Microsoft to pay up $1.52bn to settle Alcatel patent spat

A U.S. federal jury has ruled that Microsoft infringed Alcatel-Lucent-owned audio patents and should pay $1. ...more

Xbox seeing double

It seems that the Xbox is already in stormy waters before the next-generation console has even reached the shelves. This time it's got nothing to do with the technology but the ownership of the name. The Financial Times has reported that Microsoft is in talks with a small Florida-based company over the rights to the name "Xbox". ...more

Colour LCD shortage hits iPaq

It seems iPaqs have been losing their colour for our American cousins - a shortage of colour LCD screens has meant some drastic measures for Compaq. Drastic is probably too strong a word, but the company has been forced by shortages to launch a black-and-white version of the popular iPaq H3600 PocketPC. The black-and-white model has been available in Europe and most of the world, but this is the first time has been introduced to the US and Canadian markets. ...more

S3 dumps chip business and turns blue

Graphics chip maker S3 is set to sell its processor business and change its name. Via Technologies, which has a 15 per cent share of the company, will get S3's graphics processor business in return for giving back its stake. S3, now to be named Sonicblue, will concentrate on its Rio MP3 player, the new Frontpath Internet Appliance and its line of modems and network kit. ...more

Virgin.net slashes broadband startup costs

ISP Virgin.net has cut the cost of its Broadband service. From 1 May, the Virgin. ...more