Web services the Kylix way

With an emphasis on delivering Web services, Borland has updated its Linux-based development system, Kylix. New features in Kylix 2 include BizSnap for quickly generating e-business applications, WebSnap for creating database driven Web application servers, and DataSnap for interfacing to databases from the likes of Oracle, Informix, and IBM. The rapid application development (RAD) system is available in three editions: Enterprise ($1,999), Professional ($249) and Open. ...more

Microsoft to bundle anti-virus scanning into its monthly security bulletins

Microsoft's next monthly security bulletin will include its first foray into antivirus software since its buy of Romanian antivirus company GeCAD 18 months ago. Next Tuesday, 11 January, the security bulletin will include the Microsoft Windows malicious software removal tool. Essentially a cumulative patch of the past year's scanning utilities built to detect common viruses such as Blaster, MyDoom and Download. ...more

EMI starts European-wide music download service

In this post-Napster era, EMI is bidding to generate sales from music downloads. More than 140,000 tracks from 3,000 performers will feature in a new programme for selling music online. EMI describes it as the biggest ever European music download initiative to be carried out by a record company. ...more

Dixons profits low, expectations high

Dixons posted its half year results yesterday, and they were lower than expected in spite of strong Christmas sales and the offloading of ISP Freeserve. Operating profits, at ?74.2m, grew just one per cent, and turnover for Dixons and its subsidiaries Currys and PC World, increased 27 per cent to ?2. ...more

The 'cost conscious' get faster

AMD has upped the speed of the Duron, its processor for the 'mainstream' desktop market. Now clocking 1.3GHz, the new Duron - optimised for Windows XP and supporting Double Data Rate (DDR) memory - is priced at $118 in 1,000-unit quantities The release follows that of the Athlon 2000+, which hit the 'virtual' 2GHz mark hot on the heels of Intel pushing out its 2. ...more