UPDATED: HP to brand own version of the iPod

Apple and HP have announced a 'strategic alliance' to create an HP-branded music player based on the iPod. The agreement will also see iTunes pre-installed on HP PCs. HP has found that over 54 per cent of its customers download music to their PCs, and presumably believes that the iTunes Music Store is the best way for them to do this. ...more

Community broadband spreads across the UK

While BT has been trumpeting 96 per cent coverage of broadband across the UK, a whole raft of community broadband networks are spreading across rural areas. Community broadband is said to be breathing new life into areas that previously feared that they would end up on the wrong side of the digital divide. According to a report by the Community Broadband Network, there are now 550 broadband initiatives across the UK. ...more

DivX goes into the open

Developers of the video compression format DivX have decided to put their technology into the public domain. They are currently working on a follow up to the video format dubbed "DivX Deux" but have decided to go open-source with the code in an attempt to get other developers involved in the project. The DivX format is to video files what MP3 is to audio files and can be used to transfer high quality video in relatively small files. ...more

Buffalo corrals storage for the home network with LinkStation Live

Buffalo Technology bringing network attached storage (NAS) devices into the home, with the launch of LinkStation Live. Aimed at consumers storing and sharing large amounts of digital content around home networks, the Buffalo devices are available in 250GB, 320GB, 500GB and 750GB capacities. The LinkStation Live Multimedia Storage Server includes multimedia features such as an iTunes server, allowing iTunes7 software to access music files saved on the LinkStation Live for playback. ...more

Wireless trains go online today

Rail passengers travelling between London, the North East and Scotland can now get wireless Internet access throughout their journeys. GNER, which operates trains on the lines running from Kings Cross, through York and Leeds, to Newcastle and Edinburgh has launched the scheme today on one high-speed train and will gauge customer reaction before deciding whether to provide access across its entire fleet. The company is using technology from Swedish firm Icomera that comprises antennae mounted on the train roof which are linked to an onboard server and through to a standard wireless network. ...more