NetComm has formed a dedicated consumer electronics division, branded Banksia Digital, that resurrects an established Australian communications brand. The Banksia company and brand, under then CEO David Stewart, was amalgamated into NetComm in 1997.

A research report providing a description of the major connector initiatives and their impact on technology driving the connector industry has been published by Bishop & Assoc in the US. The aim of the report is to create a resource for understanding the new technologies, their purpose and uniqueness and to provide a basis for determining their viability in an ever-changing world of electronic systems.

The Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (AEEMA) and the South African Electronic Industries Federation (EIF) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to foster collaboration between the two industry associations.

Worldwide semiconductor revenue growth is starting to slow in the second half of 2004. Although the slowing will affect income mainly during the fourth quarter, the second half of 2004 is still generating strong growth of 10% on top of the increase seen in the first six months of the year, according to a newly-revised outlook from iSuppli's Electronic Components Forecast service.

The CSIRO ICT Centre has completed the spin-off of its compound semiconductor technologies to EpiTactix. EpiTactix has secured $5.2 million in start-up funding and support from a syndicate of investors, including the CSIRO and an AusIndustry R&D Start Grant.

Kontron has announced a joint marketing activity with Advantech and Adlink to promote the ETXexpress product brand to the embedded market.

'Photonic wire' that can guide light beams in the way copper wire guides electronics has won for its inventor the 2004 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year.

The Victorian Minister for Manufacturing and Export, Tim Holding and the High Commissioner of South Africa, Anthony Mongalo have celebrated a Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (AEEMA) and the South African Electronics Industry Federation (EIF) supported by the South African Electrotechnical Export Council (SAEEC) at the Investment Centre Victoria.

From next year, electronics manufacturers in Europe will be required to take back and partially recycle old equipment.

Agilent Technologies and Lumileds Lighting are collaborating on a new series of light-emitting diodes.

An engineer at Sheffield University in Britain is leading a project that could revolutionise the way scientists, medics and others see the world - by allowing the earlier detection of cancer, the instant analysis of medical screening tests, and permitting the emergency and security services to work effectively in murky surroundings.

AMD says it is achieving a smooth transition to 90 nm manufacturing and has distributed low-power 90 nm Mobile AMD Athlon 64 processors for thin and light notebooks (previously codenamed 'Oakville'.

PayGlobal of Christchurch, a payroll and human resources software company, won the Supreme Award and became the Westpac Hi Tech Company of the Year at the recent Westpac New Zealand Hi Tech Awards, held at Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington.

James Bond-style technologies such as mobile phones the size of earpieces and invisible sensors sprinkled about to detect toxins are closer to reality.

Biophan Technologies, a US company, has developed the Biothermal battery, based on the use of thermoelectric materials, using nanoscale-based, thin-film materials to convert thermal energy produced naturally by the human body into electrical energy.