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20th July 2007 Archive

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  • Broadcom signs licensing pact with Verizon

    Income and revenue down, something about an ex-CEO and whores...

    Broadcom announced their Q2 profit took a 68 per cent plunge today, but scored a victory in a long-in-the-tooth patent dispute with Qualcomm. Verizon deal breaks blockade The telecom chip-maker has inked a licensing deal with Verizon Wireless, which will allow previously banned 3G phones back into the US market. Last month …

    Data Networking 20 Jul 2007, 00:49

  • Microsoft grows despite Windows Vista

    Wow not now

    Not that you'd know it from Microsoft's results, or projected revenue, but the giant launched a brand-spanking new version of Windows this year. Not only did Windows Vista - billed by Microsoft as its biggest operating system for 10 years - fail to distinguish Microsoft's latest fiscal year from previous, non-Windows-Vista …

    Operating Systems 20 Jul 2007, 01:03

  • Google earnings less astronomical than expected

    CEO blames new employees

    How much does Wall Street expect from Google? Two days after Yahoo! announced a quarterly earnings drop, Google said its revenue was up 58 per cent, and financial analysts wanted to know what went wrong. Thanks once again to strong search advertising sales, Google's revenue reached $3.87bn in the second quarter, up from $2.46bn …

    Applications 20 Jul 2007, 01:07

  • Harry Potter and the Chancers of eBay

    Deathly Hallows - Buy It Now!

    Here's a Friday morning poser for you: a US book distributor accidently sends you a copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pretty well a week before the official launch of what's expected to be the fastest-selling book of all time. What do you do? Yup. You immediately stick it on eBay to see if you can't get your snout in …

    Entertainment 20 Jul 2007, 08:53

  • Wattson to make electricity monitoring elementary?

    Power consumption monitoring in the palm of your hand

    You might question the green credentials of yet another plastic-constructed, mains-driven gadget, but the Wattson home energy monitor has the potential to make us all play closer attention to our everyday power use. The Wattson electricity monitor: or an iPod speaker in disguise? Yes, it looks rather like an add-on iPod …

    reghardware 20 Jul 2007, 08:55

  • AMD halted market share slump in Q2, says analyst

    Well, just about

    For the last six months, AMD's market share has been on the wane as arch-rival Intel regained much of the lead it lost to the smaller chip maker during 2006. But new figures show AMD's slide may have come to a halt. According to market watcher iSuppli, AMD's Q2 2007 share of the global x86 processor market rose by half a …

    reghardware 20 Jul 2007, 09:13

  • Sun breaks into U-Verse

    Comment A stream runs through it

    Sun has broken into the AT&T IPTV account with its Sun Fire X4600 servers, which are either to be used as part of the U-Verse video-on-demand server system or to offer extra IP services over the top. In fact, there is little new here, with Microsoft approving IBM and HP servers as long as they run the Windows server operating …

    Servers 20 Jul 2007, 09:22

  • DVLA urged to consider number plate recognition

    Keeping an eye on vehicle tax evasion

    An NAO report has said the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) should consider using automatic number plate recognition to estimate the level of vehicle tax evasion. The report (pdf) says that despite receiving many plaudits for its electronic vehicle licensing (EVL) system, which enables customers to pay vehicle excise …

    Public Sector 20 Jul 2007, 09:29

  • AMD posts Catalyst 7.7

    Tweaks, performance boosts ahoy

    AMD has posted the latest version of its Catalyst driver package for ATI Radeon graphics chips. The new version, 7.7, focuses on enhancements to AMD's Avivo image enhancement technology, but it also incorporates some performance tweaks. The performance gains centre on Far Cry when played using an ATI Radeon HD 2400, 2600 and …

    reghardware 20 Jul 2007, 09:31

  • Sony to simplify home cinema with all-in-one Bravia

    If you've already considered a home cinema system but been put off by the thought of all that bulky equipment and complicated set-up procedures, Sony thinks it has the answer for you: the Bravia DAV-X10. Sony's DAV-X10: compact yet powerful The DAV-X10 home cinema system comprises a pair of 80W surroun-sound speakers, an …

    reghardware 20 Jul 2007, 09:43

  • Users to force green IT agenda

    The Inefficient Truth

    The UK's first end user environmental IT board has commissioned a report on green IT issues. Called The Inefficient Truth, the report will be produced by environmental charity Global Action Plan. Its scope will be defined over the next three to four weeks and it is expected to be launched in the House of Commons at the end of …

