Apple reassures over Boot Camp warranty concerns

Apple has assured Intel Mac users that installing Boot Camp will not invalidate the warranty on their machines. 'Installing Boot Camp does not invalidate your Apple warranty,' a spokesperson for Apple UK confirmed, thus nixing claims that had begun circulating on its own tech support discussion boards. Staff at Apple's retail stores had told some users that installing Boot Camp would negate the warranty on their MacBook Pros. ...more

Hollywood gives up on DVD Jon

Norwegian police, acting on behalf of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), have decided not to appeal the court acquittal of 'DVD Jon'. This brings to a close the case that the movie houses hoped would set a legal precedent on circumventing DVD protection. Twenty-year-old Jon Johansen found himself at the wrong end of the MPAA lawsuit when, at the age of 15, he wrote the DeCSS program that allowed him to watch his DVD movies on his computer, and which was later published online. ...more

Ofcom slams proposed EU broadcast video directive

The UK communications watchdog Ofcom has thrown its weight behind criticism of the move to regulate new video services over the Internet. A study carried out by RAND Europe and commissioned by Ofcom warns that Europe may miss out on new industries if it moves to regulate too soon. The European Commission is currently considering a new directive to member states that would extend regulation currently applied to TV to all 'video' services, defined as those whose principal purpose is the provision of moving images. ...more

UK one of only five to make EU's communications deadline

The UK, along with Ireland, Finland, Denmark and Sweden are the only five countries in the EU to make today's deadline for implementing electronic communications directives into national law. Although we are in the clear, the European Commission is going to put the heat on tardy territories, threatening 'infringement proceedings if action is not taken rapidly'. Italy looks likely to be fashionably late, but seems to have charmed the EU into accepting a date of 31 July for its compliance. ...more

Vodafone fanfare for ten new 3G handsets

Vodafone has come out fighting in the crucial Christmas battle for 3G market share. The company has announced that it is to introduce no less than 10 new mobile phones over the coming months. The company is to introduce range of new handsets from of the world's biggest manufacturers: two each from Sharp and Samsung, three from Motorola and one each from Sony Ericsson, NEC, Nokia. ...more