IBM cautious over desktop plans

Despite IBM attending the Desktop Linux Conference in Boston to talk up Linux on the desktop, its plans for offering such a product remain cautious. The company told us: 'While interest in Linux on the desktop has been accelerating, the interest has mostly resulted in discussions with customers regarding options, with a limited number of technology assessments, and even less in actual deployments.' At the show Sam Docknevich of IBM's Global Services group gave a speech entitled: 'The Time is Now for Linux on the Desktop'. ...more

YouTube battles against illicit content

A Brazilian court has ordered the video-sharing site YouTube to take down any instances of a racy clip showing Ronaldo's ex-wife Daniela Cicarelli, filmed secretly on a a beach, or face daily fines. The suit had been filed numerous times, with the most recent seeking that Google-owned YouTube be shut down if copies of the video clip on YouTube were not removed. Despite attempts to remove instances of the clip when the suit was first filed in September, its popularity has meant that users have uploaded it over and over again. ...more

iPod set for Redmond rival?

Microsoft is working on plans to develop its own rival to the iPod, a departure from its current strategy of concentrating on developing media player software for other manufacturers, BusinessWeek reports. Presumably Redmond has tired of the failure of Apple's rivals to make any significant inroads into the iPod's huge market share. Contrary to industry expectations, Apple's dominance of the digital media market is growing and, as BusinessWeek notes, Apple's so-far successful venture into video has given Redmond little option if it is not going to surrender the living room - where many see the future of computing going - to its rival. ...more

UK top for mobile downloads

UK music fans are Europe's biggest mobile downloaders. Twelve per cent of UK consumers play music on their mobiles, more than anywhere else on the continent, according to figures released by the UK music industry trade association, the BPI. Up to 1. ...more

Legal P2P radio gets cash boost

The P2P internet radio company Mercora has landed $5 million worth of venture capital funding. The company says it plans to use the money to expand its team and range of services. Using the Mercora software, anyone can be a radio station. ...more