    Business 20 Jul 2007, 09:50

  • US patent reform clears House hurdle

    Could bring US patent awards in line with rest of world

    A proposed law revolutionising US patent legislation has passed through a vital committee of the House of Representatives. The bill has got further than previous attempts at such reform. If enacted, the bill would change the way that patent damages are calculated and would bring the way in which US patents are awarded into line …

    Law 20 Jul 2007, 09:54

  • Dell parks notebook in Carphone Warehouse

    Jumps directly into the channel

    Dell’s channel tyre-kicking stepped up a gear this week when it emerged that Carphone Warehouse is offering one of the vendor’s laptops as part of a broadband deal. CPW is tempting customers onto its AOL Broadband service with the offer of a free Dell Inspiron laptop, and wireless router. All customers have to do it sign up …

    PCs & Chips 20 Jul 2007, 09:56

  • Wii sales top 3m in Japan

    Outsold PS3 3:1

    Nintendo has sold more than 3m Wii games consoles in Japan, local games magazine publisher Enterbrain has claimed. Earlier this week, it said Sony had shipped 1.01m PlayStation 3s in the country. Nintendo's Wii: outsold PS3 3:1 Sony passed the 1.01m mark on 15 July, Enterbrain said. On that date, Japanese Wii sales to date …

    reghardware 20 Jul 2007, 09:58

  • Speeding up the net - is it possible?

    It takes a little control

    The best way to get reliable performance out of a wide area network (WAN) is to install your own high-speed gigabit fibre optic cables between all the locations in your organisation. This could provide seemingly unlimited bandwidth for your employees to use the applications they like and not have to think twice about the volume …

    Data Networking 20 Jul 2007, 10:03

  • Star Wars laptops - for the Jedi in you

    Although the Star Wars Darth Vader "laptop" is marketed as a learning device, we're not sure if it truly is something for the kids or more for you die-hard fans of the Dark Side. The Star Wars Darth Vader laptop: an open and shut case The first thing to catch your eye is its design. The flattened Darth Vader mask opens up …

    reghardware 20 Jul 2007, 10:17

  • Should you treat IT as an investment portfolio...

    ...or as a town planning project?

    It's hard enough trying to run one development project, let alone several. Managing a whole portfolio of projects across a business can easily be compared to juggling Faberge eggs in a tornado, with only one arm. Projects need to be delivered on time, to the original requirements. Resources need to be deployed appropriately – …

    Developer 20 Jul 2007, 10:51

  • BOFH: Operation bean the beancounter

    Episode 25 Pre-emptive strike

    "Okay, so where are we at?" I ask the PFY as I review plan 32 beta. "Right then," the PFY responds with the ruthless efficiency of a seasoned professional. "32 Beta is a GO! At oh seven thirty and I printed 12 copies of >shuffle< this >shuffle< picture to various printers around the building." "Ah," I say distastefully. " …

    BOFH 20 Jul 2007, 10:55

  • USB market sprouts wooden Flash drive

    It's got a sort of earthy, ecowarrior appeal, we suppose. Yes, someone's taken a 2GB USB Flash drive and embedded it in a wooden case complete with rough string neckband. Wooden't it be lovely if it was 4GB? We're not entirely sure why, given the fact that computer technology and gadgetry are hardly green - quite the …

    reghardware 20 Jul 2007, 11:15

  • Rittenmeyer takes CEO job at EDS

    Smooth succession at services giant

    Services giant EDS has named Ron Rittenmeyer as CEO, two years after he joined the firm. Rittenmeyer succeeds Michael Jordan in EDS’ top C spot. Jordan will continue as Chairman of the services firm which he has been turning around since the first half of this decade, after the company almost sunk itself after striking a …

