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17th February 1999 Archive

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  • IBM to fab Compaq's Alphas

    Surprise, surprise...

    Sources very close to Compaq told The Register yesterday that her company has struck a deal with IBM Micro to make its Alpha microprocessors. That is no surprise. IBM Micro has very expensive fabs with super-duper process technology and our source told us that Big Blue is still a bit leery about Intel. AMD will also probably …

    Business 17 Feb 1999, 01:41

  • MS heads for trouble in Caldera lawsuit

    MS on Trial Redmond's motion for summary judgement looks flimsy...

    Alongside the big antitrust action, Caldera's lawsuit against Microsoft over anticompetitive action against DR DOS cranks on. Microsoft has moved for summary judgement, and Caldera lawyers will now be studying more than 200 pages of close legal arguments filed by Microsoft in support of this. The tactic Microsoft has used is …

    Business 17 Feb 1999, 09:04

  • Compaq exec downplays MS threat to pull its Windows licence

    MS on Trial The huge 1996 fight wasn't, apparently. We had an understanding.

    Compaq exec John Rose says in testimony released yesterday that Windows makes computers easier to use, and that his company happily abandoned its own home-grown 'making PCs easier' software, Tabworks, "because it generated significant support costs and because we were satisfied that Windows 95 was more user-friendly". Rose's …

    Business 17 Feb 1999, 09:48

  • UK firm offers 25 years free Web access – at a price

    Of course we'll all still be here then

    An Internet start-up is offering users the chance to have unlimited Net access until the year 2024 for a one-off payment of just £150. The 25-year agreement comes from Sheffield-based Indigo UK Online -- a subsidiary of Indigo Computer Systems. It is open to both residential and business customers and is limited to the first 200 …

    Business 17 Feb 1999, 10:59

  • Press coverage forces removal of UltraHLE ‘source’

    But it was never genuine source code in the first place...

    The programmer who posted so-called 'source code' for the UltraHLE Windows-based N64 emulator has pulled the code from his Web site. The self-styled 'GossiTheDog' blamed press intrusion, and clamed the coverage of his actions had generated far too much interest in his attempt to encourage ongoing development of UltraHLE by the …

    Business 17 Feb 1999, 11:29

  • Marimba: IPO is go

    Net push company greenlights share release to net $56 million

    Push technology developer Marimba finally filed its IPO gameplan with the US Securities and Exchange commission this week, as predicted (see earlier story). The filing does not indicate how many shares will be issued, and no starting price is disclosed -- details will be posted in a separate filing. However, it is believed the …

    Business 17 Feb 1999, 12:09

  • 1999 not Year of Rambus, warns Fujitsu exec

    Shortages of testers and packaging will mean shortages of Direct DRAM

    Concern that memory companies will not be able to produce enough Rambus Direct DRAMs increased yesterday when the deputy general manager of Fujitsu's DRAM division admitted a shortage of packaging and testing units will hit supply hard. "1999 is not going to be a Direct Rambus year," warned Masao Taguchi. Taguchi said that tight …

    Business 17 Feb 1999, 12:35

  • New software problem to hit before the year 2000

    Look out folks, it's the Four Nines Bug -- seriously

    People who can't wait for the collapse of civilisation in the wake of the Millennium Bug could get a taste of Armageddon sooner than they think. The disaster recovery group Safetynet has warned that there could be problems in September when some older computer systems fail to cope with the date change between Thursday, 9 and …

    Business 17 Feb 1999, 12:49

  • Joint channel accreditation for Oracle and Compaq

    You scratch my back, etc, etc...

    Oracle and Compaq resellers will be able to sell across the two vendors' product ranges thanks to a joint accreditation programme. The joint venture will bring together the OraclePartner Programme (OPP) and Compaq’s Enterprise Solution Provider (ESP) programme, offering free dual certifications. The deal has come into effect in …

    Business 17 Feb 1999, 13:41

  • Branson hits out at AOL as Virgin offers freebies

    Watch out for the not-so-free support call charges though

    As Virgin Net announced plans to jump on the free ISP bandwagon, Richard Branson has condemned AOL for taking its customers for a ride. Branson said today: "I read this morning that Frank Keeling, marketing director of AOL, believes that people will always be willing to pay to look at interesting and relevant content. We are …

    Business 17 Feb 1999, 13:57

  • Apple caves in over FireWire licensing

    Mac maker to share IEEE1394 patent rights

    Apple has bowed to pressure from the computer and consumer electronics industries, and changed its royalty system for the IEEE1394 digital interface system, also known as FireWire. The company today announced it was forming a 'patent pool' with key FireWire licensees Compaq, Sony, Matsushita/Panasonic, Philips and Toshiba. …

    Business 17 Feb 1999, 14:19

  • London set to run out of phone numbers as row breaks out

    Telecomms watchdog blasted by MPs

    The telecomms watchdog, Oftel, has been accused of mishandling the management of telephone numbers in the UK by MPs sitting on the trade and industry select committee. In a report published yesterday, the group demanded that Oftel delay the overhaul of the country's telephone codes and numbers until further analysis is carried …

    Business 17 Feb 1999, 15:08

  • Aureal annual revenues up 16x

    But it's still isn't making a profit

    Audio specialist Aureal has posted a loss of $3.5 million on revenues of $10.8 million for its fourth quarter of 1998, ended 3 January 1999. That compares with a $5.9 million loss on revenues of $200,000 for the same period of the previous year. For the full fiscal year, the company recorded revenues of $25.3 million, a sixteen- …

    Business 17 Feb 1999, 15:17

  • Hardcore porn ads sneak past Excite filters

    Oh dear

    Excite is under scrutiny from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) after it was revealed that filtering software used on its Magellan search engine does not block children’s access to pornographic material. The loophole in Excite’s advertising policy -- uncovered following an investigation by The Register -- is so serious that …

    Business 17 Feb 1999, 18:11