Microsoft claims EU censure could mean substandard Windows

Microsoft has insisted that if the EU rules that Windows Media Player must be removed from PCs it will result in a 'substandard' Windows. Giving evidence at the European Commissions enquiry into alleged anti-competitive practices, the company 'ruled out removing Media Player from Windows as part of any settlement', according to Reuters. Microsoft's hardline stance would appear to make an out-of-court settlement unlikely. ...more

COMMENT: Cocoa confusion

When is a Mac not a Mac? When it's running a Cocoa app. A contentious statement maybe, but Cocoa applications can make OS X behave quite differently to its predecessors - behaviour we shall call, with a nod to Apple's 1984 Big Brother ad, unMacwise. Cocoa applications are those built to run exclusively in OS X using Apple's API (application programming interface), TextEdit - which is free with OS X - being one example. ...more

Compaq evolves new business range

From beige box to streamlined access device, this is the intended "Evo"-lution of Compaq's offerings for business users - the new Evo range. With the gradual retirement of its current commercial PC products - such as the Armada, Deskpro, iPAQ Desktop, Professional Workstation and Thin Client lines - Compaq has launched its new Evo range. It comprises Evo notebook systems, Evo thin clients and Evo workstation models. ...more

Windows XP updated

Windows XP is made more open for third-party applications, in the wake of the proposed Microsoft anti-trust settlement. Today sees the official release of Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), a bundle of updates and bug fixes for Microsoft's flagship Windows operating system. As well as a host of security patches, the changes to the OS are part of the proposed anti-trust settlement reached with the US Justice department and nine states back in November 2001. ...more

UK gains 30,000 broadband sign ups a week

There are nearly 30,000 new broadband connections made every week, according to new Oftel figures. With PC and Internet connection penetration remaining static at 53 per cent and 42 per cent respectively, the switch seems to be driven by those upgrading from an unmetered narrowband package (48 per cent). The UK now has more than 1. ...more