Pop-ups bad for brand image, say researchers

Pop-up advertisements are not only irritating to Web users, but new research has found that they can also create a bad image for both the website hosting the ad and the brand it is supposed to be promoting. UK-based Bunnyfoot Universality conducted research on 36 individuals using equipment to track precisely where their eyes went on screen and how long they lingered at each specific place. Amongst the results, it found that the company name was seen in just two per cent of the pop-ups, 50 per cent of ads were closed before they had finished loading and 35 per cent were ignored completely. ...more

Sony brings out budget colour Cli

Sony has launched its PEG-SJ33 aimed at consumers and featuring a host of multimedia applications and a colour screen. With a Memory Stick slot, 16MB of internal memory, supplied stereo headphones and audio player with support for Sony's ATRAC 3 as well as MP3 codecs, the device is ready to be used for mobile music out of the box. It also offers more visual fun through its 320x320 colour TFT screen with support for 65,000 colours and software for storing and viewing still images and video clips. ...more

Apple releases AirPort update

Apple has released an update to its software for Macs connected to AirPort wireless networks. This maintenance update follows the firmware update released earlier this week, and recommended for all customers with French AirPort Extreme base stations or if your AirPort Extreme base station stops responding after being on a busy Ethernet Network. AirPort 3. ...more

AMD adopts power naming with new Geode chips

More numbers, not names, for processors. In a similar manner to its regime for desktop processors, AMD is applying a new numerical nomenclature to its embedded processor systems. The company is introducing a performance-power rating to 'aid evaluation' of its x86 embedded processors, which means a new model number system for its Geode systems. ...more

Nordic regulators considering iTunes legal battle

Nordic regulators will meet in Iceland this month to discuss the possibility of legal action against Apple if the company does not agree to loosen restrictions on iTunes Music Store downloads. The meeting will determine whether consumer rights agencies from Norway, Sweden and Denmark will pursue separate cases or a joint action, although a final decision will not be taken until after talks with Apple scheduled for September. The regulators want Apple to allow songs bought through iTunes to be played on portable devices other than iPods. ...more