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18th September 2006 Archive

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  • Salty sea dog scales the mountains of Ithaca

    Blog To BGAN at the beginning...

    Suppose you had to test a brand new bit of wireless internet gear. Specifically, an Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network satellite modem. What does it do? Easy! - it gives you internet access at pretty quick speeds, even if there's no broadband, no mobile phone coverage, no net cafes, nothing. OK , where's a really remote …

    Data Networking 18 Sep 2006, 08:09

  • Internet head honchos prepare for election

    Nominet and ICANN: worlds apart.

    Board selections for two of the internet's most important companies are to be decided later this month. Two directors of UK registry owner Nominet will be chosen on 27 September at the company's annual general meeting in London, while three board members for US company and internet overseeing organisation ICANN will be …

    Media 18 Sep 2006, 08:19

  • Banned spy novel published on net

    Ex-MI6 officer defies UK government on blog

    Sacked spy Richard Tomlinson has defied the UK's secret services by posting the first chapter of his spy novel online. The ex-MI6 officer was fired in 1995 after four years in the foreign arm of British secret intelligence and spent a year in a maximum security prison for publishing a book about his time in the organisation. …

    Media 18 Sep 2006, 08:55

  • Web vulns top security threat index

    Analysis On the up-and-up

    Less rigor in web programming, an increasing variety of software, and restrictions on web security testing have combined to make flaws in web software the most reported security issues this year to date, according to the latest data from the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project. A draft report on the latest …

    Security 18 Sep 2006, 09:02

  • Seagate HDD demo points to 275GB iPod-class drives

    Flash who?

    Seagate late last week set what it claimed is the world record for the highest recording density achieved using a hard disk platter. The magic number: 421Gb per square inch. Crucially, Seagate said, the test used perpendicular recording heads and disc media based on production technology, so products based on the technology may …

    Hardware 18 Sep 2006, 09:33

  • Telecom Italia buys AOL Germany

    Benvenuto caloroso

    Telecom Italia is to acquire the Internet-access business of AOL in Germany for €675m. The companies expect to complete the transaction in four to six months, after receiving the customary regulatory approvals. Earlier this year parent company Time Warner hired Citigroup to explore the sale or restructuring of its entire AOL …

    Networks 18 Sep 2006, 09:52

  • Google and Apple in iTV content talks

    iCouch potatoes

    Google is reportedly in talks with Apple about the possibility of supplying video clips for Apple's forthcoming iTV device. The iTV device, due to be released early next year at a price of around $299, allows users to watch video files stored on their PC on their televisions. The kit consists of a video streaming player within …

    Media 18 Sep 2006, 09:58

  • Sales agency wins rights to database in High Court

    Well-insulated contacts

    A sales agent has won the right to retain a customer database built up while working on behalf of an insulation company. The UK’s High Court ruled that the agent was the “first owner” of the database under the EU Database Directive. High Court Judge Justice Bean said in his judgment that the database would have belonged to …

    Small Biz 18 Sep 2006, 10:08

  • Ansari blasts off in Russia rocket

    First Iranian in space

    Russia's Soyuz rocket blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan this Monday morning (04:09 GMT), notching up three "firsts" in the process. The pod atop the rocket carried Anousheh Ansari, and when the rocket entered orbit, she became the first female space tourist, as well as the first female Muslim and the first …

    Science 18 Sep 2006, 10:34

  • Nvidia GeForce 7950 GT graphics chip

    Review Can Nvidia's top-end single-GPU board cut it?

    Earlier this month, Nvidia announced two new mid-range to high-end GPUs, launching one with immediate availability. The GeForce 7900 GS was well received, doing a passable impression of the more expensive GeForce 7900 GT for less money and at reasonable resolutions. A sweet little product for those with about £130-150 to spend, …

    Hardware 18 Sep 2006, 10:48

  • Google News faces €1m fine in Brussels

    If it's Tuesday, this must be the Belgian courts

    A Brussels Court has ruled that Google must remove all articles from Belgian publishing group Copiepress from its Google News service because it is in breach of author's rights and Belgian databank regulations. If Google fails to abide by the court ruling, it faces a fine of €1m per day. Recently Google launched its Belgian …

    Media 18 Sep 2006, 11:00

  • TDK samples 32GB Flash disk

    HDD alternative

    TDK has followed Samsung and launched a hard drive replacement based on NAND Flash memory. The product, which is currently available in sample quantities, was announced by the company last week. The 32GB unit hooks up to the host across a standard IDE connector, but it's about 80 per cent of the size of a standard 2.5in …

    Hardware 18 Sep 2006, 11:06

  • UK uni rocket payload test hits 105,600ft

    Balloon flight success for budget von Brauns

    Students from the University of Cambridge "Spaceflight" project last week pulled off quite a coup when they successfully dispatched an experimental electronics package into the upper atmosphere strapped to a weather balloon, in the process capturing some impressive images of planet Earth from a peak altitude of 32.2km (105,600ft …

    Science 18 Sep 2006, 11:14

  • Sun exec going off-grid?

