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18th May 2006 Archive

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  • Google's latest stealth launch

    Google Notebook - get 'em while they're hot...

    Google's latest sneaky launch is Google Notebook - a tool that allows you to collect notes and web addresses while browsing the web. In simple terms, it's an online notepad you can add pictures, text and links too. As well as keeping your own notes, you can choose to make notes public. You'll need a Google account, like a Gmail …

    Applications 18 May 2006, 00:02

  • DNA reveals human-chimp crossbreeding

    Romeo and Ju-oo-oo-oo-liet

    A new study of chimpanzee and human genomes has revealed that the two lineages leading to the modern species interbred after they split. According to the report to be published in Nature today, the story of how we left our hirsute cousins behind is more complicated than previously thought. Researchers at MIT's Broad Institute …

    Science 18 May 2006, 00:02

  • NetServices 'suspends services' to Fast24

    Noone saying why

    Manchester-based ISP NetServices has suspended the supply of wholesale broadband services to Suffolk-based Fast24. Exactly how many customers are affected remains unknown. However, an email issued yesterday afternoon from Maria Goggin, head of marketing at NetServices explained: "For reasons beyond NetServices' control, it is …

    Broadband 18 May 2006, 04:02

  • Where innovators meet moneybags

    Innovate Europe Ideas Demo'd to pan-European venture community

    Chris Shipley won't give anybody money. So why are high-tech innovators who want money clustering around her in the Spanish town of Zaragoza this week? Innovate Europe '06 is a forum for money to meet brains. And Shipley, best known for her Demo and DemoMobile shows in the US, wants to kick-start a European-wide community of …

    Financial News 18 May 2006, 04:02

  • Wanadoo in customer data security flap

    Index browsing exposure uncovered

    UK ISP Wanadoo has fixed a serious security problem that exposed the account information of many of its subscribers. The flaw arose because its web servers were incorrectly configured, thereby allowing users to view the contents of an entire folder instead of just an index web page. Because of this index browsing flaw, it was …

    Security 18 May 2006, 08:26

  • Judge OKs MS anti-trust extension

    Keep watching

    The Judge presiding over the Microsoft anti-trust settlement has agreed to a request by both parties to continue monitoring the company for an additional two years. The original five year compliance program was due to expire next year. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly indicated her approval in a district court hearing on Wednesday …

    Operating Systems 18 May 2006, 08:29

  • HCI lobby concedes defeat

    Bashing head against Treasury wall

    The IT industry has given up trying to revive the PC tax break that was snuffed by the UK government last month. The Home Computing Initiative (HCI) was set up as a tax break to help needy famililies access PCs. Only after the government decided to axe the subsidy in March did it emerge that it may not have helped those it was …

    The Channel 18 May 2006, 08:33

  • The RIAA's radio lawsuit - and your iPod

    Analysis The next big battleground

    Ever since the invention of electricity, new technologies have been devised to create novel mechanisms for the storage and transmission of music. Finally, with digital, we're seeing the distinction between transmission and storage melt away altogether, with radio that you can record. This isn't exactly new, as anyone who grew …

    Media 18 May 2006, 08:43

  • AMD rolls out Socket S1 Semprons

    Overshadowed by Turion

    AMD has unveiled a trio of Mobile Sempron processors designed to work with the chip maker's new, DDR 2 SDRAM-supporting Socket S1 interconnect. The chips, based on the 'Keene' core, and are believed to incorporate AMD's Digital Media XPress technology. The three new Mobile Semprons are the 3200+, 3400+, 3500+. AMD didn't make …

    Hardware 18 May 2006, 09:01

  • Nintendo steals the show at E3

    E3 Round-up Motion sensitive controller wows fans

    E3 certainly didn't disappoint games fans this year as new games were announced and competition in the games console market was turned up a notch. Sony's PlayStation 3 may have been the most eagerly awaited announcement at this year's event in Los Angeles, but after achieving somewhat of an anti-climax, it was the new Nintendo …

    Games 18 May 2006, 09:14

  • Samsung touts Flash-fitted hybrid hard disk

    Coming in time for Windows Vista

    Samsung yesterday said it will ship its Flash-equipped hard disk drive in "large quantities" at the end of the year in time, it hopes, for the mass roll-out of Microsoft's Windows Vista. The announcement follows the latest demo of the company's prototype "Hybrid Hard Disk" (HHD) this week. The HHDs on show at WinHEC have …

