Mobile mobile phone use more dangerous than drink driving

Research reveals driving while talking on a mobile phone impairs driving skills more than being over the legal alcohol limit. Tests carried out at the Transport Research Laboratory found that drivers' reaction times were 30 per cent slower while using a hand-held mobile phone than they were when over the legal limit for alcohol, and 50 per cent slower than when driving under normal conditions. Specifically, drivers found it more difficult to maintain a constant speed and keep a safe distance from the car ahead. ...more

Virgin Mobile TV grabs Channel 4 simulcasts

Virgin has completed the sign-up of Channel 4 to its mobile phone TV service. This now carries BBC 1 (on a trial basis), ITV1, Channel 4, E4 and ITN News. To be specific, from today a fuller version of Channel 4 content will be available on a specific Virgin handset, the Virgin Mobile Lobster 700TV. ...more

What's NXT for Microsoft?

Microsoft is opening a new campaign to win over wavering software developers to Windows. The new initiative known as NXT is targeted at ISVs with software solutions turning over $5 million in revenue who are ready to migrate to, or work cross-platform with, a Microsoft operating system or database. The initiative is aimed principally at applications developers for the Unix and Linux platforms who are the main competitors to Windows Server and its accompanying back office technologies. ...more

A lowdown on... Java

Java. Java. Java. ...more

HP cuts back on R&D

HP is to close a number of its labs and shed a management layer, as part of the restructuring plan announced this week. Julian Richards, UK PR Manager for HP Labs, said the cuts will be in line with the 10 per cent cull HP announced for the rest of the company. For HP Labs, that works out at about 70 people. ...more