Off-road robot race recruits VIA

VIA has announced its favourite for the DARPA Grand Challenge 2005 off-road robot race. It is sponsoring The Prodigies' eXpeditor contender, built by 15-year-old Nicholas Hoza and 20-year-old Christopher Medrzycki as their bid for the $2mn prize. 'The DARPA Grand Challenge is the most exiting, fun and challenging project I've ever participated in - knowing that I'm building something completely unique makes every small achievement exhilarating,' said Hoza, the team captain, 'As my team's . ...more

AOL drops US broadband customers

AOL is writing to to its broadband subscribers in nine states in the southern USA telling them that their service is being discontinued. The email says they must find another broadband carrier by 17 January otherwise their account will revert to dialup. The US's biggest ISP stopped signing up new broadband customers earlier this year as the $54 a month broadband rate has proved uneconomic and relatively expensive compared with competing services. ...more

.NET to be Linux friendly

News is emerging regarding Microsoft's plans to extend the .NET framework beyond its Windows-based heartland. InfoWorld. ...more

Broadband distances extend today

Changes in the range of broadband ADSL services from BT Wholesale come into effect today - BT abolishes 6km limit on 512K broadband. Properties that were previously beyond the 6km scope of 512Kbps connections will now be able to get broadband, although in some cases this may require a visit from an engineer, free of charge. The range of 1Mbps connections extends from 4. ...more

Intel switches Centrino focus to the home

Chip giant Intel is to switch the focus of its marketing of Centrino from business to home users according to Reuters. The switch of emphasis to more consumer media will include things like TV ads and glossy magazines. The aim is to demonstrate the advantages of Centrino technology to home users. ...more