Open source to power US patent review

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is looking to the open source community to help improve the quality of patents issued in the US. Quality issues have landed the USPTO with something of a reputation as an over-liberal system that one should try to avoid - particularly in relation to efforts in Europe to come up with a harmonised patent legislation for the EU. The successful patenting of what some might consider trivial or obvious inventions, such as 'one-click shopping' has made software patents tricky terrain for the tech industry. ...more

Auto-tuning upgrade for IBM DB2 database

IBM is promising version 8.2 of its DB2 database software will cut down on manual button pushing. Code-named Stinger, the new version of DB2 Universal Database automatically self-manages and self-tunes databases without the need for manual intervention, so that complex tasks can be completed up to seven times more quickly according to the company. ...more

Intel develops new hybrid laser

High-speed computers based on laser technology could become commonplace following a discovery by a team from Intel and the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). The researchers have discovered a way of creating a Hybrid Silicon Laser that combines the light emitting properties of Indium Phosphide and the light routing properties of silicon. 'This could bring low-cost, terabit-level optical 'data pipes' inside future computers and help make possible a new era of high-performance computing applications,' commented Mario Paniccia, director of Intel's Photonics Technology Lab. ...more

Microsoft squashes self-destructing email rumour

At the official London launch of Office 2003 last night, Microsoft was questioned about Mission Impossible-style disappearing email, reports of which have been circulating in the media. Steven Sinofski, Senior VP of Microsoft Office Group, squashed the rumour. He told assembled hacks in London that the new Office suite did not support self-destructing emails. ...more

Zip ditches power cable

Iomega has announced the forthcoming release of a 250MB Zip uniquely powered via its USB cable. The new drive uses new U-shaped disks and is back-compatible with the original 100MB Zips. It weighs nine ounces (approx. ...more