The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

24th July 2007 Archive

Browse by publication date, or search the site.

  • Google nabs aerial camera company

    'We will photograph everything'

    If you were getting worried that a full two weeks had passed without Google acquiring yet another company, you can now rest easy. Today, the lord of the acquisitions bagged ImageAmerica - a company that takes aerial photographs with its own airplanes and high-res cameras - as it looks to beef up imagery on its Google Earth and …

    Music and Media 24 Jul 2007, 00:34

  • Jesus Phone needs an exorcist

    Security flaw means demonic possession for Apple iPhone

    Security researchers have discovered a security flaw in Apple's iPhone that could allow miscreants to wreak havoc on users of the highly-revered device, which has been dubbed the Jesus Phone by its more blindly faithful users. A proof-of-concept website that exploits the vulnerability secretly siphons SMS text messages, contact …

    Security 24 Jul 2007, 00:53

  • XM and Sirius propose a la carte options

    But only if they're allowed to merge

    XM and Sirius are dangling a new carrot in front of the Federal Communications Commission in order to get the green light to merge. The satellite radio companies say they will offer a la carte packages of their lineups if the antitrust regulators look the other way. Okay, so maybe it will be a monopoly — but damned if they aren …

    Music and Media 24 Jul 2007, 04:44

  • Computer program to take on the Unabomber

    Man vs. Machine challenge

    How intelligent is a computer - and just what does it mean to be intelligent, anyway? The Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) aims to clarify that question with its Man vs. Machine Poker Challenge, taking place today and tomorrow in Vancouver, British Columbia. Polaris, a poker program developed …

    Applications 24 Jul 2007, 05:11

  • Sony shows self-filling Walkman

    Can it be true - a self-filling digital music player? That's what Sony claims for its new Walkman NWD-B100, a Flash-based DAP with the ability to pull tracks off a PC as soon as it's connected. Sony's NWD-B100: self-filling The 30g B100 has a built-in USB connector a la the first generation iPod Shuffle and once mounted …

    Reg Hardware 24 Jul 2007, 07:23

  • Intel cuts desktop prices by up to 50%

    Aggressive 1333MHz FSB pricing strategy

    Intel has slashed the price of a number of its desktop and mobile processors, but the cuts, while deep, aren't as extensive as anticipated. However, the move confirms an aggressive pricing plan for the chip maker's 1333MHz frontside bus parts. The headline reduction is the 50 per cent Intel knocked off the price of the four- …

    Reg Hardware 24 Jul 2007, 07:47

  • Sony preps fix-filled PS3 firmware update

    Music and movie joy

    Sony has confirmed that the next release of the PlayStation 3 firmware, version 1.9, will be available in the US "in the next few days". It's already been released to Japanese console owners, and will almost certainly come to Europe shortly. Firmware 1.9 will allow users to customise their XMB - the PS3's answer to a computer …

    Reg Hardware 24 Jul 2007, 08:05

  • Police claim parents support youth database

    Antisocial behaviour register gets thumbs-up

    A nuisance youth database described as "an educational tool" has won parents' approval, according to police in Clacton. The database holds details of children and young people caught causing antisocial behaviour in neighbourhoods. Information held includes name, address, the type of incident, and its location. Essex police see …

    Public Sector 24 Jul 2007, 08:39

  • Fasthosts update: still above water

    Service afloat despite floods

    Fasthosts is fully operational despite the continued flooding problems. The company said all its services remain fully operational. Customer services is running a general advice service while the problems continue. The company thanked customers for their understanding. A statement on Fasthosts' status page said: "We would like …

    Small Biz 24 Jul 2007, 08:46

  • Crazed NZ fanboy mows down churchgoer

    'Deliberately drove' at Methodist congregation

    A 58-year-old woman is in an Auckland hospital with "life threatening" injuries after being hit by car as she left the city's Methodist Mission Church, 3 News reports. The driver of the vehicle reportedly "deliberately drove" at the church after jumping several red lights at speed, narrowly missing several pedestrians. …

    Crime 24 Jul 2007, 08:49

  • RFID a 'technical blunder', report says

    The next bubble ready to burst?

    Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a technology bubble ready to burst according to a new report by Dublin-based firm Heavey RF. The firm, which provides radio frequency products such as handheld scanners, has published a study entitled RFID.Bomb? "History is littered with large technical blunders; RFID in the supply …

    Business 24 Jul 2007, 08:52

  • Becta gives schools biometric data guidance

    In line with data protection laws

    The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta) has published guidance for schools on how to implement biometrics in line with data protection laws. The guidance (pdf), published on 23 July by the government's schools ICT agency, advises schools to involve parents in any decision to introduce biometric or …

    ID 24 Jul 2007, 09:25

  • LeftHand brews up IP SAN software

    Self-healing storage is thinner than thin

    LeftHand Networks, the storage company that's named after a brewery*, said the new version of SANiQ - its iSCSI SAN software - includes self-healing capabilities and what it called next-generation thin provisioning. SANiQ version 7, which is released today, is also available in two new packages aimed at specific needs, one …

    Storage 24 Jul 2007, 09:30

  • Laptop sales drive PC shipments in EMEA

    Sales up 13.5%

    PC sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) were up 13.5 per cent in Q2 2007, according to market watcher IDC. A total of 17.5m desktop and notebook computers were sold in the region, with a 31 per cent increase in notebook sales compared to the same period last year. IDC said competition among the leading vendors …

    PCs & Chips 24 Jul 2007, 09:34

  • Registry takes hands off approach to community trade marks

    Law change in October

    Holders of Community trademarks will soon have to put their own monitoring systems in place to defend their marks, according to a trade mark expert. The UK's Trade Mark Registry is about to stop objecting to many applications. A modification to trade mark law will come into force in October, which reduces the number of cases …

    Law 24 Jul 2007, 09:54

  • EC proposes pan-EU biz structure

    Easier cross-border business for SMEs

    The European Commission wants to create a form of company across Europe to make cross-border business easier to conduct for small firms. Internal markets Commissioner Charlie McCreevy has announced a consultation on the proposal. "If we want European businesses to reap the full benefits of the single market, we must provide …

    Small Biz 24 Jul 2007, 09:55

  • Dell, ThinkPad laptops first on official Wireless USB kit list

    D-Link, Iogear adaptors too

    The first six Wireless USB products allowed to use the cable-free connectivity technology's official logo have been named. Standing out from the various adaptor accessories: a pair of laptops from Dell and Lenovo. Dell's Inspiron 1720 Dell's WUSB offering is the 17in Inspiron 1720, though it isn't yet listed on the Dell …

    Reg Hardware 24 Jul 2007, 10:13

  • What are your tech priorities for the next 12 months?

    Reg Technology Panel A peer to peer study on you

    The Reg Technology Panel Barometer study, our bi-annual trawl through your priorities in tech, returns this week with a batch of new questions to map your focus, concerns, and initiatives for the next 12 months (you can see past studies here). As ever, your help is needed. You tell us what you're doing and then we'll publish …

    Tech Panel 24 Jul 2007, 10:28

  • US presidential hopefuls face the YouTubers

    Clinton, Obama, white guys get upload grilling

    Yesterday saw something of a first for American politics, as Democratic wannabe presidential candidates took part in a live televised debate on CNN. That in itself is nothing new: but this time there was a sprinkle of techno pixie dust, in that the candidates were responding to questions submitted by members of the public in …

    Software 24 Jul 2007, 10:37

  • Nokia goes all Twango

    Snaps up photo sharing firm

    Nokia has snapped up photo and video sharing site Twango for an undisclosed sum. The 10-man firm, which has been operating out of a basement in Redmond since 2004, was set up by five ex-Microsoft staff. The service was officially launched in October last year. Though the site is similar in style to half a dozen competitors, …

    Mobile 24 Jul 2007, 10:44

  • Seagate FreeAgent Go 160GB external hard drive

    Review Slim, sleek storage

    Hard drive maker Seagate continues to try and persuade consumers that add-on drives aren't just for geeks but for everyone. It's latest attempt is the compact and eminently palm-able Go, part of its FreeAgent line up of external hard drives... er... "data movers". The FreeAgent Go has the same dark brown and orange colour …

    Reg Hardware 24 Jul 2007, 11:03

  • Western Digital's hard drives go green

    Western Digital (WD) has jumped on the eco bandwagon and parted the leaves to reveal a series of 2.5in "green" hard drives, designed to help users reduce the size of their data storage carbon footprints. The Green Power range is based on three power saving technologies: IntelliPower, which balances spin speed, transfer rate …

    Reg Hardware 24 Jul 2007, 12:23

  • Microsoft, Feds, and Chinese authorities seize $2bn in pirated software

    25 arrested

    Pirated Microsoft software, estimated by the firm to be worth more than $2bn, has been seized by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Chinese police following a long-running joint operation which began in 2005. A network of Chinese pirating syndicates, believed to be the largest of its kind in history, had been …

    Security 24 Jul 2007, 12:42

  • American women prefer weather to sport

    US spends more on mobile content

    American women like surfing for weather, while men prefer searching for sports news, according to an analysis of mobile data usage in the US and EU. In a study of the habits of 70,649 Americans and 33,810 Europeans over a three month period, M:Metrics found that both sexes access news as their second priority. It's not all fun …

    Mobile 24 Jul 2007, 12:50

  • Got Sky but no computer? Book yourself a doctor's appointment

    Appointments via telly

    Doctors' offices across the country are beginning to offer appointment bookings via TV set-top boxes and mobiles, adding to a list of network services for non-surfers or those not owning a computer. EMIS, tech-services provider to the UK medical sector, reports that over 1,100 GP surgeries are now set up for its interactive …

    Business 24 Jul 2007, 12:55

  • Hitachi component launches point to Blu-ray camcorder?

