EU throws out controversial hi-tech patent directive

The European Parliament has defeated a controversial hi-tech patent directive in a landslide vote. The strength of feeling regarding the embryonic Computer Implemented Inventions (CII) Directive revealed itself when 648 MEPs out of 680 voted today to reject the proposal. Opponents of the directive claimed the provisions in the directive would stifle innovation in Europe by allowing the patenting of pure software. ...more

iPod chip builder teams for wireless and 3G capabilities

PortalPlayer, the company best known for making processors for iPods, has announced two new technology partnerships. The first will enable PortalPlayer to integrate its PP5022 applications processor family with CSR's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips to provide wireless networking support for downloading and synchronising content between portable devices and computers and to provide support for Bluetooth devices such as headsets. 'CSR's UniFi was designed for this type of application,' said Simon Finch, vice president of strategic marketing at CSR. ...more

IBM plants Linux on Wimbledon's Web turf

Running the championships' own Intranet system and Internet Web caching systems on Linux This year's Wimbledon breaks cover next week, and IBM is using Linux to power both the Web- and on-site technologies, bringing all the action to those that can't make it to Centre Court and wireless access to those that can. IBM is installing its Linux-powered Tivoli Intelligent ThinkDynamic Orchestrator that handles and balances the varying demand to the website - between say, visual coverage of Maria Sharapova games and Cliff Richard live audio feed. Indeed IBM will run the championships' own Intranet system and Internet Web caching systems on Linux. ...more

CleanMyPC Registry Cleaner heads top 10 downloads

For your reference, here are the latest top 10 downloads of PC Software from our Downloads section. Leading the way is CleanMyPC Registry Cleaner, which scans the Windows registry and finds incorrect or obsolete information (1.12MB of shareware). ...more

Liberty Alliance responds to MS and IBM identity system

Liberty Alliance has responded to the WS-Federation specification for managing user identities as part of Web Services - IBM and Microsoft want to federate your identity. It has also published a set of business guidelines - templates to help organisations manage the propagation of user identities and policies. This area concerns a 'federated identity' system, such as that can support single sign-ins - eg a single login can be propagated across all participating trusted systems. ...more