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13th March 2008 Archive

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  • Rent-a-bot gang rises from the DDoS ashes

    Beware of the 3D screensaver

    A notorious malware gang that rented out botnets by the hour has resurfaced after being knocked off line two months ago by a rival band of criminals. The Loads.cc group has been spotted by researchers at Sunbelt Software pushing toxic 3D screensavers on unsuspecting end users. The software installs malware that points to a …

    Channel Register 13 Mar 2008, 00:15

  • Nortel widens telecom tubes with 40Gb/s optical cards

    Thanks a heap, Star Wars kid

    Nortel is showing off some new optical networking gear for telecoms, made to push bandwidth-clogging applications at a blazing 40Gb/s without an infrastructure overhaul. The Toronto-based vendor has fired up trials for its 40G (and eventually 100G) Adaptive Optical Engine cards that slot into the massive OME (Optical …

    Data Networking 13 Mar 2008, 00:40

  • Bloggers are rantier, more self-loathing than thou

    Oz study digs up psychological dirt

    And if you ever need self validation / Just meet me in the alley by the railway station - Morrissey MySpace users who blog are more prone to distress, self-loathing and ranting than MySpace users who don't blog, a study has found. Who would have guessed? "Intending bloggers were more psychologically distressed and more …

    Music and Media 13 Mar 2008, 06:02

  • Quick scripting for .NET with IronPython

    Hands on, part 1 Office benefits

    While Ruby and Groovy seem to get all of the attention, there's one scripting language that has been around for a lot longer and that has quietly been picking up in popularity over the long run. That language is Python, and, according to the TIOBE Programming Community Index Python was the language of the year for 2007. While …

    Applications 13 Mar 2008, 06:02

  • Data hygiene: Have you cleaned behind your ears?

    Free El Reg whitepaper probes grubby business practice

    The business readers among you who are worried that your data is grubbier than a chimneysweep's fingernails might be interested in this free whitepaper (pdf) put together by the El Reg Department of Sanitisation. The paper rather nicely explains that the quality of data is, like mercy, for most companies strained - something …

    Site News 13 Mar 2008, 07:02

  • Nathan Barleys mourn Great Lost Quango

    Ofcom abandons PSP

    Soho's Nathan Barleys were in mourning yesterday after Ofcom chief Ed Richards abandoned his shape-shifting flagship, the "Public Service Publisher" quango. Richards said in a speech to the Royal Television Society on Tuesday night that the "the PSP as a concept has served its purpose and we can move on to the relevant …

    Music and Media 13 Mar 2008, 09:58

  • Terry Pratchett donates £500k to Alzheimer's charity

    Battling the embuggerance

    Terry Pratchett has announced he will donate £500,000 to the UK's Alzheimer's Research Trust, three months after he was diagnosed with a rare form of the disease. The 59-year-old Discworld creator called the diagnosis "an embuggerance", and said it had provoked a "violently coherent fury that made the Miltonic Lucifer's rage …

    Biology 13 Mar 2008, 09:59

  • The 'green' car tax grabs that don't add up

    Budget Comment By the Stern count, prices should fall 12p per litre

    Alistair Darling has missed his big chance to show that he's both serious about climate change and that he understands the arguments. He's delayed the previously announced 2p per litre rise in fuel duty and then added that it will rise 0.5 p per litre each year thereafter. This simply isn't acceptable, it's putting us all at …

    Public Sector 13 Mar 2008, 10:22

  • Apple sued in server-to-iPod song shift patent clash

    Someone else owns downloading, apparently

    Apple has been sued again, once more by a company claiming ownership of technology embedded in the iPod and iTunes Music Store. The plaintiff is one ZapMedia Services, which alleged in a complaint filed with the US District Court for Eastern Texas that the Apple products infringe patents it holds for distributing digital …

    Reg Hardware 13 Mar 2008, 10:33

  • Quick cash-by-text deals slammed for sending Swedes into debt

    EZ $$$

    Cash-hungry people can already apply for loans in the High Street, online or over the telephone, but the addition of text messaging services to the list of lenders is now being blamed for pushing hordes of Swedes into the red. Around 30 companies in Sweden now offer short-term loans that can be easily applied for and granted …

    Reg Hardware 13 Mar 2008, 10:54

  • Lip-like loudspeaker touts the pout

    Rockers the Rolling Stones used giant lips as their trademark, so what better way to proudly display your musical credentials than with a portable speaker shaped like a lover’s buccal embrace? Brando's Lips Speaker: perfect for your iPod? The USB Mini Lips Speaker, from online retailer Brando, measures about 60 x 25 x 45mm …

    Reg Hardware 13 Mar 2008, 11:00

  • Extreme Programming in risky position, says co-creator

    End of opposition breeds challenge

    As the celebrated 2.0 incarnation of the web lures an increasing number of organizations into the cloud, enterprise IT managers are warming to the quick-and-dirty capabilities of PHP, JavaScript, Perl, Python, and Ruby for developing database-driven web apps. And a new generation of tools is elevating scripters to the status of …

    Software 13 Mar 2008, 11:02

  • Disney doesn't want AOL either

    Anyone?

