Open source `stimulates local economies`

Local public sector bodies can use Open Source software to stimulate the local economy, according to delegates at the Open Source in the Public Sector conference. At the conference many IT heads were unhappy that millions of pounds spent on software licensing each year were piped direct across the Atlantic to Silicon Valley or Redmond. Martin Dekkers, Principal, Cynaptic Information Industries, said: 'When you look at Open Source software for the public sector, it's such a good fit on so many levels. ...more

Grand Theft Auto developers sued by shareholders

Shareholders in Take Two Interactive Software are suing the company for damages. In a class action suit, the shareholders are alleging that the company misled them by including the now notorious hidden pornographic content in the best selling Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas game. More importantly, when the hidden sex scenes emerged, the shareholders claim to have lost money as the Take Two share price fell as retailers refused to stock the game. ...more

Intel ships dual core Pentiums

As predicted, Intel has begun to ship its first desktop Pentium chips featuring dual cores. The company's announcement scoops a similar announcement that is expected to be made by its arch rival AMD next week. As we reported yesterday the announcement was made in Taiwan to a conference of hardware suppliers. ...more

Strained relations cause Adobe no-show

Adobe Systems has decided not to exhibit at this month's Macworld Expo in New York. The company cited the slowdown in the economy as its reason for not exhibiting, but sources claim that the real reason has more to do with tension between Adobe and Apple over the development of Mac OS X versions of Adobe products. The party line, according to Cheryl Edwards, Adobe's public relations director, is simple: "For economic reasons, Adobe will not be exhibiting at Macworld New York this summer," she said. ...more

Google fades in Google Desktop 5

Google has updated its Desktop application, for displaying gadgets in a sidebar and optionally applying the Google search to the contents of your own computer. In the Google company's blog, product marketing manager, Mendel Chuang, announced that the Google Desktop 5 beta is now available. 'The most prominent changes you'll notice are to our gadgets and sidebar,' says Chuang. ...more