T-Mobile bails out of mobile payment venture

A consortium of mobile phone network operators has had to shelve plans for a pan-European wireless payments system after T-Mobile withdrew its support. Simpay, a joint operation between T-Mobile, Orange, Telefonica Moviles and Vodafone was hoping to establish a single payment system for m-commerce transactions that would enable mobile device users to buy goods and services from any network provider in any country. The service was primarily designed to facilitate small purchases up to between 10 and 12 Euros. ...more

There's life in the old Atari

You can be sure that you'll find computers in some odd places, but it comes as an even bigger surprise when you find an odd computer in a regular place. A modern hospital is a place where you'd expect to find loads of computer equipment, but prepare to set your faces to stunned after a visit to the Web site here. It details how one Czech Republic hospital is using an old Atari 800XL in the children's cardiocenter. ...more

UK games chart: Super Mario reigns in Mushroom Kingdom

Nintendo's New Super Mario Bros, for the DS, holds the top spot in this week's ELSPA games chart, with old Super Mario still travelling across Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Peach. Completing the top three is Activision's movie spin-off, Over the Hedge (DS, GBA, GC, PC, PS2, Xb), up from four to two, and EA Sports' FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 (PC, PS2, Xbox and Xb360). Another movie making an impact on the chart - straight in at five - is Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. ...more

Bangkok ban for browsing

Thai government deems Internet caf?s a bad influence for the young... ...more

Apple to patent athletic iPod tech

For any athletic avante-garde jazz fans that struggle with matching a 13:7 beat on a three-mile jog, Apple may have the answer. According to patent number 20060107822, for which Apple Computer has applied, a handheld device - read iPod - would contain technology able to monitor a user's body motion or heart rate rhythms and pick out music with an appropriate tempo. Alternatively, your iPod could even control the tempo of the music, ensuring that all the music you listen to while exercising plays at the same pace. ...more