MSN blocks 2.4bn spam emails a day

MSN has started taking antispam measures seriously of late and is now blocking 2.4bn of the blighters a day. But when you consider that this figure is 80 per cent of all messages to MSN servers, you have to ask why the company hadn't got round to doing this before. ...more

IBM embraces wireless technology

IBM is to launch the first laptop with in-built antennas for wireless Internet connections. The idea is that this technology will replace current Ethernet connections used by office and school computer networks. The wireless technology has been available for some time, but this is the first time that it has been adapted and built into a laptop. ...more

US record industry pressured to own up on wholesale track costs

The US record industry is resisting an attempt to force it to reveal the wholesale prices that it charges for digital music tracks. The Recording Industry Association of America has refused to comply with a judge's order that they pass the information to an attorney defending Marie Lindor, who it is suing for allegedly sharing copyright music files. According to Lindor's attorney, Ray Beckerman, the RIAA will only supply the data if he commits to keeping it confidential. ...more

Games companies face multi-billion dollar lawsuit

Linda Sanders, wife of teacher and Columbine massacre victim Dave Sanders, has filed a multi-billion dollar class-action lawsuit against a total of 25 media companies, many of which are related directly to the manufacture and distribution of video computer games. The lawsuit, which has been instigated by Mrs Sanders and her two stepdaughters, comes just hours after many relatives of the Columbine massacre victims had settled legal claims against the parents of the two teenage killers involved, Harris and Klebold. Essentially, the suit claims that the school massacre would never have happened if it hadn't been for the violent and "influential" imagery seen by both Klebold and Harris. ...more

Internet Explorer 7 heading for Automatic Update distribution

Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7 will be distributed as a 'high priority update via Automatic Updates' (AU), according to an announcement made in the IE7 developers' blog. It says that IE7 will ship in Windows XP in Q4 of this year, shortly followed by AU distribution to all 'genuine Windows customers'. Installation of the new browser will not be compulsory. ...more