Intel unwraps value chips

Celeron chips clocked at 900Mhz and a mobile version at 850Mhz are now available, hard on the heels of the 1.8Ghz and 1.6Ghz P4 releases. ...more

Drivers on the phone face penalty points

From today, new laws governing the use of mobile phones in cars come into force. Drivers caught using mobile phones while driving now face an endorsable fine of ?60 and three points on their licence under Section 26 of the Road Safety Act 2007. Previously, the offence was punishable by a fixed penalty of ?30. ...more

Apple denies all-clear for Foxconn's iPod plant

Apple has refuted claims that its has cleared Foxconn's iPod manufacturing facility in Longhua, China of any breaches of its supplier code of conduct. A Chinese website reported last week that the plant had received a clean bill of health after the audit, which was prompted by allegations of extremely poor working conditions made by the UK's Mail on Sunday newspaper. But Apple said the investigation has yet to be completed. ...more

Microsoft launches beefier Vista beta

The latest version of Windows Vista, the next generation operation system from Redmond, has been released. Described as 'feature complete', the main elements of note in this release are improved deployment functionality and desktop management features. There's also the Windows Sidebar and Gadgets (customizable mini-applications designed to provide information at a glance, much like the Widgets in OS X) and the Welcome Center (a new start-up feature to simplify setup tasks, such as adding user accounts, transferring files and settings). ...more

Ripping music for iPods is not fair use - RIAA

Ripping music from CDs and transferring it to an iPod does not constitute fair use, according to a document filed by the major record companies. In a filing to the US Copyright Office, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) attempts to undo a statement it made in court during the recent successful prosecution of the Grokster p2p company. In court RIAA lawyer Don Verrilli said: 'The record companies have said, for some time now, and it's been on their website for some time now, that it's perfectly lawful to take a CD that you've purchased, upload it onto your computer, put it onto your iPod. ...more