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11th October 2001 Archive

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  • Lone Senator thwarts Dubya's anti-terror excesses

    Feingold for President

    As Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (Democrat, South Dakota) moved to ram through a Draconian anti-terror bill without debate or amendment, it came down to a single, courageous Member, Russ Feingold (Democrat, Wisconsin), who stood up and refused to relinquish Congressional responsibility. "I can't quite understand why we can …

    Assault on America 11 Oct 2001, 06:26

  • Yahoo! Sales! Down!

    Surprised? No, we didn't think so

    Yahoo! has emerged from Q3 with a profit - of sorts. The company has posted a pro forma net income of $8.4m (Q3, 2000 $81.8m) on sales of $166.1m, a big slide on Q3 last time around when it raked in $295.5m. However, the real net loss, which includes a writedown on investments of $17.1m was $24.1m, compared with real net income …

    e-Business 11 Oct 2001, 07:21

  • iomart cashes in on WTC tragedy

    Finds bin Laden stego -- right

    Scottish broadband provider and corporate spyware vendor iomart has joined the rapidly-growing list of tech companies seeking to exploit the World Trade Center atrocity for a fast buck. The company recently leaked some juicy titbits about being "called in" by "US authorities" (no agency named, naturally) to help in the /bin/ …

    Security 11 Oct 2001, 07:22

  • Who is the Bastard?

    And where did Episode 25 go?

    Have you ever had a Salmon Day? One fine day we'll tell you where Episode 25 of BOFH 2001 got to. One day. In the meantime we'd like to tell you about our BOFH-inspired streaming video extravaganza. Only we're not allowed to yet. But think October 25 (no, forget Windows XP); think Bastard Operator From Hell; think episodic …

    BOFH 11 Oct 2001, 07:33

  • US Cyber-Czar makes a sound suggestion

    Will wonders never cease

    The man who repeatedly disgraced the memory of thousands of US Sailors who died horribly in a Japanese aerial bombing with trite blather about an "electronic Pearl Harbor" has come around with a fairly sound idea for inter-governmental secure communications. Richard Clarke, America's once and future Cyber-Security Czar, reckons …

    Security 11 Oct 2001, 08:29

  • Datatec climbs down over insider dealing fines

    Directors flash their own cash

    Two directors of Datatec, the South African-owned networking reseller-cum-distie, are to pay fines of one million rand, (about £80K)imposed for insider dealing, from their own pockets. CEO Jens Montanana and FD Robin Rindel's initial intentions were for for Datatec itself to pick up the tab provoked a furious attack from South …

    Channel 11 Oct 2001, 08:52

  • ebookers.com makes travel firm acquisition

    Just when it's making job cuts

    Pan European online travel agency - ebookers.com - has bought UK-based Lawson Interline Travel Ltd for an undisclosed sum. Although financial details were not disclosed the company said that the acquisition of core assets was made at a "fraction of the £1million" paid for the company last year. Interline travel is a niche …

    e-Business 11 Oct 2001, 09:48

  • Failed dotcom investors' claim thrown out by judge

    Meeker integrity 'beyond reproach'

    A New York judge has dismissed claims that Morgan Stanley and its high profile analyst Mary Meeker - dubbed the "Queen of the Internet" - had allegedly provided skewed research on a number of dotcom companies. The judge's decision means that Ms Meeker's integrity is "beyond reproach", said a spokesperson for the global …

    e-Business 11 Oct 2001, 10:18

  • Quarter looks bad for Handspring

    Analysts warn of steep losses, slumping sales

    When Handspring posts the results of its most recently completed fiscal quarter next Wednesday (17 October), it is likely to report a significant slump in sales and deep losses. So, at any rate, warn Wall Street analysts. First Call/Thomson's survey of Handspring watchers' forecasts put the PDA maker's Q1 2002 loss at 16-29 …

    Business 11 Oct 2001, 10:23

  • Dixons Group Web sites still down

    Updated Our story is "frankly fictitious"

    Despite assurances yesterday, all of the Dixons Group's Web sites remain down today. The message "We apologise for any inconvenience caused, however you can still purchase from our great range of products by calling one of our sales advisors" greets all vistors to PCWorld.com and co.uk, Dixons.com and co.uk, Currys.co.uk and …

    Channel 11 Oct 2001, 10:59

  • McAfee.com sitting pretty after viral outbreaks

    It's an ill-wind...

    McAfee.com, the security ASP subsidiary of Network Associates, has posted results, which show that the firm has moved into the black in the aftermath of recent viral outbreaks, such as Code Red. Revenues for McAfee.com's third quarter were $16.2 million, up $3.6 million from $12.6 million the same period last year. Net income …

    Business 11 Oct 2001, 11:08

  • MS security glitch allowed access to customer records on web

    Ever had Microsoft ship you a CD? You may have been in it...

