DesignIT 2007 challenges IT pros

It's a chance for IT professionals to show their creative side, and it's charities that benefit. The DesignIT 2007 challenge was launched last night, with three charities - the NSPCC, Global Action Plan and Leonard Cheshire - setting the problems they hope the IT community will help surmount. Examples of the charity challenges include: how can IT help redesign or develop a web service that allows people to calculate their carbon footprint (Global Action Plan)? How can IT help a small scale local arts and crafts shop to benefit from the increased interest in local produce (Leonard Cheshire)? And how can IT provide a mechanism that would validate a user across a number of different media channels, helping to make younger users safer online (NSPCC)? The competition is sponsored by Microsoft and the head of its UK Server Product team, Bruce Lynn, officially launched the event, highlighting a usually unseen side of IT pros: their creativity. ...more

Murdoch makes his presence felt on the Web

Media magnate Rupert Murdoch is in an expansive mood when it comes to his Internet properties. Speaking to an audience in New York, Murdoch predicted that MySpace Video will overtake the market leader YouTube in 60 to 70 days. This is a big claim given that only two months ago YouTube said it was serving 100 million clips a day and claimed to account for 60 per cent of all videos watched on the Web. ...more

MeanFiddler to sell downloads of live music performances

The UK's biggest live music venue owner has begun selling downloads of recordings of live performances. Music from artists signed to Universal records - such as Dido and the Scissor Sisters - will be available, subject to the performers' consent, following a deal between the label and the Mean Fiddler. The music promoter is set to launch MeanTunes. ...more

BT goes Bluetooth with the Prelude 200 home phone

BT has unveiled its Christmas product line up, introducing its first Bluetooth phone for the home and a hands-free whiteboard. The first Bluetooth phone is the BT Prelude 200 which can be paired with up to four other Bluetooth devices, such as mobiles or PDAs. This lets you dial from a remote device through the landline, answer mobile calls on your home phone and sync phone numbers between the various devices. ...more

IBM releases new 1.7GHz PCs

IBM has announced 17 PCs based on Intel's new 1.7GHz Pentium 4 processor. The new models include five IntelliStation M Pro workstations and 12 NetVista A60 (pictured) business and A60i home desktop systems. ...more