UK games chart: FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 looms larger

FIFA is still sitting pretty with its franchise football game at the top of this week's ELSPA games chart. FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 is published by EA Sports and is available for the PC, PS2, Xbox and Xbox 360. Also locked in position at number two is the multi-format Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend (PC, PS2, PSP, Xb, Xb360), with the top three completed by Eidos' Championship Manager 2006 (PC, PS2, Xbox, PSP), which moves up from number ten to number three. ...more

Toshiba puts its money on notebook reliability

Toshiba is putting its latest laptops through an independent testing process in which it is so confident it is offering a repair or replacement, plus a full (ex VAT) refund on any that go wrong in the first year. The first models to undergo the new testing procedure and thus available under the offer are the Satellite Pro A120 and Tecra A8. The new notebook design is tested using a HALT (Highly Accelerated Life Testing) procedure by German company TUV, Toshiba's Product Marketing Manager Ken Chan said. ...more

Microsoft to develop DRM for mobiles

At the annual Cita Wireless 2006 Show for wireless and mobile vendors in Las Vegas Microsoft said it plans to make 'significant investments' in developing DRM technology for mobile phones. The company announced plans to develop a new generation of DRM technologies that will open up new markets and channels to the wireless industry. 'We're responding to our wireless partners around the world who are asking for a solution to enable new scenarios in the industry,' said Kevin Johnson, Microsoft's co-president of the Platforms & Services Division. ...more

Sales up, losses down, Amazon's confidence rides high

Strong sales drive company towards the black and raise sales guidance for full year. Amazon has set out its latest set of results for the quarter ending 31 March. Headline figures revealed sales up 28 per cent across the board, to $1. ...more

Microsoft closes net on counterfeit software distributors

Microsoft has filed suits in 25 US cities against distributors of counterfeit software. The suits allege copyright infringement and were filed after Microsoft conducted a series of test purchases from suspected companies. After subsequent analysis of the software supplied, Microsoft notified any offending distributors and told them how to get hold of legitimate Microsoft software. ...more