Asus rides 'em in with rawhide laptops

Dual core cowhide. That's the prospect with the latest laptop from Asus. The S6 is described as the world's first leather notebook and is designed as an object more suitable for home environments, according to Markus Wierzoch, design manager within the Asus 'ID Team'. ...more

USB 'will continue its reign'

A technology market research company has published the results of its investigation into the future of USB and concluded that the new, faster version - USB 2.0 - 'is poised to successfully succeed the first generation USB standard'. USB 2. ...more

Foxconn reduces claims against journalists

A Chinese iPod manufacturer has slashed its damages claim against two journalists who reported on conditions at its plant. Foxconn has reduced the claim from 30 million yuan to just 1 yuan and has asked for the two reporters' assets to be unfrozen, having previously persuaded the court to block access to assets including apartments, a car and bank accounts belonging to Wang You and Weng Bao, respectively a reporter and editor at the China Business News. 'This is a victory for Chinese media,' Weng said. ...more

Microsoft to overhaul FrontPage with XML

Microsoft has announced the Beta 2 release of Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003, which is part of its Office system. Microsoft emphasises the role of XML, in what it says is an overhaul of the product. In particular, it emphasises the Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformation (XSLT) editor and its role to create interactive systems based on live data. ...more

AOL faces VAT

Freeserve smug on AOL facing VAT come July. New EU law that comes into effect in July will mean AOL has to start paying VAT on sales inside the region. Freeserve is delighted that the anomaly which it believes has saved AOL ?150mn over the past seven years is to come to an end. ...more