Sun learns to plug and play, the Microsoft way

Sun Microsystems is to join the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) Forum. This is a group of companies working on Microsoft-backed device software, which actually competes with Sun's Jini technology. But this doesn't represent a conversion on Sun's behalf; it's simply going to look and learn. ...more

Creative announces audio enhancing kit

Creative has unveiled a new device which, it claims improves music playback quality of MP3, WMA or AAC files to beyond the original CD quality. The Xmod is based on the company's X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio platform designed to improve sound quality by upconverting the music during playback to the X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity, high-quality 24-bit surround audio standard. It does this by enhancing the low and high frequencies while improving audio dynamics to create a cleaner, richer sound. ...more

Freenet releases pre alpha version of 'anonymous' p2p

Despite the recent court victories by the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) and others against Grokster and the targeting of users who distribute music files, it seems the peer-to-peer (p2p) business is not about to give up without a fight yet. A group of developers say they are on target to produce a system of anonymous file sharing by the end of the year. If true, this will severely limit the efforts of the authorities in their attempts to stamp out illegal file sharing by prosecuting offenders. ...more

Exchange Server gets beta treatment

Microsoft has announced the public availability of betas of Exchange Server 2007 and Forefront Security for Exchange Server. Exchange Server 2007 beta 2 is now feature-complete; general availability is scheduled for later this year or early 2007. The new beta includes technologies to lock down communications channels, helping to meet compliance regulations, claims Microsoft. ...more

BT hits LLU target but sidesteps price cut

BT is proclaiming that it has now established 1.5 million LLU (local loop unbundling) connections. The UK telco says it will reach this figure of unbundled local loops for communication providers this week, and it represents an increase of 200,000 connections in a month, since the last figures were published. ...more