Book review: Homepage Usability: 55 Websites Deconstructed by Jakob Nielsen and Marie Tahir

Unless they are coming from a search engine, the likelihood is that the first landfall for a visitor to your web site is the home page. It's your shop window and only if it is enticing will people be tempted to step inside and investigate all the goodies on offer. Common sense you might think. ...more

Sun releases developer tools for Sun ONE

Sun has announced the release of its Sun ONE Studio 8, Compiler Collection (formerly known as the Forte Compiler Collection). This is for the development of Solaris-based applications that can run on SPARC or x86 platforms. The Compiler Collection covers the C, C++, and Fortran programming languages. ...more

PS2-compatible webcam

Creative Labs has launched its WebCam PRO camera. The ?39.99, including VAT, Webcam offers VGA (640x480) video capture and stills up to 1,024x768 (interpolated). ...more

Palm announces VoIP for Tungsten-C

Palm has announced it will offer VoIP capabilities on its Tungsten-C and beef up security for wireless connections. Palm's latest handheld, the Tungsten-C, already boasts integrated 802.11b WLAN and a VPN client for secure access to company networks. ...more

RealPlayer goes console crazy

RealNetworks has announced a number of deals to put its RealPlayer 8 technologies in a number of consoles and Internet-enabled devices, including the likes Sony's PlayStation 2 and Nokia's Media Terminal. PS2 owners will be able to enjoy streamed content such as sport, breaking new and entertainment straight to their consoles. Sony is also using RealNetworks' RealSystem iQ technology in its Dynamic Network Authentication System, which will deliver content in a secure format. ...more