The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

5th June 2003 Archive

Browse by publication date, or search the site.

  • iSync update: beware

    iLossy

    Apple's iSync software needs a health warning: use at your peril. The long-anticipated release supports a host of new phones for the first time. However, from investigating the issue, it's clear that a wider beta program could have caught many of the more trivial, but deadly bugs, and better documentation is needed. This iSync …

    Mac Channel 5 Jun 2003, 02:53

  • Brocade feeds analyst dirt on Cisco switch

    Fibre Channel alert

    A financial analyst has started a feud between networking giants Cisco and Brocade by dubbing the Cisco MDS 9000 a switch of ill repute. Earlier this week, Merrill Lynch analyst John Roy issued a glowing note on Brocade and slammed rival and SAN upstart Cisco. Roy upped Brocade to a Buy rating, saying it has a strong product …

    Storage 5 Jun 2003, 07:04

  • Sun chip engineers talk multicore, SPARC delays

    Production slipping

    It was a bizarre afternoon Monday at the Sun Microsystems office here, as one chip engineer after another came bounding out from behind a thin client to tell us more about multicore processors. With all the Sun Fellows in the room gabbing to the press, we couldn't help but wonder if Sun's chip production would be slowed by a …

    Servers 5 Jun 2003, 07:26

  • US court rules against restrictions on violent games

    Unconstitutional

    The IDSA is celebrating a ruling by a federal appeals court in the USA which has overturned a Missouri law restricting the sale of violent games to minors, claiming that it is a key victory in its ongoing fight against censorship legislation. The law, which was adopted by St Lous County in October 2000, made it illegal to sell …

    Personal 5 Jun 2003, 07:31

  • Software biz urges tougher bug disclosure ‘rules’

    Timeline for security vuln reporting

    A group of 11 of the largest software companies and computer security firms released the first public draft of a proposed bug disclosure standard on Wednesday, and asked the security community for comments. The 37-page document sets out a detailed timeline for security vulnerability reporting, and standardizes the interactions …

    Security 5 Jun 2003, 07:42

  • Siebel makes a buy of its own

    Takeover in waiting

    Siebel has ignored speculation of a possible takeover by completing a small acquisition of its own and upgrading its product line. Siebel earlier this week announced the purchase of the e-mail and messaging assests of BoldFish. Siebel has built the BoldFish products into its Siebel Email Marketing software, which will be sold …

    Business 5 Jun 2003, 07:47

  • Wi-Fi Palm finds its voice

    Nice niche

    The Register's Wireless LAN Channel The laptop has played a significant part in the explosion of interest in Wi-Fi hotspots, writes Rob Bamforth, of Bloor Research. Busy executives can squeeze a few extra cycles of connected productivity as they sit around airports and hotel lobbies or stop for a coffee break between meetings. …

    Broadband 5 Jun 2003, 09:02

  • Palm signs Wi-Fi security, access, VoIP deals

    The better to pitch Tungsten C PDAs at corporates

    Palm yesterday signed a handful of alliances it hopes will make its Wi-Fi equipped Tungsten C handheld more attractive to corporate IT departments. The deals will provide Palm's flagship PDA with voice over IP (VoIP) technology, plus support for Cisco's LEAP network authentication protocol and other security-oriented systems. …

    Mobile 5 Jun 2003, 09:12

  • Buying 3 phones disappointing – report

    It makes voice calls don't you know

    "3" is flogging its 3G phone services based on the lure of low cost voice calls rather than multimedia services. So say analysts at Strand Consult who are dismayed that 3 - Hutchison's 3G brand - isn't doing more to punt the technology. "After all the hype around 3G and '3' and all the services that will be available at high …

    Mobile 5 Jun 2003, 09:25

  • Abbey National bins WAP, Digital TV banking

    WAP is scwapped

    Abbey National has joined Halifax in ditching its WAP-based mobile banking service. It is also scrapping its digital TV service. In a letter to customers the bank said: 'As a valued user of our e-banking service we are sorry to inform you that from June 30th we will no longer provide this service through our Digital TV and WAP …

