Mobile handsets are a load of tosh

Toshiba is to start manufacturing mobile handsets for the European market. Alan Thompson, Managing Director for Toshiba Information Systems, said at a press event today that starting a mobile phone company in Europe would fill a gap, as Toshiba already make handsets in the US, Japan and the Pacific basin. Details on the new launch were very limited, however - expect more to emerge in the next couple of weeks. ...more

Rogue Amoeba criticises triumph of style over substance in 'hypeware' Mac apps

A prominent Mac software maker has criticised the recent trend in development circles for 'hypeware' that has more to do with style than substance. Rogue Amoeba, which is responsible for applications including Audio Hijack and Airfoil, says that in the past 12 months or so Mac development has shifted from producing applications that provide new functionality to applications with 'flash and sizzle' and plenty of marketing hype. 'This had created something of a toxic atmosphere in the Mac development world,' writes Paul Kafasis on the Rogue Amoeba blog. ...more

EC aims for greater Internet control

The European Commission is hoping to take a more hands-on role in shaping the future of the Internet at a United Nations summit next week. The UN is proposing a new, multinational method of supervising the allocation and management of the domain name system (DNS) - .com, . ...more

Virgin Mobile to launch TV to mobile service

Richard Branson's Virgin Mobile has won the race to offer TV on mobile phones throughout the UK. The company has secured a head start in offering the BT Movio broadcast service on what it calls a 'limited exclusive basis' to its customers later this year. The new digital broadcast service will allow Virgin Mobile customers access to a range of digital TV content and 350 DAB digital radio stations nationwide broadcasting twenty-four hours a day. ...more

Intel's laser on a silicon chip

Intel Researchers are claiming the world's first silicon-based laser device. If so, it could revolutionise computers and communications. Traditionally, optical communications devices are expensive, requiring high quality glass fibre and some exotic compounds. ...more