US clears RFIDs for people

The US Government has given the go-ahead for people to be implanted with microchips that provide instant access to their medical records. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given approval to the VeriChip system from Applied Digital Solutions, which uses RFID technology to read a unique identification number stored on the chip. This ID can then be linked to a secure database to pull up the person's medical records. ...more

AirPort security issues addressed

The Standards Working Group for the IEEE 802.11 WEP standard used by Apple's AirPort wireless network system has replied to accusations that the technology could allow unauthorized access to, and eavesdropping on, computer networks. The group's statement insists that some of the issues raised by research at the University of California, Berkeley have given rise to "some misconceptions. ...more

AMD offers cash prize for municipal Internet centre

AMD is continuing to push its philanthropic 50x15 Initiative, which has the goal of connecting 50 per cent of the world's population to the Internet by 2015. The processor and graphics technology company has announced a new Open Architecture Prize, for encouraging low-cost, sustainable design projects. The first brief for which design teams will be able to compete is an 'e-community centre'. ...more

Apple dishes out iPod plunder for 500,000,000th iTunes download

Half a billion and counting. Apple has notched up the 500,000,000th download from its iTunes Music Store and a woman from Indiana is the very lucky recipient of a big iPod prize bundle. Earlier this month Apple announced it would mark the milestone with a big give away and one Amy Greer of Lafayette, Indiana scooped the 10 iPods, the Gold 10,000-song Gift Card for the iTMS (and 10 additional 50-song gift cards to go with each iPod) and four tickets to see Coldplay on their current world tour. ...more

L-plates for the Internet

Should kids take a provisional-surfing test before being allowed full access to the Internet? This is an idea floated by the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR). A report published by the research body - entitled Communications: Revolution and Reform, with a forward by the culture secretary, Chris Smith - calls for better Internet training of school students. The idea is twofold: that kids would be better prepared to cope with the dangers lurking around the Internet - for example safe conduct within chat-rooms - and that they would be better equipped to carry out independent study. ...more