Privacy groups attack Microsoft - again

The complaints mount up as Windows XP nears launch. Privacy groups have requested an injunction and investigation against Microsoft, claiming that the software company is engaging in "unfair and deceptive trade practices." Last month the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) sent a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission, predicting that Windows XP would be the primary means for consumers to gain Internet access, and that Microsoft intended to glean personal data from the millions of users via its . ...more

Nokia charges phones with energy saver alert

Nokia has introduced the first mobile phones that encourage users to unplug the charger from the electricity socket once the battery is full. The company believes that the alerts, which will eventually be included on all its phones, could save enough electricity to power 85,000 homes a year. They will initially be popping up on the Nokia 1200, Nokia 1208, Nokia 1650, which were launched this month in India, China and Latin America. ...more

UK notches up 2 million broadband connections

Oftel has announced that the UK now has 2 million broadband connections, a total which has doubled in just seven months. David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications, said, 'It took two years to reach one million connections, but only seven months to reach two million, as increased competition and lower prices have boosted connection rates.' Cable companies NTL and Telewest recently announced they had reached the 1 million mark, so the split between DSL and cable connections falls roughly equal, although Oftel does consider BT's monopolistic power to be a powerful factor in taking an increasingly larger percentage of new sign-ups. ...more

Nokia bids to bring mobile email to wider audience

In a further attempt eat into the market dominated by the RIM Blackberry, Nokia has introduced a new Business Center server product intended to bring email and other mobile business services down from the well-heeled corporate user to a tool that anyone can use. The Business Center will be offered in two versions. Customers of the standard Nokia Business Center client will be able to compose, read and delete email, manage local folders, offline working support and push-email. ...more

Fujifilm announces first 4G CCD digicams

With the PMAI (Photo Marketing Association International) show coming up in March, the camera manufacturers are rolling out new devices in preparation. Fujifilm will be showing off cameras based on its fourth-generation Super CCDs and has announced details of the F410 Zoom and F700 - the first to incorporate the new CCDs. With its 3. ...more