Just what the world needs: Talking newspaper ads. The Asahi Shimbun, one of Japan's leading newspapers, published what it said was the world's first newspaper with sound-producing capability on Monday. For the time being, the paper will limit the sound-producing code to certain ads, spokesman Jiichi Kato said. The sound code is contained in tiny dots printed in a grainy, rectangular strip about three to nine mm wide. A scantalk reader scans the strip and translates it into sound using digital technology. Camera-maker Olympus started selling the scantalk system a year ago. Foreign language textbooks for schoolchildren that can be read with the scantalk have already been published, and the device is available in hotels and airports to aid blind people. Newspapers had posed a problem because of the poor quality of the paper, which prevented the device from functioning properly, Olympus spokesman Satoshi Ikuta said, but the company figured out how to make it work.

HP lauches Intel-based servers

Hewlett-Packard India on Thursday introduced the latest Intel-based servers in the country and said it would be available for Rs 12 lakh onwards. The new eight-way Intel server christened `HP Netserver LXR 8500' enables fast-growing data centres to optimise performance and would be ready for delivery with channel partners, a company statement said.