Gun crime targeted by new police database

Police forces in England and Wales have a new weapon in the fight against gun crime with the launch of the National Firearms Forensic Intelligence Database (NFFID). The aim (!) of the NFFID is to provide automated comparison system of items, such as cartridges, using information now held in one central point so that guns used in crimes nationally can be linked together. Previously such comparisons could only take place locally. ...more

Schools to get up to 37 per cent savings on Microsoft software

The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, with Microsoft to offer software to schools with up to 37 per cent savings. The deal is expected to save up to ?46 million over three years in English schools with another ?2.5 to ?3. ...more

'Home users should buy Macs' - Sophos

Security firm Sophos is suggesting that users who are concerned about the security of their systems should consider switching to a Mac. 'Macs will continue to be the safer place for computer users for some time to come - something that home users may wish to consider if they're deliberating about the next computer they should purchase' stated Sophos's senior technology consultant, Graham Cluley. The July update of the Sophos Security Threat Management Report notes that while the first malware for Mac OS X was detected in February 2006, it has not spread in the wild and was not the beginning of serious attention from the world's virus authors. ...more

Votes trickle in on BT's broadband-ometer

Encouragement for BT to broadband-enable exchanges - in the form of its online registration scheme - has yet to be reflected in the publicly-displayed totals. BT says full ISP data has yet to filter through.. ...more

AMD advances into Mexico with its 50x15 initiative

AMD is advancing with its 50x15 initiative, to bring affordable Internet access for 50 percent of the world's population by the year 2015. It has announced a deal with Telmex, a Mexican telco, to supply Personal Internet Communicator (PIC) devices across Mexico. Developed by AMD, the Telmex Internet Box - as it will be dubbed - will provide Internet access and involve hardware and software support. ...more