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6th November 1998 Archive

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  • Linux readers compare The Register to ZD Net

    OMG will meet this Saturday to thrash it out

    A very senior and, she insisted, still very feminine source at the Object Management Group said today that a story in tabloid newspaper The Register has prompted a rethink about its Linux strategy. She said that the OMG stood by the original story, and the fact that a press release was issued by the US operation was still a …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 01:08

  • Palm founders kick off new company

    Aim to focus compatible platform on consumer market

    The two originators of the PalmPilot handheld are to open a 'second front' for the platform, designing derivative products aimed at consumer markets via their new company, Handspring. Donna Dubinsky and Jeff Hawkins left 3Com, which now owns Palm Computing and the PalmPilot, earlier this year. Handspring has backing from VC …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 09:25

  • Microsoft gains in Web server wars

    But it seems to be the little guys getting hit, and Apache still leads

    Microsoft is the winner in a new survey of Web server usage, but it appears that the company's gains have been made as part of a trend away from smaller vendors and towards the big three, Microsoft, Netscape and Apache. According to SiteMetrics' Internet Server Software Trend Report, a survey of 53,000 Web sites owned by large …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 09:28

  • SIA optimistic about chip market

    But year on year figures show sharp declines

    The chip market is on the upturn, according to September figures released by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). The organisation said that the worldwide market for semiconductors grew by 4.2 per cent during the month, representing sales of $10.22 billion. That is an increase of $414 million from August sales. …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 10:34

  • 'We're talking about knifing the baby' – MS exec

    QuickTime infanticide proposal revealed in Apple, Microsoft meeting memo

    The second day of Apple VP Avie Tevanian's cross-examination by Microsoft attorney Theodore Edelman was rather more dramatic than the first, when Tevanian had alleged that Microsoft tried to sabotage Apple's QuickTime, that Microsoft threatened not to develop another version of Office for the Mac unless Apple switched to …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 10:36

  • DigiCash files for protective redundancy

    e-cash utopia still some way off

    DigiCash is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after failing to cash in on the hype surrounding electronic dosh. The company, which has been supported by a bridge loan from its venture capital investors for the last three months, is on the look out for new investors, although interim CEO Scott Loftesness warned that it …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 10:58

  • Survey: PC card market to be worth $1.3 billion by 2004

    3Com-USR rule whole roost

    The worldwide market in PC cards will be worth $1.30 billion by the year 2004, according to a survey by Forrester Research. The market was worth $653.3 million in 1997, the company said. The growth will be fuelled not only by existing applications but new markets including digital cameras, handheld PCs and smartphones will …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 11:41

  • 12 November 1998: DRAM prices get attack of colly wobbles

    Prices slump. Is it a false start?

    Prices supplied by Dane-elec The Register will continue to bring prices of DRAM every day. ®

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 12:11

  • Apple targets low-income families as iMac sales decline

    Mac maker offers hire purchase scheme. Look out, Radio Rentals, we say...

    Apple has announced a scheme to provide financing for would-be iMac owners with the aim of attracting the many US families who would like to own a computer but can't afford to buy one straight out. The move appears well timed -- market research suggests demand for the consumer Mac is waning. According to ZD Market Intelligence ( …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 12:11

  • Cisco slams small business for resisting Internet revolution

    Network nabob launches Web site for... er... companies without Web access

    Cisco has claimed the spirit of Ned Ludd lives on in a quarter of British businesses, who have specifically "rejected" technology from fax machines to PCs. The Great Satan of Routers bases its allegation on the results of a survey of Europe's small businesses conducted by NOP, commissioned by Cisco. The study found that, overall …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 12:37

  • Second Microsoft leak boosts Linux

    Best-of-breed Unix, customisable, scalable, reliable - what's this guy doing working for Microsoft anyway?

    Microsoft memo-writer extraordinaire Vinod Valloppillil has been leaked again, this time with a competitive analysis of Linux apparently designed to be read in conjunction with his paper on open source software (Leaked Microsoft memo outlines anti-Linux strategy). As was the case a few days ago, the latest document was sent to …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 12:49

  • Hyundai-LG talks collapse in disagreement

    Debacle means punishment by government likely

    A proposed merger of Hyundai and LG's semiconductor businesses now looks on the brink of collapse, according to the South Korean press. A report in the Korea Herald said that both companies have failed to reach agreement on a third party arbitrator to organise the merger. That means that both companies will be punished by the …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 13:10

  • Workplace snaffles LanBase

    More consolidation in UK networking channel

    Workplace Technologies is shelling out up to £19.56 million in cash and shares for the acquisition of rival networking equipment reseller LanBase Holdings. Berkshire-based LanBase increases the company’s turnover by more than £20 million. Judging from its historic growth rate of 20 per cent, LanBase should be on course for £24 …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 13:37

  • Net quacks could be bad for your health – official

    Take two Inspirons and see me in the morning...

