Intel to invest $200m in digital home networking

Intel has announced it will create a $200m fund to invest in digital home networking. Specifically, the fund - which will be managed by Intel Capital - will invest in third-party companies developing new technologies in this area. Managing digital content around the home - including music, photos and video - has long been a focus of Intel as part of its wireless strategy (see a keynote at a recent IDF from Louis Burns, general manager of Intel's Desktop Platforms Group). ...more

Linux success for Xserve RAID

An Australian university has coupled six Xserve RAID systems with its 130-strong Linux server cluster, despite scepticism from Apple about whether it would ever work. LinuxWorld reports that the university opted for the Apple RAIDs after evaluating a number of alternatives. However none could match the price and performance of the Xserve system. ...more

Poisoned DNS opens new line of attack for pharmers

Hackers are using a new tactic when it comes to convince people to part with personal information. Criminals are using a known vulnerability in some older Symantec corporate products to redirect legitimate URL requests to spoofed sites - a process known as 'pharming'. The new technique uses DNS cache poisoning to redirect the request. ...more

Music stores face closure of Microsoft DRM programme - reports

Microsoft is planning to cease development of the PlaysForSure DRM technology that it provides to online music stores and portable player manufacturers, according to reports. According to reports coming out of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Microsoft will concentrate exclusively on its Zune platform, which is not compatible with PlaysForSure. Microsoft has neither confirmed or denied the reports, which draw on comments made by an executive for one unnamed music service and have been confirmed by others in the industry. ...more

Top five ISPs dominate UK broadband provision

Just five ISPs account for 88 per cent of the UK broadband market, following the series of high-profile acquisitions that have taken place of late. In June 2006, 10 providers shared 82 per cent of the market between them. Of those 10, Telewest and Virgin have since merged and AOL has been absorbed by Carphone Warehouse, while BT and Tiscali have both expanded their user bases with the acquisitions of PlusNet and HomeChoice respectively. ...more