29th March 2002 Archive

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Make Microsoft pay for bugs and BSODs – Sun's Gage

Weird science

Sun's chief scientist John Gage was a hit with Register readers the last time we spoke, two years ago with his prediction that computers could eventually disturb the heat balance of the universe. (That was before the Pentium4 was released, and he's right on target). But Gage is a rare man in the technical community, as the …

Software 29 Mar 2002, 03:04
Review Nokia 6310: sore thumbs

What Mobile first previewed the 6310 in April 2001, and it was expected at the end of last year. After all the software issues that plagued the 6210 (every owner I know needed a software upgrade) I think we can forgive Nokia for not rushing this model out. Let's just hope they've got it right this time. In fairness I used the …

Mobile 29 Mar 2002, 08:31
Is your business ready for the E-Commerce Regulations?

Rights and obligations

Recent online pricing mistakes by Kodak and Komplett have highlighted a number of problems facing e-tailers and all those whose conduct business on the Internet. The E-Commerce Directive seeks to resolve some of these problems by creating a legal framework in which businesses and consumers have clear rights and obligations. …

e-Business 29 Mar 2002, 09:01
European IT spend is flatter than a flat pancake

Gartner glooming and dooming

Gartner Inc warns that there is no near-term prospect of a rebound in IT investment in Europe, contradicting an earlier prediction of its Dataquest statistical market research unit. The Gartner survey of over 400 European companies revealed that almost 70% will either lower IT spending this year, or freeze it at 2001 …

Business 29 Mar 2002, 09:24
Gartner warns of ‘inappropriate’ Oracle sales tactics

Licence to print money

A second research firm has warned Oracle Corp customers to check license fees and further accused the company of inappropriate sales tactics. Gartner Inc has accused Oracle of forcing customers to choose the most expensive licensing option, attempting to pre-sell more licenses than customers need and forcing customers to …

Software 29 Mar 2002, 09:25
Teoma preps relaunch, wants to be Google-beater

From quantity to quality

Six months after its acquisition by Ask Jeeves Inc, Teoma Technologies Inc is about to relaunch its web site, where it provides a search engine it hopes will eventually become more used than Google. But the firm has a way to go before that will be achievable, and admits its offering is not fully finished. Paul Gardi, who …

e-Business 29 Mar 2002, 09:25
Ireland gets three bids for four 3G licenses

Treading carefully

Ireland last week closed its 3G license bidding process having received just three applications for four licenses, underlining the new caution with which Europe's operators are approaching broadband wireless after the $160bn spending spree of the past two years. Vodafone Group Plc, mmO2 Plc and Hutchison Whampoa Group each …

Mobile 29 Mar 2002, 09:25
Intel launches 2.4GHz P4 (next week)

Fastest P4 yet

Intel next week launches the 2.4GHz Pentium 4, replacing the 2.2GHz version, as its fastest desktop P4. As per always, engineering samples and embargo breakers are already on sale in Tokyo. What else? The 2.4GHz P4 is built using 0.13m technolgy and will be the first commercially available Intel CPU to roll off the 300mm wafer …

Channel 29 Mar 2002, 10:13
PC makers hike prices – in Asia

Dell takes different tack

Last week it was Apple: this week it is the turn of Japanese PC makers NEC and Sony and Korean maker Trigem to follow suit. They are increasing prices in Asia, citing increased component costs. This is the first time that PC prices have risen in Japan for five years, according to Bloomberg. Sony is raising prices by up to 10 …

Personal 29 Mar 2002, 11:11
KaZaA ruled perfectly legal

Too much too late

The Dutch courts have dealt a blow to copyright fascism by ruling that KaZaA can't be punished simply because its software might be abused. A previous ruling against KaZaA won by Dutch copyright enforcement syndicate Buma Stemra has been overturned on appeal. Much of this is irrelevant in practical terms since KaZaA was sold …

Music and Media 29 Mar 2002, 11:27
Windows on a database – sliced and diced by BeOS vets

An Easter treat from Dominic and Benoit

After we wrote about Microsoft's plans to put a database into each copy of Windows as the native file store back in January, we were delighted to hear from two system architects for whom this news was really old hat. You see, it's been done before. Benoit Schillings was one of Be Inc's first employees, and authored the original …

Software 29 Mar 2002, 21:16