7th January 2004 Archive

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Small firms spearhead utility computing revolution

The Next Little Big Thing

Utility computing companies are facing "life and death" choices as they struggle to adapt in a market sector undergoing seismic changes. IDC warns that existing suppliers of utility computing must adapt or die as demand shifts away from the large enterprises - which have previously been the main customers of utility IT services …

Small Biz 7 Jan 2004, 10:48
Siebel forecasts improvements

Positive outlook

Siebel's improved revenue forecasts have raised hopes for the entire enterprise software sector in 2004. The Nasdaq index moved to a 52-week high on Monday, powered by growing confidence in all IT sectors. And while Siebel may not be heading for its past revenue levels just yet, the outlook for the company is once again positive …

Hardware 7 Jan 2004, 11:05
UK games biz has ‘most successful year ever’

£2bn and counting

The UK's computer and video games market generated around £2 billion in sales last year even though revenues from hardware sales are expected to have fallen during 2003. According to early estimates, sales of consoles and hardware remained flat in 2003. However, due to price competition in the run-up to Christmas, revenues are …

Personal 7 Jan 2004, 11:07
Apple and IBM spruce up slim kit

Xserve and blades boosted

Apple and IBM - at times rivals in the server market and other times partners - both upgraded some of the sleekest systems in their product lines on Tuesday. Apple made the uncharacteristic move of releasing serious iron at its flagging customer conference, upgrading the Xserve with the G5 processor. It's amusing to see how …

Mac Channel 7 Jan 2004, 11:10
Microsoft ad push cranks up the ‘get Linux’ volume

Would you buy a used fact from this company?

Microsoft has begun the new year with a Linux knocking publicity campaign under the slogan "Get the Facts." A series of advertisements is due to run for six months in major IT publications, and will direct readers to the company's landing page for the campaign. There you will find a long list of what we presume are expensively …

Software 7 Jan 2004, 11:52
BPI down plays Amazon.com ‘illegal importing’ probe

Routine check

Music trade group, the BPI, has played down a report in the FT which claims that it is investigating Amazon.com for alleged breach of copyright laws and "illegal importing". According to the newspaper, the BPI (British Phonographic Industry) is in the early stages of an investigation examining whether selling CDs to punters in …

Music and Media 7 Jan 2004, 12:33
EMEA data networking sales hold firm

Security sector coming on strong

Sales of data networking equipment across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) remained steady during 2003, clocking up total revenues $6.4 billion. According to the latest market research from In-Stat/MDR, the EMEA market for mature networking kit such as LAN switches and enterprise routers is only ticking over slowly, …

Data Networking 7 Jan 2004, 13:35
BT rolls out Wi-Fi at McDonalds

Do you want fries with that?

BT today announced plans to set up Wi-Fi networks in more than 500 McDonald's UK fast food outlets over the next few months. The BT Openzone access points will be installed in McDonald's flagship and drive-through "restaurants" by the end of March, taking the total number of BT Openzone live sites to more than 2,000. BT said …

Wireless 7 Jan 2004, 13:40
UK corporate Web sites show ‘little ambition’

Companies 'just don't get it'

Last year, the UK's top corporate Web sites were described as "wallowing in mediocrity", with some so wretched that they needed to be demolished and rebuilt from scratch. A year earlier the home pages of the FTSE's top 100 companies were savaged for being "woefully inadequate". This year, though, there appears to be an …

Music and Media 7 Jan 2004, 14:09
Reg discovers corporate logo on surface of Mars

LogoWatch Chilling implications for human evolutionary theory

Hearty congratulations are in order this week to the boffins at NASA for their successful landing on the surface of Mars. The result is some terrific pictures of the Red Planet, showing a vast, rubble-strewn wasteland entirely devoid of atmosphere or intelligent life. Perusing these pictures got us thinking - no, not of Canada …

Bootnotes 7 Jan 2004, 14:10
Veritas buys Ejacent

Utility play

Veritas Software is to acquire Ejasent Inc., a small private VC-funded company based in Mountain View California, for $59 Million, writes Tony Lock of Bloor Research. Ejasent is described as a "technology purchase" as the company has only 21 staff and a small customer base. However, it owns some significant intellectual …

Music and Media 7 Jan 2004, 14:13
Lastminute.com cleared of ‘mocking the Christian faith’

Thou didst not go too far

Lastminute.com has been cleared of "mocking the Christian faith" after running a series of ads calling on people to "keep weekends sacred". The captions accompanying posters (which showed streams of bright sunlight through the clouds) were written in mock bible-speak. Take this one for example: "Thou shalt not spend thine …

Music and Media 7 Jan 2004, 15:58
Microsoft releases Blaster clean-up tool

De-worming

Microsoft this week released a tool to clean up systems infected by the infamous Blaster worm and its sundry variants. The software should eradicate the worm from infected Windows XP and Windows 2000 machines. However, users will still have to apply the original patch to prevent re-infection. Normally, such clean-up technology …

Anti-Virus 7 Jan 2004, 16:02
Europe in Brief .eu domain name goes live in November

.eu Domainnames will be available from November 2004. In March preparation and translation of regulations will begin, followed in June by accreditation of .eu registrars. From September 2004 those holding prior rights to a name (trademarks) can register during a 'sunrise period'. General registration is planned for November on a …

Music and Media 7 Jan 2004, 20:26
False start for Java tools interoperability

Borland and IBM missing

An initiative driving interoperability across rival vendors' Java application development tools has been launched without support from the two largest Java application development players. The lack of co-operation between the industry's big companies raises concerns over the possible effectiveness of the venture. Borland …

Software 7 Jan 2004, 20:27
Novell marries SuSE to Ximian desktop

What coders have joined together, let no man put asunder

Novell's latest version of its enterprise Linux desktop, Ximian Desktop 2, now supports SuSE LINUX Desktop and SuSE LINUX 9. Availability of the technology comes after Novell's November 2003 acquisition of SuSE Linux and its August 2003 swoop on Ximian. The combined resources of the two companies are central to Novell's plans …

Software 7 Jan 2004, 20:31
Bogus FBI warning file contains malware

Sneaky attack targets music lovers

Virus writers are attempting to trick music fans into opening malicious code with a message purporting to arise from an FBI investigation into illegal file trading. Recipients of the bogus warning are told they are under investigation. Infectious emails contain an attachment allegedly containing evidence against the 'accused' …

Anti-Virus 7 Jan 2004, 20:34