Microsoft turns to colour for data-rich barcodes

The International Standard Audiovisual Number International Agency (ISAN-IA) has agreed to license the new High Capacity Color Barcode (HCCB) technology developed by Microsoft to aid the identification of commercial audiovisual works such as movies, video games, broadcasts, digital video recordings and other media. Current ISAN codes allow an audiovisual work to be uniquely distinguished from other works through a simple identification system, but they do not allow additional features or functions to be incorporated. The multicoloured HCCB identifier allows more data to be included in the barcode, data which consumers can access by scanning the code with webcams and, eventually, mobile phones equipped with colour cameras. ...more

AMD seeking 600,000 documents for EC Intel probe

AMD is taking Intel to the US Supreme Court today in a bid to release some 600,000 pages of documents. AMD plans to turn the documents over to the European Commission as part of its claim that Intel has engaged in anti-competitive behaviour. The case before the Supreme Court concerns a law that allows the US courts to make documents available to foreign courts. ...more

iTunes movie sales swell Disney's coffers

Disney revealed yesterday that it has sold almost half a million films through Apple's iTunes Store in the two months since launch. That equates to $4 million in revenue, keeping the studio on course to reach the $50 million in additional income that it predicted after reaping $1 million in the first week of online movie sales. The company announced plans to expand its iTunes offerings, adding both the year's best-selling title, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - and the best-selling animated feature - Cars. ...more

IT consultants pursue the fight against IR35

A High Court action begins today for the overturn of the IR35 tax law. The Professional Contractors Group (PCG) is claiming that the new tax law contravenes the Human Rights Act, which came into force last week. The court hearing is to decide if the group should be allowed to proceed towards achieving a judicial review of whether IR35 is lawful. ...more

Spam's demise proves unfounded

Bill Gates' prediction, two years ago, that spam would be obsolete by today has proved untrue. In an incredible act of defiance, spam appears to have ignored The Chief Software Architect. According to UK security company Sophos, spam continues to hamper inboxes at levels of around 70 per cent for received email. ...more