Netscape Internet software updated

The Netscape Web browser, email and chat client has been updated, incorporating the most recent Mozilla developments. Based on the open source Mozilla project's latest release, this update features better popup blocking, vCard support, an improved junk mail algorithm, better standards support, performance enhancements, patches for recent security vulnerabilities and several hundred other bug fixes. Details are listed in the release notes. ...more

Larger companies take more than their fair share of virus damage

Half of UK businesses suffered from virus infections according to a new survey from the DTI. Preliminary results from the biennial Information Security Breaches Survey show that last August's Blaster worm was the biggest headache in 2003, particularly for large companies for which the worm was the culprit in more than half of infections. In fact big business suffered unduly - of all companies one would expect the big players to take security the most seriously with latest in antivirus software and system security. ...more

EU under pressure as patent vote looms

Pressure is mounting ahead of tomorrow's vote by MEPs on the European Parliament's stand on software patent legislation in Europe. The formative directive in question, which sets the framework for the granting or denial of patents for 'computer-implemented inventions', has already had a fraught passage through the various bureaux at the EU since controversy erupted over how it deals with the patenting of software. During its drawn-out baptism, battle lines have been drawn between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, and public and industry opinion has polarised between the two. ...more

Sony squashes the Walkman Bean

Just six months after unveiling its rival to the iPod shuffle, Sony has ceased production of the Walkman Bean. Despite, or perhaps because of, its stand-out design, plus a staggering 50-hour battery life, the Bean was unable to make an impression on the shuffle's market share, which by all accounts has risen in the six months since the Bean's release. Sony has also has problems with the way its Connect software works with its players - not wholly surprising since until recently software and hardware were developed by different parts of the company. ...more

18in LCD for under a grand

NEC-Mitsubishi has announced price cuts across its range of LCD monitors as well as the introduction of two new models. It's now possible to pick up the 15in entry level LCD1530V for ?399, down from ?549 and the new 18in LCD1830 at ?899, down from ?1,299 (price of the nearest equivalent model). Other price cuts are as follows. ...more