Blue Gene retains supercomputer crown

The Blue Gene/L System retains the No. 1 position as the world's fastest computer for the third year running. According to the latest Top500 supercomputer listings IBM also retains its lead as the principle builder of ultra fast machines. ...more

BT reports record broadband sign-ups

BT has announced record numbers of subscribers for its wholesale broadband division. The company said that it added more than 600,000 new connections for the quarter ended 30 September, taking the figure to nigh on 3.3 million subscriptions in total. ...more

IBM and Microsoft slug it out over 'People Ready' campaign

Technology giants IBM and Microsoft embarked on a slanging match last week as each accused the other of being 'out of touch' with what end users want. The occasion was the launch of a new advertising onslaught by Microsoft based around the concept of applications being 'People Ready'. Over the coming year, Microsoft says it plans to spend a whopping $500 million promoting the idea of empowering end users with the raft of new product offerings, including the flagship Windows Vista operating system, the 2007 Microsoft Office system, Windows Mobile software and the next version of Microsoft Exchange Server. ...more

Smaller lines and bigger wafers for a cheaper Pentium 4

Intel is trumpeting a technological breakthrough that should lead to the cheaper production of Pentium 4 microprocessors. At its DC1 plant in Oregon, the chip giant has successfully produced chips using a 0.13 micron process technology on new, larger 300 mm wafers. ...more

Bulldog broadband customer details stolen in 2005

A security breach in 2005 resulted in the theft of the personal details of some 100,000 Bulldog broadband subscribers, its former owner Cable & Wireless has revealed. C&W said that it has become apparent that in December 2005 contact details were stolen, resulting in a number of unsolicited calls being made to 'a small number' of customers. But it stressed that there is no evidence that bank or credit card details were used illegally, though it is not clear whether they were among the information that was stolen. ...more