GNOME emerges with new Nautilus

There's a new version of the popular Linux desktop environment, GNOME. Version 2.2 sees a redesigned interface and new applications, as well as improved performance and accessibility support. ...more

European DVD prices investigated

A transcript of a speech given by Mario Monti, European Commissioner for Competition Policy, suggests the EC will be investigating the pricing of region-coded DVD discs. At issue is whether the coding is allowing "the film production companies to charge higher DVD prices in the EU because EU consumers are artificially prevented from purchasing DVDs from overseas." The investigation follows several consumer complaints on the matter. ...more

Code Red Internet worm update

Rare display of admin action saves the day. The Internet worm, known as Code Red, threatened to destroy the Internet earlier this week - or rather, security experts threatened that it would. But those same experts now claim that their warnings were timely and helped cauterise the flow of the program's probes. ...more

Microsoft fixes image handling flaw in latest monthly security bulletin

Microsoft has included two critical patches in its January security bulletin closing up holes in its browser and operating system software. The patches fix an HTML Help ActiveX control Cross Domain Vulnerability and an error in the way Windows handles cursor and icon images. Left unpatched, Windows systems would be open to attack if the owners could be persuaded to view specially modified websites or email messages. ...more

Pocket PC 2003 becomes Windows Mobile

What's new in Microsoft's updated OS and what it means in practice With its new snappy title of Windows Mobile 2003 software for Pocket PCs, Microsoft has four key 'visions' for Pocket PC 2003 (PPC 2003): to make it easier for manufacturers to innovate; to improve the 'wireless experience'; to bring easy instant messaging to the PDA; and to enrich and expand the 'media experience'. As you can see from our first and exclusive meeting with a PPC 2003 device, the iPAQ H5550, in this month's PC Pro, not all of these visions will be met instantly, but things could get very interesting in the coming year. The first thing to look forward to is new hardware designs. ...more