The family Treo

Handspring has announced the Treo line of handheld terminals, which boasts an integrated GSM phone. The PDAs will let you make phone calls and send SMS messages, as well as browse the Web and send and receive POP3 account emails. All the usual mobile phone utilities are there too: you can conference call, there's a hands-free option, and you can even dial two numbers for a three-way call. ...more

eBay loses battle over online auctions patent

Online auction company eBay has lost its long running battle against MercExchange over who owns the patent for running auctions online. The judgment strikes at the heart of eBay's business and the company was quick to announce it would appeal. The case was brought by an electrical engineer called Thomas Woolston. ...more

Netscape updated

Netscape has updated its eponymous Web browser. The apparently minor update has four new features: control over pop-up windows, tab grouping, AOL Mail and improved security Pop-up window controls let you suppress pop-up ads. The home page group feature lets you automatically open several of your favorite pages as tabs when starting Netscape. ...more

The weekly roundup - Friday 13 April

Keep abreast of the news with our weekly roundup of the week's main tech stories. Lots of processor news this week. Intel updated its Core 2 quad-core range with a chip aimed squarely at enthusiasts, the Intel Core 2 Extreme processor QX6800, and AMD slashed pricing on its Athlon and Sempron ranges. ...more

Intel buys Xircom

Intel has bought Xircom, manufacturer of mobile PC kit, for $748m (?500m). US firm Xircom is possibly best known in this country for its PC card modems and its existing catalogue of network and communications equipment will help Intel break into the market. Xircom will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Intel. ...more