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5th August 2008 Archive

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  • AMD's Fusion details break from containment

    GPU type and process size spotted

    After AMD announced plans for the CPU/GPU 'Fusion' processor on the back of its acquisition of ATI in 2006, the company has since been extremely guarded with details. But folks at TGDaily say they've unearthed news on Fusion chips from unnamed industry sources. According to the publication, the first Fusion processor, code- …

    PCs & Chips 5 Aug 2008, 00:28

  • LiMo lands seven new phones

    21 partners join Linux mobile fold

    The battle of open-source mobile systems continues to heat up. Motorola, NEC and Panasonic are rolling out seven new mobile handsets based on the LiMo (Linux for Mobile) software platform. The handsets bring the total number of commercial LiMo-based devices to a respectable 21, according to the LiMo Foundation. The new …

    Mobile 5 Aug 2008, 00:55

  • Apple reneges on Black Hat security talk

    Black Hat Marketing drones demand Jobsian secrecy

    Apple's politburo has put the kibosh on a presentation scheduled for the Black Hat security conference that was to give an inside look at the ultra-secretive company's security response team. Black Hat officials had already given the Apple team the go-ahead when people inside Apple's marketing department vetoed the talk, which …

    Hardware 5 Aug 2008, 03:41

  • US court liberates Cablevision 'remote DVR'

    No hard drive? No problem

    A US appeals court has given the thumbs up to Cablevision's new-age DVR, which stores recorded shows on remote servers rather than in-home hard drives. Reversing an earlier decision from a lower court, the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled that despite the remote-server setup of Cablevision's RS-DVR, end users …

    Music and Media 5 Aug 2008, 04:22

  • DVD distie goes titsup

    Administrators go in at S Gold & Sons

    DVD and CD distributor S Gold & Sons has gone into administration, throwing 120 people out of work. The Walthamstow-based firm actually ceased trading some time ago, but administrators David Gilbert and Martha Thompson, partners at BDO Stoy Hayward LLP, were appointed joint administrators last week. The firm employed 142 …

    Financial News 5 Aug 2008, 09:20

  • Hard 'core'? Birmingham City Council's net filtering

    No sex, drugs or cannibalism, please, we're Brummie

    Back in early July, the Birmingham Post reported on Birmingham City Council's adoption of online filtering software. It will block Council workers from accessing sites on subjects as diverse as smut, porn, cannibalism and witchcraft. But is it a sign of (bad) things to come for net users in public service? The story took a …

    Enterprise Security 5 Aug 2008, 09:31

  • Spanish 'electronic tongue' to lick established techniques

    'ET' umami-bot is 'swift, portable, can be trained'

    Catalan and German boffins have developed a highly sophisticated "electronic tongue" which is expected to greatly increase the satisfaction people achieve during oral recreation activities. But don't worry, this isn't some kind of touchfree onanism device for the terminally lazy or multi-tasking boudoir loner* - in this case, we …

    Biology 5 Aug 2008, 09:33

  • Orbitsound T12 soundbar

    Review Stereo sound from one speaker? That's just crazy talk

    The T12 stereo ‘soundbar’ represents a totally unique take on the category; it goes back to the dawn of stereo technology itself to deliver a genuine revolution in sound reproduction. Using technology developed by its sister technology Airsound, the Orbitsound T12 is designed to give a boost to TV audio as well as act as a …

    Reg Hardware 5 Aug 2008, 09:37

  • Slimmer and lighter cameras promised

    DSLR snappers benefit from enhanced lens technology

    Significantly lighter and more compact DSLR cameras and lenses are on the way from Olympus and Matsushita, thanks to the development of new lens technology. The MFTS promises smaller and lighter cameras The two firms have pledged to work together to produce lighter and more compact interchangeable lens type digital camera …

    Reg Hardware 5 Aug 2008, 09:38

  • South Korean prez turns on the internet

    Blame the messenger

    South Korean president Lee Myung-bek is seeking to crack down on the internet community which has helped intensify and focus criticism of his unpopular government, by introducing a Cyber Defamation Law. Korea's online community has railed against Myung-bek over such issues as renewed imports of US beef, the sovereignty of the …

    Government 5 Aug 2008, 09:54

  • Mobile-based payments set to soar

    How would you like to pay? Cash, Visa or mobile?

