Dell targets the iPod shuffle

Dell has squeezed its DJ range of portable music players to produce the itty-bitty DJ Ditty. With 512MB of storage - that's about 220 WMA tracks, according to Dell - and a 1 x 0.4 inch LCD screen, the device measures 3. ...more

Putting E Ink to Paper 2.0

Dutch company Philips has signed a deal to develop a revolutionary new display with electronic ink company, E Ink. What's electronic ink - or E Ink - I hear you ask? The concept is relatively simple. Within the ink there are millions of tiny microcapsules, each one containing white particles suspended in dark dye and when an electric field is applied to the liquid, the microcapsules become visible. ...more

Kaspersky strengthens Anti-Hacker firewall

Kaspersky has updated its Anti-Hacker personal firewall. It is described as providing full-scale protection for PCs from all unauthorised attempts to access data. New features of version 1. ...more

UPDATED: EU Ministers vote in favour of software patents

Today, the EU Council of Ministers voted in favour of a draft of a directive that legalises software patents in Europe, causing concern among software developers. The Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure (FFII) said: 'The ministers have allowed their patent office administrators, who actually hold the key to the dossier, to destroy the directive project.' Many that oppose such legislation already feared that the Council, which represents the governments of the EU states, would vote in favour of the the current draft, prepared by members of various national patent offices, backed by big corporates. ...more

Microsoft urges November security patch action

Microsoft is urging its customers to install its November security fixes, after discovering exploit code aimed at attacking the vulnerabilities patched. Released just days ago, many businesses and consumers should have already installed the latest round of security bulletins, but Microsoft does not want to take any chances and has issued an advisory detailing the new threat. It says that although there is public proof of concept code targeting the vulnerability, there is no evidence as yet that this is being used in any form of attack. ...more