VIA introduces new dual LAN mobos

VIA Technologies has launched a new series of mini-ITX mobos to be called the EPIA CL-Series. Aimed at the low-end networking or home markets, the boards feature onboard dual LAN, in a small 17 by 17 cm size. VIA says they also have applications in small network operations such as firewalls. ...more

TV courts The Sims

It seems that two TV shows are keen to cash in the on the popularity of Maxis' people simulator, The Sims. First off the blocks is TV comedy The Drew Carey Show, in which an up-and-coming episode sees the eponymous hero in a short scene resembling the game, complete with Sims thought-bubbles. But this is a mere drop in the ocean compared to the plans of another TV production company. ...more

FireWire given Apple leg-up

Growth in the variety and number of FireWire devices available should be on the increase following the release of a new developer kit. Apple has made its FireWire Reference Platform free to developers, following its April acquisition of Zayante, which used to charge for the kit. FireWire is a technology originally developed by Apple to connect various devices to computers and to each other. ...more

Microsoft denies Word exploit claims

Microsoft has dismissed claims that a new vulnerability in Word could be remotely executed. At the end of last week, information about such a vulnerability was posted to the bugtraq list, claiming that proof of concept code was available that could be used to create a Word document that, once opened, would overwrite memory space and allow arbitrary code to be run. The person making the submission suggested that the vulnerability may not be restricted to Word, but might also affect other components in Microsoft's Office suite. ...more

iTunes ID labels are ineffective anti-copying measure

Labelling iTunes downloads with the buyer's ID is not an effective measure against file sharing, two computer scientists and DRM experts have concluded. Ed Felten and Alex Halderman of Princeton University argue that there is no effective method for distinguishing between files that have been deliberately shared and files which have been 'stolen'. A highly probable scenario, Felten and Halderman note, given that more than 10 per cent of PCs are infected by bots that could be directed to swipe iTunes files. ...more