    Disney has joined the list of companies not interested in AOL, as chief executive Robert Iger yesterday put his rejection on the table. Iger said Disney was considering technology acquistions, but AOL was not one of them. Time Warner has been looking for a home for the internet access part of AOL since February, while keeping …

    Financial News 13 Mar 2008, 11:09

  • US woman spends two years on boyfriend's toilet

    Belated emergency call prompts crowbar rescue

    US authorities are trying to work out why a Kansas woman spent two years on her boyfriend's toilet - so long that by the time he called emergency services her skin had grown around the lav's seat. When the unnamed 35-year-old Ness City woman's other half finally picked up the phone on 27 February to report that "there was …

    Bootnotes 13 Mar 2008, 11:12

  • Please don't call us, begs German VoIP phone outfit

    Comms breakdown for snom.com

    You've got to feel a bit sorry for German VoIP phone outfit snom, which has asked customers not to call it following an evidently troublesome office relocation. The firm's contact page explains: "We moved to our new offices on March 6, 2008, and unfortunately our phone lines have still not been connected (as of March 12, 2008 …

    VoIP 13 Mar 2008, 11:15

  • US firm demos 'thought into speech' neckband

    Giving voice to the voiceless

    A US firm has demonstrated a "thought into speech" neckband which converts nerve signals to the vocal cords into a computer-generated voice. Michael Callahan, co-founder of Ambient Corporation, showed off his device, dubbed the "Audeo", at the recent TI Developer Conference 2008, in Dallas: Using the Audeo, which currently …

    Science 13 Mar 2008, 11:18

  • Analysts call for secure Facebook access for workers

    Reg prepping Moon on a stick campaign

    Number crunchers at Gartner have decided that businesses should allow their workers to access Facebook and all manner of web guff "securely", via the company network. Distinguished analyst John Pescatore led the call: "Strategies to contain and protect the use of new technologies will always be more effective in the long run …

    IT Director 13 Mar 2008, 11:23

  • Horizon admits takeover talks

    'May or may not lead to acquisition'

    Horizon Technology Group - the Irish reseller company - told the Stock Exchange this morning that it has been approached by a possible buyer for the firm. The statement said the approach may, or may not, lead to an offer for the company of €1.18 a share. Horizon shares have been trading on the Irish exchange for about €0.40 …

    Channel Register 13 Mar 2008, 11:31

  • BBC calls DRM cops on iPlayer download party

    Updated That was quick

    The BBC has swooped to close a loophole in its recently-launched iPhone streaming service that allowed Linux, Windows and Mac users to grab a high quality DRM-free download. We reported the hack yesterday morning, but today an email from Auntie assures us the party's over: "We've released a fix to prevent unrestricted …

    Enterprise Security 13 Mar 2008, 11:44

  • Mass compromise powers massive drive-by download attack

    Invasion of the password snatchers

    More than 10,000 web pages have been booby trapped with malware in one of the largest attacks of its kind to date. Compromised web pages include travel sites, government websites, and hobbyist sites that have been modified with JavaScript code that silently redirects visitors to a site in China under the control of hackers. …

    Security 13 Mar 2008, 12:10

  • Sony Ericsson Walkman W890i mobile phone

    Review Skinny perfection

    Sony Ericsson turned heads last year with its ultra-slim Walkman W880i. Now its successor, the W890i, aims to play to an even wider audience with improved handling and upgraded features. The W880i was a breathtaking switch into ultra-slim mode for Sony Ericsson’s Walkman phone range. It was admired not only for its bold design …

    Reg Hardware 13 Mar 2008, 12:31

  • Antarctic meteorite points to smashed dwarf planet

    Lost world of early solar system

    Two pieces of meteorite found in 2006 in the Graves Nunataks area of Antarctica are likely fragments of a dwarf planet destroyed in the solar system's youth, New Scientist reports. Detailed studies of the chunks, dubbed GRA 06128 and GRA 06129, significantly revealed that they contain 75-90 per cent feldspar, indicating their …

