14th October 2003 Archive

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BT ‘clarifies’ broadband definition

Pokes fun at rivals

BT has taken a swipe at ISPs who market sub-500k services as "broadband". In a press release today announcing the news that it is now flogging router modems specifically for gamers to wire up their Xbox or Playstation 2 consoles for broadband, BT threw in this mischievous comment. "For clarity, BT's definition of broadband is …

Telecoms 14 Oct 2003, 07:50
Israel slams the door on Microsoft

Exclusive Antitrust shock

In a bold assertion of independence, Israel has thrown the full weight of its antitrust legislation at Microsoft. The Israeli Ministry of Commerce has suspended all governmental contracts with Microsoft, and indicated that the ban will last throughout 2004. The de facto suspension means no upgrades for the duration, at a time …

Software 14 Oct 2003, 08:13
E-skills upbeat about tech sector

Women get IT recruitment video

There's further evidence that the worst of the downturn experienced by the tech sector in the UK may be over. The latest bulletin from industry group e-skills predicts that the sector is set to remain flat until the end of the year before seeing a much-welcomed, if modest, up-turn in 2004. Its survey of surveys - effectively …

Music and Media 14 Oct 2003, 08:16
Real talks to itself about Rhapsody billing

Dr. Freud looks for extra charges

It's not every day that you get to watch a company talk to itself firsthand, but Real Networks has a special on this month in which it treats customers to this experience. If the good Dr. Freud were still around, he would chop up a bit of Bolivian Bang, sit Real down on a couch and have a good, long chat. "I hear zat you are …

Bootnotes 14 Oct 2003, 08:25
Motorola chip biz narrows loss

But sales still below last year's level

Motorola's soon to be spun off Semiconductor Products Sector (SPS) saw sales dip four per cent year on year during the group's third quarter. SPS posted a $76 million operating loss, as a result. This time last year, it reported operating income totalling $13 million. Ignore the effect of one-off items and the Q3 2003 loss …

Channel 14 Oct 2003, 08:47
Sun's UltraSparc IV approacheth

All as expected

Sun Microsystems continues to plod away with the UltraSparc line of processors, disclosing some fresh details this week at the Microprocessor Forum on its fourth generation chip. Most of the details of UltraSparc IV are already quite well known, but like any competent vendor Sun likes to keep touting product whenever possible, …

Servers 14 Oct 2003, 09:14
Intel joins 45nm process research team

Many hands may work light

Intel has joined IMEC, a collaborative research group developing a 45nm chip fabrication process techniques using 300mm wafers, in a bid to minimise its own costs and to help limit the problems it may face in transitioning from its own 65nm process. Samsung has also joined the group, which was formed by European chip makers …

Channel 14 Oct 2003, 09:16
Blog noise achieves Google KO

Can we rescue our search engine from the wiki-fiddlers?

"All weblogs have their useful side it's the men who write the weblog software I can't abide." - Bertolt Brecht [*] The humble weblog has finally achieved dominance over Google, the world's most-used search engine. Originally intended as a tool that allowed people to publish their personal diaries, weblog software has swiftly …

Music and Media 14 Oct 2003, 09:49
Jordan does CDMA?

Domino effect

In newly conquered Iraq, the cellular licenses have fallen into the hands of three local GSM bidders, against the wishes of some corporate lobbyists in the United States. But is the rest of the Middle East being reshaped to Washington's lines? It's too early to tell. But neighboring Jordan, which already boasts two GSM networks …

Mobile 14 Oct 2003, 10:00
VIA to unveil world's smallest x86 chip

By package, not die

VIA will today take the wraps off a more compact version of its Eden embedded processor, the Eden-N, which it claims is the world's smallest x86 chip. Built into a "nanoBGA" package, the processor measures just 1.5 x 1.5cm. Like VIA's 130nm C3 line of desktop and notebook processors, the Eden-N is based on the company's …

Channel 14 Oct 2003, 10:40
Opera moves into phone content integration business

A bit like OpenWave, but a bit not...