    Hardware 18 May 2006, 09:24

  • Sun and Microsoft start to dance

    Instead of a slugfest, try a Tango

    Regardless of which camp a developer inhabits, Java or Microsoft's .NET, as applications get bigger and become composites they will increasingly need to link to applications in the other camp. So the introduction of Tango, announced by Sun at the JavaOne conference in San Francisco, comes at a time some form of 'glue' between …

    Developer 18 May 2006, 09:26

  • A380 flies into London

    UK debut for Airbus beast

    Airbus's A380 will make its first appearance in UK skies this lunchtime en route from Berlin to Heathrow, where airport officials "will test whether the plane does indeed fit the airport", as the BBC puts it. It's due to touch down at around 13.20 BST at the airport's new pier six at Terminal 3 - part of a £450m investment by …

    Science 18 May 2006, 09:30

  • Dive into Python

    Cash'n'Carrion Submerge yourself in a new list of titles

    Dive Into Python is a hands-on guide to the Python language. Each chapter starts with a real complete code sample, proceeds to pick it apart and explain the pieces, and then puts it all back together again in a summary at the end. Python is a new and innovative scripting language that is set to replace Perl as the programming …

    Site News 18 May 2006, 09:54

  • Intel cashes in ancient chips

    i386, i486, i960 finally for the chop

    Intel has finally waved farewell to is 386 and 486 processors, though their departure will be a drawn-out process, lasting through to 28 September 2007, Reg Hardware has learned, when the chip maker will no longer ship the parts. Its original RISC chip, the i960, is also for the chop. Intel documentation reveals that the …

    Hardware 18 May 2006, 09:58

  • BT yet to feel impact of the 'Carphone effect'

    Latest figures show traditional business hurting

    BT has seen "no impact" on its business following the much-hyped launch of Carphone Warehouse's "free broadband forever" product. A month ago Carphone confirmed the details of its new bundled phone, broadband and line rental service that at £20.99 a month all-in, was half the price of its nearest rival. But the UK's dominant …

    Financial News 18 May 2006, 10:03

  • Heinz to field test instant beans on toast

    Cutting edge of student dietary technology

    International beanmonger HJ Heinz is to field test in New Zealand a frozen sandwich "beans on toast" combo which can be lovingly prepared by sticking it in the toaster for about a minute, The Guardian reports. The new product - which we estimate will cut the amount of time the average university student spends cooking every …

    Science 18 May 2006, 10:09

  • MS patches Win XP Core Duo battery drain bug

    One out of three causes fixed

    Microsoft has fixed the battery drain bug that has been affecting a number of computer owners with Intel Core Duo-based notebooks. However, two of the three causes of the drain are not fixed by a patch posted by Microsoft yesterday. The problem emerged in January. At least some Core Duo machines connected to USB peripherals …

    Hardware 18 May 2006, 10:23

  • Disability groups call for accessible technology

    eInclusion campaign

    While websites and many other services must be accessible to disabled people in the UK, the design of products is not subjected to the same regulatory requirement. So disability groups have joined forces to campaign for change. A charter has been commissioned by the Alliance for Digital Inclusion (ADI), and developed by a …

    Management 18 May 2006, 10:34

  • Phoenix jacks up profits

    Considers acquisitions to speed expansion

    Phoenix IT Group is on the lookout for acquisitions this year as it looks to build on a solid financial performance in the 12 months to March. The services group reported turnover of £108.9m, up 23.3 per cent on the year, with pre-tax profit of £17.9m, up 61.9 per cent. Its order book stands at £148.7m, up 19 per cent. Chief …

    The Channel 18 May 2006, 10:58

  • Sony Ericsson unveils clamshell phones

    Z710 for business, Z550 for pleasure

    Sony Ericsson today unveiled a pair of clamshell handsets, pitching the phones at, respectively, business users and style-conscious buyers. The Z710 is a black-clad business-oriented phone with Bluetooth 2.0 and quad-band GSM/GPRS with EDGE support for enhanced wireless data transmission speeds and global network access. Push …

