BT senses a future in motion control

BT's research labs are testing a device for laptops that uses 'Nintendo Wii-style technology' to enable the PC to be controlled by moving or tilting it. The BT Balance system comprises a specially designed adaptor containing a movement sensing accelerator chip that can be plugged into any standard laptop or tablet PC and software that translates motion and rotation into actions on the user's computer screen. The software can be adapted so that users can move a cursor around the screen or even turn the pages of a virtual manual without once touching a mouse, trackpad or keyboard. ...more

Fierce iPod appetite expected this Christmas

Apple will once again struggle to meet the demand for iPods in the run up to Christmas, according to Business Week. It reports that US retailers are getting far fewer iPods than they ordered, sometimes less than half, and expect demand to outstrip supply. Retailers are advising people to buy early, much as Apple CEO Steve Jobs did last year. ...more

DoS attacks targeted by proposed UK legislation

A revision of the Computer Misuse Act (CMA) is back in the debating chamber, in the form of a 10 Minute Rule Bill proposed by Tom Harris MP. The Bill follows a similar proposition last year from Derek Wyatt MP, which was the result of work by the All Party Internet Group (APIG) which canvassed opinion from the public, industry and government as to the appropriateness of the 1990 CMA in today's Internet-dependent society. Wyatt's Bill, however, fell at the first hurdle when the General Election meant it ran out of time. ...more

May the farce be with you

Lucasfilm, which has been lambasted for its draconian attitude towards Star Wars fan sites in the past, has now done a bit of an about turn. The company behind the Star Wars franchise is no longer getting its wookie in a twist over such matters and has teamed up with Atom Films to for the Star Wars Fan Film Network. The site will allow access to media clips from the Star Wars movies, including Darth Vader's dodgy breathing and the swooshing sound of a light sabre. ...more

Demon aims to plug in business broadband users at home

Demon Internet has been late to join in the consumer broadbandwagon but has now jumped on with its Home 500 offering, designed primarily for its business customers when they are at home. The 512Kbps service, which is priced at £19.99 per month is completely uncapped. ...more