Bowie bank backers forced into line

The US Internet bank USABancShares - the backers behind David Bowie's Web bank -has agreed to measures drawn up by the US Federal Reserve to secure its finances. The Federal Reserve has released details of the agreement with the USABancShares, stating "their common goal to restore and maintain the financial soundness" of the bank. According to Reuters, the company will not be able to pay any dividends or incur futher debt without the Reserve's approval. ...more

Google updates Firefox toolbar

Google has released a new version of its toolbar for the Firefox Web browser. Google Toolbar 2.0 for Firefox provides an enhanced search box that includes 'smart' features such as instant suggestions, spelling corrections, and history as you type. ...more

Researcher boots Linux from Intel Mac

An IBM researcher working on operating systems, virtualisation and computer security has developed an application that enables Linux, and potentially Windows XP, to boot on an Intel Mac. Amit Singh's BAMBIOS works by running the BIOS (basic input output system) - code that Linux and XP use during the boot process - as a small OS within the Intel Mac's EFI boot environment. Singh says that a non-EFI version of Linux can be 'readily' booted using this software and that he has made 'good progress' with booting an unmodified Windows XP installation. ...more

FBI reluctant to reveal Carnivore details

The Electronic Privacy Information Center is claiming that the FBI is dragging its heels over Carnivore. The civil liberties group believes that the proposed schedule for the FBI to reveal information about its US email surveillance system is not strict enough. The group took the FBI to court in July, demanding that documentation about the system be made public under the Freedom of Information Act. ...more

Rogue Amoeba criticises triumph of style over substance in 'hypeware' Mac apps

A prominent Mac software maker has criticised the recent trend in development circles for 'hypeware' that has more to do with style than substance. Rogue Amoeba, which is responsible for applications including Audio Hijack and Airfoil, says that in the past 12 months or so Mac development has shifted from producing applications that provide new functionality to applications with 'flash and sizzle' and plenty of marketing hype. 'This had created something of a toxic atmosphere in the Mac development world,' writes Paul Kafasis on the Rogue Amoeba blog. ...more