Real patches critical flaws in its media players

Real Networks has released security patches to fix four highly critical flaws in multiple versions of its RealOne, RealPlayer and Helix Player software. The flaw could enable the overwriting of local files and compromise a user's system. The first vulnerability is an unspecified error that can be exploited to overwrite local files or to execute an ActiveX control on a user's system via a specially crafted MP3 file. ...more

MGI launches VideoWave 5 and DV card bundle

While the software suite stepped into the market last October, this latest version bundles a DV card to get you editing right out of the box. Available from the middle of next month for ?99.99, the VideoWave 5 DV suite includes an OHCI-compliant PCI card with three IEEE 1394 (FireWire or i-Link) ports offering a data throughput of 400Mbits/sec. ...more

'Secure' Vista gets Microsoft's anti-virus software

It is the operating system that Microsoft's Jim Allchin famously declared was so secure his seven-year-old son could run it without anti-virus software. Yet, Microsoft is to offer its online security suite in the UK for the first time - to coincide with the January 30 launch of Windows Vista. Windows Live OneCare - which has been on general release in the US since last year and on beta test in this country for months - provides anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall protection for consumers, across up to three home PCs. ...more

AMD opens new developer centre

AMD has announced the opening of an AMD Developer Centre in Sunnyvale, California, which will offer technical and validation resources for the upcoming Hammer-core-based Opteron and Athlon processors to product developers. The centre will provide AMD partners with code and development platform services, either directly on-site or remotely via secure high-speed access. It will allow consultation with AMD 64-bit code experts, helping partners to accelerate development and validation of products. ...more

PlayStation 2 toppled by Gameboy in Japan

A new market survey shows that sales of the PlayStation 2 have slipped in the land of the Rising Sun. A recent market survey of the top game machines, by Nikkei BP, showed that the PS2 has been toppled from the top sales spot that it occupied for 28 weeks since the second week of May. What is the mighty machine that has beaten this next-generation colossus? What powerful force could have sent the PS2 to languish in third place? Is it an early sighting of an Xbox or perhaps a leaked version of the Gamecube? No, it's just that old perennial the Gameboy Color selling more units than ever. ...more