Microsoft recalling 14 million Xboxes

Microsoft is to recall the power cables for some 14.1 million Xboxes. The recall is in response to concerns that the cords may prove a fire hazard. ...more

Microsoft targets robots

Software giant Microsoft is taking a first step away from office software towards more industrial applications with the preview of the Microsoft Robotics Studio. Aimed at a range of robotic researchers in areas as diverse as academic, hobbyist and commercial development, the Robotics software is engineered differently from the average desktop operating system. In order to function and respond in the real world, it has to be able to receive and process concurrent information from its sensors in real time and feed it back instantly as a response through its motors - and that is without any autonomous decision making built in. ...more

More Internet banks at risk

The National Crime Squad has warned that a number of Internet banks could already have been targeted by organised crime syndicates. The revelation follows the success of operation Skoda, in which NCS officers uncovered an attempted fraud on the Internet bank Egg. Three men were arrested earlier this week in connection with the scam, but the NCS believes that more online banks may be at risk from members of the same group and other elements of the criminal fraternity. ...more

Move to Mac

New software has been released that makes it easier to switch from a Windows PC to a Mac. Though only scant details are available at present, it would appear that Move2Mac comprises two software wizards. The first wizard is launched on PC and creates a profile of all the user's settings, preferences and files. ...more

Google debuts website creation tool

Google has introduced a new do-it-yourself website builder facility. The initiative, known as Google Page Creator, attempts to simplify the creation of web pages with minimal knowledge of HTML and allow non-techies to get a web presence as quickly as possible. The service - which requires a Gmail account before being able to log in - provides a simple template with heading, subhead and body. ...more