    Sales of digital content, such as music and TV, through mobile phones will have soared by 2013, according to the latest forecast. Juniper Research has predicted that roughly 50 per cent of all mobile phone users will have bought a digital good at least once through their mobile phone by 2013. On average, users are expected to …

    Reg Hardware 5 Aug 2008, 10:43

  • US woman celebrates cloning of 'precious Booger'

    Five pit bull puppies from frozen dog's ear

    South Korean scientists have performed the first commercial dog cloning, making five copies of a US woman's pit bull terrier called Booger. Bernann McKinney flew to Seoul to meet the five puppies born late last month to two surrogate mothers. She paid $50,000 for five copies of Booger created from cells from the deceased dog's …

    Biology 5 Aug 2008, 10:54

  • Twitter Trojan targets tossers

    Micro-blogging malware madness big in Brazil

    Micro-blogging service Twitter has fallen prey to malware. Users of the micro-blogging service are being offered up links to booby-trapped sites from a compromised profile. The approach is being used to spread malware in the form of links to a supposed skin flick featuring Brazilian pop star Kelly Key. Prospective marks are …

    Crime 5 Aug 2008, 11:05

  • Analysts slam iPhone security and battery life

    Gartner puts brakes on biz takeup

    Industry analysts have decreed that the new iPhone's lack of security and poor battery life make it unsuitable for all but the lightest enterprise use. The conclusions come in a nine-page research note from Gartner, as reported by Computerword. Entitled iPhone 2.0 Is Ready for the Enterprise, but Caveats Apply, it is based on …

    Reg Hardware 5 Aug 2008, 11:13

  • Telly stand technology

    Sharp and Sony create all-in-one entertainment systems

    A home filled with the latest technology is good, but finding enough space for it can be tricky. Consequently Sony and Sharp have each given the humble TV cabinet a technological makeover. Sharp's AN-PR1500H stand Sony’s RHT-G500 and Sharp’s AN-PR1500H are both, essentially, glorified TV stands that integrate all the …

    Reg Hardware 5 Aug 2008, 11:26

  • Profs: Teacher-student relationships key to sex education

    Do stand so close to me, if so inclined

    Researchers from Ohio and Kentucky looking into sex education in schools have discovered that "teacher-student relationships are key" to making sure that kids achieve a healthy sex life. Eric Anderman, educational-psych prof at Ohio State, and colleagues including Pamela Cupp of Kentucky carried out the research on some 700 …

    Biology 5 Aug 2008, 11:30

  • Web giants ink a*se-covering China-dealing deal

    Slow progress on online rights

    Google, Microsoft and Yahoo! have assured US politicians in the run-up to the Olympics that they are close to signing up to a new code of conduct for trading under repressive regimes. Each has written to a pair of concerned senators to offer vague promises that all that stuff about snitching on dissidents and censoring search …

    Government 5 Aug 2008, 11:47

  • Jobs in 'Apple not perfect' shock

    MobileMe could have been better, admits Steve

    An internal email sent by Steve Jobs admits that MobileMe was "not up to Apple's standards" and that the company tried to do too much too quickly. The shock missive, which tips the world upside down for Mactopians, goes on to admit that they've still got a lot to learn about internet services. The details are being reported …

    Mobile 5 Aug 2008, 11:58

  • Micron debuts SSD duo

    Consumer and enterprise models unveiled

    America's last standing DRAM manufacturer, Micron Technology, has bulked out its solid-state drive range, with two large capacity models offering huge performance and power-management benefits. The 2.5in P200 drives range in capacity from 16GB to 128GB, use single-level cell NAND technology and are meant for servers. Micron …

