Hewlett-Packard plans to unveil a business notebook Thursday with an embedded chip that allows users to connect to Verizon Wireless’s EvDO (Evolution Data Only, or Evolution Data Optimized) network in the United States, part of a new trend toward built-in wide-area networking capability in PCs. The company will unveil the HP Compaq nc6140 on Thursday during an event at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show here with executives from HP and Verizon, says Eric Brennan, director of business solutions for HP’s personal systems group. HP joins fellow PC makers Dell and Lenovo Group in embracing cellular networks as an alternative for business users tired of searching for a Wi-Fi hotspot or an ethernet cable.

A cornucopia of technology will be jostling for attention at the annual consumer electronics extravaganza being held in Las Vegas this week. Some 2,500 exhibitors and 130,000 people are expected to flock to the Consumer Electronics Show to catch up with the latest products and software. The keynote speakers not only include the bosses of Microsoft and Sony, but also Web titans Google and Yahoo. The line-up reflects the shift towards digital media and an online lifestyle.

Adobe Systems has introduced Macromedia Flash Lite 2 and Macromedia Flash Player SDK 7, the latest versions of software products that let users of mobile phones and consumer electronics devices view Web sites that use Flash. Flash Lite 2, a Flash player for non-PC devices, and Flash Player SDK 7, the Flash player for consumer electronics devices, will allow device makers and operators to offer customizable user interfaces and offer consistent experiences to users of a variety of devices that may have different operating systems, processors, and screen sizes.

Pepper Computer announced a new version of software for its Pepper Pad handheld media computer that brings users major new capabilities, such as integration with Yahoo’s Flickr photo-sharing community, while giving the Pad quicker performance. Version 2.1 will be delivered on Pads shipping later this month and will be available to existing Pad owners through Pepper’s software update button for free. Both the Mobipocket eBook and Flickr photo-sharing applications can also be accessed using the Pepper Desktop software for PCs.

Garmin has announced its latest Palm-powered GPS handheld, the iQue 3000. The device integrates GPS functions with various Palm apps, which means you can do stuff like find the quickest route to people in your address book. Specs include a 200MHz processor, 320 x 320 pixel LCD screen, 32MB RAM with a microSD card for expansion, and Palm OS 5, but no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Motorola revealed details of its plans for iRadio, a subscription music service that will go on sale this year. Motorola’s iRadio service will first run on the Rokr E2 cell phone, which, unlike the first Rokr phone, will not include Apple’s popular iTunes music software. The iRadio service, will include 435 commercial-free radio channels, including genres such as Heavy Metal, Rockin’ Cowboys, and Angry Women.

Sony’s settlement over the rootkit fiasco represents a blueprint for legislative action, argues law professor Michael Geist. The Sony Rootkit controversy stands as one of the leading technology law blunders of 2005. Notwithstanding its shortcomings, the Sony settlement does provide a potential starting point for a much-needed model statute to protect consumers.

Skyscape announced the release of several important new or updated nursing references for PDAs and smartphones. The new titles, available for Palm OS, Windows Mobile, and Windows powered desktop and Tablet PCs, are the Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice, Lippincott’s Nursing Drug Guide 2006, Nurses’ Guide to Clinical Procedures-5th Edition, and the Nursing Drug Handbook 2006. All feature Skyscape’s patented smARTlink technology, enabling readers to easily cross-index with other clinical and drug prescription products from Skyscape to provide a powerful and integrated source of mobile information.

Starz Entertainment Group announced the premiere of VONGO–a new video download application and service for broadband that delivers movies and other video content over the Internet for playback on Windows-based PCs, laptops, and select portable media devices, as well as on a TV. Vongo subscribers will have unlimited access to more than 1,000 movies and video selections, as well as a live, streaming Starz TV channel, for a monthly cost of $9.99. Members may download movie and video selections to three eligible devices of their choice per account, allowing for multiple viewing options and family enjoyment. Additionally, select popular pay-per-view titles are available for $3.99 per movie. Vongo is currently available for broadband subscribers in the United States.

We’re screwing with our feeds, doing some debugging. If you get duplicates or other weird feed behavior, don’t sweat it. We’re just tinkering. — DG