Symantec releases the beta of AntiSpyware

Security specialist Symantec has released its long awaited anti-spyware package as a public beta. The product, which claims to offer broad protection from spyware and adware to home users, comes four months after the rival package from Microsoft. Symantec says that the Norton Internet Security 2005 AntiSpyware Edition provides realtime detection and automatic removal of spyware from users' computers and can guard against spyware programs from installing themselves on the PC. ...more

Man sells his soul online

He's not the first man to sell his soul, but he's the first to do it via an online auction site. Not only did Adam Burtle sell his soul, but someone - a woman in a Des Moines, Iowa - bought it, for $400. USA Today reports Burtle advertised his soul on eBay as follows: "Please realise, I make no warranties as to the condition of the soul. ...more

The pointy clicky things get optical

There are two new Microsoft mice: the Trackball Optical and the Wheel Mouse Optical. The Wheel Mouse Optical combines IntelliEye technology with the popular Wheel Mouse. The absence of moving parts, to wear out or stick, should add to the shelf life of this particular rodent. ...more

100 years of British Life on view, online

1901 census hits the Web - but Scots will have to wait. The Public Record Office has published the 1901 census for England and Wales on its Web site. Family historians now have a very desirable resource available for tracing roots and gathering an idea of how people (including those they are related to) lived in Edwardian times. ...more

Solaris to run Linux apps natively

Sun's upcoming version 10 of its Solaris X86 operating system will run Linux applications natively. The development, known as Project Janus, will allow Linux applications to run on Solaris out of the box, thus piggy-backing on the increasing number of programs being written for the open source OS. Sun hopes that this strategy means that Solaris won't be left behind in the rush to Linux. ...more