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11th May 1999 Archive

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  • AMD to take on Intel in SMP market

    A year ago Products set to appear with K7 next year

    From The Register 8 May 1998 Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is set to take on Intel in the server market as sources close to the company confirmed today it has plans to produce symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) versions of its up-and-coming K7 technology next year. Intel has had its own way in the server market over the last 18 …

    Business 11 May 1999, 07:23

  • AOL cuts prices but won’t go free

    It’s about the quality of the service, apparently

    AOL is being squeezed so hard by the growing competition in the UK ISP marketplace that it is starting to black out and become confused and disorientated. Today it announced that as of 1 June, the cost of unlimited access to AOL will be cut to just £9.99 -- down from £16.95 a month. Announcing the new pricing plan, Andreas …

    Business 11 May 1999, 07:54

  • Free ISPs force AOL to slash rates

    But according to the giant, free services won't be forever

    AOL confirmed it is feeling the pinch from free Internet access services in the UK by reducing its monthly access fee to £10 for unlimited use from next month, although the company officially denies this is the reason. Access previously cost £17/month. AOL Europe is a 50-50 partnership with Bertelsmann, the German media group, …

    Business 11 May 1999, 08:07

  • Europe reserves right to resume MS contract enquiry

    So Microsoft had better be good in its ISP dealings

    The European Union has finally approved the ISP contracts Microsoft implemented at the beginning of last year. But the European Commission has reserved the right to reopen its investigation if any future change "in the factual or legal situation affected any essential aspect... that warranted a further enquiry." To some extent …

    Business 11 May 1999, 08:54

  • PointCast bows out for a mere $7 million

    Some you win, some you lose, apparently...

    So farewell then, PointCast. The one-time brilliant pioneer of push technology, as supported by Microsoft in Windows 95, has agreed to merge with San Diego outfit LaunchPad. The deal values PointCast at around $7 million, which in cyberspace valuation terms isn't even chump change. PointCast has been looking for backing or an …

    Business 11 May 1999, 08:57

  • Intel's fund has no specific focus on Merced

    Its contribution is $100 million in the fund

    Intel duly rolled out its IA64 investment fund late last night, and pulled in a brace of PC vendors to back up its plans. Its European wing held a conference call a few minutes ago. PC partners include HP, Dell, NEC, SGI and Compaq, while corporate partners in the fund include Smith Klein Beecham, Reuters, Sumitomo and the Bank …

    Business 11 May 1999, 09:16

  • Don’t delete Microsoft files, even if they ask you to

    Microsoft knows best (?)

    Those lucky enough to be acting as unpaid bug finders for Microsoft’s latest (or is that just late?) piece of bloatware, Office 2000, would be well advised to avoid trying to reduce the size of its massive footprint by deleting files to recover space. Even the most innocuous little text files seem to have some strange and arcane …

    Business 11 May 1999, 09:29

  • Nextel deal – has Microsoft bought into a ghetto?

    Few users, large debts, specialist technology - this cannot be The Big One

    The more you look into yesterday's Microsoft-Nextel deal, the more difficult it is to see what Microsoft has bought with its $600 million - or even what Microsoft thought it was buying, because although the deal might have been intended as a play for the wireless data market, it could instead take Microsoft into a blind alley. …

    Business 11 May 1999, 10:10

  • Taiwan takes aim at digital camera market

    Will reach 10 per cent market penetration this year

    The Taiwanese Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) said that the island's manufacturers will increase their market share of the digital camera market to 10 per cent by year end. According to ITRI, the island currently has six per cent share but increased Net usage and better image processing will mean worldwide …

    Business 11 May 1999, 10:35

  • Ingram goes Dutch with new UK MD

    This time it decides to stick with one of its own rather than an outsider

    The new UK MD of Ingram Micro is Meinie Oldersma, the company’s European purchasing director. Oldersma was appointed yesterday with immediate effect to replace the ousted Sandy Scott. News of Scott's departure began to leak yesterday afternoon. He has been with Ingram since 1993, when the company bought Netherlands-based Trend …

    Business 11 May 1999, 10:35

  • Linux big hit in Red China

    Could have ten per cent share in a year

    A Japanese company has claimed that 10 per cent of Chinese computers will use the Linux operating system by year end. Cliff Miller, CEO of Pacific HiTech, claimed that a recently released version of Turbo Linux, is being "snapped up" by end users and government departments. Said Miller: "I don't think its unreasonable to think …

    Business 11 May 1999, 10:45

  • Personal Statement from Evan Rudowski, GM, Excite UK

    intro

    Dear Tim, Thank you for bringing the customer service issue regarding Excite's personalisation to our attention. The protection of user data is our utmost priority and therefore, we take issues related to personal information very seriously. We have thoroughly investigated the complaint, and are contacting each and every user …

    Business 11 May 1999, 11:08

  • Users' details made public by Excite

    Data Protection Act infringed as privacy busted wide open by glitch

    Excite UK's Web site has more holes in it than a battered old colander and it is compromising the privacy of those people who have subscribed to its personalised portal services. Instead of seeing their own personal details when they log into their "My Excite Start Page" at Excite.co.uk, users have had access to the name, date- …

