies.

Talk show host Oprah Winfrey and humanitarian rocker Bono hit Chicago’s “Magnificent Mile” for a shopping spree to promote a new line of clothing, accessories and gadgets, including a special-edition iPod, that will raise money to fight AIDS in Africa.

When a single-engine plane crashed into an Upper East Side apartment building on Wednesday, Fox News Channel delivered early live video to its viewers from the crash site using a handheld mobile phone souped up with streaming video. Scott Wilder, a cameraman for the network, had been about 20 blocks away on another assignment when the crash occurred. Wilder ran uptown and reported live from the scene using a Palm Treo smartphone that uses the existing mobile network to transmit video to the Fox News control room. From there, Fox News sent it out live on TV to supplement other video being shot by local traffic helicopters.

Duracell announced two new Nickel Metal Hydride battery chargers that deliver greater convenience along with industry-leading safety technology. Designed for tech-savvy consumers, the new Duracell Power Gauge Charger features a dynamic LED indicator that displays the charge status for each battery, so consumers can easily tell when each charge will be complete, ensuring top-performance with every use. The Power Gauge Charger charges up to four AA or AAA NiMH batteries, and for added flexibility, has a USB port for quick, convenient charging of compatible, USB-enabled devices with built-in rechargeable batteries like iPods, MP3 players and digital cameras.

Like a hurricane on the horizon (which, fortunately, we’ve managed to avoid this season), Internet Explorer 7 is getting closer and closer. In fact, if reports are to be believed, IE7 is about the make landfall in the next few days — and it’s coming to your PC whether you want it or not. In this important article, we show you how to prevent it from automatically installing.

Read this Computing Unplugged article.