Production to double at iPod mini disk factory

Hitachi is to double the output of factory that makes that 1in disk drives used in Apple's iPod mini. A shortage of drives coupled with unanticipated demand has created to a six-week waiting list for the portable music player, and delayed the European launch until July. Hitachi will invest $200mn in the Thailand plant, which also makes drives for both laptop and desktop machines and will employ some 16,000 workers. ...more

IBM brings wireless printing to the office

Wireless-enabled laptop users no longer need to plug into the office network to print documents. IBM has introduced a plug-and-print Wi-Fi adapter that enables users of notebooks, personal computers or PDAs to print documents remotely, without the need to purchase a new Wi-Fi-enabled printer or multi-function device. According to IBM, the Wireless Print Adapter plugs straight into a printer's existing RJ-45 Ethernet connection, without the need for configuring software drivers or open PCI expansion slots. ...more

Microsoft attempts to invalidate electronic signatures

Microsoft has reached for its lawyers in its bid to quash an attempt to persuade Californians from claiming part of a $1.1 billion fund set up following an antitrust settlement. As we reported, the trouble started when desktop Linux vendor, Linodows. ...more

VideoWave opens Windows to DVD

Roxio has updated its movie and DVD authoring suite: VideoWave 7 Pro. The company claims that it 'provides everything consumers need to easily turn raw video footage into compelling home movies ready to watch on the PC, via the Internet or DVD players'. As well as an updated user interface, the new release includes a media management system (for organising and viewing video clips, photos and audio files), a label creation tool (for designing and printing disc labels and inserts) and a smart capture utility that works consistently across different media sources, including CD, DVD-Video, scanner, video and photo cameras. ...more

Pointing the moon red

The reflections of a man who wanted - through a collective pointing of lasers - to put a red dot on the moon. This laser-pointing, moon-painting idea was the brainchild of would-be American author James Downey. While working on a futuristic novel, he dreamt up the plan as a fictitious example of the 'crazy ideas' circulating at the start of the 21st century. ...more