    Mobile 18 May 2006, 11:01

  • Sony Ericsson unveils first 3G Walkman slider phone

    Offers a 'sporty' clamshell model too

    Sony Ericsson today rolled out a pair of Walkman music phones: a clamshell model with an eye on the world's joggers, and a slider phone for music fans looking for a compact candybar handset - it's also the company's first 3G Walkman with a slider. Set to ship in iPod-like white and black versions, the tri-band GSM and 3G …

    Phones 18 May 2006, 11:34

  • New solar system 'increases chances of finding life'

    The Neptune adventure

    Astronomers have revealed that a nearby solar system has a planet that could harbour liquid water. Techniques applied in the investigation have also made the search for more habitable planets easier. The snappily-named HD 69830 system is in the constellation Puppis, around 41 light years away. The Sun-like star has three …

    Science 18 May 2006, 11:42

  • Verizon claims Motorola Q exclusive

    BlackBerry-beater a one-network product?

    Verizon has claimed the exclusive right to ship the EvDO version of Motorola's Q smart phone. According to the US carrier's online store, the would-be BlackBerry-beater will be "exclusively from Verizon Wireless". Click for full-size image It's no surprise that Verizon will be offering the Q, said by Motorola to be the …

    Mobile 18 May 2006, 12:20

  • BT mum on plans for dab.com

    Slowly does it

    BT is remaining politely evasive about what its plans for e-commerce outfit dabs.com. Three weeks ago BT emerged as the new owner of the business, which flogs equipment such as computers, TVs, cameras, and other digital gear. Since then, founder David Atherton has stepped aside and been replaced with BT man Simon Curry as the …

    The Channel 18 May 2006, 12:38

  • The future starts here...or does it?

    Microsoft Expression tools

    Watching demos of Microsoft's Expression tools and XAML-based presentation experience at this event, I was left somewhat unmoved. Very slick, and the User Experience merits more attention of course, but haven't I seen this all before – OS/2 Workplace Shell (updated Presentation Manager) and OpenDoc, perhaps? Workplace Shell …

    Developer 18 May 2006, 12:50

  • Nokia touts business-friendly handset

    E50 equipped with almost every email under the sun

    Nokia has launched its latest E-series handset, a basic candybar phone designed to appeal to business users who don't want too many consumer-friendly frills. Not that Nokia's been able to resist equipping the E50 with a camera and MP3 player. The selling points for business buyers are the handset's quad-band (850/900/1800/ …

    Mobile 18 May 2006, 13:01

  • Every Intel CPU from 4004 to P4 up for grabs on eBay

    'Museum-grade collection', claims seller

    With Intel gearing up to cease manufacturing its 386, 486, 960 and other processors of yore, one eBayer is offering technology enthusiasts the chance to own almost the entire collection of the chip giant's microprocessor products. Well, not all of 'em - some are still sitting in folks' PCs, after all - but rather one of each …

    Hardware 18 May 2006, 13:10

  • Morse stumbles in Germany and Austria

    The tills aren't alive

    Morse’s problematic German and Austrian operations are likely to leave a £1m sized hole in the resellers’ full year results. The firm had previously said that the performance of the operations had “slowed”. Today, it said the German and Austrian outfits had “experienced a more marked weighting than usual in revenue profile …

    The Channel 18 May 2006, 13:33

  • Govt sets target for blocking child porn sites

    Concern over scope creep

    The government has given internet service providers until 2008 to block all access to websites containing illegal images of child abuse listed by the Internet Watch Foundation. In a Parliamentary written answer on 15 May, Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said progress had been made, but hinted that if the last paedophile …

    Media 18 May 2006, 13:54

  • BT to offer home visits for broadband installs

    At a price

    BT customers who'd prefer not to install their own broadband connection can now get the giant telco to do it - for a price. It seems the monster telco is mulling the idea of charging punters around £50 a throw for a home visit. The firm currently has around 2.5m retail broadband punters, and reckons there's a market for an …

    Broadband 18 May 2006, 13:59

  • Kazaa parent sues, er, P2P site

    When pigs fly

    Try and wrap your head around this one. Sharman Networks - the big daddy behind the Kazaa P2P software - and its CEO have filed a lawsuit against the pro P2P news site P2Pnet. Jon Newton, the owner of P2Pnet, revealed this week that he was being sued for libel, although he said little else about the situation for obvious …

