21st November 2001 Archive

Browse by publication date, or search the site.

Red Hat trumps MS poor kids offer

Let them eat software

Microsoft is squaring a clutch of private antitrust suits accusing the company of price gouging by donating more than $1 billion in cash, hardware, training and software to 12,500 schools in poor areas in America. The donation spreads over five years, and removes an irritating litigation thorn from Microsoft's flank, while …

Software 21 Nov 2001, 00:59
DiData is rich

Cash in hand

It's been a busy year for Dimension Data, Europe's biggest networking equipment reseller, and the company has not come out unscathed from recessionary pressures afflicting the industry. But any problems it faces pale into insignificance compared with most rivals. At the close of the year ended 30 September 2001, DiData had $ …

Channel 21 Nov 2001, 08:24
Nvidia suspends alleged insider traders

Been here before

The Nvidia staffers accused of insider trading have been suspended by the company pending the legal action being brought against them by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Eleven Nvidia employees and four associates were formally charged on Monday with profiting from their inside knowledge. Having seen a memo from …

Business 21 Nov 2001, 09:41
Hynix plans sixfold increase in equipment budget

Bucks the industry trend - and then some

Ailing chip maker Hynix has said it will spend more money on new plant next year - despite the fact that many of its rivals are cutting their 2002 equipment budgets. Hynix said it is considering a plan to raise capital expenditure by 500 per cent next year. The increase, to $935 million, is part of the company's re-financing …

Channel 21 Nov 2001, 09:42
MS victim of humorous DNS non-hack

Abusive domain names galore

It appears that someone has again associated at least fifty (probably more) domain names with microsoft.com, and given them humorous titles tending to disparage the mighty Redmond Leviathan. A DNS lookup of "microsoft.com" at SamSpade.org yields a list of domains such as: MICROSOFT.COM.IS.SO.VERY.SKANKY.NET MICROSOFT.COM.IS. …

Software 21 Nov 2001, 10:00
Nintendo profit up 14.4%

Ups US shipments

Nintendo today said it is increasing the number of GameCube consoles it hopes to ship after reporting first-half year-on-year profit growth of 14 per cent. For the six months to 30 September, Nintendo made ¥34.3 billion ($278 million) - ¥242.47 a share - on sales of ¥225.7 billion, an increase of 18 per cent on the same period …

Business 21 Nov 2001, 10:03
Playboy.com hacked

Porn lovers' CC details taken

On-line porn purveyor Playboy.com has been penetrated by hackers who stole customer records including credit card details, the company says. Someone claiming to be part of the data heist who calls himself 'martyn luther ping' contacted numerous victims via e-mail with proof that their Playboy accounts had been hacked. The …

Security 21 Nov 2001, 10:28
Hynix creditors consider killing company off

Or merging it with a competitor

Hynix may be shut down or sold to a foreign competitor if it proves unviable, the head of creditors' committee managing the ailing memory maker's recovery has said. "If Hynix is viewed viable, we have plans to keep it afloat," said committee chief Shin Kook-hwan in an interview with the Korean Yonhap newswire. "But if that is …

Channel 21 Nov 2001, 10:50
VA looks to break-even

Almost there

VA Linux says it's finally paid the bill for exiting the hardware business. Non-hardware revenue was $3.9 million in the last quarter and with residual expenses from the strategy shift, the operating loss was $9m for the period. CEO Larry Augustin says costs have been pared back to meet the anticipated revenues, and he expects …

Business 21 Nov 2001, 11:30
PNG programmers poo-poo Apple patent

Alpha blending IP 'irrelevant' to PNG, says community leading light

The PNG development community should not fear Apple's recently revealed alpha blending patent, a leading member of that band of coders has said. Greg Roelofs, author of PNG: The Definitive Guide and a member of the PNG development team, this weekend said Apple's patent, number 5,379,129, was "irrelevant" to the ongoing …

Mac Channel 21 Nov 2001, 12:05
The Tesco ruling – what does it mean for grey MS software?

Trademark owners strengthened

Levi Strauss' victory over Tesco in the European Union's highest court yesterday prevents the supermarket selling cheap jeans imported from outside the European Union. The decision sends a strong signal that will see grey importing in the IT industry greatly curtailed within the EU. Levi's won the right to limit imports from …

Channel 21 Nov 2001, 12:11
UK Govt silent on portal plans

VeryQuietCloud

Last week Silicon Valley-based Loudcloud won the contract to host the UK Government's ukonline.gov.uk Web site. The site is run by the Office of the e-Envoy, which is part of the Cabinet Office, and is the Government's single point of access for all its e-services. When Version 2 of the site goes live next year it should have …

e-Business 21 Nov 2001, 13:00
Tiny does cellphones

Wants more web sales

As expected, Tiny is to add pre-pay mobile phones and their accessories to its existing catalogue of computers and peripherals. It will offer three handsets in showroom stores and a fuller range of ten phones via its website. It will also supply a range of accessories including cameras, MP3 players, as well as ring tones and …

Channel 21 Nov 2001, 14:56
C2000 splashes indie retailer buying pool

Sixty recruits

Computer 2000's Retail Division has launched a group buying scheme for independent UK retailers. Sixty indies have already signed up for the Alliance Programme, under which they qualify for higher volume discounts when placing their orders. Membership is free, but retailers have to pre-define the amount they expect to spend …

Channel 21 Nov 2001, 15:12
China closes 17,488 Net cafes

The Great Firewall

The Chinese Government has shut down 17,488 Internet cafes. The official reason for the closures is their failure to block sites considered subversive or pornographic. Another 28,000 Internet cafes must install monitoring software, required under Government regulations, the Associated Press reports. Many foreign news sites are …

Music and Media 21 Nov 2001, 16:17
ISPs queue up for DIY ADSL

Oi - no pushing in

Up to 50 Internet service providers could be test-driving DIY ADSL installation with the launch next month of BT trials. BT Wholesale - which is introducing the self-install scheme - declined to publish a list of those taking part, although some ISPs have been quick to publish their own involvement in the commercial trials. …

Telecoms 21 Nov 2001, 16:47
Linux … everywhere?

Where did those Dell Linux boxes go?

"Linux is everywhere" according to a Dell slogan. But if that's the case how come its so difficult to buy a Linux system from them? Based on my recent online shopping trip it is a wonder that they have sold any Linux systems at all. You can't buy what you can't see. In fact, virtually all of the major hardware vendors have gone …

Software 21 Nov 2001, 17:21
The 64-bit Intel question

Is it good enough?

Intel has made strong inroads into the server market with its new 32-bit Xeon chip, but will have to work hard to be successful in the high-end. According to Kevin Krewell, semiconuctor analyst at Cahners In-Stat/MDR, "muscling in on IBM and Sun's 64-bit territory will take considerable ingenuity but Intel may be up to the task …

Music and Media 21 Nov 2001, 17:40
BTopenworld offers WLAN kit

More stuff for SMEs

BTopenworld is to resell a range of wireless networking products from Linksys. It hopes to flog them off the back of its broadband Internet packages. There are two packages available, allowing wireless networking for to 15 users. Its SME business offer, the System Package, adds a wireless access point (or base station) and is …

Telecoms 21 Nov 2001, 17:43