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6th February 2009 Archive

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  • US bandwidth gets new caps

    Time Warner's tight fit

    More Americans will soon be fitted with bandwidth caps. Yesterday, Time Warner trumpeted plans to expand its "consumption based billing" brainstorm beyond the tiny Gulf Coast town of Beaumont, Texas and into a few other unnamed cities. And just hours later, fellow cableco Charter Communications confirmed it will soon put caps …

    Broadband 6 Feb 2009, 00:14

  • Ubuntu shops believe in Ubuntu

    But will they pay for it?

    Is Ubuntu ready for prime time in the enterprise? Ubuntu users think so, according to a recent survey from Ubuntu's commercial sponsor, Canonical, and IT consultancy Red Monk. Unlike many surveys that land on the desks of IT journos each week, the one done by Canonical and Red Monk was based on a very large number of responses …

    Servers 6 Feb 2009, 00:47

  • Apple rethinks battery bondage

    Patents ponder portable power packs

    Three Apple patent applications have surfaced indicating the company may be rethinking its policy of using non-user-serviceable batteries in its mobile devices. One of the applications describes a "host machine" - looking much like an iMac in the accompanying drawings - that has battery-charging slots built into its body. A …

    Mobile 6 Feb 2009, 01:02

  • NASA births cliff-hanging yo-yo bot

    Gravity's a bitch

    NASA boffins said today they've built and tested a small and relatively simple robot that can rappel down cliffs, traverse steep terrain, and tarry about in inhospitable craters other rovers would fear to tread. The robo prototype, called Axel, was developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab and students at the California Institute …

    Science 6 Feb 2009, 01:22

  • High-slider integrity planned for Windows 7 UAC

    Microsoft spins on flack attack

    Microsoft has promised changes to a frustrating Windows security feature inside Windows 7, following reported vulnerabilities and an avalanche of criticism. The Windows 7 User Account Control (UAC) will feature improved protection, apparently intended to prevent unauthorized access and stop malicious from code piggybacking on …

    Operating Systems 6 Feb 2009, 01:35

  • Reading punts free mobile info service

    The Thames Valley - all in glorious Java

    Reading Borough Council has launched a free service for locals and visitors interested in live information on buses, parking spaces and even cinema times, all through a mobile phone application. The app comes from mxData, which already provides a similar service to people living in York, Sheffield, Birmingham and Stratford …

    Mobile 6 Feb 2009, 07:02

  • IBM adds dedupe to Tivoli Storage Manager

    Gets DB2 database engine too

    IBM has announced a major release of its Tivoli Storage manager backup, archive and compliance product, adding scalability to up to a billion data objects, up to 3X faster backup speeds, and de-duplication. TSM 6.0 has an integrated DB2 engine that doubles the number of storable data objects with the potential to manage a …

    Storage 6 Feb 2009, 08:48

  • Pentax K-m entry-level digital SLR

    Review One of the best budget DSLRs available?

    We’ve all been there: you go into a store with a fixed budget in mind then spot a product that makes you think: 'Hmm. If I spend a bit more, I can get an even better model than the one I had planned for.' Well, if you’re setting out to buy a high-end digital compact, you could well change your mind if you clamp your eyes on the …

    Hardware 6 Feb 2009, 09:02

  • Acronis on the prowl?

    Out to become bigger dog in backup yard

    With a brand new CEO, established revenue stream and neat technology, you could be forgiven for thinking that privately-owned Acronis was looking to be acquired. Jason Donahue has sold three previous companies he ran to Oracle, IBM and Veritas (now Symantec). So why, four months ago, did the Acronis board replace its previous …

    Storage 6 Feb 2009, 09:02

  • New Zealand bolts net filtering regime into place

    Shows Oz - and us - how it's done

    If you thought that net filtering and grandiose firewalls were the exclusive preserve of West Island (or "Australia", as the locals like to call it), think again. New Zealand is showing that it, too, is ready to play its part in the great Antipodean censorship stakes. Last week, the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) …

    Government 6 Feb 2009, 09:15

  • BlackBerry bosses settle share option row

    Directors banned, sent for reeducation

    The joint chief executives, president, chief financial officer and other board directors of Research in Motion - the firm behind BlackBerry - have settled a probe by Canadian regulators over the backdating of stock options. RIM is listed in Ontario as well as on Nasdaq. It admitted in 2006 that investigators were checking …

    Financial News 6 Feb 2009, 09:50

  • Of laptop data security

    Done the basics - or sleepwalking along a precipice?