    Rumours of Singer's swansong

    Larry Singer, senior vice president and strategic insight officer at Sun, is said to be stepping down from Sun's much-hyped Sun Grid project. It is not yet clear if he is leaving the company entirely. CNet, citing unnamed sources, reports that the changes will also affect Sun Grid, the company's $1 per hour per CPU computer- …

    Servers 18 Sep 2006, 11:17

  • El Reg to launch space payload

    Competition Yes, but what, exactly?

    Our report today into the successful test of a Cambridge University "Spaceflight" project experimental electronics package - which was carried by helium balloon to a heady 32.2km (105,600ft) - contains the provocative idea that El Reg might like to contribute something to a future payload. The offer was made by project founder …

    Science 18 Sep 2006, 11:18

  • SanDisk readies Rhapsody-branded music player

    Anti-iTunes, Zune manoeuvre

    SanDisk will today announce a digital music player that not only supports RealNetworks' Rhapsody song subscription service, but is branded to match the RealNetworks' offering, it has been claimed. According to an Associate Press report, the player, dubbed the Sansa Rhapsody, is a co-branded version of SanDisk's e200 player …

    Hardware 18 Sep 2006, 11:36

  • Cassini spots ethane clouds on Titan

    Snowing at the poles

    Scientists suspect that ethane falls as rain or snow on Saturn's moon Titan, after the Cassini spacecraft identified a huge cloud of the hydrocarbon in its atmosphere. Researchers had expected to find lakes of ethane on the moon, but now suspect the substance is all frozen solid at the poles. The discovery of the ethane cloud …

    Science 18 Sep 2006, 12:25

  • Daleks prepare invasion of Google Earth

    Interdimensional portal menaces Netherlands

    Our Dutch readers, and particularly those living in Hilversum, are hereby warned that they should immediately arm themselves with pulse plasma rifles and prepare to defend their homeland from interdimensional attack: Yup, it looks like the Daleks are poised to exploit this rift in the space/time continuum. Or possibly, some …

    Media 18 Sep 2006, 12:33

  • Hacking probe clouds Swedish election result

    Shocking viking hacking

    Hi-tech scandal cast its shadow over last weekend's Swedish elections after the incumbent Social Democratic Party accused its political rivals, the Liberal party, of hacking into its systems. The Social Democrats reckons that "someone linked to the Liberal Party" broke into its internal network to swipe election strategy …

    Security 18 Sep 2006, 12:41

  • Game over and over again

    Classic video games dusted off for new exhibition

    If you miss the thrill and retro skill of maneuvering your way through Space Invaders, or the excitement of out-smarting those pesky little Pac-Men, then the Science Museum might just be worth a visit over the coming months. Game On is a new exhibition at the London-based museum with classic games from the 1960s onwards for …

    Bootnotes 18 Sep 2006, 12:43

  • Corporate culture and mobile email

    Mobile Workshop Mobile Security Poll

    The majority of people would appear to be prepared to trust a well dressed stranger. Research has shown that if you stand outside a railway station in a suit you are more likely to be loaned some cash for a ticket than if you're wearing something less sartorial, a hoody for example. But how do you establish trust when you can …

    Mobile 18 Sep 2006, 13:03

  • Wikipedia founder forks Wikipedia

    More experts, less fiddling?

