Microsoft releases server software for AMD Athlon 64

Microsoft has extended its support for AMD's 64-bit processor, the Athlon 64. Accompanying the launch of AMD's 64-bit x86-based processor, back on 23 September, Microsoft released a beta of 64-bit Windows XP for Athlon 64. And it has now announced a beta for the server side, specifically Windows Server 2003 for 64-Bit Extended Systems, which supports the AMD64 architecture. ...more

JBuilder moves to keep up with Java

JBuilder 8 is the latest update to Borland's venerable Java development system. This new release builds on the most up-to-date JDK (Java Development Kit) 1.4 technology from Sun Microsystems. ...more

Adobe releases Acrobat 3D CAD translators

Adobe has released free 3D computer-aided design (CAD) translators for Acrobat 3D that add support for several major CAD file formats, so that users can convert 3D models in those formats to PDF, regardless of whether they have CAD software. The updated translators employ technology that Adobe gained as part of its April 2006 acquisition of Trade & Technologies France (TTF), a company whose software is used by many leading CAD, computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) and computer-aided engineering (CAE) developers. 'Acrobat 3D and PDF continue to gain significant momentum in the manufacturing and architecture, engineering and construction industries, as well as praise from customers and influencers who see the technology as a means for addressing long-standing communication and collaboration issues by leveraging a ubiquitous, trusted file format,' said Tom Hale, senior VP, Knowledge Worker Business Unit at Adobe. ...more

Sony unveils its first Walkman phone

Sony Ericsson announced its first mobile under the Walkman brand - the W800. This is Sony Ericsson's bid to convince consumers that a mobile phone really can be a useful and high-quality music player, boasting a 512MB Memory Stick card included, 30 hours battery life when used as a music player (as opposed to a phone), quality accessories such as the included headset and a decent software suite for managing music both on the device and through a PC. Mike Pauwels, Senior Global Product Manager said: 'In the past two years we've concentrated on making the mobile phone a good camera. ...more

Bluetooth to wed UWB for next-gen wireless data boost

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is looking to ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to speed up data transfers and enable high-quality video for portable devices. The SIG wants to combine the best of both technologies: Bluetooth's low cost, mature, product qualification programme and comprehensive application layer with UWB's high speed. Although details have to be worked out, the SIG envisages an architecture that will preserve Bluetooth technologies - to ensure backwards-compatibility with existing devices and software, and for products that do not require the additional bandwidth. ...more