Norway rules iTunes DRM illegal

Norway's consumer ombudsman has ruled that Apple's Fairplay DRM, which restricts how tracks purchased on its iTunes Store can be played, is illegal. The ruling was prompted by a complaint from Forbrukerradet, the country's consumer rights body. It had claimed that restricting iTunes playback to just one kind of portable player, Apple's own iPod, violated Norwegian law. ...more

New smaller faster mobile Intel chips, cheaper older ones

Intel is rolling out a fleet of seven new mobile processors based on its 0.13micron process. The new smaller scale process, which Intel is adopting across the board, is a boost to the company's efficiency drive as well as resulting in processors that are 30 per cent physically smaller, require 40 per cent less power to run and are 20 per cent faster. ...more

LaCie increases PocketDrive to 80GB

LaCie has added an 80GB PocketDrive to its range of portable hard disks. PocketDrives are both compact, measuring 89x146x25mm, and light, weighing 340g. When connected via FireWire they can draw their power from the computer, eliminating the need for a separate power cable. ...more

Analysis: MAC codes hijack wantaway customers

Migration Authority Codes (MACs) were supposed to streamline the arduous process of moving from one broadband provider to another. Instead, they remain a source of frustration, because service providers avoid giving them out in a selfish bid to retain customers. Switching broadband ISPs often results in weeks with no service, but a MAC should speed up the process from four weeks to ten days. ...more

Brief: Price correction for A-List laser printer

Please note that an incorrect price has been printed on the A List in the March 2005 issue of PC Pro (out on sale, 20 January). The Kyocera FS-1020D is listed at ?145 plus VAT, when it should be ?194 plus VAT. Many apologies for the inconvenience. ...more