AfterEffects tryout released

Adobe has released a 'tryout' version of its AfterEffects motion graphics and visual effects software. The demo includes all the features of the Professional edition, except for Keylight and 3D Assistants Lite and will expire 30 days from the first time you launch it. It is a free download forMac OS X (202. ...more

iPod Photo audio problems reported

The new iPod Photo is exhibiting the same audio problems as its predecessor, the 4G iPod, according to a report by iPodlounge. The website says that, 'the defect can be heard in headphones when the iPod Photo's hard drive reloads its music memory buffer, and sounds like static accompanied by hard drive accessing noises, overlapping for several seconds the beginning of a music track.' In August the same site claimed that 42 per cent of 4G iPods suffered from the defect, based on reports received from owners. ...more

Software vendors denounced for poor security

The SANS Institute today issued a call to arms for corporates fed up with insecure software. As the institute delivered its annual top 20 security threats list, Alan Paller, Director at SANS delivered a biting speech denouncing the software industry's lack of responsibility for security within the products they build and called on corporate customers to use their financial clout to force vendors to preconfigure applications before agreeing a purchase. 'Fix it when you have the pounds in your hand, not afterwards,' he told an audience of security experts at a conference at the Department of Trade and Industry this morning. ...more

Beatles set to end downloads resistance

The Beatles look set to end their resistance to online music sales and are currently in talks with a number of online providers. They are expected to sign an exclusive deal with one, Microsoft's is believed to be the favourite although it does not yet have a service of its own, before making their back catalogue available to all. It appears that Real Networks are also in the frame, though its Rhapsody service has not had a significant impact. ...more

US spammer faces years in the slammer

One American bulk-emailer has fallen foul of new laws to prevent the use of spam. Howard Carmack is the first to face charges under New York state's new identity theft laws, reports Reuters. Dubbed the 'Buffalo spammer', Carmack has just been found guilty on 14 counts of identity theft and forgery. ...more