WRAL Tech Wire

 PC demand slackens – Another bad sign for tech

Research firm Gartner reduces its sales forecast for the last half of this year by 2 percent. The news follows Intel’s profit warning. And have you noticed that Cisco is trading at 52-week low?

 Semiconductor sales surge 37% in July from a year ago

 Intel to buy Infineon's wireless chip business for $1.4B

Infineon operates a research-and-development and manufacturing facility in Durham, N.C.

 Bad news for tech: Intel cuts sales forecast

In a statement Friday, the company said it is seeing “weaker than expected demand for consumer PCs in mature markets,” including the U.S. and Europe.

 Cuts by chip makers now hurting smartphone manufacturers

A chip shortage means Apple Inc.’s rivals are having trouble making enough phones to compete with the iPhone, a problem expected to persist through the holidays. It’s also affecting wireless carriers, some of which are seeing delays in improving their networks, and it could even raise computer prices.

 Tech earnings snapshot: What reports are saying about economy

A summary of recent earnings reports for selected technology companies and what they reveal about the state of spending and the overall economy from The AP.

 Intel deal for McAfee positions both firms to capitalize on mobile sector growth

Analysis: McAfee will hand the title of largest pureplay security vendor to Trend Micro in return for the multiple benefits of joining a much larger organization including revenue stability, ability to increase cross-selling, product integration, and access to greater financial resources.

Intel to acquire McAfee

 Intel to buy security firm McAfee for $7.7B in cash

The chip giant offers a premium of $20 a share for California-based McAfee. Intel calls security third pillar of computing along with PC performance and connectivity.

 Intel to buy Texas Instruments cable modem chip group

 Worldwide PC sales are ‘falling off a cliff,’ analyst warns.

Weakening economy leads PC makers, including Morrisville-based Lenovo, to reduce chip orders, analyst says. Overall chip sector takes a hit as two analysts warn that PC demand is slacking.

 Hot off wire: Citigroup says iPhone app stored data; AT&T stock gets upgrade; Rambus-Nvidia patent dispute rages

 Venture update: Chip firms might find opportunities in TV

 Hot off wire: AT&T wins $350M deal; Amazon gets e-rights for classics; Intel, FTC keep working on settlement

 SRC, Duke researchers discover better chip-defect detection technology

Working with National Science Foundation and University of Connecticut, the Semiconductor Research Corporation and Duke find way to improve semiconductor quality.

 Hot Off Wire: Texas Instruments income jumps; Juniper stock gets upgrade; Ex-Starent exec joins Infinera board