More hi-tech mice

Yesterday, I featured a mouse with a phone built into it and today I bring you news of the latest optical mouse from Logitech. The Cordless MouseMan Optical combines the smooth accuracy of an optical device with the wireless freedom delivered by digital radio technology. The mouse features an optical chip with three-months battery life and a resolution of 800dpi. ...more

Microsoft gives businesses more time to test SP2

Microsoft has doubled the period of time it will allow business users of Windows XP to delay installing Service Pack 2. Customers who wished to avoid having systems updated while they were testing the upgrade had previously been able to use a tool to stave off SP2 until December while still receiving other bug fixes via Automatic Update and Windows Update routes. According to an email sent to select customers last Tuesday, Microsoft has now extended the grace period until 12 April 2005, due to requests for extra time to test and deploy SP2. ...more

Palm increases share of PDA market

Palm - soon to be renamed palmOne - has increased its share of the worldwide PDA market. Handhelds running the Palm OS now account for more than 50 per cent of worldwide shipments, according to the latest figures from industry analyst Gartner. During the second quarter of 2003, Palm claimed 38 per cent of the market, up from 30. ...more

US spammer fined $2m

A marketing firm in the consumer-rights led state of California has been ordered to pay $2m in civil penalties for sending unsolicited emails, marking the state's first anti-spam judgement. The LA-based company was found to have violated state laws that forbid the sending of unsolicited commercial mail, false advertising and unfair business practices by sending emails that advertised 'how to' guides on spamming and lists of email addresses, disguised the 'from' field and offered no genuine opt-out option. The judgement was the first under the state's 1998 anti-spam law, which was further enforced last month, and Attorney General Bill Lockyer said this be the model for future spam cases. ...more

Former Apple exec to repay $3.5m from backdated stocks

Fred Anderson, the former chief financial officer of Apple, has agreed to repay around $3.5 million that he received from cashing in backdated stock options. The Wall Street Journal said that he will also pay a fine in the region of $150,000 for his alleged participation in the company's backdating scandal. ...more