Ford uses banner ads for recall messages

Ford Motors has launched an unprecedented $3.5m online advertising campaign following a pair of recalls on its products. According to the media information company AdRelevance, Ford's advert - which carries the simple message, "For official Ford news on the Firestone recall, click here" - is currently the No 1 banner on the Web. ...more

BT shines a light on information delivery

BT's broadband applications research centre is highlighting a new way for information to be delivered to your home: ambient devices. A rather futuristic wireless technology, the system is intended to notify users of news and information using ambient light sequences and sound alerts. And not just any news, but personalised information: perhaps emails from particular individuals or news on particular topics. ...more

KDE 2.0 moves to the centre of the Linux universe

A major new version of KDE - the Linux-based desktop environment - has been released. KDE 2.0, dubbed "Kopernicus", features a range of productivity tools, from Konqueror, which is a full featured web browser and file manager, to KOffice, an integrated office suite. ...more

Panasonic introduces DVD recorder

With DVD becoming the format of choice for the home cinema buff, enthusiasts have lauded news of a recordable DVD format. Such machines are slowly becoming a reality as Panasonic announces the DMR-E20, a DVD video recorder. The DMR-E20 is based upon the DVD-RAM and video formats agreed by the DVD forum, and is compatible with audio/video and PC applications. ...more

SQL Server drives Microsoft's record quarter

Record sales have powered Microsoft's latest quarterly financial results, with SQL Server gaining the garlands. The headline figures - for the third quarter ended 31 December 2005 - are record sales of $11.84 billion, a nine per cent increase over the same period a year ago, with profits reaching $3. ...more