Microsoft takes Advantage

Microsoft has taken its Windows Genuine Advantage programme out of beta and launched it as version 1.0. The programme, which 'offers' updates and other free software to those customers who register their operating system is now rolled out worldwide. ...more

Real halves price of music downloads and launches Freedom of Choice campaign

Real Networks has halved the price of downloads from its online store in an attempt to grab some of Apple's dominant market share. For a limited period, Real's US-only store will charge 49 cents per song and $4.99 for most albums. ...more

Parthus shows off all-in-one mobile chip

Irish semiconductor developer, Parthus Technologies, has unveiled a new chip design that supports multiple technologies, giving mobile phones the functionality of handhelds. The chip, known as Infostream, was developed with Psion and incorporates the ARM processor design. It provides the functionality of a handheld, such as spreadsheet, calendar and games capabilities as well as GPRS broadband wireless, Bluetooth, GPS and Internet access. ...more

Next generation Core 2 Duo 'ready to roll'

At Intel's keynote Computex address, Executive Vice President Sean Maloney was typically bullish about Intel's forthcoming products. These include the Penryn-core, next-generation Core 2 Duo processors which use 45nm transistors. He boldly claimed that 'the yield on 45nm was looking very good' and that Intel is 'very much ready to roll' with the products. ...more

PlusNet shows off fuller subs figures

PlusNet has announced a 77 per cent increase in broadband subscribers, attributing it in part to its policy of traffic management. Put simply, the system prioritises certain types of Internet usage during busy periods. So people who are using the Web or sending and receiving emails take priority over heavy-use activities sush as p2p file sharing and usenet downloads. ...more