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24th January 2007 Archive

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  • Blog: Changing your bank details

    I guess it's all about User Experience

    Every so often, I bang on about compensating transactions - in essence, they’re the way that you clear up problems in automated systems without upsetting your customers. So, if you have badly designed computer systems which can't cope with real life, the simplest compensating transaction might be an exit to a real person, …

    Developer 24 Jan 2007, 01:09

  • AMD sacked by ATI costs

    Oh yeah, and Intel

    AMD reported its first net loss in two years as its acquisition of ATI added to losses stemming from a crushing price war with Intel. The results are further confirmation that Intel is reasserting its heft, thanks to the release earlier this year of a bevy of new chips based on a refurbished microarchitecture. AMD's profit was …

    Financial News 24 Jan 2007, 01:52

  • Australia not like home for 3

    At least, not yet

    3's recent announcement that it would remove roaming charges from any country in which it operates has turned out not to include Australia, at least for pre-paid customers. Contract customers will find Australia included, but those on pre-paid (a minority of 3 customers, apparently) won't be able to make calls from Australia, …

    Broadband 24 Jan 2007, 07:02

  • iPhone trademarks: the real issues

    Analysis The Apple of my 'i'

    Apple's iPhone announcement and Cisco's iPhone trademark lawsuit has brought the iPhone moniker into the spotlight. But other companies also own and use iPhone trademarks, and market and sell their iPhone products. Mark Rasch explains how US trademark law works and the real issues at play in this highly publicised trademark …

    Law 24 Jan 2007, 07:02

  • Intel launches 802.11n Wi-Fi module

    Access point vendors claim compatibility

    Intel has begun shipping 'Kedron', the 802.11n-compatible wireless networking module that's a key component of the next generation of Centrino, 'Santa Rosa'. It has also persuaded a number of access point vendors to sticker their 802.11n products as Centrino-friendly. Kedron's now officially called the Wireless Wi-Fi Link …

    Hardware 24 Jan 2007, 10:49

  • French newsreader voted YouTube's hottest babe

    Cor, check the downloads on that!

    Readers of UK tabloid The Sun have voted French newsreader Melissa Theuriau "YouTube's hottest babe EVER" after excerpts of the foxy Gallic minx's news broadcasts proved a huge online hit. Theuriau, 28, picked up 72 per cent of the 3,000 votes, adding the tabloid "Phwooarr!" honour to her heaving trophy cabinet which already …

    Bootnotes 24 Jan 2007, 10:53

  • GXS Microsoft alliance making B2B easy for SMEs

    Comment Get set for rapid takeoff

    Electronic Business to Business (B2B) communication is an essential component of the infrastructure of any large enterprise. It enables the fast and accurate transfer of data between partners, automating cross business processes and improving supply chain performance. However, because of the high set-up and running costs, it …

    Small Biz 24 Jan 2007, 10:59

  • IBM didn't destroy SCO code evidence, rules judge

    Another setback for SCO

    IBM did not destroy crucial evidence in its long-running dispute with The SCO Group, a judge has ruled. SCO claimed IBM had destroyed materials last year, but the US judge has ruled that the evidence was actually provided to SCO some time ago. The decision is the latest in a long line of setbacks for SCO, which is claiming …

    Law 24 Jan 2007, 11:15

  • Rare African chromosome discovered in Yorkshiremen

    Hull via Lagos

    Evidence of ethnic diversity in Britain going back to at least the 18th century has been uncovered by geneticists. A rare version of the male Y chromosome turned up in seven men sharing a rare east Yorkshire surname during a survey of British men published Wednesday in the European Journal of Human Genetics. The version, or …

    Science 24 Jan 2007, 11:25

  • HTC UMPC-phone to debut on T-Mobile?

    Next-gen Universal 3G PDA spied on web

    T-Mobile is set to launch HTC's anticipated Athena UMPC-like device, it has been claimed. Given the high quality of the pics that accompany the report, this one appears a dead certainty. T-Mobile is said to have chosen the Ameo brand to label the machine. According to a report on Dutch-language site PocketInfo, the Ameo …

    Phones 24 Jan 2007, 11:25

  • Need secure back-up? We've cut you a tasty deal

    Site offer 15% off RecoveryVault for Reg readers

    Those of you who are still not fully aware that your data is at risk from absolutely everything are advised to consider a secure back-up deal we've cut with RecoveryVault - exclusively offering Reg readers 15 per cent off all secure back-up packages. RecoveryVault uses Attix5 Backup Professional Software to protect your vital …