    Business 11 May 1999, 11:20

  • AOL, Sony opt for Linux

    Open source OS to power Internet access appliances, consumer electronics goods

    Linux looks set to make major moves outside its traditional server role and into the set-top box and consumer electronics arenas. According to a report on CNet, AOL has lined up the open source OS to power an upcoming Internet access appliance. Meanwhile, Sony is talking to Linux distributor Caldera about embedding the OS into …

    Business 11 May 1999, 11:28

  • Intel too close to Clinton for comfort

    Gives a whole new meaning to government affairs

    Worried about whether Intel is Big Brother or not? Concerned about the Processor Serial Number? Relax. Your secrets are safe in the hands of Intel's government affairs division, conveniently situated a mere block away from the White House. A kindly old gentleman who works for Intel's Information Security division (the thought …

    Business 11 May 1999, 12:06

  • No takers for The Register PSN Challenge

    No one identifies mystery PIII user

    Yesterday, the Register challenged all-comers to identify the person who currently uses the Pentium III system with the serial number 00000672000226FA025D71BF. Surprise, surprise, there have been no takers. A few folks have posted comments on the Register Bulletin Board pertaining to HDTV transmissions in the Dallas area (no, we …

    Business 11 May 1999, 12:15

  • Quantum buys Meridian Data

    Deal worth around $85 million

    Storage company Quantum has bought Meridian Data in a share acquisition. The deal is worth around $85 million, based on yesterday's share price. Michael Brown, Quantum's CEO, said the acquisition helped address an important area of the market. Meridian produces workgroup level NAS (network attached storage) appliances, in …

    Business 11 May 1999, 12:26

  • Apple unveils new pro PowerBooks, MacOS X Client

    But Steve Jobs' Worldwide Developers Conference keynote brings few surprises

    Apple's Steve Jobs made a series of announcements -- some major, others less so -- during his keynote yesterday at the start of the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference, held in San Jose, California. The increasingly not-so-interim CEO unveiled two new professional PowerBook notebooks, which went some way to pacify …

    Business 11 May 1999, 12:56

  • Why AOL doesn't need Linux – that much

    Opinion Linux might do all sorts of cute things, but not always the ones AOL wants

    Before we get too excited about AOL's rumoured plans for Linux-based Web access devices (see Related Story), we should ask ourselves a few questions. Why would AOL want them, how would their existence further AOL's plans, and who's going to build them? The answers to these questions may involve Linux to some extent, but although …

    Business 11 May 1999, 13:56

  • Viglen scores through Misys deal

    Wins deal to supply 10,000 PCs

    System builder Viglen Technology has won a £3 million contract to supply Misys Financial Systems with PCs. The London-based manufacturer will ship 10,000 specially configured computers to Misys customers over the next three years, according to an announcement this morning. Commenting on the company’s success, Viglen CEO Bordan …

    Business 11 May 1999, 14:30

  • HP will do Merced

    And why the hell not...

    A senior executive at Hewlett Packard today denied that the company will move directly to McKinley, bypassing Merced. Hugh Jenkins, enterprise product marketing manager at Hewlett Packard UK, said: "We will do Merced. We would not have invested money in the Intel IA 64 fund otherwise." That news is likely to make Intel feel …

    Business 11 May 1999, 14:48

  • Oracle to sell exclusively via Web

    It’s Web or bust, says Ellison

    The only way to buy Oracle software in one year’s time will be via the Net, according to the database giant’s CEO Larry Ellison. Software will be sold solely through the company’s on-line sales tool Oracle Store, he told the iDevelop 99 conference yesterday. He went on to predict that the company’s current pilot project, …

    Business 11 May 1999, 14:54

  • Mike Magee worked for Intel…

    ...and now he does AMD's PR

    It's official. Mike Magee worked for Intel before he set up his own company. Magee left Intel two years ago to create his own startup in Oregon, specialising, strangely enough, in AMD upgrades. Now Magee is continuing his task with the introduction of a PCI upgrade called Accelera, and previously called Eclipse. Eclipse is …

    Business 11 May 1999, 15:15

  • Moto to spin off semi unit

    It is alleged...

    Sources close to US news wires said today that a consortium of senior managers at Motorola is attempting a management buyout (MBO) of its semiconductor component division. The MBO is worth $1.6 billion and if the group finds enough capital, it will be a sea change for the US firm. But now the group of execs is competing against …

    Business 11 May 1999, 15:41

  • AOL trumps MS with Cyrix-based satellite Web/TV system

    NCI platform, MediaGX CPU, Philips manufacture and Hughes receiver - AOL bids for the stars

    Now what did we tell you? (Why AOL doesn't need Linux - that much) AOL is bidding big in the interactive TV department, but is doing so with Cyrix hardware and NCI reference design and software. NCI will be providing "the complete software platform" for the new AOL TV service. The new system will provide a route for AOL to …

    Business 11 May 1999, 17:43