Record annual fall in US music sales

The US music industry experienced its largest annual fall in revenues last year, despite a sharp increase in the sales of digital music. Figures from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) show a 13 per cent fall in the value of CD sales in 2006. Individual download revenues increased by 60 per cent while album sales doubled, but the net result was a revenue decline of 6. ...more

Computer Misuse Act crumbles as DoS attacker walks free

The venerable Computer Misuse Act (CMA) crumbled on Tuesday as a teenager accused of sending millions of emails to a former employer walked free. District Judge Kenneth Grant of Wimbledon Magistrates Court ruled that the sending of some five million emails in order to take down an email server did not constitute unauthorised access or modification of computer systems, with which he was charged. The Judge concluded that this set the precedent that Denial Of Service attacks of this nature did not contravene the CMA, which, now 15 years old, was never concieved to deal with this type of threat. ...more

BBC to poll overseas visitors on site ads

The BBC is to conduct a poll among overseas visitors to its website to ask whether international versions of the site should carry advertising. The BBC says that approximately a third of the 3.5 million visitors to the bbc. ...more

Price Check: Multifunction devices

You can get a combined printer, scanner and copier at some pretty keen prices these days. But for the home user, and even small offices, that means a lot of clutter. Especially now that you can get all-in-ones with a respectable performance in all areas, as well as a low price tag. ...more

Works Suite 2004 geared for October launch

Microsoft's Works Suite 2004 is set for launch 3 October, with new editions of every application except Word and Works. Personal productivity app Works 7.0 and Word 2002 remain unchanged in Microsoft's suite of office software for the home, but Money, Encarta, Picture It!, and AutoRoute all come clad in 2004 attire. ...more