Mikael Ricknas

Marvel Comics next month will release a new application for Android and iOS devices to add content enhanced with augmented reality to some of its comic books.

Augmented reality, or AR , allows computer-generated content to be superimposed over a live camera view of the real world -- a street, for instance. There are various ways to do this, but Marvel will use technology from Aurasma that relies on image detection.

Nokia has upped the "how green can you get" stakes with a kit that allows users to charge their phones when cycling, the phone manufacturer said on Thursday.

The kit consists of a charger and a dynamo, as well as a holder to secure the phone to the bike. The dynamo, a small electrical generator, uses the movement of the wheels to charge the handset through a standard 2 millimeter jack, which is found in most Nokia mobile phones, the company said.

Apple has updated the 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models with Intel's Core i5 and i7 processors.

Alcatel-Lucent posted a loss yet again, the reported net loss for the third quarter was reported at €40 million (US$52.64 million), as sales to carriers dropped, it reported on Thursday. Although the loss is smaller than a year ago, when the company reported a net loss at €345 million.

Revenues came in at €4.065 billion, compared to €4.350 million during the same period last year, a decrease of 6.6 percent. Revenue was also down 0.9 percent sequentially.

Hewlett-Packard is getting ready to launch the ExDS storage system, which will use up to 820 1T-byte drives for file-based storage, packaged in two 42U cabinets.

The system is an online content repository that comes in the shape of an appliance, according to Jim Haberkorn, whose job description as a director at HP's StorageWorks division includes hyping the system to potential customers.

Swedish operator TeliaSonera doesn't seem to have been sure that its iPhone 3G launch would attract enough people. It planned to hire 150 extras to stand in line "to create a better atmosphere and excitement", according to an e-mail message obtained by MacWorld Sweden.

The event company that sent the message confirmed its content as genuine in an interview with the magazine.

As the iPhone 3G goes on sale customers all over the world will have to navigate the treacherous waters of operator pricing, and all users have to be able to answer one question, according to Shaun Collins, managing director at CCS Insight.

"When asked how many minutes and how much data you use, and how many text messages you send every month you have to be able to answer. Check your latest bill, or two bills before going to the store," said Collins. Otherwise, users run the risk of paying too much.

Ericsson will equip Toshiba's business laptops with integrated support for mobile broadband access using HSPA (High Speed Packet Access), it announced on Tuesday.

The plan is to release the first laptops in the second half of 2008 in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Nokia continues to prepare for the launch of its Comes With Music service, signing a deal with Warner Music on Tuesday.

Comes With Music was first announced in December, and will package a mobile phone with a year of unlimited access to music. When the year is over users will be able to keep their downloaded songs.