    Reg Hardware 5 Aug 2008, 12:00

  • MPs lambast BBFC over Batman

    Keith Vaz, IDS get knickers in a Knight knot

    MPs Keith Vaz and Iain Duncan Smith have weighed in on the hoohah over the violent content of The Dark Knight and its controversial 12A classification. The Telegraph finds the Labour and Tory bods united in their condemnation of the film's violence and disagreement with its certificate, which allows children under 12 to see it …

    Entertainment 5 Aug 2008, 12:03

  • Facebook throws open developer fund compo

    Offers cash for apps

    Facebook is offering grants to developers making applications for the social networking site - entries must be in by 29 August. A total of $10m is available in grants of $25,000 or $250,000. Round 1 will give 25 applicants grants of $25,000. Round 2, contested by the winners of Round 1, will give grants of $250,000 to the top …

    Developer 5 Aug 2008, 12:15

  • Mac users urged to ditch Safari

    US consumer group bemoans lack of phishing net

    Surfers should steer clear of Safari until it introduces better anti-phishing protection, a US consumer rights magazine has advised. Consumer Reports lists "thinking your Mac shields you from all risks" as one of the seven biggest online blunders that expose surfers to risk online. It advises Apple fans to consider using …

    Enterprise Security 5 Aug 2008, 12:46

  • Wii MotionPlus will be cheap

    Nintendo claims add-on is inexpensive to make

    Nintendo isn’t willing to say how much MotionPlus will cost whenever it finally hits the shops, but the firm’s president has stated that it’ll be fairly cheap. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Satoru Iwata admitted that the manufacturing costs of the Wii Remote add-on are “not that much”. He claimed this means Nintendo “ …

    Reg Hardware 5 Aug 2008, 13:17

  • Deutsche Post axes massive HP services deal

    Sends IT giant a Dear Hans letter

    Deutsche Post has jilted Hewlett Packard at the altar barely six months after the pair announced a seven-year outsourcing deal. At the time it was announced, the organisations said the tie-up would save Deutsche Post €1bn over the course of the deal. Around 2,500 workers were due to transfer to HP as part of the contract. HP …

    Channel Register 5 Aug 2008, 13:31

  • Samsung scores Chelsea camera duo

    NV4 and L100 rebranded as "The Pensioners"

    Fans of the “The Blues” rejoice, 'cause in addition to wearing Chelsea Football Club’s strip to Stamford Bridge, you can now snap Lampard and the gang on Samsung’s Chelsea compact cameras. Samsung's Chelsea NV4, but does it know the offside rule? The firm’s launched two eight-megapixel cameras: the NV4 and the L100, but …

    Reg Hardware 5 Aug 2008, 13:57

  • The solar-powered gadget purse

    Power-up in style

    We all carry a stack of gadgets around with us, but whether you keep them in a handbag, manbag, pocket or plastic bag, it’s keeping them charged up that’s important. Enter the Power Purse. Power Purse charges gadgets with solar energy. This high-tech bag’s outer surface is covered with solar panels that absorb the sun’s …

    Reg Hardware 5 Aug 2008, 14:39

  • Tasing of unarmed opposition peaks among firearms cops

    Station 'leccy bill to blame?

    The latest Home Office figures show Taser usage by English and Welsh police firearms teams in non-firearms situations has peaked. However, overall plods' usage is up as the weapons are being more widely issued. Two categories of coppers carry the stun guns: Authorised firearms officers (AFOs), and specially-trained ordinary …

    Policing 5 Aug 2008, 14:57

  • Webcam hacker-ogler jailed for four years

    Peeping Tom goes down

    A middle-aged Cypriot has been jailed for four years after he was convicted of hacking into internet webcams in order to spy on teenage girls. The unnamed 47-year-old computer technician used Trojan horse spyware to gain remote control of a webcam and take illicit pictures of least one young woman in her bedroom. The teenager' …