    Site News 24 Jan 2007, 11:27

  • All change at the OGC

    Cut me back and I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine

    The Office of Government Commerce is to be cut back in size and its reach reduced, but its powers will be increased The government's procurement agency will also begin to work within rather than at arm's length from the Treasury. The moves were announced along with the publication of the Transforming Government Procurement …

    Policy 24 Jan 2007, 11:39

  • German website offers rent-a-protester service

    Can't be arsed waving a banner? Click here

    You know how it is: you feel very strongly that the government really ought to address the issue of rampant unemployment among immigrant Romanian single mothers in the Frankfurt sausage-making industry, but can't actually be bothered to get up off the sofa and hit the streets in protest. Fear not, for help is at hand in the …

    Bootnotes 24 Jan 2007, 11:46

  • Matrox unveils cable-connected port replicator

    Matrox has extended its Extio line of monitor and peripheral extension modules. The Extio F1220 allows users to tuck away systems but routing display, audio, USB and Firewire data down a 250m cable and into the Extio, which can sit on a desk connected to multiple monitors, keyboard, mouse, etc. The F1220 has front-mounted …

    Hardware 24 Jan 2007, 11:51

  • Atlas gets its RTW

    Microsoft AJAX tools now formal

    Microsoft's Atlas has made it through to its official Release To Web (RTW) as ASP.NET AJAX 1.0. The beta version has enjoyed some 180,000 downloads since November last year. This is likely to be the tool web developers will need if they want to integrate the .NET Framework and the Microsoft Platform to the new generations of …

    Developer 24 Jan 2007, 12:05

  • Fujitsu laptops to be bundled with SIM card

    Orange signs in-box deal

    Orange and Fujitsu have signed a deal to include an Orange SIM in Fujitsu computers featuring an embedded GSM (3G) module. The Fujitsu LifeBook E laptops won't be locked to Orange, so no network subsidy, but they will be tested to work with the Orange 3G and HSDPA networks. Given the stability of the GSM standards, any …

    The Channel 24 Jan 2007, 12:28

  • Asus touts Vista-ready mobo line

    AMD and Intel covered

    With Windows Vista's formal launch less than a week away, Asus has begun shouting about its Vista-friendly motherboard line-up. It's pitching four boards: two for AMD processors, two for Intel CPUs. The Vista Edition line comprises the AMD-oriented M2N32-SLI Premium and M2N-Plus, and the Intel-centric P5B Premium and P5B-Plus …

    Hardware 24 Jan 2007, 12:29

  • Skype racketeering case dismissed

    But Steamcast vows to continue litigation

    One of the longest running feuds in the P2P business has taken a new turn after a judge dismissed a racketeering case brought by Streamcast Networks against Skype. Streamcast, which develops the Morpheus P2P software, has long maintained that it had rights to the FastTrack/Kazaa P2P software engine on which Morpheus is based. …

    VoIP 24 Jan 2007, 12:30

  • You could be the next Crazy Frog

    Share the profits from your spawn

    A new service from Quepasa allows users to upload their own ring tones, and share in the revenue generated by selling them. Anyone can upload their masterpiece, once they’ve paid the requisite $4.99 registration fee. Quepasa is a US internet portal aimed at the Hispanic community and providing the usual mail, messaging, forums …

    Mobile 24 Jan 2007, 12:32

  • Fujitsu laptops to be bundled with SIM card

    Orange and Fujitsu have signed a deal to include an Orange SIM in Fujitsu computers featuring an embedded GSM and 3G module. The Fujitsu LifeBook E laptops won't be locked to Orange, so no network subsidy, but they will be tested to work with the Orange 3G and HSDPA networks. Given the stability of the GSM standards, any …

    Hardware 24 Jan 2007, 12:35

  • Apple patches QuickTime bug

    Fruity

    Apple has fixed a flaw in its QuickTime media playback software that allowed malicious coders to install malware onto vulnerable systems. The vulnerability - which affects both Windows and Mac OS X PCs - was published as part of the "Month of Apple Bugs" project, which involves a plan to release details of previously …

    Security 24 Jan 2007, 12:48

  • Lite-on readies 'world's first' SATA 20x DVD drive

    Fast

    Lite-on will next month ship what it claims is the world's first 20x DVD writer with a SATA connection. The drive's aimed at the increasing number of motherboards that no longer support parallel ATA. The LH-20A1S can handle all the major DVD and CD recordable and rewriteable formats, including dual-layer media. The drive's …

