Intel announces final AGP 3.0 spec, to carry graphical load

The significance of the AGP 3.0 spec, newly announced by Intel, relates to the handling of throughput for intensive graphical apps. Dealing with the graphics bus that runs from a graphics card to a processor, the specification handles a doubling of bandwidth for improved processing of digital effects. ...more

BSI promotes Web accessibility standards

The British Standards Institute has published new guidelines for the development of websites that are accessible to disabled people. The BSI says that its PAS 78 'Guide to good practice in commissioning accessible websites' is applicable to anyone creating a public website and was based on feedback from a Disability Rights Commission (DRC) survey that found that 81 per cent of such sites in the UK are inaccessible to the disabled. PAS 78 covers areas, including: building an accessible website from commissioning and developing it, through to publishing and maintaining it; the importance of accessibility and how to define it; and the involvement of disabled people in requirements gathering, conceptual design and testing processes. ...more

Apple multi-clicks the Mighty Mouse

Apple has finally bowed to popular demand and introduced its first ever multi-button mouse, the Mighty Mouse. The mouse has four independently programmable buttons, plus an 'ingenious' Scroll Ball that lets users scroll in any direction - vertically, horizontally and even diagonally. The right- and left-click buttons are touch-sensitive areas to the front of the mouse, while the force-sensing side buttons let you switch between applications. ...more

24-03-2001 Essential news of the week

Brought neatly together and presented on a plate, here is a roundup of some of the week's main news stories from the world of IT. Microsoft's digital signature security compromised AMD tweaks Athlon but delays big change IE 6 improves privacy support The last of the Xeons Kodak snap new Palm camera Report condemns chat-room abuse Putting the user at the centre of "Hailstorm" EC sympathetic towards 3G licence debts 1GHz notebooks arrive Palm launches new handhelds Don't forget, we welcome your comments. Just click on a story and go for the 'Comments' link on the right-hand side of the screen. ...more

Broadband prices to fall further, says report

Worldwide broadband prices have fallen sharply in the past six to 12 months and should fall further, according to a new report. Between September 2002 and September 2003, the average monthly rental fell 25 per cent; unsurprisingly the number of subscribers has risen rapidly as a result. Prices in Europe have not fallen as sharply as in the US, where they have dropped by over 40 per cent in some cases, and it remains the most expensive region, although this is in a large part due to the strength of the Euro and the higher levels of sales taxes. ...more