The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

23rd May 2000 Archive

Browse by publication date, or search the site.

  • Microsoft’s embedded OS free-for-all

    But which one is driving up the evolutionary cul-de-sac?

    Microsoft is thumping the tub for both of its embedded operating systems at the Applied Computing conference in Santa Clara this week. But judging by attendees' confusion, Microsoft might be wise to not to exhibit the two under the same roof again. Both NTE, the embedded version of NT 4.0 with service pack 5 updates, and …

    Business 23 May 2000, 09:37

  • WAP was the week that was

    1000 tiny announcements rolled into one

    Although no one seems to know what the hell is going on in the WAP world, researchers Ovum warn us that there isn't much time to get whatever you're doing right. Ovum has offered some beautifully long-winded sentences to explain what we all knew anyway. "Now that users are beginning to see what all the fuss over Wap was about, …

    Business 23 May 2000, 09:38

  • On the buses: this week's most stupid Web idea

    And its only Tuesday. Where does this stuff come from?

    Following the sewage stream of Net ideas (often from reputable companies) is like watching an episode of Alan Partridge ("Arm Wrestling with Chas and Dave? Inner-City Sumo? Cooking in prison? Youth Hosteling with Chris Eubank? Monkey tennis?"*). This week someone at that bastion of UK retailers, WH Smith, has panicked and sent …

    Business 23 May 2000, 09:38

  • BMW just can't let go of Rover

    Woof woof goes Reg Web watchdog

    While most have learnt that with instantaneous Net technology, a poorly updated website can look unprofessional, BMW still hasn't got around to updating (that is dissolving) its rovergroup site. Even though it sold Rover for just 10 two weeks ago. Go to the site and you'll be offered rundown of BMW's financial state. Maybe it's …

    Business 23 May 2000, 09:38

  • Itanium prices, specs revealed

    The mamma and pappa of leakdom starts: $4000 for an 800MHz chip!

    Just to show that Intel treats everyone differently, here we embark on the first story of many over the next day or two about the future plans Chipzilla has in store for us. Yesterday, we revealed details of the roadmap Intel has just dished out to its distributors and dealers, which only covers boxed desktop chips, including …

    Business 23 May 2000, 09:43

  • Intel Celeron to die Q1 next year

    AMD threat means merger of biz, consumer lines

    An Intel roadmap seen by The Register indicates that the Celeron processor will shuffle off its mortal coil towards the end of the first quarter next year, displaced by the system-on-the-chip solution codenamed Timna. But there's life in the old Celeron dog yet, according to the roadmap. As revealed here yesterday, the 633MHz …

    Business 23 May 2000, 09:46

  • Unusual top end device emerges

    The wonders of IBM's intellectual property site

    Thanks to a reader on our bulletin board for posting a link to a very unusual patent on IBM's wondrous intellectual property site. The abstract of the patent, for something called an Automated Masturbatory Device, says: "A variable speed motor powering a crankshaft driven sealed transducer producing pneumatically induced …

    Bootnotes 23 May 2000, 09:55

  • Don't break up Microsoft, said DoJ – MS counter attacks

    MS on Trial No legal significance, but red faces all round

    Microsoft has fingered an embarrassing episode in the DoJ's history - the time when the DoJ vigorously opposed a call for the break-up of Microsoft. In extraordinary circumstances, both Microsoft and the DoJ were once on the same side in 1994 opposing an amici memorandum submitted by lawyer Gary Reback of Wilson Sonsini on …

    Business 23 May 2000, 09:55

  • UK Intel server farm opens for business

    But what x86 flavour are the mangelwurzels?

    A giant server farm offering Web and application hosting services has opened for business in Reading, and run by Intel Online Services. The farm occupies 100,000 square foot and can accommodate 10,000 servers, eventually employing 250 people. But Intel is being coy about which make and type of x86 machines are being deployed …

    Business 23 May 2000, 10:14

  • Perfect toast, perfect showers, credit card screens and gleaming spires

    Welcome to the Aladdin's Cave that is Cambridge Consulting

    Paul Brown's day was ruined one morning. He woke up, got dressed, put breakfast on, and was taking a shower when the smoke alarm sent a piercing squeal through the house. Not only was the noise unwelcome but the cause of it was supposed to be a perfectly grilled piece of bread. It was far from perfect. While his stomach grumbled …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:19

  • Compaq lashes Sun for misleading customers

    Analysis NT for Alpha will never return from grave

    While Compaq remains confident that sales of its recently released high end Wildfire GS servers will achieve $1 billion worth of revenues, the firm said yesterday that large corporate customers were being misled by rival Sun about moving from existing platforms to their up-and-coming Serengeti boxes. Competitor HP made similar …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:19

  • Apple stamps on iPalm speculation

    Exec oddly ignores companies ingrained 'no comment' policy. Curious, no?