    Channel Register 20 Jul 2007, 12:16

  • Stealth bombers to get bunker-nobbling weapons

    As new Iranian nuke bunker appears on Google Earth

    American stealth bombers will soon be equipped to drop the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), the gigantic deep-bunker-blasting bomb currently being developed by the Yanks. Northrop Grumman announced the relatively cheap $2.5m stealth-bomber refit contract yesterday. An undisclosed number of the US Air Force's 22 B-2 "Spirit" …

    Science 20 Jul 2007, 12:21

  • Hackers saw through iPhone AT&T shackles

    But global roaming still some way off

    Hackers have succeeded in (partially) unlocking the iPhone so Apple's much-hyped device can be used on at least one network other than AT&T. Although the iPhone Development Project team has broken the shackles tying the device and AT&T directly, there are still limitations that mean customers can use pre-paid SIMs from …

    ID 20 Jul 2007, 12:32

  • Peak readies three-in-one Flash card

    We've seen SD-sized adaptors for Micro SD memory cards, and we've seen SD cards that can morph into USB connectors, but this is the first product we've come across that does both. Peak's Trio: it's a Micro SD card. It's an SD card. It's a USB drive Slide off the end of the Peak Micro SD Trio and you've got one of those …

    reghardware 20 Jul 2007, 13:12

  • DARPA seeks 'Deep Green' battle computer

    Human GIs to be pawns in deadly man-vs-machine chess game

    The scientists and engineers of DARPA (The Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency), the Pentagon's gateway to the technological left field, have struck again. The bulgy-bonced battle boffins have decided to sink some cash into an effort to develop a super-intelligent battle computer system which will enable US soldiers to be …

    Hardware 20 Jul 2007, 13:31

  • German firm grabs iSoft in £160m raid

    IBA jilted on way to the altar

    iSoft has left putative partner IBA fuming at the altar and run off with German health technology outfit CompuGROUP. IBA was hoping to get court approval for its tortuous takeover of iSoft next week at a price of around £125m. The company’s rescue plan was almost sunk by iSoft partner CSC which is the main contractor …

    Channel Register 20 Jul 2007, 13:33

  • Vote now for the ultimate 'nom de sex'

    Reader poll 100 contenders vie for porn immortality

    Well, our recent invitation to you, our beloved readers, to submit a "nom de sex" - based on the name of your first pet and the first street you lived on - provoked a huge and highly entertaining response. In fact, so great was the feedback that our poll to select the overall winner offers no less than 100 potential pornstar …

    Bootnotes 20 Jul 2007, 14:11

  • Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 2.67GHz desktop processor

    Review Bargain?

    Earlier this week, we reviewed the impressive yet ridiculously expensive Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850. Now it's the turn of another processor Intel announced this week, one that you can actually afford, the Core 2 Duo E6750. Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Intel's new 1333MHz frontside bus hasn't made a dramatic difference to the …

    reghardware 20 Jul 2007, 14:47

  • Woman's fiery Mac rage as Germans get hot under the collar

    To subscribe to The Register's weekly newsletter - seven days of IT in a single hit - click here

    Rings around the world Everyone was hung-up on mobile phone action this week, and not all of it was i-shaped. In fact, in some quarters, the Apple-flavoured letter was altogether dropped. O2 said it was serving notice on its i-mode service less than two years after it brought the Japanese mobile web technology to Europe, …

    Business 20 Jul 2007, 14:51

  • Vodafone forced to recognise Connect

    Not just logo that's red

    Vodafone UK has been forced to recognise the Connect union, the Central Arbitration Committee has ruled. The union must now be consulted about changes in pay, hours, and holiday. Connect started negotiating with Vodafone in November last year, and despite trying employment resolution service ACAS, ended up taking Vodafone to …

