CeBIT 2007: Hybrid hard disks will be flash in the pan, says Sandisk

Sandisk has launched a 32GB solid-state hard disk for laptops - and a withering attack on the new breed of hybrid hard disks. The company claims that enterprise customers are 'banging on the door' for its new 2.5in 32GB flash drive, which will initially be sold only to OEMs, but will be made available in retail later this year. ...more

Universal puts 100 movies through the HD DVD mill

Universal Studios Home Entertainment (USHE) is further throwing its weight behind HD DVD, the next-gen DVD format. It plans to release 100 HD DVD film and TV titles in 2007 - including the likes of Scarface and Brokeback Mountain - to increase momentum behind HD DVD. One of the key elements in the battle for dominance between HD DVD and its rival blue-laser format, Blu-ray, is the support of content producers, such as the movie studios. ...more

Microsoft joins race for world digital library

Microsoft is the latest company to venture into the online book search arena, claiming it will not endure the same legal troubles that rival Google has faced. The software giant has joined an alliance called the Open Content Alliance (OCA), along with Yahoo!, Hewlett-Packard and Adobe, which aims to digitise books, academic materials and other publications for online publication reports Reuters. Microsoft has said that it will avoid copyright issues for now by focusing on literature that is already in the public domain. ...more

IBM guns for automated trouble-shooting

IBM has announced further developments in its autonomic computing initiative: new services, software and a partner program. The eventual aim of 'autonomic computing' is for large systems to become more self-managing so they can automatically anticipate, diagnose and correct problems and optimise the processing of varying workloads. The bottom line, of course, is to reduce the need for manual intervention and reduce IT maintenance costs. ...more

ListBot replaced with subscription service

The popular and free mailing list service is to close, and reopen as $149 per year List Builder. Current users of the service have until August to make alternative arrangements, one of which is to subscribe to the replacement List Builder service. The first month will be free, followed by an annual charge of $149. ...more