Freeserve's unmetered losses

Internet access isn't the only unmetered aspect of UK internet service provider Freeserve, as it has posted larger than expected losses. Although Freeserve posted a first-quarter revenue increase from the previous quarter's ?7.2m to ?14. ...more

PC Pro review: Elonex Artisan VX correction

Our review of the Artisan VX (see issue 139, p49) stated that its price was ?999 inc VAT. Elonex has since informed us that an internal pricing error was made, and that the actual price is ?1,199 inc VAT. This reduces the value for money score to 4/6, but doesn't prevent it from moving on to our A List - this is still one of the best Media Center PCs on the market. ...more

Flash prices falling further

Prices for flash memory cards, which have been falling recently, are expected to continue declining as more and more companies begin production. Taiwan's DigiTimes reports that in the last few months some manufacturers have switched from DRAM production to more profitable falsh products such as CompactFlash. With Toshiba installing a new flash production line, the increase in supply has led to falling prices as demand has yet to catch up, despite a rise in digital camera shipments. ...more

MS expands its Windows Genuine Advantage programme

Microsoft is expanding its Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) programme to crack down on counterfeit software to scan systems signed up to the scheme for hooky copies. As part of an ongoing Genuine Software Initiative (GSI), the WGA doesn't rely on the user submitting their copy of the operating system for validation against counterfeiting, but rather the user will automatically be notified 'directly to their desktop' that they've wound up with a ringer. This hopefully will motivate the owner to submit it to Microsoft in exchange for a genuine copy along with purchase information that might lead Microsoft to the original vendor. ...more

British hacker steps closer to US extradition

A UK court yesterday approved the extradition to the US of a British man accused of hacking into systems belonging to the Pentagon and NASA. 40-year-old Gary McKinnon from North London is alleged to have hacked into computer systems belonging to the US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, Department of Defense and NASA and viewed and deleted data between February 2001 and March 2002. He is alleged to have caused more than $700,000 in damage. ...more