    Microsoft has pulled the plugs on an internal (but er, only sort of) customer services site after it was informed that it could be used to browse the personal data of Microsoft customers. Credit card records weren't available, but it was possible to search for names on the site and obtain personal data such as private phone …

    Security 11 Oct 2001, 11:29

  • BT kicks off 60 more Anytime users, threatens others

    More tales from the world of Openwoe

    BT Openworld has confirmed it has kicked another "50 or 60" off its Anytime dial-up Internet service. It has also sent warning emails to hundreds more customers threatening them with disconnection unless they abide by new terms & conditions that came into effect last week. Those affected received an email saying: "We refer to …

    Music and Media 11 Oct 2001, 11:42

  • Apple preps 600MHz, 700MHz PowerBook update

    Based on PowerPC 7440, apparently

    Apple will upgrade its Titanium PowerBook G4 in a few weeks' time with a model based on the PowerPC 7440, the low-power version of the second-generation G4-class PowerPC 7450, sources close to the company have claimed. The change will allow Apple to offer 600MHz and 700MHz PowerBooks in place of the 400MHz and 500MHz machines …

    Mac Channel 11 Oct 2001, 11:48

  • Fujitsu Siemens forgets about market share

    Decides to make money instead

    Fujitsu-Siemens is to stop trying to grow market share, preferring instead to focus on making some money. Paul Stodden, CEO of the PC maker - Europe's fourth largest - says it will invest in memories, servers, services and notebooks in order to raise profits, according to the Financial Times. The company had set itself a E10bn …

    Business 11 Oct 2001, 11:48

  • Intel countersues VIA – again

    Targets the C3 processor, this time

    The increasingly bitter brawl between Intel and VIA escalated last week when the chip giant sued the Taiwanese chipset maker in return for the suit VIA filed against it last month - itself a response to Intel's initial patent infringement action, brought early in September. The latest action claims VIA and its processor design …

    Channel 11 Oct 2001, 12:29

  • MS NT 4.0 MCSEs to keep their creds after all

    Oh, you passed the Win2k exams already? Sorree...

    Today's Microsoft climb-down (haven't there been a lot recently?) will be to relent on the expiration of Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) qualifications for NT4.0, according to a report at OCWorkbench. NT 4.0 itself was retired at the beginning of this month, and the plan, announced in September 1999, was for NT 4.0 …

    Software 11 Oct 2001, 12:30

  • Marconi and Nortel forced to pull out of Formula One

    Cause they can't bleedin afford it

    Marconi and Nortel Networks are being forced out of Formula One sponsorship next season thanks to dire results this year. Marconi has gone from being one of the UK's leading companies to a burnt-out shell, with its share price now living in the telecoms toilet bowl at 16.6p from 950p just a year ago (over 1200p in August 2000 …

    Business 11 Oct 2001, 12:59

  • PC service gets worse and worse

    Hardware is more reliable

    Major PC companies are taking longer to resolve issues (if at all), telephone techies are less clued up on their goods, and users have to hold longer than ever to get through to them. This is the conclusion of an IDG.net user survey, which added that service has deteriorated on every measure polled. The survey tracked …

    Personal 11 Oct 2001, 13:50

  • Bugs fail to knock PowerPC G5 off schedule

    So far...

    Motorola's next-generation PowerPC processor, the 8500, aka G5, may yet make it into new Macs early next year, Apple sources have claimed. At issue are recent claims that Motorola is having problems with G5 yields, with many clocking way, way below the 1.6GHz the chip is expected to reach once it ships. We can't say we're …

    Mac Channel 11 Oct 2001, 14:10

  • Napster trial judge lambasts music biz

    But don't expect a pro-Napster ruling any time soon

    Now here's a thing. Judge Marilyn Hall Patel, who presides over the music industry's attempt to beat Napster into line and who has, in the past, displayed strong anti-Napster zeal, has now turned around and given the music biz a tongue-lashing. At the centre of the her complaint is the apparent attempt by MusicNet, one of the …

    Music and Media 11 Oct 2001, 15:18

  • Starbucks wireless wonder goes Titsup

    MobileStar lays off 88 of its 88 workers...

