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23rd November 2007 Archive

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  • Model use cases that work

    Book extract, part 2 Think succinct

    In the first extract from their book Use Case Driven Object Modeling with UML: Theory and Practice, Reg Dev regular and Agile Iconoclast Matt Stephens and his colleague Doug Rosenberg introduced you to domain modeling. In this, the second of four installments, the duo show you how to write useful use cases so the design, work …

    Software 23 Nov 2007, 01:02

  • Oracle pitches process over programming

    Platform change

    Globalization is inevitable, companies are increasingly lean (and green), Web 2.0 social software has created conflicting generational user expectations, and everyone is howling for applications that can reach customers in ways they never have before. That's Oracle's assessment of the trends that will shape the way we build …

    Software 23 Nov 2007, 02:02

  • EC report warns governments on e-trust

    'What trust?' asks IT security firm

    An EC-funded report has found that governments across Europe need to address the issue of trust in technology systems used by public authorities and warns that high-tech ID cards are not a panacea. ECOTEC Research and Consulting, in association with the Tavistock Institute, carried out the research on behalf of the Commission' …

    ID 23 Nov 2007, 06:02

  • Really, really big systems coming by 2027

    Less porn, more work

    It'll be the size of the internet in California, but of far less use. Parts of it already exist - we just don't know it yet. Oh, and we're going to need to re-think programming languages and design to deliver it. No, it's not Microsoft's next Windows operating system, but the world's first Ultra Large System (ULS), which'll …

    Applications 23 Nov 2007, 07:02

  • Air France compensates 170kg passenger

    Big chap forced to cough for extra seat

    Air France has been ordered to compensate a 170kg* citizen of the land of liberté, égalité, fraternité after forcing him to stump up for an extra seat on a flight from New Delhi to Paris, AFP reports. Jean-Jacques Jauffret, 43, described himself as "deeply humiliated" when airline staff intercepted him at New Delhi airport as …

    Bootnotes 23 Nov 2007, 07:02

  • Rogue nodes snoop on TOR traffic

    Noise on the wire

    Researchers have uncovered more evidence that the TOR anonymiser network is being misused by hackers, and quite likely government intelligence agencies. TOR (The Onion Router) is a network of proxy nodes set up to provide some privacy and anonymity to its users. Originally backed by the US Naval Research Laboratory, TOR became …

    Crime 23 Nov 2007, 07:02

  • Watchdog raps MoD over Qinetiq sell-off bonanza

    Analysis Eyewatering Stealth raid by pinstripe execs

    UK gov watchdog the National Audit Office (NAO) has released a damning report into the privatisation of the country's top-secret defence research labs and facilities as Qinetiq. The report, now available online from the NAO, severely criticises the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and some of the consultants which advised it during …

    Government 23 Nov 2007, 07:03

  • Employee sacked for texting in sick

    Dismissal 'petty and unfair', tribunal says

    The firing of an employee who used text messages to call in sick after his brother's death was unfair, an Edinburgh employment tribunal has ruled. An employment law specialist said the case sends a warning to bosses to enforce policies consistently. The East Lothian Courier reports that Mark Morrison worked as a sales adviser …

    Small Biz 23 Nov 2007, 08:41

  • Inventor of revoked payment patent says UK system is a joke

    It's not for the little guy

    A patent for the handling of gratuities in card payments has been revoked by the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) for being a business method implemented by a computer program. The decision follows recently-revised guidance on patentability. One of the inventors told OUT-LAW today that his company spent more than £100,000 …

    Law 23 Nov 2007, 08:59

  • MS drifts towards over-the-top Java services with Musiwave buy

    Comment Takes a leaf from Nokia's book

    All the coverage thus far about Microsoft splashing out $46m for Musiwave, has been about how the mobile music service supplier has had a dramatic fall from grace, and has cost parent OpenWave some $80m. But perhaps the focus should be on Microsoft buying a company that exclusively uses Java applications, mostly on Symbian …

    Music and Media 23 Nov 2007, 09:29

  • Met Police to pilot Tasers

    Electric justice for London

    The governing body of the Metropolitan Police yesterday gave approval for Tasers to be issued to non-firearms-trained police in a pilot scheme beginning next month. Similar trials are already underway with other UK police forces. "Members [of the Met Police Authority] raised legitimate concerns about broadening the use of …

