Sonic burns Nero with multimedia patent dispute

Sonic solutions, maker of DVD authoring software including the Roxio brand, has filed a patent suit against rival Nero. The suit, filed in the United States district court in Marshall, Texas, claims Nero has infringed one of Sonic's patents covering the creation of multimedia compositions. Sonic seeks an injunction against Nero from continuing to sell its Nero 7 Ultra Edition Enhanced, and earlier versions. ...more

A deafening silence for the iPod in France

iPod goes all the way up to 11 on the volume settings, it seems. Apple Computers has had to take its iPod portable music player off the shelves of French shops while it finds a way of bringing its top volume below that of the 100dB limit set by the French government. Apple reckons the two week hiatus should be long enough for it to make the player safe for the French to use. ...more

ITV to broadcast simultaneously on TV and mobiles

Although the BBC and Sky transmit some pre-recorded content to mobile phones, the ITV deal with mobile network 3 is the first time simultaneous broadcasts will be available on handsets in the UK. ITV is putting some of its most popular shows including Coronation Street, Emmerdale, The X Factor and Prime Suspect on the service. Customers will also be able to download highlights packages on demand. ...more

Net phone startup Skype gathers more funding

Skype has banked nearly $19mn of venture capital funding in round two. The peer-to-peer IP telephony startup gathered in $18.8mn in second round funding led by venture capital firms Draper Fisher Jurveston and Index Ventures. ...more

Intel cuts a third off mobile computing prices

As anticipated, Intel pruned its Pentium M processor prices over the weekend by as much as a third. The Dothan-based processors form the basis of the Centrino platform, and four models are effected. The top-of-the-range 755 (2GHz, with 2MB of cache and a 400MHz systems bus) is cut by 34 per cent - from $637 to $423. ...more