    Hardware 24 Jan 2007, 12:55

  • Email pioneer converts supporters into paying customers

    Pegasus trots back from brink

    One of the internet's first free email systems is back in business after supporters rallied against its possible closure. David Harris, creator of the Pegasus and Mercury email systems, has vowed to resume development, reversing his earlier decision to wind down after 17 years. In order to continue, though, Pegasus and …

    Applications 24 Jan 2007, 13:30

  • One in five fail Windows validation checks

    WGA the dog

    More than a fifth (22 per cent) of Windows installations failed tests on their authenticity, according to figures from tests conducted using Microsoft's controversial Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) tool. More than 512 million tests against WGA have been conducted since July 2005 resulting in a failure rate of 22.3 per cent, …

    Software 24 Jan 2007, 13:44

  • The 2012 Olympics: how's it shaping up?

    Not much to see on Google Earth

    A report in today's Sun newspaper, noting that some sort of progress has been made in preparing the East London site which will host the 2012 Olympics, prompted us to go and have a shufti down on Google Earth: According to The Sun, there are actually a few blokes down there somewhere giving it some stick with a bulldozer, so …

    Bootnotes 24 Jan 2007, 14:03

  • Azlan looks to squeeze out more Juniper business

    Tonic for the troops

    Azlan has pulled together a dedicated team to push Juniper kit as it looks to further boost sales of the pricey networking gear. The companies first tied the knot about a year ago. Azlan said it was now looking to boost its sales in line with demand from resellers. Together with the dedicated Juniper sales team, Azlan is …

    The Channel 24 Jan 2007, 14:36

  • FTC green lights BrocData

    Antiwhatnow?

    Brocade has cleared the last regulatory hurdle in its bid to own about 70 per cent of the global fibre channel switch market, after the Federal Trade Commission closed its anti-trust investigation into the takeover of McData. Brocade swooped on its rival in August 2006 with a $713m stock swap, which was approved unanimously …

    Storage 24 Jan 2007, 15:19

  • Lloyds TSB in mass-mailer sense of humour shocker

    Alt text fun and games

    Who'd have believed it: UK banking conglomerate Lloyds TSB has decided to celebrate the New Year by getting itself a sense of humour. Try this grab of a mass mailer, forwarded by reader Andrew Pearce: Yes indeed. The cunning part of the plan is to use the "title" attribute to cover your tracks, so the alt text doesn't appear …

    Bootnotes 24 Jan 2007, 15:19

  • Seagate profits slump

    But nearly $3bn in sales

    Disk maker Seagate saw profits fall in the second quarter ended 29 December 2006 despite growing sales. Costs relating to the acquisition of Maxtor pushed profits down more than 50 per cent. Seagate made sales of $2,996bn in the quarter ended 30 December 2005, but net income was down to $140m from $287m. The company spent $ …

    Storage 24 Jan 2007, 15:21

  • CeBIT to get B2B overhaul in 2008

    More business, less hype

    CeBIT, the world's biggest technology and telecoms trade fair, has admitted it will radically restructure the show in 2008 with more focus on B2B and less on novelties. The new CEBIT will also be a day shorter. CeBIT is expecting a €6m loss this year due to declining visitors and exhibitors. Big spending exhibitors such as …

    The Channel 24 Jan 2007, 15:29

  • China's top Red vows to 'purify' net

    Could be a long march, comrade

    Chinese Communist Party big cheese Hu Jintao today announced the country's intention to maximise the economic potential of the web, while seeking to "purify the internet environment", Reuters reports. The comments came as the party's 24-strong politburo met to cast an eye over China's burgeoning internet - boasting 137m …

    Law 24 Jan 2007, 16:00

  • Ingram signs Uniwide

    AMD servers

    Distie Ingram Micro will now distribute Uniwide UniServer server and workstation products across Europe. Uniwide said it chose Ingram for its 90,000 resellers across all customer segments and its good logistics network. Ingram said it welcomed working with one of only four worldwide AMD Validated Server Program partners. ®

    The Channel 24 Jan 2007, 16:00

  • 3 lays off Glasgow call centre staff

    Re-routes calls to Mumbai

    3 is to slash numbers at its Glasgow call centre from the current 540 to fewer than 400, the telco announced yesterday. Some calls will be handled at the company's Mumbai office. 3 said the call centre was set up when the company had no retail presence and was building up a customer base. Now, with four million customers, it …