    Wireless network provider MobileStar canned its entire staff this week and is flogging off all its remaining assets to anyone who may actually want it. The wireless provider rose to prominence when it won a deal to install wireless 802.11 networks in over 3,000 Starbucks stores around the US, providing free access to those with …

    e-Business 11 Oct 2001, 16:17

  • UK level pegging in international ecommerce stakes

    Nothing to be proud of

    The UK is holding its own in the ecommerce world, according to the International Benchmarking Study 2001. It found that the UK's use of e-commerce was on a par with other countries including Sweden, Canada and Germany. The study found that eight out of ten businesses had a Web site - up from six out of ten last year. And it …

    e-Business 11 Oct 2001, 16:21

  • Lycos Asia sheds 300 jobs

    (Sigh)

    Lycos Asia - a joint venture Singapore Telecommunications and Terra Lycos - has axed two thirds of its staff. Around 300 jobs are to go as the portal struggles to stay afloat during the ebbing tide in advertising sales. Instead, the operation is to concentrate on three core Chinese-language markets - Singapore, Hong Kong and …

    e-Business 11 Oct 2001, 16:24

  • Web server attacks doubled over the last year

    Survey finds 90% of firms hit by viruses too

    Web server attacks have doubled over the course of the last year, despite increased spending on security. That's the main conclusion of a survey of more than 2,500 organisations, sponsored by security firms TruSecure and Predictive Systems. The survey found that almost half those quizzed (48 per cent) had suffered a Web server …

    Security 11 Oct 2001, 16:45

  • Intel's Mobile Roadmap

    Updated More Mobile P4s and P4-based Mobile Celerons emerge

    Intel's mobile Pentium 4s, based on its 0.13 micron Northwood die0-shrink and now dubbed the Pentium 4-M, are now set to ship in March next year, when they will completely replace the Tualatin PIII-M in the Performance mobile categories. Tulatin won't vanish - it will continue to be rebranded as Celeron right through the year. …

    Channel 11 Oct 2001, 17:15

  • Intel's Desktop Roadmap

    Updated P4 comes to Celeron line, 533MHz FSB comes to P4 - and more...

    It's 'all change' on Intel's desktop processor roadmap as the chip giant's latest update pushes back the release of Northwood, the 0.13 micron die-shrink, and the company drops its Rambus-based Tulloch chipset for the... er... Rambus-based Tehama-E. Northwood will now ship next January, in the expected 2GHz and 2.2GHz forms. …

    Channel 11 Oct 2001, 17:22

  • CPRM phones home

    Alive and well, and coming to a handset near you

    If you're expecting tomorrow's consumer devices to be as open as today's PC, you're in for a disappointment. Smartphones and connected PDAs will feature strong digital rights management technology, with CPRM tipped as the DRM software of choice for removable media. Nokia announced its 5510 handset today, which integrates an MP3 …

    Personal 11 Oct 2001, 18:37

  • Tables turns on Bin Laden ‘bank crackers’

    Updated haxOrz at war: Fluffy Bunny 3 Yihat 0

    The hacking group which claims to hacked into a bank connected to Osama bin Laden in the Sudan has had its own Web site defaced. Yihat (Young Intelligent Hackers Against Terrorism) was re-christened Young IDIOTIC haxOrz and Terrorists after an attack on its kill.net Web site by infamous hacker Fluffy Bunny. The defacement …

    Security 11 Oct 2001, 20:56

  • MS preps voice over WinXP

    Hires Callserve

    Microsoft has hired Callserve to deliver the IP telephony service offered by Messenger in Windows XP for the European market, as well as other regions. Messenger allows users to make phone calls directly from their PCs to a normal landline phone anywhere in the world, much like the wide variety of online VOIP providers already …

    Music and Media 11 Oct 2001, 21:01

  • Lucent calls in the COPS

    Esperanto for mobile networks

    Lucent's Bell Laboratories has come up with software which makes it easier to use the same phone throughout the world. Called Common Operations (COPS), the software architecture enables global roaming across all wireless network types, including third-generation (3G) technologies such as CDMA2000, Universal Mobile …

    Data Networking 11 Oct 2001, 21:09

  • Networking bug makes Macs hang up

    Disconnected

    While Apple Mac OS X is winning plaudits for its networking support, a bug in MacOS is causing many Mac users to see red. Many are finding themselves disconnected from Windows and Unix servers after installing MacOS 9.2.1 and OS 9.1. A reader whose performed packet analysis on his network, which uses Mac clients with Windows …

    Mac Channel 11 Oct 2001, 21:48

  • UK plc hates MS licence terms (true)

    Time is not of the essence

    This week Microsoft delayed the imposition of controversial new terms and conditions for volume purchases. The start date for the new and potentially much more expensive regime is now 31 July 2002, ten months later than originally planned. But UK licensing manager Duncan Reid told us today that Microsoft will not review the …

    Software 11 Oct 2001, 21:51