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23rd January 2006 Archive

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  • Trojan blitz poses as credit card warning

    Oh Mother, it's happening again

    UK businesses faced a barrage of 115,000 emails containing a new Trojan on Friday, 22 January before anti-virus vendors scrambled out an update, according to email filtering firm BlackSpider Technologies. The Trojan downloader malware - called Agent-ADO - comes in the payload to a message that poses as a warning about a user's …

    Malware 23 Jan 2006, 08:16

  • Fight Club nasties flood Google Video

    The first rule of user generated content is, you don't mention user generated content

    Anticipation ran high when Google announced it would be throwing its mighty clusters open, to host all the world's video. What a potent combination. Surely it would only be a matter of time before 'Big Media' crumbled, taking with it the tyrannical copyright regime, as a new wave of technologically-empowered citizens …

    Music and Media 23 Jan 2006, 08:42

  • China takes own path to 3G

    Let a hundred 3Gs bloom

    China will follow its own standards for next generation phone networks. The Ministry of Information Industry (MII) released specifications for TD-SCDMA for 3G mobile networks on Friday. The technology has been tested since 2001 but has suffered problems along the way - in November it failed a five month government trial against …

    Mobile 23 Jan 2006, 09:18

  • AMD takes axe to Athlon 64 X2, Turion, Sempron prices

    Up to 32 per cent off

    AMD has made price cuts across key processor lines, knocking up to 32.6 per cent off what it charges for mobile and desktop dual-core CPUs. It also introduced a new Mobile Sempron part. The biggest cuts come to the Turion 64 line of mobile processors, with the prices of the ML-44, ML-42, ML-40, ML-37, ML-34 and ML-32 coming …

    Reg Hardware 23 Jan 2006, 10:18

  • ATI Radeon X1900 XTX goes on sale in Japan

    Formal unveiling imminent?

    Boards based on the as-yet-unannounced Radeon X1900 XTX graphics chip went on sale in Japan this weekend, confirming past claims that ATI will launch its next-generation R580 GPU this week. According to Japanese-language site PCWatch, the ATI-manufactured board contains 512MB of GDDR 3 memory and supports the company's …

    Reg Hardware 23 Jan 2006, 10:34

  • Designing for Small Screens

    Book review For UI designers with a taste for cool colours and unfeasibly small fingers

    I can remember when "real programmers" didn't worry to much about the user interface (UI) to their systems: if all the fields in the database were on a screen somewhere, the users could count themselves lucky and were expected to be grateful! This attitude is changing - and is just unworkable when designing for the small screens …

    Developer 23 Jan 2006, 10:40

  • Carphone does music download deal

    Pre-pay cards...

    Carphone Warehouse has signed up Ki Bi Mobile Technologies to provide mobile music content cards. CPW will sell three versions of the singing scratchcard at between £2.99 and £4.99. One will offer content from the Pussycat Dolls and two others will provide generic urban and indie music, ringtones and wallpaper. The cards have …

    Mobile 23 Jan 2006, 10:51

  • O2 chalks up 27m mobile punters

    Final numbers before Telefonica buy-out

    O2 - the UK cellco that's about to be swallowed by Spain's Telefonica for £18bn - signed up 1.75m new punters in the last three months taking the total number of customers to almost 27.5m. In the UK, the firm added 895,000 punters and was "particularly pleased" with the addition of 274,000 contract customers. In Germany O2 …

    Financial News 23 Jan 2006, 11:06

  • Flying car captured on Google Earth

    Experimental Oz project packs grav-busting hyperdrive

    Here's a question for you: what have the Nazi wartime test facility at Peenemunde and the Australian city of Perth got in common? Well, the first thing (and just about the only thing, truth be told) which springs to mind is that they are both next to large bodies of water. This is useful if you're going to test things which …

    Bootnotes 23 Jan 2006, 11:08

  • Plan B from Petty France - the other UK ID card

    Analysis Or more properly, the real one?

    The UK is to go ahead with a biometric-backed system of ID verification this year, whether or not the ID Cards Bill is passed by parliament. The 'Plan B', which is going ahead under the auspices of the Passport Office and which does not require parliamentary approval, was touched on by Home Office Minister Baroness Scotland …

    Music and Media 23 Jan 2006, 11:12

  • Civil service mulls move to India

    Leaked plans suggest Welsh salaries are too high

    British social benefits claimants may soon have their telephone enquiries handled by call centres in India, according to The Guardian. Reporting on the contents of a document leaked from the government Department of Work and Pensions to the Public and Commercial Services Union, the paper said the government was in talks with …

    Public Sector 23 Jan 2006, 11:41

  • T-Mobile to conjure up HTC Wizard smart phone in US

    SDA music phone to materialise too

    T-Mobile will next month ship its MDA - better known in Europe as the MDA Vario - and SDA - aka the SDA II - smart phones in the US. The MDA is based on HTC's PDA-style Wizard device and incorporates a slide-out QWERTY keypad. Based on Windows Mobile 5.0, the MDA offers GSM and GPRS/EDGE connectivity, along with Bluetooth and …

    Reg Hardware 23 Jan 2006, 11:48

  • Using IT for business satisfaction

    Comment Wishes and dreams?