    Now this is interesting: Apple's usual response to questions regarding its future product plans is a categorical 'we don't comment on unannounced product'. And yet here we have the company's senior VP for product marketing, Phil Schiller, apparently commenting on unannounced product. According to the San Jose Mercury, Schiller …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:19

  • Socket A boards emerge

    Wobbling around the wibbly Web

    News at Ace's Hardware, that Socket A boards are mysteriously rising out of the deep in preparation for chips that will sit in them. At JC's site, there are some interesting thoughts on Rambus... Look, there's nothing better than the BX chipset....and over at Tom's Hardware, you can find a review of the latest in BX iterations …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:19

  • Maxdata recalls faulty monitors

    Early demise expected thanks to dodgy component

    Monitor manufacturer Maxdata has issued a product recall notice on its Belinea 10 70 50 monitor. The model has not been on sale since May 1999, but some 71,000 units were sold across Europe since it was launched in 1997. Of that, 4300 are in the UK. Maxdata product marketing manager, Pete Granby, said the problem with the …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:19

  • Stamp collecting more popular than Internet World

    Philately crowds swamp Net venue

    Internet World 2000 kicked off this morning in London but you could be forgiven for thinking the trade show has been hijacked. Earls Court - once famous for major Pink Floyd gigs - is playing host to two shows today. Britain's biggest Net bash is one... an event catering for stamp collectors is the other. Is this some major …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:19

  • Models wearing computers strut the catwalk

    London premiere for Brave New Unwired World Collection

    Technology took to the catwalk this morning as models strutted their stuff wearing the latest gizmos fashioned by the very best in design. The London premiere of the Brave New Unwired World from Los Angeles-based Charmed Technology fused fashion and IT in one seamless display of Net chic. Every part of the body was either …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:19

  • Tony Blair gets Phony Blair look and feel

    How to spin and manipulate the prime minister

    Despite being kept up all hours by the arrival of his New Labour baby Leo on Friday, UK prime minister Tony Blair is not escaping the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. A UK firm, anxious to portray its expertise on the avatar front, formally launched a site called PhonyBlair this morning, using a three dimensional image …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:20

  • Telcos ‘doomed’ claims ‘virtual comms provider’

    Comms and Net access cheaper through brokers, reckons a broker

    Phone companies and ISPs seem to excel themselves in annoying their customers with poor service. But they may be cut out of the loop if new companies such as Unica, a London-based self-styled "virtual communications provider" succeed. Unica acts as an intermediary, offering fixed voice, data, mobile and ASP services to business …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:20

  • Vodafone + Vivendi =VIZZAVI

    It's a portal

    Europe is to get a new all-singing, all dancing portal. VIZZAVI (vis--vis, geddit?) is the lovechild of VivendiNet (a joint venture between Vivendi and Canal+) and Vodafone Airtouch. The pan European portal will serve an estimated 70 million people as it's rolled out country by country, brand by brand and platform by platform …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:20

  • Intel, Mitsubishi coy on cellular devices

    Not that we mind speculating

    In an intriguing announcement Intel says it will work with Mitubishi to produce chipsets for 3G mobile phones. The intrigue largely comes from what's left unsaid, rather than the commitments. Cellular manufacturer Mitsubishi stop short of saying will produce devices, committing more cautiously to marketing 'chipsets and …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:20

  • Mobile phones more efficient than anyone thought

    Don't worry about first-hand experience, Oftel always tells the truth

    Britain's four main mobile networks are 95 per cent efficient, according to winged watchdog Oftel. Its snoops visited more than 70 different towns and cities were visited and tested BT Cellnet, One2One, Orange and Vodafone's networks for performance. A minimum of 20,000 calls was made on each network. Oftel top dog David …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:20

