Japan's i-mode makes inroads to the UK

October will see the i-mode mobile phone service launch in the UK on the O2 network. There are already around 100 i-mode sites ready for the launch, and the NEC N411i and N343i, and Samsung S500i and Z320i handsets will be available with support for i-mode. There will be a number of offers at launch to encourage takeup such as free email and MMS messaging until April 2006, three-months' free browsing (on contract) and free subscriptions to i-mode sites until the end of the year. ...more

Apple Super Bowl ad leaked

Apple's much-anticipated iTunes advertisement which was due to be shown for the first time at this weekend's Super Bowl has leaked onto the Internet. Three websites have the ad, which stars 16 teenagers who have been sued by the Recording Industry Association of America for the unauthorised sharing of music files. They are accompanied by Green Day's version of The Clash's I Fought the Law. ...more

Intel opens parallel application testing lab

Intel and SGI have announced the opening of a Parallel Application Centre to help third-parties to test the scalabililty and performance of heavy duty apps. Employing SGI and Intel-based technology, the centre is intended to be a state-of-the-art development and testing facility for developers and ISVs worldwide. 'The Centre will accelerate the pace of innovation for high-performance computing across leading enterprise and advanced academic environments,' said Richard Wirt, Intel Senior Fellow and General Manager, Software and Solutions Group. ...more

Google's YouTube strikes deal with hundreds of media companies

Google may be frustrated in efforts to strike comprehensive deals to put videos from major media companies such as NBC or Viacom on YouTube, but it is signing up hundreds of smaller media partners, The New York Times reported on Friday. Without specifying how many of those deals have been signed since their site was acquired by Google last fall, YouTube officials say they are adding more than 200 mostly small media companies or sites a quarter, according to the Times. Some of the partnerships have been announced publicly. ...more

Lindows hits the UK

Evesham.com dumps Windows for its entry level PC UK PC manufacturer Evesham.com is offering a PC running the open-source Lindows operating system for ?249. ...more