Microsoft signs up Downing Street

The UK has officially signed up to participate in Microsoft's Government Security Program (GSP). This program - unveiled in the New Year - provides government bodies with controlled access to Windows source code. The GSP is a no-fee initiative that will let participants review Windows source code using a special review tool. ...more

Mobilexpo 2001

The mobile phone industry showed off gadgets galore at the Mobilexpo 2001 Show in Birmingham this week. Here are some of the new products that caught our eye. Despite the fact that 3G telephony has turned into a bit of a damp squib, there were plenty of GPRS phones on display. ...more

Net uses getting lost in new technology terms

Internet users are generally unfamiliar with the plethora of new terminologies, such as phishing, RSS and podcasting. A US study by Pew Internet and American Life found that 70 per cent of Web users have never heard of phishing and are unaware that it refers to email scams designed to elicit personal, usually financial information. Podcasting, which recently received much mainstream press coverage after Apple integrated support for podcasts into iTunes, is equally mysterious to 87 per cent. ...more

Google settles click fraud suit

Google says it is close to reaching agreement to settle a dispute over alleged click fraud in its services. Retailer Lane's Gifts had led a class action against the search engine alleging that it did not do enough to eradicate fraudulent payments through AdWords. Google says it will pay out up to $90 million in legal fees and compensation in the form of credits for further advertising to companies who believe they have been affected by click fraud. ...more

Music with microchips

Forget MP3 and Napster, the musical format that will grip the nation's youngsters could be the new Hit Clip hardware player from Tiger Electronics. Tiger, more famous for its Furbie range of toys, is launching a new music player that will play tiny music cartridges called Hit Clips. Each Hit Clip is a tiny microchip that will play back 60-second mixes of "top pop tunes". ...more