OSDL comes to Europe

The Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) has begun a fresh assault on Europe with the appointment of Claude Buellens as director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Buellens arrives at OSDL EMEA with decades of experience in product, engineering and sales and marketing management at the likes of AMC, Apollo Computer, Hewlett-Packard and MC2. Europe already enjoys a strong Open-Source lineage, as the birth place of Linux creator Linus Torvalds and home to mature distributions such as SUSE and Mandriva (aka Mandrake), so the opening of a European office might seem a long time coming. ...more

Grand Theft Auto developers sued by shareholders

Shareholders in Take Two Interactive Software are suing the company for damages. In a class action suit, the shareholders are alleging that the company misled them by including the now notorious hidden pornographic content in the best selling Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas game. More importantly, when the hidden sex scenes emerged, the shareholders claim to have lost money as the Take Two share price fell as retailers refused to stock the game. ...more

IEEE suspends 802.20 group

The IEEE has suspended the operation of a committee to establish the 802.20 wireless standard after it was revealed that the Group's chairman Jerry Upton had a 'relationship' with Qualcomm, one of the major players in WiFi technologies. According to a report in EE Times, the suspension of the Group was forced upon the IEEE after Intel and Motorola threatened to file formal complaints over the methods used by Upton. ...more

UPDATED: Samsung intros dual-format Blu-ray and HD DVD player

Samsung Electronics, which last year introduced the first Blu-ray Disc player, says it will support the rival HD DVD format as well, a move hailed by supporters of the number two entrant in the high-definition disc format war. The Korean consumer electronics manufacturer said Friday it expects to introduce a dual-format machine that will play Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD software in stores in time for the summer holidays. The machine is expected to cost somewhat more than the ?450 plus you currently have to pay for Samsung's Blu-ray-only BD-P10000. ...more

Cisco's Linksys snaps up VoIP developer

Linksys, a subsidiary of telecoms giant Cisco Systems, has bought up Sipura Technology a specialist in VoIP telephony. Linksys will pay the owners of the privately held Sipura around $68 million in cash and share options for the company. A supplier of wireless networking gear for homes and small businesses, Linksys already has strong links with Sipura who provides it with key technologies for the company's VoIP networking devices. ...more