Broadband enjoys global growth

The number of broadband lines worldwide rose 50 per cent in 2004 to 150 million. New figures show that the USA, with 33.9 million lines, has the most connections, but China is closing fast, connecting over 6. ...more

IBM boosts group working for Notes, WebSphere and Workplace

To coincide with its annual LotusWorld conference in Florida, IBM has announced new software and services for its range of collaborative solutions. The highlights are increased interoperability which, IBM says, are based on open standards and better performance as well as a host of new features. IBM offers three product families for group working: - the tried and trusty Notes and Domino, the e-commerce solution WebSphere Portal and finally Workplace. ...more

Frankenfish takes to the water

The New Scientist magazine reports of fishy experiments in the laboratories of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Researchers at MIT have constructed a robotic fish consisting of a microprocessor that sends signals to live muscle taken from a frog in order to make it wiggle and swim through a solution of glucose. The robot fish swam around for a few minutes and then stopped to regain energy from the sugary waters. ...more

Acer barges in at the bottom end of Tablet PCs

Forget ultra-lightweight, long battery life, mobile processor, premium-priced Tablet PCs. Acer's new TravelMate will do little travelling if you have to carry it by hand, but at ?999 ex VAT and packed with power, it has its sights firmly set on the classroom. In particular, the Acer TravelMate 250PXCi introduces a new range of desktop replacement Tablet PCs with an eye on getting in the catalogue of the Government's Laptops For Teachers campaign, (and their students). ...more

Apple's Cube cracking up beautifully

Apple Computers is facing new problems after reports that its new Cube computer could be cracking up. Apple quickly reassured customers, who have spent over ?1,200 on the new Power Mac G4 Cube, that the cracks were harmless little lines that appeared inevitably when plastic is moulded. However, customers are less than convinced. ...more