The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) announced the formation of an independent advisory panel to preview and recognize influential technologies, services and products to debut at CEATEC JAPAN 2007.

By Michael White c. 2007 Bloomberg News July 9 (Bloomberg)--Sony Corp., the world's biggest game- console maker, cut the price of the PlayStation 3 in the U.S. by $100, or 17 percent, after sales trailed Nintendo Co.'s Wii and Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360.

Looking to jump-start sales of its PlayStation 3 game system, Sony has cut the price by $100, to $499, and plans to introduce a $599 package with a larger (80-gigabyte vs. 60-GB) hard drive and one game next month. Most analysts were surprised at the price cut's timing and size.

THE GIZMO: Never before has a consumer-electronics product been as hyped, analyzed and anticipated as the Apple iPhone _ the first combination iPod, mobile phone and Internet communications device rolled into one sleek and tidy package. The product went on sale at AT&T and Apple stores Friday.

By Jefferson Graham LOS ANGELES -- Christopher Parr won't go so far as to bring his sleeping bag to his local AT&T store to be first in line for Apple's coveted iPhone when it goes on sale next week.