Japanese professor collects Millennium Technology Prize

The Millennium Technology Prize, the prestigious equivalent of the Nobel prize for applied science, has been collected by Professor Shuji Nakamura, who developed a new range of coloured LEDs many thought were impossible to produce. Although the idea of different coloured LEDs sounds as though it is only of interest to Christmas tree decorators, the discoveries of Professor Nakamura are already having a profound effect on technology advances. Without his inventions we would not have 'blue laser' optical discs, better quality high definition flat panel displays and more energy efficient lighting. ...more

Double Density CD-Rs are go!

Sony has launched its range of Double Density CD-R/RW products across the US, allowing users to store up to 1.3Gb of data on a single disc. The CRX200E-A1 ATAPI internal drive is backwards compatible with standard 650Mb CD-R/RWs and supports 12-speed write, eight-speed rewrite and 32-speed read performance. ...more

IBM supercomputer breaks own speed record

An IBM supercomputer already rated as the fastest in the world has overtaken its own speed record according to the US Energy Department. The record was achieved despite the fact that the computer in question is still only half built. An IBM Blue Gene/L currently under construction at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California performed 135. ...more

Amazon rises on lesser losses

Amazon.com's shares rose as much as 11 per cent on the back of surprise Q3 results that showed lower than expected losses. Analysts' predictions of a 33 cent per share loss were beaten by the company's posting of a net loss of $89. ...more

Car makers queue up to put iPods inside

Car makers are queuing up to follow BMW's lead and provide iPod connectivity in their vehicles. From April, Mercedes-Benz will begin selling an in-car kit in the US for $299 plus installation. Volvo will unveil its iPod adapter in the first half of this year. ...more