AMD opens R&D Centre in Shanghai

Chip company AMD has thrown open the doors to its new Shanghai Research and Development Centre (SRDC). Located in Zhang Jiang technology complex, AMD plans to employ hundreds of staff at the facility, which will be AMD's largest system design hub outside of the US. AMD says the Shanghai R&D Centre's engineering staff will focus on the development of successors to its mobile platforms, such as the Turion. ...more

IBM releases groundbreaking PowerPC chip

IBM has released a new PowerPC chip, the 750CXe, which it claims is the 'highest performing' of its kind. The Associated Press reports that Lawrence Eagleburger, the chairman of the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims has criticised IBM over a dispute that has arisen over unpaid bills involving a similar, but unrelated, compensation group. At issue is the supply of specialist software to help match the thousands of names of Holocaust victims against historical records of insurance policy holders. ...more

MSN Messenger targeted by Funner.A virus

A new virus has been discovered that targets the MSN Messenger instant messaging application. Funner.A has no destructive properties, although it will make a nuisance of itself by sending a copy of itself as funny. ...more

Sophos gives antivirus lessons

UK antivirus company Sophos has issued a series of free information packs for teachers and pupils of primary and secondary schools raising awareness of virus threats and outlining how they can protect against them. With information and communications technology being taught in all schools, these institutions are potentially easy prey for virus attacks, with novice students happy to open attachments and download files from the Web. Designed as a resource to complement the National Curriculum, the guides offer advice on safe computing procedures, descriptions of types of virus and suggested classroom activities. ...more

disgo goes corporate with Xkey USB stick

A little USB stick contains everything most mobile workers might need. The Xkey from disgo is a USB stick initially in 256MB or 512MB capacities, that has all the software on it you need to connect to your corporate Microsoft Exchange server via a secure VPN channel from any computer in the world, according to the company. disgo says it believes the product to be the first of its type and could free mobile workers from their laptops - all they need to do is stick the Xkey into a USB slot in any Net-connected computer, enter their password, and start work. ...more