First hydrogen-powered cars, and now hydrogen-powered mobile phones. Will these alternate sources of fuel and power eventually become mainstream someday? The possibility doesn't seem far off at this point, with STMicroelectronics working on a mobile phone power system that uses hydrogen as a reserve power supply. More in the full article.

With a whole slew of memory card formats out there it's good news to hear that three big mobile phone companies - Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson - are cooperating to push for a standard unified format. Their plan is to have one single format for mobile phones, digital cameras and other gadgetry that requires a memory card.

Memory card companies are also said to be on board, like Micron Technology Inc., Spansion LLC, STMicroelectronics NV, and Texas Instruments Inc. We might not see the "one card" take over the gadget kingdom in the near future, but with technology running on its current pace it won't be surprising to see it take effect sooner than we expect.

We all know that Nintendo is currently enjoying tremendous success with its sleek white console Wii. Some say it's just a fad and that the Wii novelty will wear off in time, but as far as the companies involved in manufacturing the console are concerned, it's a fad they are not willing to let go given all the profits it has generated for them.

The console's most obvious selling point are its unique motion-sensing controllers Wiimote and Nunchuk. Components from the former are provided by manufacturer Analog Devices while the parts of the latter are coming from Italian-French firm STMicroelectronics.

Reports have it that Analog Devices has just converted one of its facilities into a dedicated Wiimote sensor plant. Likewise, STMicroelectronics has plans to put up a sensor-production plant in Milan. It was also said that power chips and Wi-Fi components supplier Mitsumi Electric recently had a five-fold increase in operating profits.

Wii's success is also reflected by the tremendous growth of acceleration sensor industry in just one year. Total sales around the world tripled in 2006 alone and the prices of components are falling down fast.