SiS to spin off graphics chip division soon, sources say

Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) has decided to spin off its graphics chip division (multimedia product division) as a new subsidiary in May or June under the name of Tu Chiang Technology (transliterated from Chinese), according to sources. Tu Chiang would be Taiwan's first graphics chip design firm. Jackson Hu, head of the design support division and president of the new business development group of United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), reportedly will become chairman of SiS's new subsidiary. ...more

AOL, Microsoft settle antitrust suit

Industry giants Microsoft and AOL have cut a deal over the private antitrust lawsuit filed by AOL in 2002. The action alleged that Redmond used unfair practices during the browser wars with Netscape in the mid 90's. Netscape Communications is now a subsidiary of AOL. ...more

3Com ditches Net appliances, announces losses

PDA pioneer 3Com has announced it will scrap its Internet appliance division due to poor sales and poor results for the company overall. 3Com, who created the Palm handheld before spinning off Palm Computing, had two products in its Appliance portfolio: the Audrey Net appliance and the Kerbango Internet radio. Both have now been sidelined. ...more

London tops chart for kit left in taxis

UK capital tops the charts for leaving mobiles and laptops in the backs of taxis London is the top city for leaving laptops and mobile phones in the backs of cabs, according to a new survey. A survey of 2,000 taxi drivers worldwide found that Londoners have forgotten 54,874 mobile phones, 4,718 handhelds or Pocket PCs, 3,179 laptops and 923 USB memory sticks at the back of licensed taxi cabs in the last six months. London tops the charts with the amount of missing mobiles with only Mumbai coming near this total (32,970). ...more

European Commission refuses to rewrite patent directive

The European Commission has refused to rewrite a draft for a directive on 'computer-implemented' inventions, despite massive opposition. The current draft, put forward by Europe's Council of Ministers, was approved in May. But since then much of the original support for the draft has melted away, and it no longer has a majority in support. ...more