Data retention rules to spark industry-government row

Yesterday's Scrambling for Safety conference at the LSE over regulations on retaining communications data revealed how it pitched government and industry against each other, raising questions about the legality of accessing such data. Remember the government backing down over the proposed addition of hundreds of new authorities that would be given access to communications data under RIPA last year? It might have seemed like a victory at the time, especially when the government came back in March with what appeared to be a more reasonable approach. At the time, Home Office Minister Caroline Flint, said: 'We have dramatically cut down the number of organisations who will be allowed access to all communications data. ...more

Doubled-sided scanning comes to the UK

Ricoh's new Aficio 1060/1075 copier/printers can print, copy and scan, and boast a 1,200dpi print resolution and an Automatic Document Feeder that enables double-sided scanning in one pass. The 'world-first' double-sided copier/printers process documents at speeds of 60ppm and 75ppm respectively. They have a range of networking capabilities: scanned documents can be stored on the Aficio's hard disk, allowing users to access them from their desktops as thumbnails. ...more

Production to double at iPod mini disk factory

Hitachi is to double the output of factory that makes that 1in disk drives used in Apple's iPod mini. A shortage of drives coupled with unanticipated demand has created to a six-week waiting list for the portable music player, and delayed the European launch until July. Hitachi will invest $200mn in the Thailand plant, which also makes drives for both laptop and desktop machines and will employ some 16,000 workers. ...more

Niku releases project management software as open source

Project management software developer Niku has released its Open Workbench desktop project manager under an open source licence. The aim is to provide an alternative to the ubiquitous Microsoft Project and offer project managers the upgrade. The program is said to support a wide range of project management functions including forward and backward task allocation, critical path analysis and estimated time to completion. ...more

UK retailers shut out disabled shoppers with poor site design

All of the UK's top 30 retail websites fail to meet the most basic of accessibility requirements, according to Nomensa, a consultancy firm specialising in Internet accessibility. Nomensa estimates that retailers will lose ?376 million of potential revenue this Christmas as a result of websites that are difficult to use. 'There are over 10 million disabled people in the UK, and I believe that each one of those has a right to be able to buy a Christmas present online for a friend or loved one this year,' said Simon Norris, Nomensa's managing director. ...more