Google is adding a new and more expensive touch to its line of Chrome laptops in an attempt to outshine personal computers running on software made by rivals Microsoft and Apple.

The Chromebook Pixel unveiled Thursday includes a nearly 13-inch (33-centimeter) display screen that responds to the touch or swipe of a finger. That duplicates a key feature in Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 8, a dramatic makeover of the world's leading operating system for PCs.

North Korea will soon allow foreigners to tweet, Skype and surf the Internet from their cellphones, iPads and other mobile devices in its second relaxation of controls on communications in recent weeks. However, North Korean citizens will not have access to the mobile Internet service to be offered by provider Koryolink within the next week.

Koryolink, a joint venture between Korea Post & Telecommunications Corporation and Egypt's Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding SAE, informed foreign residents in Pyongyang on Friday that it will launch a third generation, or 3G, mobile Internet service no later than March 1.

China's full-throated denials of hacking and counter-accusations of its own do nothing to allay growing concern over large-scale cyberspying alleged in a bombshell report this week, Western analysts said.

Chinese officials and state-run media have lashed out after a report by a U.S. firm laid out in unprecedented detail what Western officials and experts have long claimed: that China's army runs an aggressive hacking operation targeting U.S. firms.

Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin said Thursday the success of the social networking site would be hard to match but he hoped to make an impact as an Asia-based technology investor.

"It's clearly a tough act to follow," the 30-year-old Brazilian billionaire told a business conference in Singapore, where he is a permanent resident and putting money as an "angel investor" into Asian and other start-ups.

Sony unveiled a new generation PlayStation 4 system Wednesday and laid out its vision for the "future of gaming" in a world rich with mobile gadgets and play streamed from the Internet cloud.

At a press event in New York, computer entertainment unit chief Andrew House said PS4 "represents a significant shift from thinking of PlayStation as a box or console to thinking of the PlayStation 4 as a leading place for play."

Chinese state media stepped up the war of words Thursday over allegations of sophisticated cyberattacks on U.S. firms, branding the accusations a "commercial stunt" and accusing Washington of ulterior motives.

American Internet security firm Mandiant earlier this week said that a Chinese military cyberspy unit is targeting U.S. and other foreign firms and organisations with hacking attacks.

Friday, February 22 (this Friday!)

AltCity, Hamra, 7:30 PM

Hackers referencing hip-hop acts took over U.S. automaker Jeep's Twitter account Tuesday in an attack not unlike one the day before that targeted fast food chain Burger King.

"The official Twitter handle for the Jeep® -- Just Empty Every Pocket," read the revised profile at @Jeep that claimed the Chrysler division had been sold to General Motors' luxury brand Cadillac.

Apple on Tuesday said it suffered a cyber attack similar to the one recently carried out against Facebook, but that it repelled the invaders before its data was plundered.

The maker of iPhones, iPads, iPods, and Macintosh computers said it is working with law enforcement officials to hunt down the hackers, who appeared tied to a series of recent cyber attacks on U.S. technology firms.

Sony is expected to reveal its vision of the future of home entertainment on Wednesday by providing a glimpse at a new-generation PlayStation console that streams games, films, music and more.

"Sony needs a big hit with this game console," said Forrester analyst James McQuivey.