  • Cable & Wireless comes out of hiding

    Dull but worthy new idea. But will it work

    Having spent the last year licking its wounds and thinking about the future, Cable & Wireless yesterday took the opportunity to map out its plans alongside its annual results. So what is the non-dynamic but solid CEO Graham Wallace up to? Well, number one, C&W's consumer days are over ("a nightmare", he admitted). Well- …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:20

  • Corel, Inprise/Borland call off merger

    It's all over - bar the shouting, of course

    Corel and Inprise (the artist formerly known as Borland) have called off their merger. An official statement from Corel was issued this afternoon, in which the company said: "Because of significant changes since the merger was agreed to more than three months ago, Corel has concluded that it is in its best interest to terminate …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:21

  • Miners and homeless to fill UK IT skills shortage

    Want to know how much a daft plan costs these days?

    In the coconut shy that is the UK Government's e-strategy, Michael Wills (technology minister) has tossed a 25 million computer training ball. This time he's really stretching himself and is trying to hit the endemic miner unemployment problem in Nottinghamshire and the homeless problem of London. That's right, former miners in …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:21

  • Silicon Valley techs play the race card

    California ber alles

    Pat Neal of CNN News today cited polls showing that "anti-immigrant feeling at its lowest point in decades" -- but that doesn't stop some from trying their worst. The Programmer's Guild called on American hi-tech workers today to mobilise against immigration changes tacked on to Congress' E-sign legislation. The Guild says …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:21

  • New Microsoft Outlook worm fizzles

    Anti-virus vendors disappointed

    A malicious version of the 'Love Bug' Outlook worm, capable of destroying data on a victim's computer, has surfaced in Europe and the US but is not expected to infect a great number of victims. The new worm, named 'NewLove', also spreads itself through a victim's address book as its recent predecessor did. It's different, …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:21

  • Two hundred system builders go crazy in Monte Carlo

    Anything could happen...

    A flock of system builders are set to descend on Monte Carlo this week to attend the Integrator Forum 2000. The Mediterranean sunshine has attracted 206 PC builders from 26 European countries to this year's event. Also attending will be 66 manufacturers, keen to promote their wares as the champagne flows. Vendors at the …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:21

  • Scantily clad Brazilian dancers spice up Integrator Forum

    Logitech pulls out all the stops

    Proving there's no such thing as excess in Monte Carlo, Logitech flew a whole troop of scantily-clad Brazilian dancers in for this year's Integrator Forum. Stunned system builders watched as girls, kitted out stilletoes, black lacy shorts and cut-off vests with the slogan 'Black is beautiful' emblazoned accross their busts, …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:21

  • Coming soon: PC-150 SDRAM

    It's wibbly, it's wobbly, it's webby, etc, etc

    Take a peek at VR-Zone where it says that PC-150 SDRAM using Tiny BGA DRAM Modules is coming RSN. The new PC-150 SDRAM uses the standard 168-pin DIMM and can support 150MHz FSB. This should be great news for overclockers who plan to get their systems running faster than 150MHz FSB which PC-133 SDRAM can't achieve. PC-150 SDRAM …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:21

  • It's Monty Python's flying Rambusss…

    Wobbling around the wibbly Web

    There's a piece over at Overclockers Com which looks at the close relationship between ze Willamette chip and ze Rambus technology. On the subject of Rambus, still, there is some considerable debate following a piece on Anandtech a couple of days back. Go here to read more. At Tom's Hardware there is an update about Via's Slot …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:21

  • Intel misjudgements to slow PC growth

    Compaq set to make hay as world consumption changes

    A report from FHI Research has pointed to continuing growth in the PC market, which could have amounted to 25 per cent this year were it not for the fact that Intel has mismanaged capacity during the course of the year. But the report also suggests that unforeseen factors mean that growth patterns will widely vary from region …

    Business 23 May 2000, 13:21

  • Next Generation MSN UI from Mars is about to beam down

    Consumers to gain easy access to tons of integrated (Microsoft) services and software...

    The next Microsoft next generation product is Next Generation MSN, apparently, although as with Next Generation Windows Services (NGWS), this seems only to be a working title. The software will be released as a preview next week, and seems to be based on the Mars project, designed to give MSN users a more integrated, easier to …

    Business 23 May 2000, 15:27