    Media 18 May 2006, 14:55

  • VeriSign buys SSL certs rival for $125m

    Net giant consolidates grip on digital certificates

    VeriSign has announced plans to acquire GeoTrust, its largest SSL certificate rival, for approximately $125m in cash. The deal, announced on Wednesday, is expected to close in the second half of this year, subject to regulatory approval. Acquiring GeoTrust, in addition to the 1999 acquisition of Thawte Consulting, would leave …

    Security 18 May 2006, 15:13

  • PS3 to cost £425 in the UK

    A Blu-ray bargain, claims Sony executive

    Sony's 60GB PlayStation 3 will cost British buyers £425 ($803) when it ships on 17 November, the head of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's UK operation has revealed. He went on to call the machine "cheap" and a "bargain". Interviewed by Eurogamer, SCE UK Managing Director Rat Maguire said: "I don't think it's an expensive …

    Games 18 May 2006, 16:06

  • Exploding mobile outbreak perplexes Brazil

    In Brief Ahh lo Moto

    The explosion of five mobile phones in Brazil over the last two months is causing concern in the Samba-loving South American country. The incidents, all involving Motorola phones, are being linked to dodgy batteries. Both Motorola and local telecoms regulators have tasked investigators with confirming the cause of the problems …

    Mobile 18 May 2006, 17:03

  • DoJ targets 'illegal' net gambling operation

    In hot pursuit

    The US Department of Justice is suing an internet gambling operation based in Antigua over allegations of money laundering. WorldWide Telesports Inc, run by William Scott and Jessica Davis, allegedly violated US federal laws in laundering an estimated $250m worth of internet gambling wagers. Scott and Davis are currently …

    Media 18 May 2006, 17:41

  • Neuros solves MPEG Recorder PSP playback problem

    Patch improves encoding for iPod, phones too

    Neuros Technology has released a firmware update for its MPEG 4 Recorder 2 that allows the gadget to once again encode video that will play back on a PlayStation Portable with Firmware 2.7 installed. The new release also adds a set of phone-friendly recording formats. Earlier this month, Neuros warned users that Sony's latest …

    Hardware 18 May 2006, 18:12

  • Sun+Eclipse - almost a good story

    JavaOne Some panic - only journalists hurt

    The sleepy reverie of an IBM Rational keynote presentation at JavaOne in San Francisco was temporarily broken by what appeared to be one of the news stories of the week – Sun had opted to join Eclipse. Did this mean that its own development environment, NetBeans, might be dropped in favour of the Eclipse IDE? The possibilities …

    Developer 18 May 2006, 19:29

  • Java will go open

    JavaOne It’s all just a question of how

    Java will be going open source, Sun’s new vice president of Software, Rich Green, announced at JavaOne in San Francisco. “It is not a question of whether,” he said, “but a question of how.” The only real question on many lips, of course, was `when?’. The answer to that is still very indistinct, with the closest Green getting …

    Developer 18 May 2006, 19:49

  • Dell hooks up with AMD

    Intel-only era ends

    Dell has done what many thought impossible and broken its Intel-only stance. The company today announced that it will pick up AMD's Opteron processor for use in servers - a move reported first by The Register earlier today. The Opteron embrace ends years of speculation about when Dell would finally give in and pick up AMD as …

    Servers 18 May 2006, 20:14

  • CIA defends unaccountable snooping

    They've heard it all before

    General Michael Hayden, President Bush's nominee for CIA director, has defended his secret programme of snooping on citizens' telephone calls without warrants. Meanwhile, a judge has given privacy champs the Electronic Frontier Foundation permission to use key evidence at the June hearing, where it will challenge telco AT&T …

    Media 18 May 2006, 22:27

  • Red Hat: Java Linux license does not go far enough

    Minimalism does not suit all

    Sun Microsystems' new GNU/Linux-friendly Java license does not go far enough for Red Hat. It says Sun should have open-sourced Java instead. Brian Stevens, Red Hat CTO, told The Register Sun should open-source its Java Virtual Machine (JVM) (which is licensed by Red Hat) so developers can improve the software's real-time …

    Developer 18 May 2006, 23:15

  • Seagate swallows Maxtor

    In brief Done deal

    The largest hard drive vendor has just got larger. Seagate has completed its merger with smaller rival Maxtor, after shareholders agreement yesterday. The deal, announced last December, values Maxtor at around $2bn. Maxtor lost $102m on revenue of $881m in the first three months of this year, which means revenues are 17 per …

    Financial News 18 May 2006, 23:23