    Perhaps the first thing to say is: “It's nobody's fault.” We could blame the laws of physics for the current capabilities of laptops, but not those who discovered them, nor those who have successfully pushed the data storage of hard disks to terabyte capacities. Nor indeed, the people who squeezed the processing equivalent of …

    Notebooks 6 Feb 2009, 11:02

  • Fusion-io: Wozniak gets involved

    Comment Drive vendor gains added Apple co-founder cred

    Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is to become chief scientist for PCIe-connected solid state drive vendor Fusion-io and help devise a strategy to penetrate global corporate customers. His track record in this, unlike his Apple engineering record, is sadly unimpressive. Wozniak serves on an advisory board for Fusion where his …

    Storage 6 Feb 2009, 11:03

  • MS lines up two critical updates for Patch Tuesday

    Security gnomes busy on IE

    Microsoft is lining up four security updates - two of which earn the dread rating of critical - for the February edition on its regular monthly Patch Tuesday update cycle. February 10 promises the release of critical patches for Internet Explorer and Exchange Server. The other two bulletins are due to cover security fixes for …

    Security 6 Feb 2009, 11:07

  • Xbox 360's NXE patch births RRoD complaints

    Microsoft keeping quiet

    The New Xbox Experience (NXE) patch - released earlier this week to fix an HDMI audio issue caused by downloading the NXE interface itself – appears to have brought the dreaded Red Ring of Death (RRoD) to rather a lot of consoles. Microsoft’s own Xbox 360 Forum has been inundated with complaints from gamers that the patch – …

    Games 6 Feb 2009, 11:12

  • British troops to wear smart earplugs in Afghan combat

    Pop star plugs let through voice, cut off gunfire

    British troops getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan are being issued with electronic sound-cancelling earplugs designed to let them hear what they need to - orders, conversations, enemy footfalls - but prevent hearing damage caused by explosions, gunfire and so on. News of the new digi-plugs comes courtesy of the Times, …

    Government 6 Feb 2009, 11:31

  • El Reg pays tribute to father of Playmobil

    Exclusive snaps from Vulture Central's Hans Beck bash

    It was with heavy hearts earlier this week that we reported on the death of Hans Beck, the man who in 1974 gave the world Playmobil. The news prompted several of you to suggest a miniature tribute to the great man; perhaps a funeral scene or something similar. Well, we thought about it for a bit and decided nah, stuff that, we …

    Bootnotes 6 Feb 2009, 12:02

  • Google finally soups up Gmail search

    Inbox gets multiple personality

    Google has at last added a new feature to Gmail Labs that allows users to simultaneously view multiple panes in the online email service without having to open another browser window. The web kingpin noted on its corporate blog yesterday that the “experimental” feature had now gone live on its Gmail service. Ultimately, the …

    Applications 6 Feb 2009, 12:11

  • HP UK pulls Linux from all new netbooks

    Microsoft only option - unless you want an old model

    HP has decided UK consumers don't want Linux-based netbooks. Actually, it appears to believe business buyers don't want the open-source OS either. It emerged today that the company will not now be bringing its Mini 1000 netbook to the UK - at least not with Linux on board. Nor will it release the more business-oriented Mini …

    Hardware 6 Feb 2009, 12:17

  • Lords say surveillance society erodes foundations of UK

    Shift in character of life comes under fire

    The House of Lords Constitution Committee has warned that increasing use of surveillance by the government and private companies is a serious threat to freedoms and constitutional rights. The Committee's report said: "The expansion in the use of surveillance represents one of the most significant changes in the life of the …

    Government 6 Feb 2009, 12:18

  • PlayStation 3 to get 45nm Cell 'mid year'

    PS3 diet looming?

    A slimmer PlayStation 3 could hit the shops this summer, because Sony’s finally said when it’ll begin replacing the console’s 65nm Cell chip. David Reeves, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, told The Guardian that Sony is looking to replace the console’s current 65nm chip – produced by Toshiba – with a 45nm one “ …

    Games 6 Feb 2009, 12:26

  • BBC seen to yield over website snooping

    Auntie discovered in bed with big brother

    The BBC has dropped a controversial tracking system from its UK website after privacy activists complained that it was reporting personal information including their post codes to a US company. Until recently, the BBC was sending copies of cookies dropped on bbc.co.uk visitors to Visual Sciences, a web analytics operation …

    Media 6 Feb 2009, 12:43

  • Hacking the Apple TV

    Part 1 Getting in

    Apple continues to describe its Apple TV set-top box as a “hobby” project: it’ll continue to develop the platform, but it’s not making any money out of it yet. The gadget’s a hobby project for a lot of other folk too. They want to gain access to this closed but surprisingly powerful system to make it more useful. We’ve had an …

    Hardware 6 Feb 2009, 13:02

  • Amazon to make Kindle mobile

    Sort of...