    Law 23 Nov 2007, 10:07

  • England flops shafted by enormous todger

    Croatian national anthem gaffe delights the crowd

    Opera singing Brit Tony Henry has become a Croatian hero for mispronouncing a line in the country's national anthem before its team consigned a lamentable England to the dustbin of footballing history on Wednesday night. The ditty is "written in the old Croat style", the Telegraph explains, and instead of singing Mila kuda si …

    Music and Media 23 Nov 2007, 10:11

  • Interim revenues slip at Business Systems

    Hardware hard to punt, solutions is solution

    IT reseller and managed services firm Business Systems Group (BSG) saw revenue fall by two per cent to £15.8m for the six months ended 30 September 2007 due to a drop in its hardware sales. The London-based company, which released its interim results yesterday, reported pre-tax profit of £465,000, compared to a loss of £344, …

    Channel Register 23 Nov 2007, 11:03

  • Blu-ray dominates Japanese HD recorder sales

    Can HD DVD catch up?

    High definition media like HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc has increase to account for just under 20 per cent of Japanese consumers' retail recorder purchases, numbers from market watcher GfK show. And of the two HD formats, Blu-ray has been outselling HD DVD by a hefty margin. For the week ending 12 November 2007, DVD's share of the …

    Reg Hardware 23 Nov 2007, 11:20

  • Nokia cranks up twisty-turny phone design

    Crank-based handset

    A Nokia application to the US Patent and Trademark Office has revealed its work on a handset that’s operated by cranks - no, not grumpy office-worker types - and which looks suspiciously like the troubled Sidekick Slide. Nokia cranks things up a notch The handset looks about the size of the iPhone, but Nokia’s device hides a …

    Reg Hardware 23 Nov 2007, 11:29

  • Information Commissioner pokes kids on social networking privacy

    Listen to The Man, kids. He knows how to look after data

    The government's information watchdog today warned the nation's yoof they are risking their future by handing over potentially embarrassing personal info to MySpace, Bebo and Facebook. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has issued new official guidelines aimed at encouraging the millions who use online social networks …

    Law 23 Nov 2007, 11:38

  • Star Trek boldly goes on demand

    Virgin Media inks VOD deal with CBS Paramount

    UK fans of Star Trek will soon be able to enjoy "hundreds of hours" of the cult sci-fi TV show thanks to a video-on-demand deal between Virgin media and CBS Paramount, Variety reports. The shows will be punted to subscribers of "Virgin’s premium XL package via its TV Choice On-Demand service", extending the company's TV rights …

    Entertainment 23 Nov 2007, 11:43

  • Nintendo Wii: the world's greatest console?

    Sales skyrocket

    If the Nintendo Wii continues selling at its current lightning rate, it could achieve the exclusive title of the most successful games console ever, according to an industry forecaster. Games analyst Andrew Milgate, from market watcher GfK, made the claim to an Aussie publication following news that 200,000 units of the …

    Reg Hardware 23 Nov 2007, 12:00

  • Skype crypto stumps German cops

    Police boss attempts to justify Trojan plan

    German police have expressed frustration about their inability to decipher the encryption used by Skype in order to tap into the VoIP calls of suspected terrorists. Lawful interception (or wiretapping) of telephone calls has happened since before the time of rotary phones. In many countries, telecos must promise to allow …

    Crime 23 Nov 2007, 12:01

  • BOFH: Spreading the festive cheer

    Episode 39 On the first day of Christmas, BOFH gave to me...

    "Ahhhhhh," I sigh cheerfully. "Smell that?" "You mean the whiff of cardboard, seasonal green and red ink and just a hint of glitter?" the PFY responds. "MMmmmm," I mumble. "Well, it's Christmas season again, isn't it?" the PFY concurs. "No... It's Christmas CARD season again," I say. "For the next three weeks we can …

    BOFH 23 Nov 2007, 12:02

  • MS Explorer foundering after UFO strike

    Flagship crashes, freezes after unknown vuln penetration

    The IT world was electrified this morning at reports that MS Explorer was foundering and expected to sink without trace shortly, possibly due to a UFO attack. Alternative theories suggested that the well-known piece of kit - described by the Daily Mail as "one of the best-known... in the world" - had suffered disabling crashes …

    Bootnotes 23 Nov 2007, 12:03

  • O2 has Wigan-sized iPhone problem

    Exclusive Just 26,500 activated, lots of stock

    Everyone wants a Wii or an Eee this Christmas. They're the hottest technology items in town, but there's none to be found for love nor money. If you want an iPhone, however, supplies remain plentiful. Reliable channel sources tell us that Apple's exclusive UK operator has activated just 26,500 iPhones since its launch two …

