Apple powers PowerBook graphics

Apple has overhauled its PowerBook notebooks with improved graphics and extended battery life plus a few other changes to the simplified range that now comprises three models. The 17in PowerBook has a new widescreen display that takes its resolution up to 1440x990 while the 15in increases to 1440x960. The graphics capabilities of the 12in are unchanged. ...more

The Palm stamp of authority

To truly separate yourself from the herd of Palm developers you will soon need to be officially certified. As a developer that is, rather than insane. Palm is introducing a number of world-wide developer programs, including a new, two-level Palm OS Developer Programme and a certification exam to officially recognise "the most elite" Palm OS Developers. ...more

Amnesty 'dismayed' over Google in China

Amnesty International has said that it is 'dismayed' at Google's decision to censor Internet content in China. The human rights organisation said that the latest in a series of examples of global Internet companies caving in to pressure from the Chinese government has effectively legitimised censorship in the world's most populous country. 'Whether succumbing to demands from Chinese officials or anticipating government concerns, companies that impose restrictions that infringe on human rights are being extremely short-sighted,' said Amnesty's secretary general Irene Khan. ...more

Pioneer delays its first Blu-ray players

Pioneer has delayed the release of its first Blu-ray players, citing unspecified development problems and despite having begun shipping Blu-ray drives for PCs. The delay could further put back the launch of the high-definition successor to DVD, which has already been put back a month. To make matters worse Toshiba began delivering the first players based on the rival HD DVD format in April, although Blu-ray's backers, including Sony and Apple, may be consoled by the news that these players are not without problems. ...more

Palm settles Graffiti dispute with Xerox

The long-running legal battle between Palm and Xerox has been settled, with the two companies agreeing to end the patent dispute. Dating back to 1997, it involved the use of Graffiti handwriting recognition software, which translates particular strokes into alphabetic characters. Xerox alleged that the system infringed patents for its own Unistrokes handwriting software. ...more