25th November 2003 Archive
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Oracle is still serious about acquiring PeopleSoft
We really, really mean it this time
How many Oracle executives does it take to assure the world at large that it still wants to acquire PeopleSoft? Three. Without leisure suit Larry around, Oracle on Monday was forced to turn to a trio of other hands for a momentum building exercise. Safra Catz, Jeff Henley and Chuck Phillips held a conference call to tell …
Hardware 25 Nov 2003, 03:06
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HP revamps low-end storage line
Our disk is cheaper than yours
HP has reworked the low-end of its storage line to give small and medium-sized companies a bit more selection and to save them some time with pre-packaged storage and server bundles. The StorageWorks Modular Smart Array (MSA) line consists of three new products. The most basic system is the MSA30 targeted at departmental or …
Storage 25 Nov 2003, 04:08
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Veritas: a smart switching move
Virtualization software on Cisco
Veritas Software has shipped a version of its server-based virtualization software that will run on Cisco's MDS 9000 smart switch, although it does not expect the software to achieve volume take-up for up to two years. The product has some limitations, but these are unlikely to deter Veritas' clients from trading up in the …
Storage 25 Nov 2003, 09:40
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Nachi worm infected Diebold ATMs
Holed in the wall
The Nachi worm compromised Windows-based automated teller machines at two financial institutions last August, according to ATM-maker Diebold, in the first confirmed case of malicious code penetrating cash machines. The machines were in an advanced line of Diebold ATMs built atop Windows XP Embedded, which, like most versions of …
Security 25 Nov 2003, 09:41
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Dixons raises £215m in Wanadoo share sale
Swing low, etc
High street electrical retailer, Dixons, has raised £215 million (€310 million) after flogging 48.4 million shares in French ISP Wanadoo. The cash will be used to reduce debt at Dixons, the company said in a statement. Dixons earned its stake in Wanadoo following the sale of UK ISP, Freeserve, to the French company in 2000 for …
Business 25 Nov 2003, 09:42
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Busting the Worm Writers
Opinion People problem
Microsoft deserves praise for offering a cash reward to catch people who criminally exploit their bugs, argues SecurityFocus columnist Tim Mullen. The Microsoft bounty is almost old news, but I could not let the subject slip by without throwing in my two cents worth. For the cave dwellers out there, let me summarize: Microsoft …
Malware 25 Nov 2003, 10:07
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IT Failures In The Great US Blackout
Feeling powerless
A report issued by a panel of US Government and Power Industry officials has placed the blame for the largest power outage in North American history primarily on computer and human failures, writes Robin Bloor of Bloor Research. FirstEnergy of Ohio and the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, the regional agency …
Hardware 25 Nov 2003, 10:21
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Sharp confirms next-gen Linux PDA specs
Zaurus SL-6000 to ship next month
Sharp has formally announced the launch of the Zaurus SL-6000 - the latest generation of its Linux-based PDA. The announcement confirms earlier reports that the company was preparing a successor to is Zaurus SL-5500. Sharp will offer three versions of the new Zaurus, the 6000N, 6000L and 6000W, respectively without wireless …
Mobile 25 Nov 2003, 10:21
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Patented numbers ‘a good idea’
Stob Mr Attorney fails to surprise
To get some background on the recent move by the US Patent office on the patentability of numbers, The Reg spoke to IP lawyer Lawrence P Po™a®© (pronounced ‘potmarc’) of the distinguished LA firm of Po™a®©, Po™a®© & Po™a®© (pronounced ‘potmarc, potmarc and potmarc’). "The IP legal community is real excited about this," …
Bootnotes 25 Nov 2003, 10:32
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E-commerce complaints on the up
Scam fatigue
The number of complaints about ecommerce and Net-related scams in on the up, according to a major consumer report published yesterday. The twelfth annual consumer complaint survey conducted by the US' National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators (NACAA) and Consumer Federation of America (CFA) revealed that Net and e- …
Music and Media 25 Nov 2003, 11:55