    Space 13 Mar 2008, 12:32

  • US airforce looks to buy Californian garbage jet fuel

    Talk about a domestic source

    An American tech-licencing company says it is in negotiations with the US Air Force - and unnamed airlines - to supply jet fuel made from Californian household waste. A combination of high oil prices, a military push to find secure fuel sources, and governmental incentives are expected to make the business case viable. Flight …

    Environment 13 Mar 2008, 12:37

  • 32nd Carry On film is go

    Ooooh, matron

    Fans of the splendidly silly Carry On franchise will be delighted to learn that the 32nd film in the series - tentatively dubbed Carry On London - "could be in cinemas by the end of the year", according to the Beeb. The film will centre on a limo company ferrying celebrities to the Herberts - the Brit equivalent of the Oscars …

    Entertainment 13 Mar 2008, 12:40

  • MS said to have delayed Euro Zune debut to 2009

    No comment on CEO's 'speculation'

    Microsoft is keeping mum over the European release date of its Zune portable media player, despite reports that the software giant has pushed back the release to 2009. The US is already on its second-generation Zune, which was released over there in November last year. However, French newspaper Les Echos this week reported …

    Reg Hardware 13 Mar 2008, 12:45

  • AOL buys a friend for $850m

    Bebo cashes out now

    AOL will acquire yoof social networking site Bebo for $850m cash, the web 0.1 mastodon announced today. Bebo has been on the block for months with the web 2.0 circle jerk merrily tossing the names of News Corp, Yahoo!, CBS, Microsoft - basically anyone in online media - around. It's not clear what the deal will mean for Yahoo …

    Financial News 13 Mar 2008, 12:51

  • Evesham Technology redundancy claims outstanding

    Ex-staff play waiting game

    Many Evesham Technology Ltd workers who lost their jobs when the British computer maker fell into administration last August appear to still be waiting for their redundancy claims to be fully realised. According to an administrator’s report filed with Companies House late last month: “A significant number of redundancies were …

    Channel Register 13 Mar 2008, 13:26

  • LG goes LCD shopping at Sharp

    32in and 52in panels only

    The popularity of outsourcing LCD panel production between manufacturers is growing, with LG now confirming that it plans to buy 32in and 52in LCD panels from Sharp. LG will initially buy 2m 32in panels from Sharp and then follow-up by buying an unspecified number of 52in panels from the same supplier at a later date. LG is …

    Reg Hardware 13 Mar 2008, 14:14

  • Sony touts tasty portable DVD player

    Sony DVD goes mobile

    Watching movies on a laptop doesn't suit every location, and you may find portable media player screens too small. So what's the alternative for watching films on the go? Portable DVD players, says Sony, which has unveiled a sexy model for the mobile movie addict. The DVP-FX720 has the advantage of being smaller than most …

    Reg Hardware 13 Mar 2008, 14:16

  • Google tests ad platform and inventory manager

    Big ideas for small.biz

    Google is beta testing Ad Manager - the software aimed at making running ads on websites easier for smaller businesses. The hosted service is free and is designed for smaller companies than DoubleClick's product Revenue Centre. The European Commission formally approved Google's takeover of DoubleClick two days ago. Regulators …

    Small Biz 13 Mar 2008, 14:26

  • A third of online shops undermine consumer rights

    OFT slams non-compliance with regs

    Nearly a third of retail websites surveyed by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) are breaking laws designed to protect shoppers. The OFT analysed over 500 UK shopping websites to see if they complied with consumer protection laws by, for example, including physical addresses on sites, telling shoppers of their rights and being …

    Small Biz 13 Mar 2008, 14:29

  • Red Hat releases Enterprise Linux OS beta

    That'll be 5.2 to you

    Red Hat has released a beta version of the latest update to its Enterprise Linux OS, touting significant improvements to the desktop and virtualisation. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is becoming increasingly popular and is one of the most commonly deployed open source distributions in businesses, along with Novell's SUSE. …

    Operating Systems 13 Mar 2008, 14:48

  • Apple patents reveal Apple TV DVR plan?

