Nine year old becomes Microsoft Certified Professional

At an age when most girls are more interested in dolls than databases, nine year old Arfa Karim Randhawa from Pakistan is something of an exception. She has just become one of the world's Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCP). Arfa recently received her certificate from Emre Berkin, chairman of Microsoft's Europe, Middle East and Africa region, and Jawwad Rehman, Microsoft's country manager for Pakistan. ...more

QDI targets DIY enthusiasts with new P4 mobo

High-end motherboard maker QDI has added two new Pentium 4 boards to its range. The self-styled 'Superb 4FX' (ATX) is targeted at DIY enthusiasts, while the more soberly titled P4S648FXM (mATX) is for the OEM market. Both boards use the SiS 648FX North Bridge, which features AGP8X and DDR400 support for North Bridge. ...more

Microsoft backs DVB-H

Software giant Microsoft is joining the newly formed Mobile DTV Alliance. The organisation is an umbrella grouping of a number of industry heavyweights to promote the development of broadcast digital TV on mobile devices via the Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) format in North America. Other members of the group include Intel, Motorola, Nokia, Modeo and Texas Instruments. ...more

Intel to push 0.13 P4 speeds to give Prescott room

According to XbitLabs, Intel sources have indicated that Pentium 4s manufactured to the 0.13micron process may enjoy another speedier incarnation before the move to 90nm Prescott chips. Both Extreme Edition and the standard Socket 478 Pentium 4 chips will get an outing at 3. ...more

Advertising Standards knocks Vodafone's 'free calls' ad

Tiscali's dig at a Vodafone TV commercial has won the backing of the Adverts Standards Authority (ASA), which has found the mobile operator in breach of the CAP (Broadcast) Television Advertising Standards Code. The advert in question was set in a bakery where the manager was receiving a number of trivial calls, with the voice over proclaiming 'Like most small firms, we have to make dozens of absolutely vital calls everyday'.. ...more