BT broadband XP drivers released

Alcatel, which makes the modems for BT's ADSL broadband Internet service - BTopenworld, has released the Windows XP drivers. The version 1.4 drivers, which will be available for Mac OS X at the beginning of November, apply to Alcatel's Speed Touch DSL modem range and are available from Alcatel UK's download site. ...more

Charity sets goal of 400,000 computers for African schools

Project Digital 10 20 10 aims to bring the benefits of IT to ten million African school children within four years by placing 400,000 redundant computers in developing countries by the year 2010. The aim of the project is to collect obsolete computers in the UK, refurbish them and then send them to schools in Africa where they are used to teach IT skills to students. Digital Links, which runs the scheme, says it will collect computers and wipe them of any sensitive data they may hold before being shipped to Africa. ...more

Red Hat updates its Linux

Red Hat, the Linux and Open Source specialist, has released a new version of its Linux platform. Red Hat Linux 7.1, which is based on the relatively new 2. ...more

New Vaio gets Transmeta

Sony has some new editions to the Vaio stable, one of which has at its heart the new low-power, low-heat Tranmeta chip. Unveiled yesterday, the Vaio QR (PCG-QR1/BP) boasts a similar spec to its predecessors, retailing at ?1,850, but has come in for a complete makeover and now sports a blue-black translucent plastic case that is so dark it appears opaque. More exciting is the Vaio GT (PCG-GT1), which, at first glance, could be mistaken for a camcorder. ...more

Europe's answer to Google goes into hiding

Europe's plans to whack Google with a search engine of its own have had the curtains drawn over them after a fury of speculation following a speech by France's Jaques Chirac. The Financial Times reports the French President in his New Year speech describing Project Quaero - Latin for 'I seek' - as a much needed answer to 'the global challenge posed by Google and Yahoo'. The initiative will be funded by government and private entities in France and Germany. ...more