    A co-founder of Wikipedia, and its first editor-in-chief, is starting a "new Wikipedia", using the current version as the starting point. Larry Sanger describes the Citizendium project as a "progressive or gradual fork", with the major difference that experts have the final say over edits. In other ways it promises to be very …

    Media 18 Sep 2006, 13:13

  • Logicalis slaps UK computing, networking divisions together

    End-to-end appointments

    Logicalis has appointed new top brass in Europe and lumped together its UK networking and computing divisions in a bid to flog more end-to-end IT. Tom Kelly becomes UK MD under the new structure, reporting to Ian Cook, CEO of Logicalis' European operations. Cook said: "The market can now expect to see an increase in activity …

    The Channel 18 Sep 2006, 13:18

  • Arms manufacturer loads lead-free bullets

    Traditional variety 'pose a risk to people', warns BAE Systems

    Arms manufacturing monolith BAE Systems has decided to improve its whale-hugging credentials by developing a range of next-generation, environmentally-friendly weapons designed to be friendlier to Mother Earth. Included in the list of tree-hugging hardware is the "lead-free" bullet, offering clear advantages over the …

    Science 18 Sep 2006, 13:22

  • RM named preferred bidder

    Stoke-on-Trent schools project

    RM has been selected to implement and manage a new ICT service for 16 secondary schools and eight primary schools in Stoke-on-Trent, which will serve up to 14,000 pupils. Stoke-on-Trent City Council invited RM to become preferred bidder for its Building Schools for the Future (BSF) contract on 7 September 2006, subject to …

    The Channel 18 Sep 2006, 13:24

  • Apple's second-generation iPod Nano

    More a remixed re-issue than a bold new album?

    The new Nano is a step backwards, of course. A year ago, Apple made such a big deal about the risk of setting aside the popular iPod Mini in favour of the then new slimline Nano, but now we find it going back to the Mini look, right down to the metallic shell, rounded sides, white plastic top and bottom, and the colour scheme …

    Hardware 18 Sep 2006, 13:44

  • UK firm readies iPod-oriented video spectacles

    As predicted by Blake's 7...

    Some UK-based portable media player owners will next month be able to watch videos without the need to squint at a small screen, if PDT's Eye-Theatre video spectacles ship as planned. The 'video glasses' mount a pair of tiny LCDs in front of your eyes and incorporate stereo earphones into the ear-rests. We've seen this kind …

    Hardware 18 Sep 2006, 14:16

  • New VAT regime for Christmas

    HMRC promises light touch for honest late starters

    Traders in a broad range of electronic goods have three months to overhaul their systems ahead of a VAT shakeup designed to crack down on missing trader fraud. HM Revenue and Customs earlier this year asked the European Union for permission to move to a reverse charge system for VAT on items such as mobile phones and computer …

    The Channel 18 Sep 2006, 14:16

  • Spamhaus repels DDoS attack

    Spam wars

    Spamhaus, the leading anti-spam organisation, has restored its site and services to normal after a distributed denial of service attack rendered its site temporarily inaccessible for several hours on Monday. The attack, launched from a botnet of compromised Windows PCs, witnessed a huge surge in spurious traffic to Spamhaus's …

    Security 18 Sep 2006, 14:47

  • Sierra ships Sprint's EV-DO Rev A mobile data card

    3.1Mbps AirCard 595 goes out to carrier

    Sierra Wireless has begun shipping its AirCard 595 3G mobile broadband card based on EV-DO Revision A technology, the firm announced today. Cards coming off the company's production lines are being boxed up and sent to Sprint. The 595 is a Type II PC Card that can deliver data download speeds of up to 3.1Mbps and uploads of …

    Mobile 18 Sep 2006, 14:49

  • Water company sunk by burst pipe

    Severn Trent IT dives into the disaster recovery abyss

    Systems engineers at Severn Trent are working to recover company data after a plumbing catastrophe at the water company's head office in Birmingham caused extensive damage. IT staff were called in at around 2pm Sunday. Our source says the offending pipe was on the seventh floor. Severn Trent confirmed the ironic misfortune …

    Management 18 Sep 2006, 14:50

  • Evangelists oppose Leakey's fossil exhibition

    Not evidence for evolution, just interesting creatures

    Kenyan evangelical Christians have hopped on the anti-evolution bandwagon, and are demanding that all reference to the theory be dropped from an exhibition of hominid fossils in Nairobi's National Museum. The museum houses Louis and Richard Leakey's collection of hominid fossils, one of the most extensive in the world. The …

    Science 18 Sep 2006, 15:24

  • Boffins attempt to patent dual-format HD DVD, Blu-ray combo disc

    Mix'n'match optical media

    Three inventors have filed a patent application for an optical disc capable of holding not only Blu-ray Disc data but also HD DVD-formatted information. In fact, the system would allow disc makers to mix and match any two optical disc formats. The application, spotted by New Scientist magazine, was originally filed in …

