20th August 2004 Archive

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McData blames weak IT spending for Q2 loss

SEC review too

McData today posted disappointing results for its second quarter, blaming a loss on soft IT spending and tight pricing. The storage networking company reported revenue of $98.2m, which compares to the $107m reported in the same period one year ago. McData's net loss for the second quarter came in at $5.4m - a significant drop …

Storage 20 Aug 2004, 04:50
Apple recalls 15in PowerBook batteries

Fire hazard

Apple has asked anyone who has a certain 15in PowerBook G4 models to return the battery, which could be faulty. The recall follows four complaints made to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding batteries that have overheated. Overheating poses a fire risk, but it is not believed that any of the complaints centre on …

Mac Channel 20 Aug 2004, 09:15
Novell Q3 revenue disappoints

Better profits

Novell revenues were up nicely in Q3 04, coming in at $305m, against $283m for same time last year. But the headline figure is less than what it seems - like-for-like sales were down to $265m. Revenues for the quarter ended 31 July include $38m not available last time around, including a $14m contribution from SUSE, $19m …

Financial News 20 Aug 2004, 10:02
Bin men walk out in support of Swansea IT strike

Council services 'deteriorating'

Tensions in Swansea intensified yesterday after bin men and other staff walked out in support of striking IT workers opposed to the privatisation of their department. Union officials from Unison stepped up their industrial action at the council's main buldings and depots asking workers not to cross picket lines set up for the …

IT Director 20 Aug 2004, 10:05
IBM Eclipses Linux

In a good way...

IBM has announced a new Eclipse development package for Linux. This is based on the most recent Eclipse software developers kit from Eclipse.org and the latest IBM Java Runtime Environment (JRE) for Linux. IBM says this will make it easier to test and deploy Java applications on the Linux platform. IBM quotes IDC predictions …

Developer 20 Aug 2004, 10:15
Mac OS X gets Blackberry sync support

PocketMac to the rescue

Mac software developer Information Appliance Associates (IAA) has released an iSync plug-in that allows Mac OS X users to synchronise their systems with Blackberry handhelds. PocketMac Blackberry Edition derives from the IAA's synchronisation tool for PocketPC devices and allows the two-way alignment of data between the …

Mobile 20 Aug 2004, 10:18
XP SP2 über patch already needs fixing

Active Scripting still the cracker's best friend

The first new vulnerability affecting Internet Explorer on Windows XP with SP2 has been discovered The vulnerability allows malicious websites to place an executable file in a user's start-up folder when a user drags or clicks on a program masqueraded as an image. http-equiv of malware.com, a so-called White Hat hacker, has …

Enterprise Security 20 Aug 2004, 10:34
Chip biz to fund independent cancer study

Five-year probe into hazards of working in fabs

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) is planning to commission an independent study into whether working in a US chip fab increases employees risk of contracting cancer. The organisation, which represents US chip makers, is currently asking interested parties to submit tenders for the research contract with a view to …

Science 20 Aug 2004, 11:13
Email wisecracks no laughing matter

I say, I say, I say

Next time you bash out an email, think twice before cracking a "joke". Nearly a quarter of employees have suffered "crossed-wires" because colleagues or customers have "misinterpreted" their sense of humour. And it's men who come off worse, as three in ten chaps admit that their jokes have "back-fired" compared to just two in …

Small Biz 20 Aug 2004, 11:45
90nm Opterons, Athlons to use strained silicon

AMD reiterates plan to use stretched material

AMD has revealed that the 90nm processors it plans to ship in volume in the coming months will use strained silicon, reiterating claims the chipmaker made in April this year that it was planning to implement the technique. The strained silicon process involves applying a separate material, such as Silicon Germanium, to silicon …

Channel 20 Aug 2004, 11:45
BCS names Excellence in IT shortlist

And the nominees are...

The nominations are in for the IT Professionals award for 2004 and the British Computer Society (BCS) has announced the finalists in the Individual Excellence Awards. The BCS introduced the awards last year to recognise "excellence, professionalism and innovation among IT professionals in the UK". Interestingly, this year, the …

IT Director 20 Aug 2004, 11:50
ATI RV410 'to ship in October'

And sampling now, claim sources

ATI will launch its would-be GeForce 6600 GT beater late next month or early October, sources from among Taiwan's graphics card companies have claimed. Said moles also suggest the part will be named the Radeon X700, according to a DigiTimes report, which adds that ATI has already begun sampling the part. Like other X800- …

Channel 20 Aug 2004, 12:25
Neuros II 20GB HDD music player

Reg Review The world's first easily upgradeable MP3 device?

The extent to which iPod owners can upgrade their players' internal workings was the subject of debate long before Apple's third-generation hardware prompted buyers to wonder how they could get holder of batteries with longer lifespans. Many folk who, like me, own the original 5GB model have pondered swapping out the hard drive …

Reviews 20 Aug 2004, 12:28
Apple London store 'to open 20 November'

Shopped

Apple's first UK store will open its doors on 20 November, according to a report at IFO AppleStore citing what sounds like staffers hired by the Mac maker's retail operation. The site notes that the London store, located on Regent Street, just South of Oxford Street and Oxford Circus tube station, will be run by one Josh, fresh …

Mac Channel 20 Aug 2004, 14:59
ISPs tackle Ofcom over BT broadband price hike

'Discourages healthy competition '

UKIF - the United Kingdom Internet Federation, the recently created trade body which represents more than 70 ISPs - is meeting officials from Ofcom today amid worries that BT has unfairly increased the cost of certain broadband products. Around a third of BT's wholesale broadband customers (ISPs) are rebelling against recent …

Telecoms 20 Aug 2004, 15:22
Download.Ject-style worm spreads via IM

Unpatched Windows PCs at risk. Again

A Download.Ject-style worm which spreads through instant messages is spreading across the Net, according to intrusion prevention firm PivX. The as-yet unnamed worm arrives as an innocuous looking instant message on AIM or ICQ which says: "My personal home page http://XXXXXXX.X-XXXXXX.XXX/". This link takes users to a one of a …

Anti-Virus 20 Aug 2004, 15:26
Best Buy sued for 'ripping off' consumers

Ohio takes up legal cudgels

Giant US electronics retailer Best Buy has been sued by the State of Ohio over alleged unfair and deceptive business practices. Ohio's legal officers are acting on complaints that the electronics chain sold used products as new. The retail giant also allegedly failed to honour rebates, exchange programs or extended service …

Channel 20 Aug 2004, 15:52
Service packs, senators and civil liberties

Letters The bulging postbag gives up its secrets

Let's get this out of the way, then. Imagine you have to take a plaster (band-aid) off your shin. Best to get it done quickly, right? Well, think of this the same way. SP2. Feels better already, doesn't it? Okay, okay. MS has made a mess of things and over 200 applications and games are broken by SP2. Cue the Linux fans once …

Letters 20 Aug 2004, 16:01
Kerry girlfriend won't give up web shame

Gee wiz: this is bad

One of the Internet's more embarrassing episodes looks set to linger on with John Kerry's ex-girlfriend reviving her web site - hedgefundmistress.com. Lee Whitnum - who writes under the name Lee Roystone - brought her site back online today. So, curious types will once again be subjected to her whimsical collection of Kerry …

Music and Media 20 Aug 2004, 20:58