Thursday's Under-the-Radar News

1. Apple (AAPL) recently applied for a patent on a wireless system that would allow a customer to buy a coffee at Starbucks (SBUX) through their iPhone, and be notified on their iPhone when the coffee was ready, saving them the hassle of waiting in line.
2. Merrill Lynch (MER -2.4%) will lay off 1,600 of its employees..
3. Bonso Electronics International Inc. (BNSO +2.7%) surged after CAS Corp. reported taking a 5.21% stake in the company. CAS Corporation acquired the shares for investment purposes, to participate in the proxy voting process, and to become involved with the Company’s board of directors, it said.
4. Despite A. Schulman (SHLM) receiving interest from strategic buyers for some of its assets, the firm will not likely agree to break itself up. SHLM has not been able to attract suitors willing to pay a strategic premium for the entire company.
5. "Apple (AAPL) will 100% be announcing a new laptop at MacWorld." A recent Apple event saw performers play for free, after the firm promised to give every performer a new laptop to be announced at MacWorld.
6. New mobile phones powered by Google's (GOOG) Android Linux-based platform may make their debut at February's Mobile World Congress. Android is expected to hit 1.0 the second half of 2008.
7. Gambling revenues have jumped in recent weeks, flaunting broad economic woes. Analysts say the industry will thrive even in the face of a weak economic environment, since people tend to gamble "despite harder times, or perhaps because of them." They say the industry is in "far better shape" than restaurants and retail.
8. Walt Mossberg says Dell's (DELL) new XPS One desktop is "the first Windows all-in-one desktop I've tested that I believe matches or exceeds the iMac in hardware design." The system boasts as 20-inch widescreen display, a built-in slot for camera memory cards, comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse and built-in TV. Still, Mossberg favors the iMac for its software, security, and price.
9. BP (BP) plans to cut its spending on future oil developments in Alaska because of $1.5B tax increase on oil companies. This may mean deferral or cancellation of Alaskan projects, and will likely cut into the value of BP's huge Alaskan operation.