British government gets serious about open source

The UK government is preparing to take a major step towards a policy of adopting Open Source Software wherever possible. Whilst not ruling out the use of proprietory software entirely, the plan seeks to get the best value for the taxpayers' money whilst reducing the risk to lock-in to one vendor and supporting open standards. These conclusions are part of a draft document published by the Office of the e-Envoy entitled Open Source Software for use within the UK government. ...more

Sony pulls its Cli? range of PDAs out of US and European markets

Sony has announced it intends to pull its Palm-based Cli? range of PDAs out of US and European markets because of declining sales and the launch of its own mobile devices, which will compete in the same space. The move will be a blow to PalmSource, the developer of the handheld operating system. for which Sony is the number two licencee, behind PalmOne. ...more

Email authentication the key to fighting spam, claims security vendor

Security vendor Tumbleweed's CEO Jeff Smith said that while email authentication is not a solution to spam in itself, without it current alternative technologies simply don't work. Back in August, email security company Ciphertrust published a report that found spammers are actively using the latest authentication techniques to ensure spam gets through - simply by complying with the new protocols. So successful were they at this that spam was three times more likely to get through such systems than legitimate email. ...more

NY Senator bids to outlaw spyware

A New York Senator has filed a bill in the State Senate which would outlaw spyware. The Bill by Senator Michael Balboni attempts to make the unauthorised uploading of spyware to a user's machine a crime but also attempts to place limits on 'legitimate' spyware. Under the term 'spyware' the Bill covers programs which monitor communications between a user's computer and the outside world, especially key-logging programs and transmits them to a third party without the user's knowledge. ...more

UK games chart: Mario returns with retro gaming

Mario rediscovers his roots in New Super Mario Bros and finds his way straight to number one in this week's ELSPA games chart. Nintendo's offering, for the DS, sees the plumbers once more travel across the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Peach, but with the addition of 3D characters jumping out into the action. Completing the top three is EA Sports' FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 (PC, PS2, Xbox and Xb360), at number two, and Eidos's multi-format Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend, at number three, reinvigorated by its PSP release. ...more