Apple accelerates PowerBooks and iBooks

Apple has revamped its entire portable range, with updates to both the iBook and the PowerBook G4 placing the emphasis on speed. Neither machine has received any cosmetic changes, but specifications have been improved across the board. The PowerBook G4 range comprises a 550MHz 'Fast' and a 667MHz model; both have 256K of level 2 cache running at processor speed and the 667 will gain an significant performance boost from the accelerated system bus running at 133MHz. ...more

Appeals court overturns Intergraph's $150mn win over Intel

Intel's long-running legal dispute with Intergraph has taken another twist, turning back in Intel's favour. The patent case involves the use of technology found within Intel's Itanium server processor. The New York Times reports that a US federal appeals court has overturned a previous district court verdict that found in favour of Intergraph. ...more

Microsoft UK makes certification programme more flexible

Microsoft UK has announced an online mentoring programme for those seeking certification - Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD) and Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) for .NET, to be precise. It is done in conjunction with the training companies Key Training Solutions and KnowledgePool, and the programme will be supported by a 24/7 online tutoring service. ...more

Mobile AMD Duron processors moving into position

AMD's new processor for notebook PCs, the Mobile AMD Duron, is now available. A derivative of the AMD Athlon and AMD Duron processors, it's aimed at "value-conscious" home and business users. The Mobile AMD Duron runs at a lower core voltage than its desktop equivalent and consumes less power. ...more

RIAA victim sues Kazaa

A woman who paid 'compensation' to the US music industry for sharing music files has filed a lawsuit against Sharman Networks, the maker of the Kazaa peer-to-peer software. Catherine Lewan alleges fraudulent misrepresentation, deceptive trade practices and consumer fraud against Sharman, alleging that the company is directly responsible for copyright violations made by Kazaa users. In the Chicago, Illinois court filing, Lewan claims that Sharman 'deceptively' marketed Kazaa to suggest that it allowed free, legal downloads. ...more