    Fresh speculation has begun circulating online that Hitachi is set to bring the world's first Blu-ray Disc-equipped camcorder to market, after the company announced a camcorder friendly optical pick-up. Hitachi's Blu-ray camcorder: the shape of things to come? Hitachi first showed a prototype for such a camcorder at the …

    Reg Hardware 24 Jul 2007, 13:09

  • Astronauts chuck fridge off space station

    Fatal fridge-frag meteor space dump shocker

    Litterbug astronauts have hurled almost a ton of junk off the International Space Station, including an old refrigeration system weighing 1400lb, risking a fiery meteoric death for innocent Earth-dwellers. In sharp contrast to green consumers worldwide, NASA has brazenly revealed that the fly tipping spacemen hadn't even used …

    Space 24 Jul 2007, 13:47

  • Jordan names sprog 'Princess Tiaamii'

    An improvement on '4Real'?

    Bulgarian airbag platform Jordan, aka Katie Price, and "pop star" Peter Andre have named their recently-arrived sprog "Princess Tiaamii", the BBC reports. Jordan told OK! magazine the first name reflected the fact the girl was "our princess", while Andre concocted the second by combining his dear old ma's name with that of …

    Entertainment 24 Jul 2007, 13:49

  • Sony claims price-driven PS3 sales hike

    Up 135 per cent, apparently

    Sony has claimed that PS3 sales in North America have jumped 135 per cent since it brought the price of the 60GB console down to $499 two weeks ago. The increase comes from sales of the console through Sony's five biggest retail customers, though it doesn't appear to have said whether or not there was a proportionate fall in …

    Reg Hardware 24 Jul 2007, 14:09

  • Panasonic illuminates Lumix digicam trio

    Panasonic has expanded its range of Lumix wide-angle digital cameras with the addition of a seriously professional-looking 8.1-megapixel model with 18x optical zoom. It also release two new compact models. Panasonic's Lumix DMC FZ18: Leica lens Since Panasonic's DMC FZ18 has a 28mm wide-angle lens. This is complimented by …

    Reg Hardware 24 Jul 2007, 14:19

  • BT Wholesale hires new CEO

    Sally Davis gets the nod

    BT has hired Sally Davis as chief executive of its network services and solutions division, BT Wholesale. The UK telecoms behemoth, which made the announcement today, said that Davis will take on the role in September and will report directly to BT group CEO, Ben Verwaayen. She will replace Paul Reynolds, who is leaving the …

    Networks 24 Jul 2007, 14:29

  • AT&T has strong quarter

    Sold a lot of iPhones in two days

    AT&T is celebrating after posting another strong quarter - bringing in $29.5bn in revenues and making reported net profit of $2.9bn, up from $1.8bn last year on revenue of $15.8bn. AT&T added another 1.5m wireless subscribers in the three months ended 30 June, putting its total at 63.7m. Its customers sent 277 million …

    Telecoms 24 Jul 2007, 14:32

  • Orange gets into the music biz

    Joins Channel 4 and Sony Ericsson to find UK's best band

    Orange and Sony Ericsson have gotten together with Channel 4 to launch "mobileACT Unsigned": a competition to find the best unsigned band in the UK. Noting the scarcity of talent shows on TV, particularly ones where the viewers get to vote on the bands playing, mobileACT Unsigned allows bands to set up MySpace-like sites, …

    Mobile 24 Jul 2007, 14:48

  • China's 'elephant man' goes under the knife

    Surgeons remove part of monster tumour

    Chinese surgeons today removed around 10kg (22lb) of a monster tumour which had transformed 31-year-old Huang Chuncai into the country's homegrown Joseph Merrick, Reuters reports. Huang's 15kg (33lb) growth had completely covered his left eye, "engulfed" his right ear and jaw while causing his left ear to hang down to his …

    Biology 24 Jul 2007, 14:50

  • Flash flaw may prompt Wii to 'hang'

    Wii splat

    Nintendo's Wii gaming console could be at risk from vulnerabilities within Adobe's Flash software, incorporated in the console's Opera-based web browser, security firm Symantec has warned. The vulnerability, which affects Flash .FLV video files, means creators could send gamers a link to a "specially crafted video" that once …

    Reg Hardware 24 Jul 2007, 14:59

  • Whistling dolphins wired for sound

    Just put your lips together and blow

    Boat-shy dolphins could soon be located via software that identifies what the species is by listening to the individual whistles the marine mammals make. According to a new study by the Acoustical Society of America (ASA), identifying different types of dolphins could help observers monitor any fall in the number of sightings …

