Harry Potter does wizard business for Amazon

'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' has totalled up a record 875,000 advance orders worldwide on Amazon. This beats the previous best pre-release order of - wouldn't you know it? - 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' - which only totalled a mere 410,000 copies. Forests are being felled as you read this. ...more

Cinema 4D cuts cost of 3D

The new modular version of the highly-rated Cinema 4D offers the option of a low-cost entry into the world of 3D animation. New users can buy the basic application for less than ?400, then add extra moduels as required. The application's developer, Maxon, is also offering XL and Studio versions which already include various modules. ...more

Samsung IBM, Chartered join on 32nm chip development

Samsung, IBM and Singapore's Chartered Semiconductor are joining forces to develop and manufacture chips using an 32 nanometre processing technology, the companies have announced. The alliance partners, also including Germany's Infineon Technologies and privately owned US Freescale Semiconductor, said in a statement they signed development agreements that include 32-nanometre process technologies. Jointly developing technologies and synchronising manufacturing processes are growing trends in the industry - they help chip makers cut costs and serve high-volume clients. ...more

And also today (12-Mar-2001), for the record...

Here, in brief, are some of the day's other stories. XP beta slips again The Windows information Web site, WinInfo, reports that the scheduled beta 2 release of Windows XP has slipped again, but this time only a week or so. It is now due out 21 March. ...more

Information Commissioner promises 'common sense' approach to data

The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas has promised to review the working of the Data Protection Act 1998 so that organisations have a clearer idea of what they are allowed to do with the information they hold on individuals. Thomas has introduced a package of new measures to provide better guidance to the public. These include beefing up the Data Protection Helpline so that inquirers get a quicker response, providing practical and understandable guidance and a promise to produce all information about Data Protection in plain English. ...more