    Mobile 23 Nov 2007, 12:10

  • Save the BBC - by setting it free

    Beeb Week A Modest Proposal

    Although the BBC has now secured its Charter and Licence for another ten years, the debate about its future rages on. Forcing people's hands into their pockets on an annual basis is going to become more difficult politically in an age where viewers will be able get whatever they want, on any device, wherever they are, at any …

    Music and Media 23 Nov 2007, 12:28

  • Cisco fires Brazil chief over tax fraud charges

    'Code of conduct' violations

    Network kit maker Cisco Systems Inc has suspended a director of the Brazilian arm of its business following formal tax fraud charges involving the alleged evasion of up to R$1.5bn ($845m) in import duties and other taxes. Carlos Roberto Carnevali, who headed up operations at Cisco's Latin American unit, was charged along with …

    Channel Register 23 Nov 2007, 13:03

  • Linux desktops grow and grow and grow

    A dream no more

    Use of the Linux operating system on desktop machines is continuing to grow with small and medium business showing the most enthusiasm for the open source software. The Linux Foundation annual survey really runs till the end of the month but entries are drying up, and they've already received 20,000 responses, so they've …

    Operating Systems 23 Nov 2007, 13:07

  • Palm Treo 500v smartphone

    Review Palm's best smartphone yet?

    D'you know the most interesting thing about Palm's Treo 500v? It's a Windows Mobile smartphone without a stylus. For years, we've been noting PDA and, later, smartphone makers' attempts to overcome the Microsoft OS inability to work one-handed, but until now no one's quite succeeded. Past Palm and recent HTC devices have come …

    Reg Hardware 23 Nov 2007, 13:11

  • Secure Java coding course aims to push best practice

    Mind the skills gap

    Developers are being invited to comment on a new draft for tests in writing secure code in Java. The exam framework, backed by the Secure Programming Council, a consortium of corporates pulled together by the SANS Institute, is designed to be a test of essential programming skills. Topics covered include encryption, data …

    Security 23 Nov 2007, 13:44

  • Aston Martin to build new model abroad

    Manufacturer outgrows UK plant

    Aston Martin has been forced by its own success to look for a site abroad to handle manufacture of its forthcoming four-door Rapide saloon, the Telegraph reports. The company's plant in Gaydon, Warwickshire, simply can't keep up with demand, which saw 7,000 examples of the marque roll off the production line last year - an …

    Bootnotes 23 Nov 2007, 13:45

  • Hitachi 'collision avoidance' bot does a Ballmer at press do

    Furniture-smashing robot rampage blamed on Wi-Fi

    Japanese industry colossus Hitachi yesterday unveiled a new robot boasting proprietary "agile collision avoidance" technology, only to see the cutting-edge droid crash violently into furniture in front of the world press. AP reports that the diminutive 80cm robot, asked where someone was sitting, unexpectedly cried "I will …

    Science 23 Nov 2007, 13:50

  • Missing data found on mysterious comet, Darling

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

    All your data are belong to...er... someone else, we just don't know who You might have noticed a small story going around this week about the government losing a bit of data on some of Her Majesty's subjects... You know, the 25 million personal records of child benefit recipients that were stuffed on to a couple of CDs that …

    Business 23 Nov 2007, 13:52

  • Sat Navs

    Top Five Today's hottest GPS gadgets

    Whether you’re visiting relatives this Christmas - or trying to find somewhere to hide from them - then a sat nav is the one gadget that’ll ensure you find your destination on time. Register Hardware asked sat nav expert Martin McCormack, who sells these things for Maplin, to hunt down this season’s five most must-have models …

    Reg Hardware 23 Nov 2007, 13:59

  • Amazon narrows patent after 1-Click reverse

    Lawyers on salvage op

    Amazon.com has made a concession to reality in the defence of its 1-Click patent. Last month, an examination of the validity of the patent succeeded in having the patent rejected. That was the result of a reader-funded campaign by Peter Calveley, a Kiwi film technician who was frustrated that Amazon's patent had held back …

    Law 23 Nov 2007, 14:35

  • Researchers find massive mud flow off African coast

    Sediment slunk 1,500km

    It happened 60,000 years ago, so we'll concede that we're a bit late with the news, but scientists have uncovered evidence of the largest ever flow of sand and mud, off the coast of north-west Africa. Researchers report in Nature that over the course of mere hours, or days, some 225 billion metric tonnes of sediment was dumped …

    Science 23 Nov 2007, 14:36

  • Poll confirms Brits believe Jesus Phone salvation too costly

    US-centric strategy failing in UK. Shock.

