By Don Clark

Samsung recently raised eyebrows by beefing up its team of Texas-based chip designers, including those whose backgrounds pointed to an interest in chips for server systems. Now one of the most prominent of those recruits has left the South Korean company for Apple .

The gadget maker has hired Jim Mergard, a 16-year veteran of Advanced Micro Devices who was a vice president and chief engineer there before he left for Samsung. He is known for playing a leading role in the development of a high-profile AMD chip that carried the code name Brazos and was designed for low-end portable computers.

–Ian Sherr contributed to this item.

By John Paczkowski

The iPhone 5 hit Hong Kong on Sept. 21, as part of a first wave of international launches, and, like most of the other markets the device has reached, it is in very short supply there.

Recent visitors to Hong Kong and a few longtime residents tell AllThingsD that it’s tough to find any iPhone 5 inventory in the city. “The stores are all sold out,” said one local. “Carriers like SmarTone are taking orders, but they’re not offering delivery until late October, early November. If you’ve just got to have one, your best bet is the Apple Store lottery, but that’s a total crapshoot.”

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Samsung Galaxy Camera™ combines high performance photography and AT&T 4G wireless connectivity to enable seamless sharing across devices and with social media

DALLAS, Oct. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — AT&T* and Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile)1 today announced the Samsung Galaxy Camera™ coming to AT&T. The Galaxy Camera combines high performance photography with Android™ 4.1 Jelly Bean and AT&T 4G mobile internet connectivity, resulting in a powerful point and shoot camera with a familiar, intuitive user interface and access to all of your favorite Android applications from the Google Play™ market.

The Galaxy Camera is a perfect fit for those who wish to shoot, edit and share brilliant photographs and video easily and quickly without connecting to a laptop or PC. The Galaxy Camera features a 4.8-inch HD Super Clear LCD screen, boasts a 21x optical zoom lens and a super-bright 16MP BSI CMOS sensor for shooting high-quality images close up and in low light conditions. This device is powered by a quad-core 1 GHz processor for quick and responsive performance ensuring you can capture the shots you want. It also includes powerful features like Smart Pro Mode technology, which allows you to toggle through a series of pre-set options that simplify the processes for taking professional-level images.
For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

Microsoft will launch a revamped MSN portal on October 26, the day Windows 8 and Windows RT PCs and tablets go on sale. Here’s what to expect.

by Mary Jo Foley

Microsoft plans to make a touch-optimized version of its MSN portal available to users running Windows 8/Windows RT and Internet Explorer 10 as of October 26.

Microsoft officials are showing off a near-final preview of that portal in New York during Advertising Week, which kicks off this week on October 1. They also will be showing off new touch-centric Windows 8/Windows RT ads that will be available on MSN and on select Windows Store apps during this week’s advertising confab.

The updated MSN portal will be available only to Windows 8/Windows RT and IE 10 users, starting with those in Microsoft’s 11 biggest markets worldwide, said Bob Visse, General Manager of MSN.com. It will not be viewable by the public until October 26, the day Windows 8 goes on sale at retail — even by those who already are running the final version of Windows 8. Consumers using older versions of Windows and Internet Explorer (or other third-party browsers) won’t have access to the updated MSN experience for the foreseeable future, he said.

By Andrew Tonner

Apple’s iPhone 5 first-week sales figures fell short of the expected 8 million units, coming in closer to 5 million, well below analyst expectations for the much-anticipated device. But why? Does this mean Apple’s game is over?

It’s natural to wonder if this means that Apple no longer has what it takes, or that the iPhone 5 was an overhyped product. In today’s video, Fool.com analyst Andrew Tonner dispels these myths, pointing to issues of supply — not demand — as the primary reason behind lower-than-expected sales. Nonetheless, it’s undeniable that maintaining its torrid pace will only get more difficult for Apple down the line. If you’re looking for a recommendation on how to play Apple, along with continuing updates and guidance on the company whenever news breaks, we’ve created a brand-new report that details when to buy and sell. Click here now to get started.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=opJSveC9Yy0#at=207