IBM makes virtual, reality

Virtualisation is a concept that's buzzing loudly at the moment, and IBM - a pioneer in this resource-pooling field with its work on autonomic and grid-based computing - is not going to get left behind. Once more it has been flying its 'Virtualization Engine' banner. The company has announced a range of tools and technologies - from tape storage systems to software wizards - as part of the next phase of its commitment to deliver virtualization across its full systems line of products. ...more

IBM takes the Cell processor to industrial applications

IBM is looking to extend the range of applications for its new 'Cell' processor into the area of high performance industrial applications. With an eye to the lucrative defence, aerospace and medical industries where imaging applications are critical, IBM has offered to help out with a number of new design services. Designed in conjunction with Sony and Toshiba, IBM's 'Cell' processor is described as a revolutionary advance in chip architecture. ...more

Yahoo! and Reuters recruit citizen journalists

Yahoo!, in partnership with Reuters, is inviting the public to contribute eyewitness photos and videos of news events, in the latest move to turn spectators into on-the-spot journalists. The Internet media company said it has created a news contribution system called 'You Witness' and is working with news and information company Reuters, which will edit and distribute selected photos to other news outlets. Yahoo! plans to run selected images contributed by users as part of topical packages on Yahoo! News, which currently offers news from dozens of professional news organizations including Associated Press, CNN and Reuters. ...more

Disney clocks 1.3 million iTunes movie sales

Disney has sold 1.3 million movies through iTunes in the three months since it began making a small number of titles available to download from the Apple service. In an interview with the Financial Times, Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed that contrary to industry concerns, digital sales have not adversely affected DVD purchases. ...more

If you can't beat 'em, identify 'em

The war against the illegal trading and exchanging of copyrighted music over the Internet goes on. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has enlisted the help of UK company Rightscom to manage a new project to develop a standard method of identifying digital music files. The identification system is planned to be interoperable with existing ID systems, such as the International Standard Recording Code (ISRC). ...more