Demand for low-priced brand PCs boosts DRAM contract prices

Strong demand for low-priced brand PCs has driven up DRAM contract prices and should continue to support the growth in the second half of August, according to sources at local DRAM distributors. According to the distributors, contract prices should grow by 5-10% in the second half of August compared to the first half. DRAMeXchange, however, more conservatively estimates 3-5% growth. ...more

Microsoft fires off legal guns against 20 US counterfeiters

Microsoft has announced that it has initiated 20 lawsuits today against companies alleged to have illegally distributed its software. The lawsuits, filed in nine US states, claim that the companies distributed counterfeit software or software components or participated in hard-disk loading - the installation of unlicensed software on computers that are then sold to unsuspecting businesses or consumers. Microsoft said that the lawsuits are part of a broader programme - the Genuine Software Initiative (GSI) - designed to combat counterfeiting and other forms of software piracy. ...more

Google revs Dashboard widgets for Tiger

The Blogger widget enables quick and easy posting to your blog. The Gmail widget, as you might expect, checks your Gmail inbox; and the Search History Widget, well the name says it all. All three can be downloaded from Mac Dashboard Widgets. ...more

ASA gets sniffy over broadband ad

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has issued a mixed ruling on a complaint about claims made by Bulldog for its 4Mbps broadband service. The ASA ruled that Bulldog's claim that it offered the 'ultimate broadband experience' was misleading, but ruled that Bulldog was entitled to say it offered 'the peak of speed' and that it 'makes other broadband services look like dial-up'. Bulldog's online promotion, run last summer, said: 'It's the ultimate broadband experience. ...more

Xbox 360 set for December UK launch

Microsoft has dated the release of its second-generation Xbox games console, the Xbox 360. It will be appearing on shop shelves on Tuesday 22 November in North America, then Friday 2 December in Europe, followed by Japan on Saturday 10 December. The announcement was made on the eve of Tokyo Game Show 2005, and Microsoft emphasises that it is the first time that a games console will be launched in three territories within the same time frame. ...more