Opera is moving further into the mobile phone arena with the announcement of the Opera Platform for network operators and handset manufacturers. The Platform uses the Opera browser to integrate local applications, the browser itself and online content and services from the network operator, which in summary means that the …

Mobile 14 Oct 2003, 10:59
SiS ships dual-channel Pentium 4 chipset

Mix and match any DDR DIMMs

SiS has begun shipping its SiS655FX dual-channel DDR SDRAM chipset for Pentium processors running over an 800MHz effective bit rate frontside bus. Announced last May, the SiS655FX supports 266-400MHz DDR memory. Users can add use different ratings of DDR and still benefit from dual-channel operation, SiS claimed. Motherboards …

Channel 14 Oct 2003, 11:04
Demon punters suffer email outage

Backlog

Hacked-off Demon punters are fuming after enduring yet more delayed email over the weekend. One reader, who asked not to be named, told The Register that Demon's service ground to a halt over 48 hours last week creating a backlog of emails. "A few backlogged mails trickled in over the weekend, but today (Monday) it seems like …

Music and Media 14 Oct 2003, 11:36
Komplett brands punters ‘criminals’ after pricing cock-up

'Downright rude' company stays tight-lipped

Computer components etailer Komplett.co.uk has sparked a customer revolt after hurling insults at its punters. One gobsmacked customer told The Register that Komplett has "branded me a criminal for taking them up on their offer to sell me a [graphics] card for £130 on their web site". The argy-bargy started last week when …

Channel 14 Oct 2003, 11:39
Opinion CCIA Report is Bad Medicine

The proposed cure for the Internet's security woes might help Microsoft competitors, but it would only make our security problems worse, writes SecurityFocus columnist Tim Mullen. A recently published report from the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) claims that "Microsoft's monopoly of the desktop …

Software 14 Oct 2003, 11:44
France to roll out Wi-Fi on high-speed train lines

Internet access à grand vitesse

French national rail company SNCF will from Friday offer passengers Wi-Fi access on two major 300kmph services in a year-long trial of the technology. Wireless Internet access will be provided on SNCF's Paris-Bordeaux and Bordeaux-Pau TGV (Train à Grand Vitesse) high-speed rail links. The service will commence on 17 October. …

Wireless 14 Oct 2003, 11:56
Think tank recommends satellite road charging for UK

The tax rise in the sky...

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) today released a report recommending the introduction of a national road-charging system for the UK, most likely using satellite technology. Ministers have in the past indicated that they view GPS road charging as a likely way forward for transport policy, but as the IPPR is …

Music and Media 14 Oct 2003, 12:56
AMD brings white box servers to Europe

We build 'em, you sell 'em

AMD has extended its Validated Server Programme to Europe, expanding contract manufacturer Celestica's contract to build white-box Opteron-based servers that European system builders, VARs and system integrators can rebadge and sell. The programme centres on offering two- and four-way machines built around Opteron 200 and 800 …

Servers 14 Oct 2003, 12:58
AOL Europe preps music download service

You hum it, I'll burn it

AOL plans to be the second music download service backbone launched in Europe, with an online radio station launching now and a downloading service with per track pricing akin to Apple iTunes, to be launched in the second quarter of 2004. The plans were revealed in an interview with Reuters, and the service would be the first …

Music and Media 14 Oct 2003, 14:08
FCC must treat cable firms the same as telcos

Not a happy regulator

Why is it that all the Telco DSL providers in the US work hand in glove with ISP’s, but so few of the cable TV companies deliver their services through ISPs? Much of it has to do with the FCC having made a ruling that said that the cable firms are a completely different kettle of fish and are not categorized as communications …

Music and Media 14 Oct 2003, 14:08
nthellworld.com disappears

Back soon, says cableco

There's fevered speculation that NTL could be about to pull the plug on its nthellworld.com whinge site after it disappeared either sometime last night or earlier this morning. A message on the site says: "This site is currently unavailable. ntl:home apologise for any inconvenience caused. If you are looking for help or …

