Analysis: Another delay for WEEE

The European dream of responsible disposal of hazardous computing waste should be a reality by now, but another legislative delay means UK computer manufacturers, retailers and recyclers remain in landfill limbo. The Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) Directive - the recycling framework set by the EU - was meant to pass into UK law in August last year, but another DTI setback means there's now no concrete date for enforcing it. This foot-dragging leaves several industries on tenterhooks: manufacturers don't know what recycling-friendly design improvements are required, retailers are still debating who should bear additional distribution costs and recyclers don't know how best to invest in new disassembly plants. ...more

Films online by 2005

Hollywood films could be available over the Internet before being released on DVD or VHS within a couple of years, according to the BBC. Jack Valenti, CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, told the BBC that the organisation is in talks with Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard to find ways of securely delivering films online. 'I really do believe that maybe by this time next year we'll be able to have the beginnings of some really sturdy, protective clothing to put about these movies,' he said. ...more

Dell takes steps to improve factory workers' conditions

The charity Cafod reports that Dell is to adopt a new 'code of conduct' for the computer component factories of their developing world suppliers. The move comes in the wake of the 'Clean Up Your Computer' report by Cafod, which damned the treatment of third-world workers by technology firms - Computer workers face 'appallingly low' conditions, says report. It criticised Dell, Hewlett-Packard and IBM for the treatment of electronics workers in Mexico, Thailand and China. ...more

Apple doubles the money for iTunes Affiliates

Apple is doubling the money for all websites registered to its iTunes Affiliates Programme. The programme enables sites to earn commission on referrals to the iTunes Music Store. Normally four per cent, the commission rate will double to eight per cent during December. ...more

Adobe takes Flex open source

Adobe will be making its Flex web application development technology open source, the company announced today. The source code to key elements of the Flex platform is already available in its SDK, and Adobe plans to have a full open source site complete with project planning, bug tracking and source code management tools available by the end of 2007. Part of Adobe's developer friendly approach, Flex's new open source development process is intended to build on existing developer community relations. ...more