New P2P client aims to shut-out snoopers

Mute is a new peer-to-peer file sharing application that claims to be able to circumvent the measures that the US record industry use to indentify and sue individuals making large collections of music available over the Internet. Mute does this by assigning each user a random, virtual address as well as a standard IP address and by routing downloads over several computers rather than directly between the host and client machine. The combination of both factors - described in detail on the Mute website - should prevent the Recording Industry Association of America and iots snooping software from identifying the precise location of shared files. ...more

Mozilla previews next version of Internet software

Never one to rest on its laurels, the Mozilla Organisation has released a preview of the next version of its eponymous Internet software suite, less than a month since it finished the last. The latest release incorporates half a dozen or so new features including: 'one of the most requested Mozilla Mail features' - optional separate Recipient and Sender columns in thread pane; support for Navigator windows to be layered or anchored 'always in front' or 'always in back'; 'about:about' implementation - typing about:about in the address field gives a list of available 'about:'s which in turn provide in-depth information about browser configurations; 'another massively requested MailNews feature' - a preference for placing the user's signature above the quoted text; reload functionality for the View Source window; 'Remove from server after x days' implementation for POP3 mail accounts; and vCard support in Mozilla Mail. Mozilla 1. ...more

EU closes in on Microsoft fines - reports

The EU has begun moves to impose huge fines on Microsoft for failing to comply with the 2004 antitrust ruling, according to reports. The Associated Press says that competition regulators met yesterday to approve the imposition of penalties that could be as high as EUR€2mn every day. A second meeting will be held next week to determine the precise size of the fines. ...more

Google sets Da Vinci code puzzle

The puzzles have been developed to tie in with the forthcoming film of the preposterous book due this summer and starring Tom Hanks. The puzzles have been developed by Wei-Hwa Huang, a Google software engineer and apparently four-time world puzzle champion who clearly has too much time on his hands. He and a bunch of other Googlers have come up with a total of 12,358 original puzzles. ...more

Microsoft moves north to continue Lindows battle

Microsoft has turned its legal guns on Lindows in Canada. It has issued a lawsuit in Ottawa which attempts to prevent the use of the trademarks 'Lindows', 'Lindows.com' and 'Lindows OS' north of the US border. ...more