    Mobile 24 Jan 2007, 16:24

  • Microsoft AJAX framework shrugs free

    Stacks appeal

    Microsoft has at last slipped out its AJAX architecture, but the latest addition to the Web 2.0 milieu faces a long march towards broad uptake. The ASP.NET AJAX 1.0 framework, previously codenamed Atlas, provides a set of libraries for building rich interfaces and web applications on the Microsoft stack. ASP.NET AJAX 1.0 can …

    Applications 24 Jan 2007, 16:38

  • SanDisk V-Mate memory-card video recorder

    Review Keep your favourite TV shows on a memory card

    Video content on mobile phones today is rich and diverse, but the cost is also rich and diverse - with an emphasis on rich. Are there any affordable alternatives to watching a variety of video on mobiles and other portable devices? SanDisk seems to think so... SanDisk announced the V-Mate at Berlin's IFA 2006: a dinky device …

    Hardware 24 Jan 2007, 16:54

  • Apple DRM illegal in Norway: Ombudsman

    Fairplay not playing fair

    Apple's digital rights management lock on its iPod device and iTunes software is illegal, the Consumer Ombudsman in Norway has ruled. The blow follows the news that Germany and France are joining Norway's action against Apple. The Norwegian Consumer Council, Forbrukerradet, lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman on behalf of …

    Law 24 Jan 2007, 16:56

  • Agere revives Intel 'personal server' handheld concept

    BluOnyx not unlike Palm's LifeDrive, either

    Chip maker Agere has launched what it claims is the first mobile content server, a gadget designed to be as capable of grabbing, storing and serving documents and media files as a PC is. But be a darn sight more portable. Called BluOnyx, the device contains not only storage - Flash or hard disk - but also an SD IO card slot, …

    Hardware 24 Jan 2007, 17:01

  • Vista filip for US states, claims IDC

    Invisible hand

    While reviewers debate the merits of Windows Vista and analysts puzzle the over the pace of adoption, IDC and Microsoft are in little doubt over its impact for the economies of America's 50 states. To date, IDC has estimated Windows Vista will create 37,000 new jobs and generate $15.5bn in related products and services across …

    Operating Systems 24 Jan 2007, 18:30

  • HP's CEO takes $20m haul in 2006

    Think stock not scandal

    HP shareholders might just applaud CEO Mark Hurd's hefty 2006 pay package, while those with more emotional ties to the company's historical reputation will recoil in horror. Hurd pocketed close to $20m last year with $1.4m coming from his salary, $8.6m coming from bonuses and millions more arriving in the form of stock-based …

    Financial News 24 Jan 2007, 19:57

  • Court rejects 'Eldred the Sequel'

    Challenge to copyright viewed as repeat

    The bitter legacy of the failure of the Supreme Court's Eldred decision three years ago continues. For the second time, a lower court has rejected what it considers an attempt to re-run the case. This week a 9th Circuit appeals court upheld the Supreme Court's 2003 decision in Eldred vs Ashcroft that Congress was entitled to …

    Law 24 Jan 2007, 21:27

  • Apple safe from Citrix's legal hounds

    Nortel sniffs the iPhone

    Luckily for Apple, neither Citrix nor Nortel seem eager for an iPhone lawsuit. Earlier this month, we reported that Citrix sells Visual Voicemail software for smart phones that performs the same basic functions as the "new" Visual Voicemail application announced with Apple's iPhone. Citrix licenses the software to a number of …

    Law 24 Jan 2007, 21:46

  • MySpace slams ad networks over 'scareware'

    Updated Para-sites

    MySpace has engaged in its fair share of fights over the past few months, battling alleged spammers and fending off lawsuits. Now we're hearing an allegation that the social networking site has been serving ads that hock pesky programs known as "scareware." And rather than call out the big guns, the social networking site is …

    Security 24 Jan 2007, 22:05

  • eBay Q4 profits soar

    Skype growing fast - but not fast enough for Whitman

    eBay fired on all cylinders in the December quarter, delivering record net revenues of $1.7bn - 29 per cent higher than Q4 '05 and net income of $346m, 24 per cent up year on year. The company reaped the benefit from higher average selling prices in its auction business and an "excellent" fourth quarter from its PayPal payment …

    Financial News 24 Jan 2007, 23:32