Mobiles cause cancer, BT headaches

Mobile phones have come under attack from both scientists and BT, one due to fears about health, the other due to fears about profits. Research from the University of Essen in Germany suggests there may well be a link between cancer and mobile phone use, an assertion previously unsubstantiated by any evidence. The scientists tested a group of people with eye cancer and compared them to a control group of healthy people. ...more

Blu-ray boosts FireWire

The adoption of Blu-ray technology for high-volume data storage will provide a major boost for FireWire, according to the 1394 Trade Association, which oversees development of the high-speed data interface. Consumer electronics companies including Samsung, Sharp and LaCie have already introduced HD-capable FireWire-equipped Blu-ray disc technology. Sharp, for instance, has introduced a Blu-ray recorder equipped with 1394 connectivity for recording high-definition TV programs from its FireWire-equipped TV sets. ...more

Europol wants your data

We ain't seen everything yet. You may be forgiven for thinking the EU's Directive on Telecommunications Privacy gave member state governments enough powers to force communications companies to keep data they may want to look at later, but now Europol has drafted a document that would force companies to do this, whether governments agreed or not. The document came to light thanks to civil liberties groups such as the Electronic Privacy Information Centre and Statewatch. ...more

NTL sees broadband value in local loop unbundling

NTL is planning a major expansion of its ADSL broadband services by unbundling 300 of BT's busiest exchanges. The cable provider has decided that since BT cut the cost of local loop unbundling by 70 per cent DSL is now a more cost effective way of growing the business than widening cable coverage. On completion of the LLU programme, NTL will have added around two million potential customers to the eight million homes currently within reach of its cable network. ...more

Parallels simplifies installation for Windows-on-a-Mac software

Parallels has added a new installation assistant to its Desktop for Mac software that enables Macs to run PC operating systems at the same time as OS X. The assistant provides an 'Express Windows OS Installation Mode' for Windows XP and Windows Vista, which automates the virtual machine set-up and Windows installation processes. Users select which Windows version they plan to use, enter their name, company information and Windows activation key and then installation is completely automated, requiring no user interaction. ...more