    Malware 5 Aug 2008, 15:03

  • Pioneer's 500GB Blu-ray disc

    400GB discs are so last month

    Pioneer launched a 400GB Blu-ray disc just last month, but the firm’s already smashed its own capacity ceiling by unveiling a 500GB successor. The latest disc tops the 400GB disc’s measly 16 layers by adding a further four layers, resulting in 20 layers each with a 25GB capacity. Brendan Sheridan, Multimedia Division Product …

    Reg Hardware 5 Aug 2008, 15:53

  • World's dumbest file-sharer: Judge to the rescue

    Verdict may be nullified

    The Judge who presided over the first successful prosecution of an American P2P file sharer has hinted that he has changed his mind - and may nullify the trial. Jammie Thomas sold her knickers online (see pic) after being convicted of copyright infringement last year. A jury of her peers in Duluth, Minnesota wasn't impressed …

    Music and Media 5 Aug 2008, 15:57

  • Microsoft charts security vuln MAPP

    More transparency, better protection

    Microsoft has announced plans to share additional details about security vulnerabilities in its products in an attempt to prevent attackers from exploiting them before patches are released to its customers. Under one initiative dubbed the Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP), Redmond will provide security providers with …

    Malware 5 Aug 2008, 17:49

  • Symantec drafts nSuite for virtualization ops

    Connection broker boosts endpoint roster

    Symantec is still keen to buy clout in the endpoint virtualization space after purchasing Altiris in early 2007 and creating a new group around it. Presently, it plans to procure nSuite, a virtual workspace firm based in Woburn Massachusetts for an undisclosed sum. Symantec said it expects the deal to close later this month …

    Virtualization 5 Aug 2008, 18:36

  • IBM gets hip with 'cool' Ubuntu PC deal

    LinuxWorld Canonical offers Office 'alternative'

    IBM is today expected to announce expanded backing for Ubuntu in a desktop and collaboration software deal to challenge Microsoft's Windows and Office. Canonical, Ubuntu's commercial sponsor, has agreed to re-distribute IBM's Lotus Symphony productivity suite with its public Linux repositories. More details are expected later …

    Applications 5 Aug 2008, 19:02

  • EMC in fourth-gen CLARiiON call

    CX4 storage arrays get flash

    EMC's fourth generation CLARiiON mid-range storage array is announced today with a 4-model range topped by a quad-core processor and offering flash drive support. As prefigured the CLARiiON CX4 Series has up to twice the performance, twice the capacity, twice the memory and twice the number of LUNs (logical unit numbers) of …

    Storage 5 Aug 2008, 19:54

  • Unencrypted traveler data laptop disappears then reappears

    Updated Terminal stupidity

    Update The missing laptop has now been found – in the office from which it was apparently stolen. A spokesperson for Verified Identity Pass which operates the program said late yesterday the laptop was “not in an obvious location” according to local news station CBS 5. She added that the firm was investigating whether the …

    Security 5 Aug 2008, 20:10

  • Delta aims Wi-Fi at American planes

    Troll the friendly skies

    Despite a champion effort to nickel and dime its way to profitability, Delta Airlines knows there's still some loose money in customers' pockets to be won. The US carrier sees its passengers clinging so dearly to laptops in their alloted 30 inches of space — and today vows swift action to extract yet another fee. Delta said …

    Telecoms 5 Aug 2008, 20:45

  • IBM's Ubuntu deal favors the server

    LinuxWorld Again, with the Linux desktop

    Ubuntu is the latest Linux distro to fall under the loving gaze of systems giant IBM, in its endless march to unseat Microsoft from business desktops and servers. Canonical, the commercial sponsor of the people-friendly Ubuntu, has done a deal with IBM that'll serve Ubuntu well in the enterprise - running business applications …

    Servers 5 Aug 2008, 21:08

  • Online cult decides federal court case

    American adjudicators embrace Wikimadness

    Jimbo Wales and his worldwide online cult are now deciding federal court cases. Over at the Seventh US Court of Appeals in Chicago, a three-judge panel recently settled a long-standing legal battle by shamelessly citing an entry on Wikipedia. And as you might expect, the entry was edited after the case went to trial. The case …

    Software 5 Aug 2008, 22:24