Sony marks Aibo's 2nd birthday

The plucky little robot dog/cat hybrid has come a long way since its initial launch and, to celebrate this fact, Sony is selling new versions of the Aibo in three fetching colours. While technologically the new Aibo's are the same as the current ERS-210 model, the different colour casings will make the robots collectable. The company is only accepting orders between 11 May and 31 July 2001, so you had better be quick to get your mitts on the new white, purple or green livery. ...more

Comment: Ad liberties

Advertising makes the Web go round, but amid a Desktop invasion it's time to fight back, argues Stewart Mitchell. Imagine sitting in a car, and staring at an irritating billboard - one that's advertising a product you find unnecessary at best, and is blocking an interesting view or street sign. Picture now that you drive round the corner and it's there again on the side of a hill; you get home and turn on the TV only to be haunted once more. ...more

Microsoft: We won't sue, but run Novell

Microsoft has warned customers worried about open-source patent infringement to buy Linux software from its partner, Novell. Last week, Microsoft stipulated that 235 of its patents had been breached by open-source software. The claims were strongly criticised by open-source advocates such as Linus Torvalds, who said the company's failure to name which specific patents had been violated 'should tell you something'. ...more

PearPC seeks funding to take legal bite at Cherry OS

The makers of the PearPC Mac emulator are seeking funding to sue the makers of the rival, commercial Cherry OS. Both applications let Windows users run OS X on their PCs. Cherry OS was released earlier this month amid much controversy, as it bore remarkable similarities with the open source PearPC project. ...more

iPod Christmas overwhelms iTunes Store

The number of Christmas Day visits to the iTunes section of Apple's website was 413 per cent higher than 2005, according to Hitwise. The Web statistics compiler attributes the rise to new iPod owners hurrying to download the iTunes software. iPod sales also appear to have led to a surge in iTunes Store purchases. ...more