    Biology 24 Jul 2007, 15:43

  • USB goes Wireless

    First certified devices launched

    The first devices submitted for Wireless USB certification have been approved, and four of them will be in US shops by the end of the summer. Laptops from Dell and Lenovo, as well as hubs (and adapters) from IO Gear and D-Link, are the first devices to receive Wireless USB certification: ensuring that they'll work properly …

    Hardware 24 Jul 2007, 15:46

  • Breakfast with bin Laden

    Part 1 Sorry, I forgot to be scared

    I shot Lennon; I shot the Pope. I shot the devil; now you got no hope. -- Suicidal Tendencies It's been an interesting month: I've been breakfasting with Osama bin Laden rather often lately. I can hardly open my morning paper nowadays without reading about al Qaeda. Apparently, there are al Qaeda cells all over London, al …

    Government 24 Jul 2007, 16:04

  • EMC profit rises with increased demand

    VMWare sales up 89 percent

    Brisk corporate spending on storage devices lifted EMC's second-quarter profit by 20 percent and caused the company to boost - slightly - its estimate for the year. But investors drove down EMC shares, proving that sometimes good isn't good enough. Net income for the three-month period that ended in June rose to $334m, or 16 …

    Storage 24 Jul 2007, 17:34

  • Intel's Core-fueled Xeon MP arrives at 2.93GHz

    Meanwhile, lab grunts notch silicon photonics win

    Intel finally looks set to carry its Core processor architecture to midrange and high-end servers with the release of a new Xeon code-named Tigerton. The chip maker revealed that the Tigerton chip will be sold as the Quad-Core Xeon 7300 series and will rely on the 7300 chipset – code-named Clarksboro. The fresh Xeon should …

    Servers 24 Jul 2007, 19:01

  • Google in crusade against neckties

    Global privacy counsel obsessed with male physique

    A brief summation of Google's new privacy policies. One: Your search data will be made anonymous after it sits on the company's servers for 18 months. Two: Your Google browser cookies will expire if you don't visit the site for two years. And three: a man should not be allowed to hide his "shrinking shoulders" and "protruding …

    Biology 24 Jul 2007, 19:07

  • CIOs pooh-pooh the iPhone

    'It's no Blackberry'

    Four out for four CIOs agree: the iPhone is no match for the Blackberry. Last night, at an event hosted by Silicon Valley's tech-happy Churchill Club, four high-profile CIOs - representing Google, Hasbro, Levi Strauss, and health care giant McKesson Corp - were asked if they'd carry an iPhone for business purposes, and all four …

    Hardware 24 Jul 2007, 21:10

  • IronRuby opened to all comers

    Microsoft gives to receive

    Microsoft has released early code for its Ruby-on-.NET scripting language during a week of actively courting developers and community feedback. Four months after announcing IronRuby, Microsoft has released source code for the .NET scripting language under the Microsoft Permissive License (MPL). Microsoft is also accepting …

    Applications 24 Jul 2007, 22:19

  • Cisco preps for virtualized 'Data Center 3.0'

    3.0 already? Better toss the 2.0 rubbish

    Virtualization has become somewhat of a Wild West for the data center market, promising streets paved with gold for IT groups - and endless riches for the vendors hawking this new-age server slicing technology. But as the virtualization frontier swells with shops and vendors staking claims to their real estate, it's clear that …

    Data Networking 24 Jul 2007, 22:28

  • Amazon profits up nearly three-fold

    No thanks to Harry Potter

    No surprise here: Amazon is selling more stuff than ever. Today, the world's most famous online retailer announced second quarter profits of $78m, a 257 per cent leap from the same quarter last year, and net revenues of $2.88bn, a 35 per cent increase. As usual, the company took this as an opportunity to trumpet Amazon Prime, …

    Financial News 24 Jul 2007, 23:26

  • Miss America calls for mandatory internet safety classes

    Tells Congress she looked at dirty photos

    The current Miss America has asked Congress to take further steps in protecting children from internet predators. Lauren Nelson, who received her country's highest honor for looking classy in a swimsuit, told the Senate Commerce Committee that internet safety classes should be mandatory for school children. "We don't allow our …

    Government 24 Jul 2007, 23:37

  • Power outage knocks out major websites

    So much for redundant power supplies

    Some of the net's biggest websites went dark following power interruptions in San Francisco that are disrupted operations at co-location facility 365 Main. Websites for Craigslist, Typepad, Yelp, Livejournal and Redenvelope were all shuttered at the time of writing, and Sun's site was down earlier today. All these sites are …

    Telecoms 24 Jul 2007, 23:45