Apple merges the iPod and iPod photo line-ups

Apple has merged the iPod and iPod photo line-ups into a single range, all with colour displays for viewing album artwork and photos, and playing slideshows. The iPod photo name has been dropped. The simplified iPod lineup features a 20GB model, for ?209 and a 60GB model for ?299, ?10 cheaper than before. ...more

Dat Lego's got it taped

Toys build a place in the automated backup market. A Macintosh enthusiast has built a DAT backup tape loading system out of Lego. The Lego DAT Tape Loader is claimed to work with Mac OS 9, X and Linux, and is controlled by backup software such as Retrospect and other script-supporting programs. ...more

Microsoft and the EU square up for new battle over source code

Microsoft and the European Union look to be squaring up for another battle in what is becoming a trial of strength. On the one hand, the EU is trying to get what it sees as a monopolist trying to evade the penalties imposed on it. On the other hand, Microsoft is waging a PR battle to show that it is a good corporate citizen. ...more

Email to be standard on mobile phones by 2008

Email will become a standard application on mobile phones and other wireless hand held devices by the end of 2008 according to Gartner. The research analysts warned that both IT departments and mobile telcos need to be prepared to prepare now to manage the change. 'Operators are reluctant to permit widespread messaging access to their networks without collecting fees from those who send such messages, such as spam,' said Ken Dulaney, vice president and analyst at Gartner. ...more

Vodafone live! living up to expectations

Vodafone has announced that it has signed up 380,000 customers and is on target for a million users. Vodafone has announced that it has signed up 380,000 customers for its live! service, which offers picture messaging, games and other multimedia services through a mobile handset, in the two months following its 31 October launch. Sir Christopher Gent, Chief Executive, said: 'In the first two months of Vodafone live!, we have achieved over 380,000 customers across eight markets and are on track to achieve our target of a million sales to customers by the end of March. ...more