Gartner predicts fall in PC sales in Europe, US

Sales of PCs are set to slow this year according to the latest forecasts from analysts Gartner. In a recent report the company says that worldwide growth in the sales of PCs will slow, with sales in 'mature' markets such as the Europe and the United States actually falling. According to the report, global shipments of PCs will reach 234. ...more

Open-source mobile server adds push email to challenge BlackBerry et al

The makers of an open-source implementation of push email are hoping to leap-frog the patent-embroiled likes of RIM, Good Technology and Microsoft with this latest version of its product. Version 3 of Funambol's eponymous mobile application server product can now boast push email capabilities, putting it up against the likes of RIM, Good Technology and Microsoft. The application server uses the standards-compliant SyncML at the heart of its synchronisation technologies. ...more

Judge Jackson withdraws from latest Microsoft lawsuit

Microsoft will not be facing Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson across another courtroom. He has decided to withdraw from presiding over a racial discrimination lawsuit brought against Microsoft. In what was a surprising twist of fate, Judge Jackson - fresh from hearing the long Microsoft anti-trust case - was randomly selected to hear the completely unrelated case. ...more

Red Hat launches desktop client

Barely days after Red Hat strangled support for Red Hat Linux 9, the Linux leader has bounced back into the desktop/standalone client arena with new client software. Announced today at a London press event, the Red Hat desktop will be available from 15 May with an initial focus on extending relationships with existing server customers to the desktop. The desktop is built on Red Hat Enterpise Linux and upgrades will be synchronised with the 12-18 month cycle of the ES, AS and WS server/workstation systems. ...more

06-01-2001 Essential news of the week

Brought neatly together and presented on a plate, here is a roundup of some of the week's main stories from the world of IT. Linux kernel version 2.4. ...more