Microsoft eyes business process management with BizTalk

Microsoft has announced the imminent release of BizTalk Server 2004. Part of the Windows Server family, it is business automation software that covers business to business communications, application integration and business process management (BPM). Applications built with BizTalk Server 2004 run on the Microsoft . ...more

NEC looks forward to next-gen DVD

With the imminent release of 16-speed DVD write speeds and dual-layer DVD recorders already on the market, the DVD optical format will soon max out, paving the way for next generation blue laser products. But if you can't wait for a 16-speed drive, Andrew Wyllie, product manager of NEC's Business Equipment Division, told us that current 12-speed drives are something to be wary of. He said that the speed was never made official by the DVD Alliance or DVD Forum - the consortiums behind the + and - formats, respectively. ...more

HP in dock over claims of ink cartridge scam

A woman in the US is suing HP, alleging that its ink jet cartridges are designed to expire by a certain date, whether or not they have been installed in a printer. According to a report from Reuters, the suit, filed in the Santa Clara Superior Court in California says 'The smart chip is dually engineered to prematurely register ink depletion and to render a cartridge unusable through the use of a built-in expiration date that is not revealed to the consumer'. The cartridges have a sensor inside them which are designed to detect when the ink reservoir is low and alert the consumer to buy a replacement. ...more

SanDisk MP3 players back on show

A German court has lifted an injunction on SanDisk MP3 players, allowing the company to replace the portable devices on its stand at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin. Earlier this week it was ordered to clear the stand after an Italian patent licensing firm secured the injunction. Sisvel claimed that the players violate patents on MP3 technology that it licenses on behalf of a number of other companies. ...more

Sony beams in new Cli

Sony's new Cli? T415 handheld will boast an application that allows you to use the PDA as a remote controller for your TV, DVD and VCR players. The Cli? Remote Commander application allows users to control most currently-available home entertainment systems from up to 5m via infrared, with preset programs for many. Expected to retail for around $300, the T415 uses Palm OS 4. ...more