Half of Europe's networks compromised by mobile devices

Fifty per cent of businesses have had their networks infected via mobile devices. Yet, according to research by Datamonitor, fewer than one in five European businesses have any plans to tackle this security hole Most businesses contacted knew of the dangers of allowing devices such as laptops, PDAs, phones, USB memory keys and even iPods onto networks without first validating their security status. The UK topped the pro-active list, with 36 per cent of businesses putting in processes to stop these devices being allowed to connect ad hoc. ...more

Microsoft bows to EU and vows to ship Windows without Media Player

Microsoft is set to comply with the decision of the European Commission forcing it to offer a version of Windows without Windows Media Player. The move follows the failure of Microsoft's appeal to delay implementation at the end of last year. The company had sought to delay the remedies imposed by the Commission. ...more

Microsoft delays Vista

Microsoft has dropped a bombshell on users and computer manufacturers alike by pushing back the release of the much delayed Windows Vista operating system. Now, the business version of the new operating system will not arrive until November with the home user version pushed back until January 2007. It means that while Microsoft will keep its promise to ship Vista in 2006, it will only appear in offices with IT staff deploying the new operating system in the party season. ...more

Geek chic on the catwalk

Charmed Technology, a California-based spin-off of the MIT's Media Lab, has held a fashion show in London to promote its "wireless everywear" range of tech-accessories. The London show debuted prototypes of wearable computer products, such as jewellery endowed with discrete information capabilities. Examples included an infra-red enabled badge that would upload your business contacts to a Web page, saving you from laboriously typing them in to your PDA, and earrings that notify you when you receive email. ...more

Sharp puts LCDs into perspective with simultaneous dual displays

No smoke but a few mirrors. Sharp has been showing off its new LCD technology and uses mirrors to demonstrate the clever things that can now be done with viewing angles. As well as a monitor that can switch its viewing angle from wide to narrow - to ensure the private display of information - the Japanese electronics giant has also developed a screen that can display one thing when viewed from the right and another when viewed from the left. ...more