    How does your IT department define success? It's an interesting question to ponder and if you ask around you will probably get a lot of different answers. At one extreme we have the highly business focused CIO who works in harmony with his executive peers on the board and defines the success of IT as synonymous with the …

    IT Director 23 Jan 2006, 11:52

  • The Big Reg 'Spot the Demographic' Survey

    Survey Just who are you, our beloved readers?

    Those of you who are thoroughly tired of the distant sound of the IT barometer being tapped as our survey department strives to gauge the current air pressure of the IT world will be delighted to learn that this month's Reg survey is something a bit different - it's all about you, our beloved readers. Yup, long-term friends of …

    Tech Panel 23 Jan 2006, 12:09

  • Digital music to cover lost CD sales

    EMI says music industry to bounce back by 2010

    Digital music will make up a quarter of the music industry's sales within four years, according to Eric Nicoli, the chairman of music giant EMI. But don't look to subscription services, such as Napster and RealNetworks' Rhapsody, to deliver the growth, he says . "Our belief is that the [total] market will be bigger in 2010 than …

    Reg Hardware 23 Jan 2006, 12:12

  • Be secures investment for high speed roll-out

    It's for LLU

    Be - the upstart broadband ISP that claims to offer punters speeds of up to 24 meg - has received financial backing to help fund the roll-out of its high speed internet service. The cash, from an outfit called Novator Partners LLP, takes the total known investment in the company to £24.5m although this includes the cash stumped …

    Telecoms 23 Jan 2006, 12:23

  • Rexx - the practical programming language

    Comment Another legacy language which still has supporters today

    What is it with old languages? I only have to mention REXX while talking about Mumps and someone (the sort of person who remembers that the original, circa 1970-80, MUMPS was actually a O/S, language and integrated DBMS all in one – I can relate to that, perhaps why I like iSeries too) jumps up to say how much they liked it. I …

    Developer 23 Jan 2006, 12:47

  • Russians arrest one in James Bond rock scandal

    UK diplomats interfaced with Wi-Fi stone, says Rosa Klebb

    Readers who are fans of the old school of espionage - where blokes called Smiley directed chaps in thick overcoats to dead letter drops and nuclear scientists were brought in from the cold through the Iron Curtain in the boots of Trabants - have undoubtedly been following the tremendous tale of the spying Brit diplomats and …

    Bootnotes 23 Jan 2006, 13:00

  • Google crushes Apple in battle of the brands

    But iPod maker most influential in US; Nokia in Europe

    Google has knocked Apple off the top of a list of the world's most influential brands in 2005, doing unto the iPod maker what it did to the Internet advertising company in 2004. The list was compiled by brandchannel.com and was based on a survey of 2,528 branding professionals and members of the public. The poll was conducted …

    Bootnotes 23 Jan 2006, 13:04

  • Matrix Communications preps distie sale

    Talks with competing parties

    Matrix Communications Group confirmed today that its distribution business may be up for sale. A decision is due within weeks, the company added. The comms services group issued a statement this morning saying it was in discussions with a number of competing parties which may or may not lead to a sale of its hardware …

    Channel Register 23 Jan 2006, 13:24

  • IPTV and VoD: the great content adventure

    Industry comment Time for a new deal between ISPs and content owners

    "The problem is that they want the world, but they don’t want to pay for it", said the BBC executive sitting opposite me, sipping on his cappuccino. "They are all knocking on our door wanting all our content for free, and it’s so difficult when they don’t understand the costs involved and how this industry operates." The …

    Telecoms 23 Jan 2006, 13:29

  • iMesh signs MusicNet for legal P2P downloads

    'Unclaimed' tracks available via traditional file-shares

    P2P software company iMesh has signed digital music distributor MusicNet to supply it with songs as it attempts to transform its service into something the content industries will be happy with. iMesh said it will offer MusicNet's catalogue, which also sits behind music stores run by Virgin, HMV, AOL and Yahoo!, as one-off …

    Financial News 23 Jan 2006, 13:30

  • Mobile ads to pay for free texting

    Cellphone owners look to ditch landline

    Mobile phone users are being offered the chance to send text messages for free in return for viewing ads on their phones. The service is due to be unveiled later this month with the firm behind it busy recruiting punters to take part in beta testing. Exactly how many free texts peoplewill receive depends entirely on how many …

    Mobile 23 Jan 2006, 13:34

  • Qinetiq named as nation mourns end of whale's flotation

    Boffins, RN deny 'friendly-fire' depth-charging

    Fate can be a dreadful thing. Gravy train... er, defence contractor Qinetiq is poised to float with uncountable squillions expected for all concerned, and - purely coincidentally - the marketing bunnies have been busy over the past year or twain enhancing the outfit's imagery as a purveyor of shiny high tech Q-type secret …