    It's official: Brits believe Apple's iPhone is too expensive. Local pollster GfK NOP asked 500 people across the nation and found almost three-quarters of them say the handset's too highly priced to buy. Some 88 per cent of the sample said they had heard of the Jesus Phone. Alas for Apple, a mere two per cent said they would …

    Reg Hardware 23 Nov 2007, 14:43

  • Gamer takes Microsoft to court over Halo 3 'errors'

    Poor playback causes fury

    A Californian gamer has filed a class action lawsuit demanding damages in excess of $5m against Microsoft and software developer Bungie, all because his copy of Halo 3 allegedly doesn’t work properly. UK gamers have complained of an unreadable error, when playing Halo 3 Whereas most gamers would simply take a damaged disc …

    Reg Hardware 23 Nov 2007, 14:58

  • WiMAX licence owner wins right to be a mobile operator

    Celebrates by dissing the competition

    Telecoms watchdogs at Ofcom have agreed to let UK Broadband, the company that owns the 3.5GHz spectrum licence, supply WiMAX service to mobile devices as well as for access for homes and offices. A ruling published by the regulator yesterday overturns restrictions on the applications of the spectrum. UK Broadband also won the …

    Mobile 23 Nov 2007, 15:06

  • Which video glasses?

    Q&A

    I was wondering if someone could answer a question I have regarding the Eye-Theater video glasses. I had a sample of this item, as we are interested in ordering quite a large quantity of them for one of our clients' campaigns. When we got the sample, the client raised an issue about the glasses letting in light and have …

    Reg Hardware 23 Nov 2007, 15:08

  • El Reg fires up online standards converter

    Want to know your height in linguine? Click here

    Well, you asked for it, and now you've got it - we're delighted to announce the launch today of a Reg standards converter which can, at the click of a mouse button, tell you your height in linguine, your other half's weight in Jubs or indeed the speed at which you're currently travelling as a percentage of the theoretical …

    Science 23 Nov 2007, 15:09

  • China condemns high-tech outsourcing

    By the Chinese space programme

    The People's Republic of China will replace all its imported communications and broadcast satellites with Chinese-made ones by 2010, according to the chief of the country's National Space Administration. AFP reports that Sun Laiyan - PRC space chief - laid out the strategy in the government-controlled Beijing News. It seems …

    Space 23 Nov 2007, 15:28

  • New taskforce to discuss why more people aren't turning to digital

    What we need is another working group

    Culture Secretary James Purnell has launched the Digital Radio Working Group to work out why more people don't want digital radio, and how to change their opinions. The group will be comprised of representatives from Ofcom, the BBC and commercial radio stations, as well as the obligatory "consumer representatives", and will be …

    Entertainment 23 Nov 2007, 16:11

  • French record industry, ISPs in entente to boot off file-sharers

    Sarkozy frowns on net peasants

    The French President today trumpeted a new plan by some of the country's ISPs and its record and film industries to shut off illegal file-sharers' internet access. In a landmark speech Nicolas Sarkozy said: "The rights of authors, the preservation of creativity, the recognition of the rights of each artist, of each performer …

    Telecoms 23 Nov 2007, 16:12

  • BT looks to help medicine go down in Qatar

    Update Makes contract adjustments with the DoH

    Telecoms giant BT has announced plans to stretch its electronic healthcare tentacles into the Middle East and Africa. The firm said this week that it will be meeting with senior members of the Qatar biz community as well as government officials to talk about so-called e-health opportunities with the Arab emirate state and its …

    Channel Register 23 Nov 2007, 16:26

  • Adam Curtis : an audio special

    Beeb Week On Facebook, The Big Lump Theory ... and Popbitch Radio

    Earlier in the week, we published a long interview with the BBC's Adam Curtis. From your feedback you enjoyed it very much. Mark Woodward wrote - "Sometimes you come across something so electric you can feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, and like The Trap, that's how Adam Curtis's remarks here hit me. Its the …

    Music and Media 23 Nov 2007, 17:02

  • Win XP also prone to random number bug

    Not hard to guess

    Microsoft has conceded that the pseudo-random number generator used by Windows XP suffers the same security shortcomings as Windows 2000. Israeli researchers researchers recently discovered it was possible to predict the output of random-number generator built into Windows 2000, after first determining the internal state of …

    Security 23 Nov 2007, 21:27