13th January 2001 Archive

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Internet set-top box company disappointing customers

Customers still waiting for their 'free' box

A company offering TV set-top boxes for free is facing increasing anger from consumers after the boxes have failed to arrive, despite a £10 downpayment. Freebox Ltd offers a seemingly incredible product - a set-top box that plays DVDs, CDs, offers Internet access, email and makes a smashing cup of tea - all for free. Those that …

Business 13 Jan 2001, 10:44
The Intel history of its Shopping Mystery

Spiffs with everything

Staff at outlets such as PC World, Tiny and Gateway can stop trembling in their shoes because it appears Intel may well pull the plug on its Mystery Shopping programme. But an insider at Intel has spilled the beans about how the programme, which has run for quite a while, actually works. In the UK, for example, the chip giant …

Channel 13 Jan 2001, 10:44
Government sends advice site the white finger

How to fake pneumatic tool injuries

Government lawyers are investigating a website that advises miners how to make claims for compensation. The site, which tells miners how to "beat the tests" for industrial disease vibration white finger, is also being investigated by the police, according to The Guardian. The paper said Whitehall officials discovered the site …

Music and Media 13 Jan 2001, 10:44
A personal message to all Orange mobile phone users

Will you please...

...get off the bloody phone - you're clogging up the network. I've been trying to get hold of my voicemail all morning and all I get is "no network coverage". Same happened yesterday - and the day before that. It's not funny. Especially since anyone who tries to call gets put straight through to voicemail. And, guess what, it …

Bootnotes 13 Jan 2001, 10:44
Orange network problems

Yikes! You are not alone

Today's rant about the inability to use my Orange mobile phone because of persistent "no network coverage" appears to have struck a chord with some of our readers. Jonathan held up his hands to say he wasn't responsible for the network congestion: "In reference to your article asking Orange users to get off the phone, it can't …

Data Networking 13 Jan 2001, 10:44
Rambus profit leaps, but misses targets

Rakes in $27 million in royalties

Rambus saw profit rise 191 per cent to $13 million for the first quarter, but slightly missed Wall Street expectations. The chip designer recorded sales of $34.7 million for the period ended December 31, compared to $11.9 million for the same period in 1999. Earnings were 12 cents a share, a penny less than forecast - the …

Channel 13 Jan 2001, 10:44
Turbolinux looks to buy LinuxCare

Well, they're talking about it...

It's looking increasingly likely that Turbolinux will buy troubled services company LinuxCare. Earlier today internal emails suggesting the deal leaking out onto the Net, but neither company confirmed their authenticity. One was allegedly sent by Turbolinux CEO Paul Thomas, who wrote: "Our discussions with LinuxCare... have …

Business 13 Jan 2001, 10:44
Official Lord of the Rings site goes live today

Trailer out next week

An official Web site for the much-anticipated film trilogy based on JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings books goes live today (Friday) at 8pm GMT. Lordoftherings.net, will feature video and audio clips, chat rooms, screen savers, interviews with cast and crew from the film and an interactive map of Middle Earth. The New York Times …

Music and Media 13 Jan 2001, 10:44
Ralph Lauren retreats in po-lo.com row

Saddle up and ride that pony

Fashion giant Ralph Lauren has backed down over its threat to grab domain po-lo.com from a village saddlery. In November The Register reported that the URL was at the centre of the dispute after it was one of a handful containing equestrian words registered by Brit Keith Collingridge. He wanted the domains, including onthetrot. …

Music and Media 13 Jan 2001, 10:44
Napster hopes link to CDNow will drive CD sales…

...and prove it's not a threat to the music biz

Bertelsmann's investment in Napster may begin to pay off when the MP3 sharing software company ships its next upgrade. The new version, unveiled yesterday, will contain built-in links to online music retailer CDNow, owned by the German media giant. The move is the first part of a plan to not only provide Napster with a …

Software 13 Jan 2001, 10:44
Intel's Itanic epic to run and run

Software's still in all-together

"Besides being invisible, your Highness, this cloth will be woven in colors and patterns created especially for you." The emperor gave the two men a bag of gold coins in exchange for their promise to begin working on the fabric immediately. Emperor's New Clothes -- Hans Christian Andersen There have been pilot systems of the …

Channel 13 Jan 2001, 11:40