Sony announces 8-speed DVD+R drives

Sony has announced internal and external drives that sport the DVD Alliance's 8-speed DVD+R spec. The internal drive (DRU-530A) will be available from next month for ?152 ex VAT, while the external one (DRX-530UL) will be available from January at a price yet to be confirmed. The 8-speed write specification was ratified by the Alliance in August, promising to burn DVD+R discs in less than ten minutes. ...more

Awards to be announced

The winners of this year's PC Pro Awards will be announced this evening at the exclusive Mandarin Oriental Hotel Ballroom, London. You can join us (and guests Philippa Forrester and magician Fay Presto) there, virtually, to find out which company is the most reliable notebook PC supplier, who provides the best technical support and service, and who makes the best handheld gadgets by visiting the site shortly after midnight. Black tie not required. ...more

EC reprimands Microsoft over interoperability delay

The European Commission has told Microsoft that it will face further action if it does not urgently comply with penalties imposed for abusing its monopoly position. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer met with Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes today to discuss his company's failure to meet a 24 March deadline. Although it has agreed to pay its 497mn Euro fine and has introduced a version of Windows stripped of Media Player - Windows XP N - it has not complied with an order to disclose information that will make it easier for rival server software makers to integrate with Windows-base networks. ...more

Intel plans WiMAX cameras by 2009

Intel says we can expect to see WiMAX built into devices such as digital cameras and handheld games consoles as soon as 2009. At a London briefing this morning, the company outlined its roadmap for the long-range wireless technology, which it claims will complement existing Wi-Fi and 3G services. Whereas Wi-Fi offers a maximum range of only a few hundred metres, WiMAX can be beamed from base stations several miles away, potentially reaching areas that are outside of 3G coverage. ...more

MSN Messenger playing up

If you've found that MSN Messenger has been playing up lately, you're not alone. Up to one third of users have been having access problems according to Microsoft. The firm said that a hardware problem had caused the problem. ...more