Telecoms 14 Oct 2003, 14:17
Sharp ships notebook with 3D screen

Reg Kit Watch And Alphasmart preps Palm laptop

PDA Palm OS licensee AlphaSmart has released a UK version of its lightweight Dana wireless Internet terminal. Dana Wireless weighs just 0.9kg (2lbs) and measures 31.4 x 23.5 x 4.8cm (12.6 x 9.4 x 1.9in) yet packs in a full-size keyboard, 802.11b Wi-Fi adaptor and a 560 x 160 backlit LCD. Memory is limited to 16MB, alas, and it …

Personal 14 Oct 2003, 15:34
Infonet picks Boingo to host corporate Wi-Fi services

Takes minority stake too

US Wi-Fi hotspot aggregator Boingo today followed up its tie-in with UK-based WLAN provider The Cloud with two further partnerships. Dutch WLAN company PicoPoint has added its 75 hotspots in Europe, Middle East and Africa to Boingo's aggregated network. The number is small - particularly compared to The Cloud's contribution of …

Wireless 14 Oct 2003, 15:50
eDonkey rides like the wind in P2P protocol races

Where did Gnutella go?

FastTrack-based file sharing applications such as KaZaA rule in America but Europeans are increasingly turning to alternatives. Researchers from network management company Sandvine found FastTrack-based applications still generate more than 76 per cent of all P2P traffic in North America. But in Europe, end-user preferences …

Telecoms 14 Oct 2003, 15:56
MCI/Worldcom gets ‘ethics’ chief

Zero tolerance

MCI/WorldCom, the company behind the biggest fraud in US corporate history - has appointed someone in charge of - get this -"ethics". Nancy Higgins, formerly of Lockheed Martin, has been named as executive VP of Ethics and Business Conduct and Chief Ethics Officer reporting to Chairman and CEO Michael Capellas. Among other …

Data Networking 14 Oct 2003, 16:17
EMC plunks down $1.7bn for Documentum

Software for sale

EMC has snatched up yet another software company, bidding $1.7 billion for Documentum. EMC wants to expand its software portfolio away from simply managing boxes and toward managing data. Documentum fits in well with this goal as the company has a suite of software centered around content management. The stock-for-stock swap is …

Storage 14 Oct 2003, 16:24
UK teen in ‘elite’ hacking group

On crackers, Dry Ice and Friction

The British teenager accused of an electronic attack on a major US port was a member of a "hacker's alliance", a court heard yesterday. Aaron Caffrey, 19, told Southwark Crown Court that he was a member of group called Allied Haxor Elite, the Daily Mirror reports. However he added that he only "hacked into computer's legally …

Security 14 Oct 2003, 18:34
Quantum shows heart-pounding tape drive

SDLT 600 ready to order

Looking to bolster tape sales, Quantum has rolled out one of its highest performing drives to date - the SDLT 600. Quantum has done its best to try and make a tape drive seem sexy. Described as having "heart-pounding performance," the SDLT 600 boasts a 72MB/s compressed transfer rate and 600 GB of compressed storage. By …

Storage 14 Oct 2003, 19:52
Man denies RIAA charges of Latin music love

J. Lo means nothing to me

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has come to the aid of one Ross Plank - a man the recording industry accuses of having an unhealthy love for Latin music. Plank, of Playa Del Rey, California, is one of the 261 alleged file-traders to face a lawsuit from the RIAA's (Recording Industry Association of America) legal arm. …

Music and Media 14 Oct 2003, 20:55
Intel's income leaps in Q3

Good signs for the economy

Driven by strong processor sales, Intel delivered an impressive set of third quarter results, prompting executives to say the global economy appears on the mend. Intel posted third quarter revenue of $7.8 billion - a 20 percent year-on-year rise. This was the best year-on-year compare Intel has seen since 1996. A 26 percent …

Channel 14 Oct 2003, 22:54
Brokerage hack teen charged

Follow the money

The Securities and Exchange Commission last week began civil and criminal proceedings against a teenager who allegedly broke into someone else's brokerage account to dump his falling stock options. Van Dinh, 19, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, is accused of disguising a key logger program (called The Beast) as a new stock- …

Security 14 Oct 2003, 23:43