Ireland to close digital divide

Ireland has launched an initiative to deliver broadband access to remote areas of the country. In a series of public-private partnerships (PPP), telecommunications companies will take up the challenge to provide a "digital corridor" to link communities across the country. The idea is that hubs in public buildings such as hospitals, schools and clinics will deliver an access point for ordinary people. ...more

NTL launches PS2 broadband package

NTL has launched a service for PS2 users who want to share a broadband connection between their computer and the gaming console. Online network gaming for the PS2 was introduced in the UK earlier this month - Interview: PS2 Online hits UK. The NTL service provides gamers with a 600K or 1Mbit cable broadband connection, all the necessary hardware and access to its Broadband Consoles support team, for ?29. ...more

Gates tees off CES

Gates' pre-show keynote previewed new versions of MSN and Microsoft's pervasive plans for an assault on the CE world. The first indication of the new shape Microsoft intends to take came in the introduction from show organiser Gary Shapiro who described Microsoft as 'a company that is a chief player in the consumer electronic space'. This is patently untrue, but for how long? Gates stepped up to reveal plans for Microsoft's developments for TVs, speech recognition capabilities, software in cars, watches, set-top boxes and demonstrated the Portable Media Center from Creative as well as new versions of MSN. ...more

SOAP 1.2 becomes a W3C Recommendation

The W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) has issued a new standard for communicating data over the Internet - the specification for SOAP 1.2. Backed by the likes of Microsoft and IBM, SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) uses use XML to present the 'logic' of data across the communication networks. ...more

Kodak focuses in the dark

Kodak has launched a consumer digital camera with a new dual-sensor system that allows fast focus in low light conditions. The EasyShare DX6340 will cost ?249 inc VAT and Kodak claims the new technology 'allows focus lock in almost total darkness'. This is achieved using an external sensor that measures contrast and another TTL (through the lens) sensor that can quickly define the subject of the shot. ...more