RNID makes itself heard over iPod volumes

The UK's leading charity for the deaf has warned iPod users about the danger to their hearing from turning the volume up. The RNID cautions that long-term use of portable music players can cause permanent hearing damage. It advises listeners that reducing the volume by just a notch can significantly reduce the risk. ...more

ISPs go back to the future

Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) is back in the spotlight after Trade and Industry Committee's UK Broadband Market report casts doubt on the future of DataStream. The report damned BT's DataStream product as having gained little confidence from ISPs: 'The danger is that, because of a lack of confidence rather than a lack of demand, there is insufficient uptake of DataStream and it will ultimately be allowed to wither.' In short, because, BT was forced - rather than chose - to offer DataStream to create competition, ISPs are not convinced that telecom regulator Ofcom's will ensure that BT sets its prices at a point that makes it a commercially viable for them. ...more

Japan sets new Internet2 land speed records

A team from the University of Tokyo has set two new Internet2 land speed records. Working with Microsoft, Pacific Northwest Gigapopa and JGN2 the Tokyo team created a network path over 30,000km long and crossing eight international networks. Using the IPv4 protocol, it transferred data at a rate of 7. ...more

Evesham responds to PC Pro readers

Following a PC Pro review (in issue 100, February 2003) Evesham has clarified its position regarding the specification of the Evesham Axis 2400+ MK. The official statement from Evesham, taken from the PC Pro forum, is as follows: 'Regrettably the [Evesham Axis 2400+ MK] review hit the streets at a time when many staff were taking leave and communication was somewhat slow and restricted. Originally the PC submitted was specified to have a standard Radeon card, but due to the difficulty in physically identifying the card, many of our systems went out with the Pro card on board - we believe in excess of 300 people have unwittingly received an upgrade to a Pro card during December. ...more

UK games chart: Colin McRae's driving game rallies back

Superhero movie spin-off The Incredibles swaps places with FIFA 2005, moving up from four to three - this is the main change at the top of this week's ELSPA UK games chart. Need For Speed: Underground 2 (now in its tenth week in the charts) and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (in its thirteenth week) show their staying power and stay at the top of the file for another week. And Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 4 completes the top five. ...more