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Toshiba unveils its take on the USB monitor, with a tablet-style portable format.

The USB Mobile LCD monitor has a 14" screen, with a 1366 x 768 resolution, while a single USB cable handles both power and data. It comes complete with a protective case, which can also act as a stand.

Being small enough to fit in most laptop bags and only 1" thick, it appears to be ideal for customers in need of extra screen space for photography work any sort of multitasking work.

Go Toshiba USB Mobile LCD Monitor

Acer CEO and President Gianfranco Lanci resigns from the company with immediate effect, with chairman J.T. Wang as temporary CEO.

The company says Lanci "held different views" from the board's majority, causing "failure to reach consensus" on the direction Acer should take in the future-- basically whether the company should concentrate on shifting volume (as it does now, and Lanci's preferred direction for the company) or making more profit from its products.

Analysts say the company should shift towards tablet production (rather than its staples, laptops and netbooks) in order to boost profits-- taking on Apple at its own game.

With Lanci's resignation also comes a new Acer EMEA President-- Walter Deppeler, current Acer Senior Corporate VP and Acer EMEA Deputy President.

Go Acer CEO and President Gianfranco Lanci Resigns

Go New Acer EMEA President

Cisco launches its Linksys E-Series product family-- a suite of wifi routers and switches offering what the company describes as the "next generation" in a new hardware design.

The E-Series includes x5 routers providing not only enough performance for connected homes, but also faster speeds (up to 450 Mbps), 3x3 spatial stream configurations, external power amplifiers and virtual USB technology.

National Semiconductor traces its roots back to the history of Silicon Valley, but now will be absorbed (12,000 products and all) into arch-enemy and competitor Texas instruments.

This acquisition drives TI further forward as a powerhouse in the chip industry, crowning it king of analog semiconductors (17% of total market after acquisition) which also represent 50% of TI's sales (pre-acquisition).

Analog integrated circuits are used in everything, from smartphones and communications hardware to automobiles, manufacturing equipment, solar energy production and especailly M2M applications.

NatSemi faces a $200 million termination fee if it accepts now a higher bid or walks away from the deal. If Texas Instruments drops this acquisition (except in certain conditions) it would owe National Semi  $350 million in a reverse termination fee.

Go TI and NatSemi