MP3 is all around us

The creators of the MP3 format - the Fraunhofer Institute - are planning to extend the encoding system to simulate surround sound. Dubbed MP3 Surround, extra data is added to the sound files to encode directional information, enabling the simulation of surround sound without having to record audio data on separate channels. The Institutes states that the new system will be compatible with existing MP3 software and music players, but obviously new players will be needed to take advantage of the new sound support. ...more

Euro police raid 80 homes in crack down on child pornography

An alleged child pornography ring has been smashed according to Europol. A combined operation involving six EU member states searched around 80 house and made a number of arrests. The operation, called 'Icebreaker II' carried out raids in France, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK following investigation and surveilliance of chat rooms and bulletin boards led by Italy's Carabinieri police. ...more

MessageLabs: Two thirds of spam sent via hijacked PCs

You have mail. Which means you also have spam, worms and viruses.. ...more

PC Pro: Stealth upgrade

JAL has changed two components in its Virgo Stealth machine, which won the Silent PCs group test The Logitech Wireless Keyboard/Mouse have been changed to the Microsoft Wireless Keyboard & Optical Mouse, while the Nicole SD-2500 speakers have been upgraded to the Creative Inspire 5100 speakers. As the mouse and keyboard are of equivalent quality, and the speakers are an improvement, PC Pro Labs is happy with these changes to the reviewed specification. However, if you would prefer to order the Stealth as originally reviewed, JAL will offer this exact configuration. ...more

UK games chart: No new tricks needed for FIFA Street

There's a new entry in the top three in this week's ELSPA UK games chart. EA's FIFA Street football continues to lead the way ahead of Sony's Gran Turismo, but Ubi Soft's multi-format action game Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory jumps straight in below them. The main climber this week - up fourteen places to number seven - is The Punisher, THQ's action game based on the Marvel comic book of the same name. ...more