Sky names the day for HD TV

Satellite broadcaster Sky has announced - to no great surprise - that it intends to kick off its High Definition television service in time for the World Cup finals taking place in Germany this summer. HDTV is regarded to be the next big change in television viewing habits. The new generation of 'HD Ready' plasma and LCD television sets can not only give much sharper resolution than the traditional set but also provide more vivid colour and often have surround sound built in too. ...more

CallNet hangs up

It looks like controversial ISP CallNet 0800 is doomed as creditors take legal action to retrieve their money. The totally free ISP, launched in November last year to much scepticism, is being taken to court by its PR company Mulberry and other creditors such as Cable and Wireless over outstanding invoices. The firm closed down its 0800 and 0845 lines last Wednesday and a service report on the company's site, at www. ...more

Cheggars goes Chinese

Chinese hacker group the Honker Union of China has defaced the Web site of Keith Chegwin, which broadcasts live versions of his shows from his bedroom. The Web site bore the message "F*** the USA Government, f*** Poizonbox". It is believed that the attack was a misfire in the hackers' war on the US, and rival US hackers Poizonbox, which has so far affected the White House and the House of Representatives. ...more

Green party pressures the EU to revise computer patent directive

Pressure to restart the process of drafting a patent directive for computer implemented inventions is growing as the Green Party petitions the European Parliament to send it back to the drawing board. The move followed news on Monday that a group of 61 MEPs had also put forward a motion to have the draft sent back to the European Parliament for a first reading. If granted, it would allow those concerned a fresh chance at defining the scope of what the final directive should fulfil, and ensure that exactly what is and what is not patentable is properly clarified. ...more

.xxx approval delayed by ICANN

The introduction of the controversial .xxx domain has been delayed again. The new top-level domain (tld) name that is supposed to be a home for 'adult' content on the Internet was finally expected to be approved at the latest meeting of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). ...more