    Bootnotes 23 Jan 2006, 14:04

  • El Reg launches Reg Hardware

    Site News Well 'ard

    The Register has launched a sister publication pitched at the global consumer community of computer enthusiasts and gadget lovers. Reg Hardware is the new one-stop-shop for hardware product news and reviews, focusing on the best gadgets, components and systems for today's tech-savvy enthusiasts and consumers. The new site can …

    Site News 23 Jan 2006, 14:27

  • It's like The Register - only harder

    Welcome to Reg Hardware, the new website devoted to everything from computers to communicators, gadgets to games consoles. Every day we'll be focusing on the best gadgets, components, peripherals and systems for today's tech-savvy enthusiasts and consumers. Our extensive up-to-the-minute news coverage will be backed by product …

    Reg Hardware 23 Jan 2006, 14:35

  • Anti-scam website forced offline

    Heavy legal threats get plug pulled

    A website set up to warn UK companies about an international business directory scam has been pulled by hosting company Server Center after legal threats. Server Centre, and its upstream supplier RapidSwitch, took the decision after a flurry of legal notices. Letters starting arriving from Birmingham solicitors Wragge & Co in …

    Music and Media 23 Jan 2006, 14:57

  • Internet boss arrested as Livedoor probe continues

    Three other execs collared too

    The head of Livedoor Co. has been arrested along with three other execs amid allegations that the Japanese internet company spread false financial information. Last Monday the offices of Livedoor - which operates one of Japan's leading portals - were raided by officials investigating allegations that the company had tried to …

    Financial News 23 Jan 2006, 15:23

  • Wally rescue team faces £300 parking fines

    The terrible price of compassion

    BUNGLING, heartless traffic wardens slapped £300 worth of FINES onto marine RESCUERS while they battled for DAYS to rescue tragic whale WALLY from the icy THAMES, we can almost exclusively reveal. Sorry - we should explain. That's how UK tabloid The Sun will doubtless report the news that BUNGLING, heartless traffic wardens …

    Bootnotes 23 Jan 2006, 15:29

  • Claranet punters hit by DSL downtime

    Service restored now, says ISP

    Claranet has been busy trying to restore its broadband service today after part of its broadband platform was floored following an overnight upgrade. According to the latest update, service has "now been restored to the DSL platform and customers should now be able to connect". Details are still sketchy but it's thought that …

    Telecoms 23 Jan 2006, 16:04

  • New Time owners start direct sales

    Time and time again

    The Time moniker is back on PCs in the UK, over six months after former flag carrier Granville Technology Ltd collapsed. Time UK Factory has begun selling PCs and plasma TV products direct. As well as the Time brand, its website carries the same green livery associated with Time. In a statement, Time UK Factory says it runs …

    Reg Hardware 23 Jan 2006, 17:13

  • ZyXEL PL-100 Powerline Ethernet adaptor

    Review Boldly going where wireless and Ethernet can't

    You can't beat a wireless network for true ad hoc connectivity. But like so many things in life, there's a catch - several, in fact. Depending on the construction of the building you inhabit, there may be areas where you can't get a signal. If, like me, you live in a neighbourhood stuffed with 802.11b and 802.11g networks, you …

    Reg Hardware 23 Jan 2006, 17:18

  • Gizmondo Europe files for administration

    Debt restructure

    UK-based Gizmondo Europe (GE) has decided to enter into administration, the UK's closest equivalent of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Gizmodos Swedish operation is expected to go the same way, US Securities and Exchange Commission filings reveal. The company, owned by US firm Tiger Telematics, will have its request judged by …

    Reg Hardware 23 Jan 2006, 18:05

  • Police store DNA records of 24,000 innocent kids

    You never know when they might come in handy

    The British newspapers have been getting in a tizz over a Police database of DNA samples. Already the largest DNA database in the world by far, with samples from five per cent of the population, it contains DNA samples that were pinched from 24,000 youths who have never been cautioned, charged or convicted of any criminal …

    Music and Media 23 Jan 2006, 18:51

  • Fear of fraud hampers UK online banking

    FSA survey

    The UK's Financial Services Authority (FSA) has warned banks that they must do more to help consumers to deal with online banking fraud, warning that consumer confidence in internet banking is currently very fragile. According to the regulator’s Financial Risk Outlook 2006, to be published on Wednesday, half of active internet …

    Security 23 Jan 2006, 19:37

  • Intel Macs only one fourth, not four times faster - report

    Comment Snail's pace

    Don't say we didn't warn you. But when the world's last great computer company decided to tie its fortunes to the world's slowest chip company, the reality was never going to match the hype. Macworld has gotten hold of the x86 iMacs and run some benchmarks. There's lots of good news for speed-starved Mac users. The iMac boots …

    Reg Hardware 23 Jan 2006, 19:41