Harry Potter fever is giving computers a cold according to Sophos.

An early version of the NetSky virus masquerades as a Harry Potter game on the shared folders of those hooked up to a file-sharing network such as KaZaa. With the film in the multiplexes and the game in the shops, the renewed enthusiasm for the schoolboy wizard has resulted in thousands of new NetSky-P infections reported by anti-virus company Sophos. 'Echoing a technique used in 2000 by the Pikachu worm, Netsky-P targets young computer users by sometimes posing as content connected with the Harry Potter books and movie franchise,' said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos. ...more

Microsoft unveils unified communications product roadmap

Microsoft has unveiled the latest piece of its grand vision for business applications over the next few years by giving details of its unified communications product roadmap. The strategy is aimed at bringing together the various communications tools currently used in business and supplied by Microsoft including email, IM, VoIP, and audio/video/Web conferencing. The aim is to give users one place where they can check and interact with all their communications, all done with a single identity. ...more

Formac breathes life into 17 inches

Formac has unveiled a new addition to its line of flat panel displays. The new Gallery 1740 OX is the first member of the new Oxygen range, designed, says Formac, to offer 'leading-edge technologies for an affordable price', with technical specifications to match or outperform similar displays. Unlike most LCD displays the Gallery range have ADC connectors that mean they can be plugged straight into the back of Apple's Power Macs. ...more

Kodak snap new Palm camera

With Palm announcing its new M500 range of handheld organisers, Kodak has followed suit with its camera attachment for the new devices. The PalmPix has been a popular add-on to the existing range of Palm devices so it is only natural that a version be available for the new Palms. The PalmPix has a colour sensor and clips onto the back of the PDA. ...more

Government drops ICT school exam

Government ministers have scrapped a compulsory computing exam for school kids in England. The statutory test in ICT (information and communication technology) was set to be made compulsory from 2008 for 14-year-olds (Key Stage 3 pupils), reports the BBC, but it will now be scrapped. The reason given is to lessen the testing burden on schools. ...more