    Doctors have hit out at "cyberdocs" on the Internet, warning patients that the medical advice they receive may not be good for their health. Writing in The Lancet, doctors said there is no way to determine whether "cyberdocs" are medically qualified and called for a "cyberlicence" to be introduced. One patient was told that he …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 13:38

  • Blair launches National Grid for Learning

    But £700 million budget not enough, says advisor

    The prime minister of this country has announced that £700 million is to be invested in hardware and software as the government honours its election pledge to create a National Grid for Learning. Due to be spent over the next three years, the cash will be used primarily to supply schools with the necessary hardware to link them …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 13:44

  • Partner slaps Yahoo! with $10 million lawsuit

    Portal's bugs bashed our reputation as a broker, claims litigant

    Yahoo! is being sued for $10 million by an Illinois-based online stock brokerage which claims that the giant portal neglected to maintain their co-branded Web site. Earlier this year Web Street Securities (WSS) agreed to sponsor a just-for-fun portfolio contest site on Yahoo!'s finance channel. However, Yahoo! ignored numerous …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 13:49

  • Amazon set to sell software

    Videos first stage in plan to sell "almost anything" online

    Amazon.com, the leading online bookseller, has declined to confirm reports that it is to sell software over the web. Such a move has been eagerly anticipated by investors and analysts in light of remarks made by Amazon.com's chairman, Jeff Bezos, who said he wanted the company's Web site to be the place where shoppers can buy " …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 13:55

  • Broker trims Videologic annual profit forecast

    But anticipates better things for next year

    NEC's difficulties supplying graphics chips for Sega's forthcoming Dreamcast games console continue to bother Videologic. Credit Lyonnais Securities Europe (UK) today reduced its predictions for the UK graphics specialist's annual profit from £4.6 million to £3.2 million. The broker admitted the problems NEC has had adapting the …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 14:16

  • Music industry body to probe Samsung

    Will Yepp say nay to pirates?

    The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), would-be scourge of copiers of digital music everywhere, is following up its attack on Diamond Multimedia with a less aggressive approach to Samsung. Like Diamond, the Korean electronics giant wants to launch a portable Walkman-style device that plays MPEG-based MP3 digital …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 15:45

  • Nvidia appoints VML as UK rep?

    Taylor and Bryne add another string to their repertoire, allegedly

    Roy Taylor, joint managing director of VML UK, would not comment today on whether his company had been appointed as an agent for Nvidia. Rumours circulating in the channel indicated that Taylor, and his partner John Byrne, had scooped up the Nvidia franchise which means that it has yet another string to its bow. Three weeks ago …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 16:16

  • Nigel Parry to exit Datrontech subsidiary Portable AddOns

    No date given for leaving party

    Nigel Parry, managing director of Datrontech subsidiary Portable AddOns is leaving the company. A source close to Parry said he was likely to be returning to New Zealand early next year. By that time his earn-out period will have finished, the source confirmed. When Datrontech acquired Portable AddOns, the takeover was …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 16:46

  • Datatec interim profits up five-fold

    Company will brand Logical name worldwide

    South African technology and services group Datatec reported turnover and profits up by a staggering 405 per cent and 513 per cent respectively, for its interim six months up to the end of September this year. The company, which has spent this year establishing a considerable presence in the UK, Canadian, Australian and French …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 16:50

  • NEC invests $15 million in WinCE hardware developer

    Companies to co-operate on Risc-based CE-optimised CPU family

    NEC has invested $15 million in California-based mobile computing hardware specialist Vadem, and the two companies have agreed to jointly develop a family of CPUs optimised for CE. The system-on-a-chip CPUs will be utilise Risc technology. Vadem is an authorised wordwide distributor for CE and a certified CE developer and …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 16:51

  • Netscape feels White House lash

    Battle flag of electronic freedom barely obscures naked flesh

    The smart browsing features of Netscape Communicator have taken the company straight into a minefield - 'adult' site whitehouse.com has taken grave umbrage at having its trade redirected to the, er, White House. The feature seems like a good idea, as indeed was whitehouse.com. The White House itself is of course whitehouse.gov, …

    Business 6 Nov 1998, 22:23