Dell says 'Plant a tree for me'

Dell is trying to encourage tech players to be more environmentally savvy, kick starting the campaign with its own tree planting initiative. The computer giant's 'Plant a tree for me' effort, unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week, is designed to offset the carbon impact of the energy needed to power equipment when in use. US users can already take part in the programme by donating $2 for a notebook and $6 for a desktop computer, the proceeds of which will be invested in a tree plantation to absorb carbon dioxide and stem the damage cause by electricity-hungry devices. ...more

FlipBrowser unveiled by E-Book

The electronic book firm, E-Book Systems, has launched a new e-book PC application called FlipBrowser. The application is currently at a beta-test stage and can be downloaded for free from their website at www.flipbrowser. ...more

Apple offers to make amends, while Disney clears Jobs in stock options probe

Disney's investigation into allegations of the improper handling of backdated options at Pixar, the animation company it bought from Steve Jobs last year, has cleared the Apple CEO of any wrongdoing. In a statement to the press, John E Pepper Jr, chairman of the Walt Disney board announced that 'the [audit] committee and board have concluded that while options were backdated at Pixar prior to the acquisition, no one currently associated with the Company engaged in any intentional or deliberate acts of misconduct.' It continues, 'The Board further determined that Disney should address the additional income tax liability issues facing Pixar employees who hold such options, including participating in programs established by the IRS and the State of California to facilitate the payment of such taxes on behalf of employees. ...more

Intel's future is 3D

Higher processor performance, with greater power efficiency, is promised by Intel's research in transistor design. As opposed to traditional 'flat' transistors, Intel suggests a future for a 3D design. Transistors, of course, are the mini On-Off switches that are combined to build microprocessors. ...more

Music industry bangs DRM drum

Following the high-profile PR disaster for Sony, and for digital rights management (DRM) in general, towards the end of last year, the music industry has begun a campaign to convince music buyers that DRM is in the best interests of everyone. In an article setting out the record company's case, Dr Richard Gooch, deputy director of Technology for the IFPI, the industry's main international body, argues that while it has an unlovable title and an even more unlovable acronym, digital rights management is the most pressing issue in the digital music scene, and vital to its future. 'DRM is driving new flexible music services for consumers in the digital market,' he writes. ...more