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NetApp, Cisco push networked storage
The SANs of time
Network Appliance and Cisco are teaming up to help businesses migrate more rapidly from direct attached to networked storage infrastructures. NetApp will qualify and tune its storage systems to work more efficiently with Cisco's MDS 9000 line of SAN switches. It will re-sell the Cisco gear in tandem with its own enterprise …
Storage 25 Nov 2003, 11:58
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Thomson to ship portable digital video, audio player
Reg Kit Watch Plus: Mitac unveils first Pocket PC with integrated GPS
Mobile multimedia player French consumer electronics giant Thomson yesterday launched a mobile multimedia player under its Lyra brand. The device can hold up to 80 hours' of video. The 369g PDP 2860 sports a 3.5in TFT screen mounted in a 13.6 x 8 x 2.7cm unit. Inside is a 4200rpm 20GB hard drive. The device plays back 320 x 240 …
Personal 25 Nov 2003, 13:52
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Trojan poses as naked XXX pics
Meet Sysbug: The latest Stupidly Transmitted Disease
Windows users were warned today to be on their guard for a new Trojan that poses as a racy attachment to a saucy email. The Sysbug-A Trojan is disguised as an attachment containing naked pictures of a young couple. It's actually malicious code that, if run, allows hackers to gain control of vulnerable computers. AV firms …
Malware 25 Nov 2003, 17:06
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HP's supply chain king steps down
Compaq exits continue
Yet another HP executive has decided to move on to greener pastures, as EVP Jeff Clarke resigned on Tuesday. Clarke, the former CFO at Compaq, was a key figure during HP's controversial purchase of its rival. He left the CFO duties to HP's Bob Wayman and took on the role of supply chain overlord at the new HP. His departure …
Servers 25 Nov 2003, 18:49
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EDS: going to pieces down under
Australian government breaking up its IT contracts
IT services giant EDS is reaping far more revenue from its contract with the Australian Tax Office than expected, according to government documents. However, the Australian government sector is increasingly breaking up its IT services contracts into smaller pieces, which will leave EDS in a less dominant position in just a few …
Hardware 25 Nov 2003, 21:23
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Three books you cannot live without
Holiday shopping guide
With the holiday season fast approaching, we have taken the liberty of picking out three affordable books that the geek in your family - that probably means you - can't live without. We are typically a slave to the recommendations of all-star Amazon.com reviewer Henry Raddick, but decided the time was right for The Register to …
Bootnotes 25 Nov 2003, 21:24
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Oracle: spreading rumors
Questionable revenue recorded
Oracle claims the way PeopleSoft accounted for some software revenue recorded in the third quarter may be questionable, due to the controversial Customer Assurance Program refund offer PeopleSoft had in place. Oracle could benefit from any uncertainty generated, but probably only if the SEC became involved. During a conference …
Hardware 25 Nov 2003, 21:25
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Dell routes support back to the USA
Changing the script
Dell has said it has no plans to scale back its outsourcing operation to India, after it acknowledged customer dissatisfaction at the support from its call centers. However as of this week, US corporate customers will receive their tech support from call centers in the United States, rather than Bangalore and Hyderabad. Dell …
Channel 25 Nov 2003, 21:26
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Scripting flaws pose severe risk for IE users
Disable now
A set of five unpatched scripting vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer creates a mechanism for hackers to compromise targeted PCs. The vulnerabilities, unearthed by Chinese security researcher Liu Die Yu, enable malicious Web sites and viruses to bypass the security zone settings in IE6. Used in combination, the flaws might be …
Security 25 Nov 2003, 21:29
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Lock Up DVD Jon – or we all lose our jobs
Letter says Disgusted Reader
From: Dominik Stepan To: andrew.orlowski@theregister.co.uk Subject: DVD Jon unlocks iTunes' locked music I read your article on Jon Lech Johansen unlocking iTunes. I hope they jail this bastard as soon as possible. Why on earth is it so much fun to steal music? He's ruining everything for the rest of us. I want to buy music …
Letters 25 Nov 2003, 22:22