    Mobile 5 Jun 2003, 09:25

  • eBay to charge VAT in Europe

    Ups fees too

    eBay is to start charging value added tax (VAT) in Europe from July 1 to comply with EU legislation on digital services. eBay warned punters back in March that new EU legislation meant that it would have to start collecting VAT on its digital services from the summer. These taxes apply to all seller fees paid to eBay - such as …

    Small Biz 5 Jun 2003, 09:28

  • Intel plans October P4 price cuts ahead of Prescott launch

    No reductions until autumn

    PC buyers awaiting cheaper 3.2GHz Pentium 4 machines rather than splashing out after the chip's launch on 23 June will have to hold off until late October. Intel is not planning to cut the cost of the chip before 26 October, according to Xbit Labs. On that date, the 3.2GHz P4, which operates with a 200MHz frontside bus quad- …

    Channel 5 Jun 2003, 09:36

  • EMI sues Bertelsmann over Napster

    'Promotion of piracy'

    EMI has joined Universal Music Group to sue Bertelsmann, parent of fellow 'big five' music label Bertelsmann Music Group, for investing in Napster and thus - they allege - promoting the piracy of their music. Legal action against Bertelsmann began in February this year when proceedings against the company were launched by an …

    Business 5 Jun 2003, 09:57

  • AMD stock downgraded

    Intel's mid-quarter statement due today

    Banc of America Securities has reduced AMD from a 'neutral' investment rating to 'sell' ahead of Intel's mid-quarter market statement to be announced tonight. BoAS said it based its decision on the belief that AMD will report second quarter financial results that fall below the chip maker's expectations. Such a shortfall is …

    Channel 5 Jun 2003, 10:23

  • Singapore abandons Wi-Fi for 3G

    Bubble bursts

    The Register's Wireless LAN Channel The smart money doesn't have the Wi-Fi bubble bursting until next year, but early indicators from Asia suggest we could be hearing an ear-bursting "Pop!" sooner than anyone had expected. Why? Well, when the world looks to wireless, it looks to Asia. And the news this week isn't good for Wi- …

    Broadband 5 Jun 2003, 10:32

  • Cisco builds WLAN security framework

    Extend, embrace and control

    The Register's Wireless LAN Channel Cisco Systems this week introduced an architecture designed to make wireless LANs easier to manage and more secure. Cisco's Structured Wireless-Aware Network framework, which includes a series of enhancements and additions to its hardware portfolio and new software capabilities, are also …

    Broadband 5 Jun 2003, 11:48

  • Worldcom screws down EDS bill

    But to start paying again

    EDS has cut its annual outsourcing charges to Worldcom by a whopping $83m a year. In return the bankrupt telco will resume payments to EDS, worth an estimated $600m a year over three years. Under the previous contract, Worldcom was obliged to buy in a minimum amount of services from EDS. It still had to pay up if it did not use …

    Data Center 5 Jun 2003, 12:24

  • Nokia upgrades 7250 handset with XHTML

    Reg Kit Watch Better browsing and digicam features

    Mobile phone Nokia has upgraded its 7250 phone with an XHTML browser and enhanced digicam features, and is calling the new model the 7250i. XHTML is parts of the WAP 2.0 spec., but Nokia is offering it on top of the phone's WAP 1.2.1 system. It provides a richer browsing experience more akin to PC-based Web surfing than WAP …

    Personal 5 Jun 2003, 12:25

  • eBay punters hopping mad

    Jump ship

    Around 1,000 hacked-off eBay regulars in the UK have already jumped ship and signed up with rival auction site eBid. eBid, which has around 95,000 members, said sign-ups have been going through the roof ever since eBay announced it was increasing its fees and charging VAT. Commenting on the feedback, a spokesman for eBid told …

    Small Biz 5 Jun 2003, 14:51

  • 3 UK unveils new pricing bundles

    Not just chit-chat

    3 UK has unveiled two bundled pricing options for its 3G phones which it claims could save punters up to 50 per cent on monthly call charges. The company says it is able to reduce the cost of its phone calls because its networks are more efficient at delivering voice calls - efficiencies it says it's passing on to it punters. …

    Mobile 5 Jun 2003, 14:53

  • UK ID cards – the incredible shrinking consultation

    Disappearing the opposition - every Home Secretary's dream...

