ICANN releases automatic domain checking toolkit

ICANN has released a new toolkit for website designers and software application developers that automatically adds support for new top-level domains (TLDs), including those created since 2001 and any new ones that may be introduced in the future. The organisation, which oversees the domain name system of Internet addresses notes that in addition to the original .com and . ...more

iSuppli: Reckoning the Xbox bill of materials

It's not news that Microsoft and Sony don't make money on console hardware, but iSupply have provided the exact figures in a 'teardown' analysis of the latest Xbox 360 console. The research company calculates that Microsoft does indeed price the product well below the total bill-of-material (BOM) costs of the components. Specifically, the total cost for the Xbox 360 Premium reaches $525, which is well above the retail price of $399. ...more

Webbies reward social networking

The annual Webby awards have recognised the trend towards social networking and web applications. Overall, (as they say at the Oscars) it was also a good night for the Brits which clearly had nothing to do with the fact that TV chef Jamie Oliver and David Bowie were among the judges as well as Simpsons creator Matt Groening. The Webbies, now in their tenth year, are seen as the online equivalent of the Oscars. ...more

Microsoft makes push email push

Software giant Microsoft is launching its long awaited assault on the push email market with a series of announcements. Along with the long awaited release of its push email software, the company has signed a number of deals with some of the major players in mobile technology including Vodafone and T-Mobile. A number of mobile telcos including Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone will be offering free upgrades to the Messaging and Security Feature Pack (MSFP) for all their Windows Mobile 5. ...more

Microsoft defends RSS rebranding

Microsoft has defended its decision to rebrand RSS feeds in the forthcoming release of Internet Explorer 7 after accusations that it is trying to 'reinvent the technology'. Having watched RSS blossom from a bloggers' tool into a key component of rival browsers Firefox and Safari, Microsoft has embraced the technology, although its implentation will be known as Web Feeds. With good reason claims MSN Spaces lead program manager Mike Torres in his blog, because Microsoft is adding additional functionality to the underlying RSS technology. ...more