UPDATED: DoJ calls on AMD and Nvidia for graphics antitrust probe

AMD is familiar with anti-trust spats, but they usually involve Intel and the processor market. The company, however, has now been dragged into an anti-trust suite involving graphics processors and cards. The Sunnyvale chipmaker has received a subpoena from the US Department of Justice (DoJ) Antitrust Division, which is looking into potential antitrust violations in the market. ...more

Details of Real Microsoft handshake emerge

Microsoft and RealNetworks have put their differences aside and agreed a $761mn deal to collaborate in digital music and online gaming. As we reported yesterday Real has dropped all legal claims against Microsoft in return for which it will receive $301mn in cash plus promotional and marketing support of its Rhapsody music store and subscription service and the chance to supply online games through MSN Games and Xbox Live Arcade for the Xbox 360. Microsoft will recoup some of the cash payment through credits based on the number of subscribers that Real gains through MSN and Real has committed to 'taking steps' to support MSN Search. ...more

And also today (25-May-2001), for the record...

Here, in brief, are some of the day's other stories. 64-bit Windows There will be two new versions of Windows specifically for the forthcoming 64-bit Intel Itanium processor. There'll be a 64-bit Windows Advanced Server Limited Edition and a workstation version, Windows XP 64-Bit Edition, which should be appearing with the 32-bit Windows XP desktop offerings at the end of July. ...more

Dells ship in Europe with pre-installed Linux

Dell Computers can now be purchased in Europe with desktop Linux preloaded. Buyers of the Dell Optiplex 170L can now buy the machine with the Linspire (formerly Lindows) 4.5 operating system for as little as 469 Euros (?315) ex. ...more

Sony's rootkit DRM comes under legal attack

An Italian online civil rights organisation has filed a legal complaint against Sony's use of rootkit technology in the DRM protecting a number of its music CDs. The ALCEI-EFI (Association for Freedom in Electronic Interactive Communications - Electronic Frontiers Italy) filed its complaint on Friday to the commander of the Guardia di Finanza, Colonel Umberto Rapetto, alleging the technology contravenes Italian legislation. It claims that knowingly distributing code which damages computer systems is subject to penal law and an 'indictable offence'. ...more