Hauppauge to set the Pace

Hauppauge has revealed to us it will launch a set-top box to take on the ?99.99 Pace box. Determined to get the box in the shops before the World Cup, Hauppauge's set-top box will also cost ?99. ...more

Microsoft issues VML patch

Microsoft has broken with its usual practice and has issued a patch for the critical zero-day VML vulnerability for Internet Explorer. Normally, any security update is held over until the second Tuesday of every month, which would have been 10 October. In the Microsoft Security Response Center blog, Craig Gehre writes, 'We're in the process of releasing out of band update MS06-055 to address the VML issue. ...more

Joint venture to produce organic displays

Samsung and NEC have announced a joint venture worth 500bn Korean won (?288m) to develop low-power screens for use in mobile devices. The new company, called Samsung NEC Mobile Display, will produce organic electroluminescent (EL) displays - a self-emitting light technology - that don't need background lighting and consume less power. It is also claimed to be faster and more compact than current TFT LCD displays. ...more

US anti-spam laws face first test

In a first test of the recently-enacted Can-Spam legislation in the US, a Californian ISP Hypertouch has filed a lawsuit against BlueStream Media and BVWebTies which owns BobVila.com. 'The Can-Spam Act provides only the most minimal protections to the public,' said Hypertouch President and Founder Joe Wagner. ...more

New Order album debuts on the Web

More usually acknowledged for their groundbreaking contribution to the music scene over the past 20 years, New Order broke new ground on Monday with their next album Get Ready, which is playing on the Internet a week before its UK release and a month ahead of its US release. New Order's record label is part of AOL Time Warner, and it is on the same company's Spinner.com Web site that the album will be streamed via the site's Internet radio service. ...more