Microsoft to ship 'N' versions of Windows next week

Microsoft has finally announced a shipping date for versions of its Windows operating system into Europe. The newly created Windows XP Home Edition N and Windows XP Professional N, which do not include versions of Windows Media Player, are being released to manufacturing across Europe by 15 June. The two versions have been released as part of Microsoft's compliance with the March 2004, ruling by the European Commission that the company abused its monopoly in operating systems to gain competitive advantage in the emerging battle for multimedia players. ...more

Microsoft Smartphones show the way

A new GPS navigation suite provides real-time directions for Microsoft-powered smartphones. ALK Technologies' CoPilot Live GPS uses Bluetooth wireless technology to turn a Microsoft Windows Mobile-based phone into an in-car sat-nav system. Using GPS, the software already knows your location - you just have to tell it where you want to go to. ...more

Ofcom gives phone marketers the silent treatment

UK communications regulator Ofcom has warned call centres to stop causing people unnecessary anxiety at home with 'silent' calls. The regulatory body found that silent or abandoned calls made by call centres are causing significant anxiety and annoyance among recipients. The nuisance calls occur when automated calling systems, used for telemarketing and market research, generate more calls than the available call centre agents can deal with. ...more

What's NeXT for MacBook Pro

Never mind Windows, what every aspiring geek should be running on their MacBook Pro is the doyenne of modern operating systems: NeXT's OpenStep. Mac on Intel has reported that using the new OS X beta of Parallels Workstation plus some old OpenStep boot software still available on the Apple website, installing the NeXT OS on the Intel Mac 'went with very few hitches'. OpenStep was the operating system developed by NeXT, the company Steve Jobs set up during his hiatus from Apple. ...more

Fujifilm announces three cameras

Fujifilm has lined up the FinePix A205S, S5000 Zoom and S7000 Zoom cameras for an autumn launch. Opening with the A205S, Fujifilm is hoping to attract the novice photographer with a 3x optical zoom, a 2megapixel CCD, a video-out connection to pipe pictures straight to your telly and long battery life. Available in September, Fujifilm has yet to price the camera, although with 2megapixel cameras currently around the ?200 mark, expect a competitive figure. ...more