Set photons to 'teleport'

Scientists at the Australian National University (ANU) have brought the dream of teleportation, and unbreakable cryptography, a step closer, reports the BBC. Using the quantum physics phenomenon of 'quantum entanglement', the scientists have managed to disassemble an encoded signal within a photon stream by 'entangling' it with another beam. The photon beam and signal is then reconstructed at a different physical location within the lab. ...more

W3C draws up widgets wish-list

W3C's Web Application Formats Working Group has released an updated draft of its requirements for the scripting, digital signing, securing, packaging and deploying of client-side Web applications, popularly known as widgets or gadgets. These are small programs such as clocks, stock tickers, news feeds, games and weather forecasts that display and update remote data. Originally developed by Karelia Software, widgets were widely popularised by Apple when it introduced its Dashboard environment in 2005. ...more

Samsung eyes online music market

Samsung has revealed that it plans to launch its own online music store to compete with Apple's iTunes and Microsoft's imminent Zune service. The South Korean consumer electronics manufacturer will tie up with MusicNet to launch a combined subscription and downloads service in the UK, France and Germany later this year, before expanding into the rest of Europe and Asia. MusicNet will provide the underlying technology and music library. ...more

Microsoft terminates Internet Explorer for Macs

Microsoft is to cut adrift Internet Explorer for the Mac. From the end of next month, the venerable browser will not be available for download, and support for existing installations will cease 31 December 2005. Microsoft is recommending Apple's Safari as an alternative. ...more

Premiership kicks off on the Web

London-based football fans with broadband Internet connections will be able to watch Premiership matches 'on-demand' this season. UK company Video Networks has announced that it has secured exclusive video-on-demand rights for the FA Barclaycard Premiership over the next three years for a deal said to be in "the low tens of millions of pounds". Video Networks' currently has around 14,000 subscribers to its Home Choice broadband interactive TV service. ...more