    Amazon has confirmed that books currently available for its Kindle e-reader will soon be accessible on mobile phones. The company – which is also expected to launch a redesigned Kindle later this month – said the gadget’s books will soon be available on a variety of handsets. It hasn’t specified which phones will be able to …

    Hardware 6 Feb 2009, 13:20

  • Cisco wireless flaws pose DoS risk

    Wi-Fi kit found wanting

    Cisco is urging admins to update their wireless LAN hardware following the discovery of multiple vulnerabilities in its enterprise Wi-Fi kit. Security flaws in Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers, Cisco Catalyst 6500 Wireless Services Modules (WiSMs), and Cisco Catalyst 3750 Integrated Wireless LAN Controllers create a mechanism …

    Security 6 Feb 2009, 13:31

  • The Boss bitchslaps Ticketmaster

    Condemns selling practice, disses Live Nation merger talks

    Bruce Springsteen has castigated Ticketmaster after it encouraged US fans to buy tickets online for one of his gigs at inflated prices. The Boss also put the boot in about any possible merger between Ticketmaster and concert promoter Live Nation, declaring that such a move would “make the current ticket situation even worse …

    Media 6 Feb 2009, 13:34

  • Spysat-spying spysats on track for launch, says Boeing

    Letting the enemy know we know what they know

    US aerospace colossus Boeing says it has conducted successful ground testing of America's planned "space surveillance" satellite system. The idea, essentially, is spy satellites to spy on other spy satellites. It's all about watching them watching us. Boeing and the US Air Force refer to the new watcher-watcher kit as Space …

    Science 6 Feb 2009, 14:16

  • Commissioner pours scorn on internet freedom law

    US Bill stuck in mud, European copycat trundles on

    New EU laws to protect freedom on the internet and force ISPs to stand up to authoritarian regimes are "unnecessary" and proposed penalties are "heavy", EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding told the European Parliament this week. "We should not put European companies in an invidious position where their choice appears to be …

    Government 6 Feb 2009, 15:04

  • TomTom belts up with Renault

    New satnav integrated into new Clio

    You’ll be kicking yourself if you recently bought a top-of-the-range Renault Megane. Because the French car maker’s now updated its faithful Clio line with a swanky integrated TomTom satnav option. Renault's new Clio with optional TomTom Carminat satnav The Carminat TomTom has a 5.8in display and its controls have been …

    Science 6 Feb 2009, 15:22

  • Sony unveils colourful PSP trio

    And this time, they're coming to the UK!

    Don’t get your hopes up for Sony’s new Carnival Colours PlayStation Portable series launching in the UK. The Japanese electronics giant’s just unveiled a simple trio of re-sprayed PSPs for Blighty instead. Sony's colourful PSP trio for the UK Japan’s Carnival Colours range is appealing because, aside from the wickedly …

    Games 6 Feb 2009, 15:26

  • Insolvency levels show upturn in downturn

    Lies, damn lies and statistics

    UK insolvencies have risen sharply in the past quarter as the recession starts to hit small businesses. But the headline figure is distorted by one group that accounted for 729 separate managed services businesses that all went into administration. There were 4,607 compulsory liquidations and creditors' voluntary liquidations …

    Small Biz 6 Feb 2009, 15:38

  • Brits 'a bunch of yellow bastards', says irate Yank

    FoTW Armed American Stereotype™ speaks out

    Our recent shock revelation that South Dakota is awash with American Sterotypes™ did not go down too well with one gun-toting Yank. To recap, here is the terrifying truth as captured on Street View: And here is our stateside chum's take on our analysis: At least in America we are ALLOWED our guns and didn't give up our …

    Bootnotes 6 Feb 2009, 15:39

  • OLPC designer styles goes-like-stink electric motorbike

    'Leccy Tech Lots of Tesla DNA in there too

    The metaphorical dust cover was yanked off the latest 'leccy motorcycle at the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conference in Long Beach, California, yesterday - and an arresting looking bit of kit it is too. Mission Motors' Mission One: striking looks Called the Mission One, the bike has been designed by Yves Béhar …

