Fetch 4 released

The Mac-based FTP management program Fetch has been upgraded and carbonized for OS X. The upgrade incorporates a 'long list' of new features including: compatibility with the Mac OS from System 7 to OS X; one-click website updating; drag and drop transfers between servers; remote text and image file origination and editing with BBEdit and Graphic Converter; extended proxy server and security support; image, sound and movie preview; resume-able downloads; and folder size calculation. Fetch is the most popular file transfer application on the Mac, but remains cheap - just $25 for a single-user licence and free for charities and education. ...more

IT firms lead the surge in new UK patents

IT companies led the way in a surge of new patents in Britain in 2003 according to the UK patent office. Last year, the UK Patent Office granted 9,761 patents compared to 8,693 in 2002, a rise of 12 per cent. Leading the field with a total of 209 granted patents was NEC, followed by Hewlett Packard at 196. ...more

AOL to stream Live8 concerts

AOL will stream all five Live8 concerts which take around the world on Saturday 2 July. The concert is the high point of the Make Poverty History Campaign, which aims to persuade the leaders of the developed world to cancel the debts of poorer countries. The live streams will be broadcast at www. ...more

Aibo catches disco fever with software upgrade

The Sony robot dog Aibo has got a software upgrade. The metallic mutt can now play MP3 tunes and dance on command as well as organise your life for you. The latest version of the Mind software features a new range of functions alongside the Aibo Entertainment Player (AEP). ...more

Broadband round-up: optical-to-copper, fastest ADSL, Cable growth

ADSLGuide has published details of BT's progress towards providing ADSL broadband at exchanges that currently use fibre optic (TPON) phone lines. TPON exchanges cannot currently supply broadband, and BT has gradually been installing alternative copper wired connections in order to provide ADSL in these areas. The full list of exchanges, comprising those already upgraded and dates for the others is reproduced here. ...more