    Recordings scheduled by iPod

    Readers with long memories may recall rumours a few years back that Apple was planning to fit an updated version of the Mac Mini with an integrated iPod dock. Newly published patents suggest the idea may yet emerge - as a DVR-oriented version of the Apple TV. OS X Dock-like on-screen control, anyone? Among the patents - …

    Reg Hardware 13 Mar 2008, 14:49

  • When systems make you go GRRRRRRRR oh **%@* it

    Reg Tech Panel When apps fail

    What makes systems and apps fail? More importantly perhaps, what makes them get back up again? Do you have faith in your organisation's application lifecycle management processes, or does IT operations have to slap expensive protective measures all over place just to ensure that the working day can be addressed with some degree …

    Tech Panel 13 Mar 2008, 15:02

  • Digital TV sales soar as Brits flock to Freeview

    iDTVs outsell set-top boxes

    What did you get the missus for Christmas? An iPhone? A Wii? Or perhaps like millions of other Brits, you got her a Freeview-enabled telly or set-top box? Sales of Freeview-branded hardware rose to 3.8m units during the Christmas quarter. Freeview, the brand under which digital terrestrial TV operates in the UK, had its best …

    Reg Hardware 13 Mar 2008, 15:08

  • Set your Nunchuck free

    Wireless Wii widgit

    Since the Wii’s arrival, gamers have moaned about that little wire connecting the console's main Remote to the Nunchuck. Gaming peripherals manufacturer Nyko has cut the cord and created a wireless alternative. Nyko's Cord-Free: does away with wires Nyko’s Cord-Free system is very simple. Firstly, a wireless dongle slots …

    Reg Hardware 13 Mar 2008, 15:13

  • Free software lawyers warn over Microsoft patent pledge

    Developers told to leave well alone

    The Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC) has warned that promises made by Microsoft over its Office Open XML (OOXML) document formats could leave open source software developers at risk of legal action. The SFLC found a number of shortcomings in Microsoft’s Open Specification Promise (OSP). The OSP document was first written by …

    Software 13 Mar 2008, 15:41

  • RedTen snags lifeboat after being cut adrift by BT

    Reseller to the rescue

    Customers of RedTen Internet could have their connections restored next week after being left high and dry when the ISP had its connection cut by BT. Customers trying to log onto Docklands-based RedTen on Monday were redirected to a BT website carrying the message: BT Wholesale has stopped providing a service to RedTen …

    Telecoms 13 Mar 2008, 15:47

  • Azul star DeWitt runs to HP

    Settles down with PCs

    Last September, we revealed that then Azul Systems CEO Stephen DeWitt planned to bail on the start-up. Six months later DeWitt confirmed the move by popping up at HP. HP has turned DeWitt into SVP of its PC business in the Americas region. He'll report to Todd Bradley, the EVP of HP's entire Personal Systems Group. DeWitt …

    Channel Register 13 Mar 2008, 17:23

  • Patricia Hewitt joins BT as non-exec director

    MP and telecom sitting in a tree

    Patricia Hewitt is to join BT later this month as a non-executive director, boosting her salary by a healthy £60,000. The appointment of the former Secretary of State for both Trade and Health into one of Britain's largest private companies muddies the water between politics and business. As a politician, Hewitt was closely …

    Telecoms 13 Mar 2008, 17:24

  • Cuba lifts ban on computer sales

    Toasters still an enemy of the working class until 2010

    Cuban president Raul Castro has lifted the country's ban on the sale of petit bourgeois merchandise like computers, DVDs, video players and other consumer electronics goods. So ends years of technological prohibition placed under the regime of his brother Fidel Castro, which had classified the electronic devices and appliances …

    Channel Register 13 Mar 2008, 19:34

  • Surveillance immunity bill for telecoms tries livin’ la vida loca

    Mental health amendment spins Republicans into irony-free zone

    Only the paranoid survive. But which ones - the kind who choose to live in solitude, à la Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, patiently loading and unloading their weaponry to protect themselves from the dystopian techno-state? Or the kind living in Washington, who yearn for proto-totalitarian surveillance authority, all the better to …

    Policing 13 Mar 2008, 20:13

  • Google claims 'non-existent' Android beats everything but the Jesus Phone

    eComm 'And maybe the Jesus Phone too'

    One day, Google believes, software developers will love its "non-existent" Android handset just as much as they love the iPhone - and maybe more. Speaking this morning at eComm, a conference dedicated to "emerging communications," Google mobile platforms guru Rich Miner acknowledged that for the moment, Apple may have an …

    Mobile 13 Mar 2008, 21:52

  • Trend Micro gets slashed in attack of the killer iframes

    Blush much?

    Trend Micro, please put down your bricks and step away from the glass house. This week, researchers from the anti-virus provider uncovered at least two high-profile websites hacked so they try to infect visitors with some of the nastiest malware out there. But as they were busy pointing out the attacks on web pages belonging …

    Enterprise Security 13 Mar 2008, 22:36