    Mobile 20 Jul 2007, 15:02

  • Japanese P2P leak cop fired

    Tokyo drift

    A Japanese policeman has been fired after he was held responsible for accidentally leaking confidential information via peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing software installed on his work PC. The ex-copper, who has not been named, lost his job with the Tokyo Police Department over the leak of personal details of 12,000 people …

    Enterprise Security 20 Jul 2007, 15:05

  • Taser markets electric cattleprod gun to the laydeez

    Available in shocking pink, naturally

    It's well known that if you want to sell women stuff, it needs to be pink. There's just something about the colour that triggers a possessive lust in their illogical minds, forcing them to buy things. Apparently. Taser C2: the handbag just got more dangerous. The pink girly-marketing phenomenon is already established, but …

    Bootnotes 20 Jul 2007, 15:27

  • Capgemini wins government-backed kids database contract

    Will hold child's info from birth to 18

    Capgemini has won a £40m six-year contract to build and host a ContactPoint database containing information about UK children. The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) handed Capgemini the contract earlier this week. Outsourcing firm Capgemni, which has its headquarters in Paris, had been laying the …

    Channel Register 20 Jul 2007, 16:08

  • Google sees big money in tiny cell sites

    Femto-feeding frenzy commences

    Search giant Google has joined investors pouring $25m into femtocell technology company Ubiquisys, endorsing the technology that aims to put tiny little 3G cell sites into every home. Last week, Vodafone's request for proposal (basically asking for a quote) for femtocell hardware became public, a significant indication that it' …

    Mobile 20 Jul 2007, 16:20

  • Vodafone sinks to new low

    State of the art HQ disappears under torrential rainfall

    "Set in attractive parkland with more than 20,000 trees and shrubs and a series of linked central ponds" is how Vodafone describes their headquarters in Newbury; failing to mention that the building is currently full of water too. But is it waterproof? Calls to the office are all being sent to an alternative reception, which …

    Mobile 20 Jul 2007, 16:28

  • Supercomputer Wars: IBM vs. Sun vs. Google vs. Quantum Boxes

    Meat Cast Also: How to ignore Nvidia

    Last week, thousands of you did the right thing by tuning into our first Meat Cast on blade servers. You're now smarter than the average data center hack and have the blade scene down. Go ahead - lord your knowledge over friends, family and co-workers. This week, Chris Hipp and I return with an assault on high performance …

    Semi-Coherent 20 Jul 2007, 18:58

  • Acer countersues HP in PC patent row

    HP: You're a patent infringer. Acer: I know you are but what am I?

    A patent dispute between Acer and Hewlett-Packard just got a little more litigious as the Taiwan-based computer giant parries two lawsuits filed by HP with a counterclaim of its own. Four months ago, HP filed a lawsuit in Texas federal court against Acer for alleged infringement of five US patents related to processor tweaks, …

    PCs & Chips 20 Jul 2007, 19:50

  • HP and MIT form worldwide digital archiving group

    Antarctica aside

    HP and MIT have formed an independent organization to support the work of digital archivists who use the DSpace open source archiving software. Called the DSpace Foundation, the new group will provide a forum and a focus for users of the software - who include over 100 universities, museums and companies - said Nick Wainwright …

    Applications 20 Jul 2007, 20:39

  • Google ponies up $4.6bn for wireless spectrum

    If the FCC obeys its demands

    Google's riches are exceeded only by its cheek. When the Federal Communications Commission auctions off the coveted 700-MHz wireless spectrum, the search giant has said it will lay down a bid of $4.6bn - provided the auction is handled exactly the way Google wants it handled. Recently vacated by television channels making the …

    Wireless 20 Jul 2007, 21:37

  • Ask.com unveils anti-Google tool

    'Hey! We care about privacy'

    As Google plays games with its cookies, semi-rival Ask.com is actually getting serious about privacy. The web's fourth-leading search engine is giving web users a brand new tool that ensures their search results will not be retained by the company - at all. As the company points out, that's a first among major search engines …

    Applications 20 Jul 2007, 23:54