Visions of Vista versions surface

Speculation is circling the Internet over the versions of Windows Vista to be released by Microsoft. The story originated from a temporary posting by Microsoft of a Windows Vista help page. Eagle-eyed Microsoft watchers noted that it detailed six core Vista versions, along with two 'N' editions (Media Player-less versions - to conform with the European anti-trust settlement). ...more

Half Viagra on Internet fake, shock

Almost half the Viagra available on the Internet is fake according to British pharmacists. Analysis of a range of tablets bought online were not the genuine product from Pfizer but either contained a lower dose of the active ingredient or different chemicals entirely. he British Pharmaceutical Conference: 'On our initial estimate, around half of those Viagra samples could be counterfeit'. ...more

Microsoft tries out beta speech

Microsoft has updated its .Net Speech family of products. In a bid to make speech technology more mainstream, Microsoft has announced a new speech software SDK (software development kit), a Joint Development Program for larger businesses implanting speech-based applications and a technical preview of its . ...more

SIM card to credit card

Edinburgh-based software company Aspects Software has secured ?12m in funding to develop secure SIM cards allowing mobile users to pay for things using their handsets. The SecureSIM card is a product of mobEcom, a subsidiary of Aspects Software, and boasts a security level meeting the European standard ITSEC E6(H), which brings it in line with other credit, debit and charge products such as MasterCard and American Express. Users will not only be able to buy products at the touch of a button, but also pay their own phone bills and put credit on the handset they are using. ...more

SCO invites open source people to 'monetize' Linux

In an open letter, SCO boss Darl McBride has publicly berated the open source community for the extended denial of service attacks on the SCO website and called on the community to shun its 'counter-cultural ideals' and join the company in its bid to 'monetize software technology and its underlying intellectual property for all contributors'. Although McBride used much of the letter to justify SCO's intention to charge a licence for its code that it claims is contained in Linux and to vent his anger at the community closing ranks round whoever is assailing the SCO site with DDOS attacks, the underlying message was for Linux contributors to follow SCO's lead. 'It's time for everyone else in the industry, individuals and small corporations, to understand [that few open source software vendors are profitable] and to implement our own business models - something that keeps us alive and profitable,' he wrote. ...more