Intel goes smaller and faster

Leading microchip manufacturer Intel has announced that it has developed the world's fastest and smallest transistor, which could totally revolutionise the development of computers. The new transistor is 30 nanometers across in some places and is only three atomic layers thick. The general rule is that the smaller the transistor, the faster it is and this new 30nm transistor could herald an age of sci-fi computing. ...more

Gameboy Advance to top 24 million?

Nintendo, which already dominates the handheld console market with its evergreen Gameboy unit, plans to ship around 24 million of the Gameboy Advance. The new machine is expected to hit the shelves next March, with the initial factory run to begin in January. The company is expected to ship a million units a month, which will rise to 2 million by June and there are to be 10 games released on the same day as the unit. ...more

Microsoft Office rival is updated

A beta version of Sun's StarOffice is available for download from the Sun Web site. The software is a "full-featured, low-cost" office productivity suite and although it is from Sun Microsystems it does run on Windows systems (including XP) as well as Linux and Solaris. The main thrust of this version is its use of XML as the default file format for editing and saving files, which enables non platform-specific document handling. ...more

Sharp puts LCDs into perspective with simultaneous dual displays

No smoke but a few mirrors. Sharp has been showing off its new LCD technology and uses mirrors to demonstrate the clever things that can now be done with viewing angles. As well as a monitor that can switch its viewing angle from wide to narrow - to ensure the private display of information - the Japanese electronics giant has also developed a screen that can display one thing when viewed from the right and another when viewed from the left. ...more

Apple extends .Mac subs

In a quiet move, Apple has changed the way former iTools users new .Mac accounts expire. Those who have paid the discounted price to keep their accounts active will now need to renew them by September 30th 2003. ...more