    UK Home Secretary David Blunkett plans legislation to introduce ID cards this autumn, but possibly has a small problem in transforming the verdict of what must surely have been a heavily anti ID card public consultation into a favourable one. The Home Office does however seem to be trying. Some months back Home Office minister …

    Media 5 Jun 2003, 15:43

  • Sendo sues Orange over MS SPV smartphone IP

    And regrets having to do so...

    Mobile phone company Sendo today started legal proceedings in London against Orange, claiming patent infringement in the design of the Orange SPV smartphone. Given that the "Orange" SPV uses HTC hardware with a Microsoft operating system and an Orange look and feel on top of that, picking on Orange might seem a tad odd - but …

    Mobile 5 Jun 2003, 16:27

  • Fossil says Wrist PDA will ship in the US this month after all

    Everyone else will have to wait, though

    Watch maker Fossil has denied that the US release of its Palm OS-based Wrist PDA watch-cum-personal organiser has been delayed until early next year. But it did admit that overseas customers will now have to wait until some time during the first quarter of 2004 to get their hands on the device. The statement follows comments …

    Personal 5 Jun 2003, 16:57

  • Citywide ‘citizen cards’ to hit London

    From e-wallet to ID card?

    London is to introduce a transport smartcard system and boroughs in the city are looking to use it to develop the first stage of a London-wide "citizen" card. By early July, Transport for London (TfL) expects to introduce credit card sized smartcards for adults travelling on the underground and buses across the city in a £1.2 …

    Media 5 Jun 2003, 17:25

  • Symantec revamps education licenses (winners and losers)

    Moves to per seat pricing

    Symantec risks raising the ire of parts of the UK education sector because of changes to its site licensing programme. Even though its revised charges for schools and colleges are a fraction of what it charges commercial organisations, many larger institutions could end paying substantially more for their anti-virus software. …

    Software 5 Jun 2003, 17:26

  • College radio reprieved from pigopolist punishment

    Royalty Rates

    Last weekend college Internet broadcasters in the United States signed-off on an important royalty agreement with the RIAA that should keep non-commercial webcasters a'streaming. The Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS), with 800 student-staffed member stations, is one of the parties to be involved. The deal is a result of …

    Media 5 Jun 2003, 19:48

  • More Gartner voodoo – IBM now on top

    Funny numbers

    The tricky analysts at Gartner have pulled a fast one on rival IDC by ranking IBM ahead of HP as the worldwide server revenue leader in the first quarter. Earlier this week, Gartner admitted to restating years of server data after noticing large errors between its numbers and actual vendor sales. For example, Gartner's …

    Servers 5 Jun 2003, 19:58

  • Bugbear sequel spells fresh misery for Windows users

    Another nasty, and fast spreading, mass mailer

    Anti-virus vendors today warned of the rapid spread of yet another mass mailing virus. Bugbear-B, a variant of the infamous Bugbear, is a complex mass-mailing worm with a variety of nasty tricks up its sleeve. It spreads by either emailing itself to addresses found on infected PCs or (less commonly) via network shares. As …

    Security 5 Jun 2003, 20:53

  • Let's all move to India (China, Vietnam, Eastern Europe etc.)

    Offshore IT services

    In a teleconference held June 5, 2003, IDC analysts said they expect global outsourcing in the IT industry to increase, which will put smiles on the faces of workers in China, The Philippines, India, Vietnam, and Eastern Europe, but will continue to depress U.S. and Western European IT workers. Except the French. The …

    Data Center 5 Jun 2003, 22:04

  • On the iSync fiasco that didn't have to happen

    Apple's paranoia is inhibiting Quality

    Steve Jobs should pause for thought before carrying out one of the ritual executions that follow a public humiliation. The fiasco over the release of the iSync software update - which lost real data central to users' lives - could have been easily avoided. iSync brought 20 new devices under the umbrella, from several different …

    Mac Channel 5 Jun 2003, 22:08

  • US appeals court hands Barcelona.com back to original owner

    Finally an end brought to trademark law merry-go-round

    The US Court of Appeals has handed back the domain Barcelona.com to its original owner after three years of protracted, convoluted and insidious legal argument. The decision on 2 June 2003 "reversed, vacated and remanded" two previous decisions by WIPO and the US District Court and was the first time the law had been applied …

    Media 5 Jun 2003, 22:11