HP gets all molecular

One for the futurists. HP is boasting the award of a molecular-level patent. And it's nothing to do with gene sequences or the Genome project. ...more

Amazon leaks Windows XP prices

Amazon.com accidentally leaked the prices of the forthcoming Windows XP last week when it mistakenly started taking pre-orders for the second time in just six weeks. Amazon's error came just as Microsoft released Windows XP to PC manufacturers, ready for its 25 October release date. ...more

Real adds in Google, Firefox to install options

RealNetworks has signed a multi-year agreement with Google and Mozilla under which it will distribute the Firefox Web browser and Google Toolbar with the two million downloads per day of Real Player. When users install RealPlayer, they will be given the option also to install Firefox or the Google Toolbar - a Windows-only addition Web browser that provides search and security tools as well as autofilling of forms and a spelling checker. Rob Glaser, chairman and CEO of Real said that the company shares a passion for innovation with Google. ...more

Apple fixes iTunes Windows bugs

Apple has released an updated version of iTunes for Windows that fixes a number of bugs in the original version. The update 'addresses an incompatibility with Windows 2000 and older third-party CD burning software, and improves support for non-standard mp3 files'. Apple has also made a change to the default preferences setting, so 'Keep iTunes Music folder organized' preference is now turned off. ...more

Microsoft adds Canon colour to Windows Vista

Microsoft has chosen Canon's Kyuanos' colour management technology for its new Windows 'Vista' operating system due out next year. The companies claim that Kyuanos will provide the Windows Colour System with better screen-to-print matching, better overall colour appearance, and support for higher fidelity printing. The boom in digital cameras, camera phones and the increasing use of the Web to publish galleries of photographs through online services like Picasa and Flickr, as well as the increasing use of photo quality printers, mean that picture editing and colour fidelity are increasingly in demand. ...more