Microsoft begins cybersquatter legal action

Microsoft has begun taking legal action against cybersquatters who use variations on domain names to intercept Internet traffic. The company claims that surfers inadvertently mistyping Web addresses are being illegally directed to websites 'chock full of pay-per-click advertisements and little meaningful content'. As a result the owners of these sites are illegally profiting from the misuse of Microsoft's intellect property, Microsoft alleges. ...more

The low-down on... optical disks

This week Hewlett-Packard unveiled the dvd100i, the world's first DVD+RW drive, bringing the number of different DVD drive formats available to a mind-boggling seven. Add to this ten or more different CD formats and anyone could be confused into giving up optical media for good. After all, who knows what's coming next? And if this isn't perplexing enough, not all manufacturers call their DVD drives, 'DVD drives'. ...more

Internet access at 22,000 feet, cloud conditions normal

The options available to those flying Scandinavian Airline System (SAS) - in addition to boiled sweets and orange juice - will include a portable PC or Mac, for onboard online access. Tests will be ongoing through this year to provide wireless Internet access onboard its aircraft, but it's enough for Scandinavian Airlines to claim the laurel for first airline to provide the Internet and email to its passengers. An onboard Web server will be linked to a ground station that it will update at regular intervals, with a wireless LAN installed in the cabin. ...more

E3 2002 - Xbox online plans go live

Microsoft sprang a few surprises when it lifted the lid on Xbox Live, the console's online gaming platform. The software giant plans to roll out Xbox Live in North America and, fingers-crossed, Japan and Europe before the end of 2002. The software giant officially announced that the platform will consist of five key features: Gamertag (a unique online ID for all Xbox Live games across the service), Xbox Communicator (support to allow for voice communication during play), Matching (a system that simplifies multiplayer game selection), Friends List (that allows you to find friends on the service and invite them into a game no matter what they happen to be playing at the time) and, finally, a facility to download extra game content onto the hard drive. ...more

Update to PC Pro Labs-winning notebook

Further to our news story on 25 October, we now have details about HP's special offer to PC Pro readers who bought the HP nx6125 as a result of our group test in the January issue. To summarise, the price of the notebook unavoidably rose from ?720 (?846 inc VAT) to ?770 (?905 inc VAT). As compensation for this, HP offered readers a free leather carry case if they provided proof of purchase before the end of November. ...more