Apple investigates iPod working conditions

Apple has opened an investigation into allegations in the Mail on Sunday about working conditions in iPod factories. 'Apple is committed to ensuring that working conditions in our supply chain are safe, workers are treated with respect and dignity, and manufacturing processes are environmentally responsible,' the company said in a statement. 'We do not tolerate any violations of our supplier code of conduct. ...more

Emailing to stop torture

Amnesty International, the human rights organisation, is extending its campaign of letter writing to the Web. Amnesty hopes that people will register to be part of a new alert network. The idea is that participants will be alerted to log onto Amnesty's Web site and sign email messages. ...more

Google retains search engine crown

Google has maintained its position at the top of the search engine usage rankings, continuing to prove twice as popular as the number two. Google processed 46.2 per cent of all Web searches in July, according to Nielsen//NetRatings, down slightly on its 47 per cent share during the previous month. ...more

Oftel investigates BT Surf and Talk pricing

Oftel has officially confirmed that it is investigating the pricing of BT's new Surf and Talk Together packages. The proposed packages for unmetered voice and Internet access calls are due to come into effect on 1 December. But Oftel will now be investigating, under the terms of the 19998 Competition Act, BT's pricing. ...more

Nintendo unveils Revolution plans at GDC

Attendees at the Games Developers Conference in San Francisco were the first to hear about Nintendo's next-generation 'Revolution' console and plans for a free Wi-Fi connection service for Nintendo DS owners. At one time the GDC 2005 was mooted as a possible 'announcement' venue for the long-awaited consoles PlayStation 3 or Xbox 2, but instead it is Nintendo's President Satoru Iwata who has used the event as a major launch platform. In a keynote speech entitled 'The Heart of the Gamer', he outlined that Revolution will feature built-in Wi-Fi networking support to allow users to connect with each other wirelessly. ...more