    Science 6 Feb 2009, 15:49

  • Flybe clips IT department's wings

    Presumably no lay off fear for crack PR operatives

    Exeter-based sky bus operator Flybe is sacking a significant proportion of its IT department, according to an insider. Our source revealed that ten jobs are to go, with a further 20 under threat. The total department headcount is about 60. A consultation period closes in the next two weeks and the victims of the airline's …

    Management 6 Feb 2009, 16:03

  • MoD orders £3m anti-friendly-fire 'Combat ID Server'

    404 Error: Blue-on-blue Sky of Death

    Controversial gov-plunder warboffinry firm Qinetiq - in partnership with US armsbiz giants - has won a £3m deal from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for a prototype server intended to prevent "friendly fire" incidents. Qinetiq will ally with General Dynamics and Rockwell Collins to provide the MoD with a "Joint Data Network …

    Government 6 Feb 2009, 16:14

  • US sheds 598,000 jobs in January

    Take those IT stats with a large pinch of salt

    They say you can't manage what you don't measure. But what do you do when you don't trust what you are measuring or when you are measuring the wrong thing? This morning, the US Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics announced its jobs report, as it does early every month to provide data on the preceding month. Like most …

    Financial News 6 Feb 2009, 16:46

  • NEC shutters European PC biz

    Server making outsource

    NEC has confirmed that it will shutter its European PC operations. After announcing hefty fiscal Q3 losses and 20,000 worldwide job cuts last week, the Japanese technology conglomerate will also outsource its European server manufacturing. "We presented to our employees yesterday the fact that we intend to exit the notebook …

    The Channel 6 Feb 2009, 18:56

  • Apple banishes Macs to old folks home

    Power G4s and the age of obsolescence

    Apple has quietly declared that Power Mac G4s, Xserve G4s, and the PowerBook G4 are now either "vintage" or "obsolete." These designations make once top-of-the-line but now elderly Macs ineligible for repair at the company's service centers. Also, Apple will no longer provide their users with either parts or documentation. …

    Hardware 6 Feb 2009, 20:06

  • FBI releases pics of low-level suspects in $9m ATM scam

    Payroll card max-out multiplier hack

    The FBI has released pictures of two suspects linked to a multi-million dollar ATM heist. The man and a woman are thought to be street-level accomplices in a global cash machine heist the netted $9m from 130 ATM machines in 49 cities around the globe in a co-ordinated attack that lasted just hours. Investigators reckon the …

    Security 6 Feb 2009, 20:13

  • Intel ships updated Atom chips six months early

    The Next Generation Derivative

    Intel has confirmed it is already shipping the next incarnation of the Atom processor. The chip maker's successor to the near-ubiquitous netbook chip, the N270, is landing in the hands of laptop makers well before the anticipated mid-2009 release. Those presently mulling a netbook purchase may want to hold off for a bit. …

    Hardware 6 Feb 2009, 20:29

  • MySQL chief Mickos quits Sun

    Marten follows Monty

    Former MySQL CEO Marten Mickos is leaving Sun Microsystems, less than a year after Sun paid $1bn for the free-database outfit he helped build. Sun has confirmed his departure a day after MySQL creator Michael "Monty" Widenius said he was finally leaving the company (to start his own restaurant). In an email, a Sun spokeswoman …

    Business 6 Feb 2009, 21:11

  • Geeks.com settles charges claiming its security was crap

    A decade in the stockade

    Geeks.com, a large online seller of computer hardware and software, has agreed to allow federal regulators to monitor its website security for 10 years to settle charges it violated federal laws requiring it to adequately safeguard sensitive customer data. The agreement, which also applies to sister site computergeeks.com, …

    Security 6 Feb 2009, 21:43

  • Salesforce.com president and chief strategy officer departs

    Mass exec exodus?

    The president of Salesforce.com has definitely left the building, and two other high-level execs have reportedly been laid off as well. There may have been a bigger executive shakeup in recent weeks than the San Francisco business software maker has disclosed. The company confirmed its president and chief strategy officer …

    Financial News 6 Feb 2009, 22:08

  • Google shoves ebook monopoly onto iPhone

    Gibberish today. World domination tomorrow

    Google has unleashed its incubating digitized book monopoly onto the iPhone (and iPhone-wannabes running its very own Android OS). Yesterday, the online ad broker announced a mobile version of Google Book Search, boasting that the new service offers over 1.5 million digitized books to Americans still interested in reading …

    Media 6 Feb 2009, 23:54