    Hardware 18 Sep 2006, 15:41

  • Warnings grow over unpatched IE flaw

    Stop us if you've heard this before

    Security experts warn a new, unpatched vulnerability in Internet Explorer might be used to spread malware. A flaw in Microsoft's Direct Animation Path (daxctle.ocx) ActiveX control, rated as critical by Secunia and other security watchers, has spawned proof of concept code but has not yet become the subject of widespread, …

    Security 18 Sep 2006, 15:43

  • NASA reports mystery 'bad smell' on space station

    Whoever smelt it dealt it

    NASA is investigating the source of an unexplained pong which set off alarms aboard the International Space Station. NASA spokeswoman Kelly Humphries initially told CNN: "The situation is stable. The crew was asked to put on some protective gear." He said the odour was "not normal". Later Mike Suffredini, manager of the space …

    Science 18 Sep 2006, 15:45

  • Intel serves up light chips

    Zap! Pow! Fast!

    A hybrid silicon-based chip that can produce laser light capable of sending data between chips in a computer has been created by researchers at Intel and the University of California. The breakthrough in communications technology could mean that in future chips will no longer need wires to send data. Instead laser light will …

    Data Networking 18 Sep 2006, 16:25

  • Cellcos' 4G club opens doors to vendors

    Talking bout the n-n-next generation

    The Next Generation Mobile Network (NGMN) Initiative is shaping up to be one of the most influential forces in the evolution of 4G technologies, and is calling for wider membership as it sets out a little more detail on its future activities and officially launches as a company. When it was set up in June, the group appeared to …

    Mobile 18 Sep 2006, 16:53

  • MetroPCS and Leap worry cellco giants as AWS auction ends

    Range wars

    The US auction of AWS (Advanced Wireless Services) spectrum in the 1.7GHz and 2.1GHz bands has at last drawn to a close, raising $13.9bn for the government in the sale of the largest block of spectrum (1,112 licenses) offered by the FCC regulator. As had become clear in the later rounds, the main winners are T-Mobile, the …

    Mobile 18 Sep 2006, 17:21

  • EMC adds some Network Intelligence to security line

    RSA fully on board too

    EMC today finished off one security acquisition and then made another one. The storage maker has completed its buy of RSA for $2.1bn and has plunked down $175m in cash for Network Intelligence. We've lost track of how many software companies EMC has purchased over the past five years, but it's clearly not shy about buying its …

    Storage 18 Sep 2006, 18:28

  • Red Hat wraps up JBoss combo to go

    Apps stack up

    JBoss software makes its debut today as a member of the Red Hat Application Stack. Red Hat is also to sell JBoss middleware subscriptions for the first time through its distributors and dealers. Red Hat bought JBoss three months ago, so today's news shows that some large software companies can be quick on their feet, when they …

    Developer 18 Sep 2006, 18:52

  • Adobe builds web conferencing into Acrobat

    Rounds up the collaborators with V.8

    Adobe's cash cow, Acrobat, gets a makeover in November, upgrading a version number to 8.0, and gaining a new companion. Web conferencing is the most notable improvement for the documentation software, delivered through a new (well, new-ish) software service, Adobe Connect. This is a rebranded and updated version of Breeze, …

    Applications 18 Sep 2006, 20:51

  • Napster hoists 'For Sale or For Partner' sign

    Can we offer you a cute logo and losses?

    A brave Napster is willing to keep pounding away at the unprofitable online music market. Er, unless someone wants to buy the company. Napster today revealed that it has hired UBS Investment Bank to sort through partnership and acquisition proposals for the company. Rumors of such a play first appeared in February, at which …

    Hardware 18 Sep 2006, 23:22

  • Warner Music embraces YouTube

    False dawn, or new era for bandwidth benefactor?

    Warner Music Group (WMG) has broken ranks with its fellow music majors and is climbing into bed with YouTube. The record label will use the video hosting phenomenon to distribute music videos and extras such as interviews with bands, and documentaries. Also, YouTube users can tap WMG’s music catalogue for backing on videos they …

    Media 18 Sep 2006, 23:33

  • DTI keeps eye on iSoft

    Care home

    The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has vowed to keep troubled National Programme for IT (NPfIT) software supplier iSoft Group under steady review. A DTI spokesperson told GC News yesterday: "We are working closely with Department of Health (DoH) and Connecting for Health (CfH) to look at what has happened and to find …

    Policy 18 Sep 2006, 23:33