NEC launches 'industry first' 16-speed dual-layer DVD burner

NEC has stolen a march on the competition with what it claims as the industry's first 16-speed dual-layer DVD burner. As such, it represents the pinnacle of current DVD technology: DVD discs cannot be spun at greater speeds to allow faster transfer because there is a danger they will shatter. So, the next step is blue laser drives. ...more

Virus plays on terror attacks

Security companies are warning of an email virus, which plays on the public need for information on the terror attacks on London. MessageLabs and F-Secure are among those reporting the discovery of a Trojan-carrying email, which is designed to appear as a CNN newsletter containing video footage of disaster. The email uses breakingnews@cnnonline. ...more

Yahoo! calls on record labels for DRM-free downloads

The head of Yahoo!'s digital music service has called for record labels to allow downloads to be sold free of any DRM restrictions. Dave Goldberg told the Music 2.0 conference in Los Angeles that DRM has created a barrier for consumers between their music and what they can do with it, such as transfer it the portable device of their choice. ...more

Handspring sales falling

Handspring has warned US analysts that weak demand for handhelds means that sales are going to fall around 50 percent from the previous quarter. As part of the profits warning, expected revenues for the current three-month period (ending 30 June) were revised to between $60m and $65m, down from $51m in the comparable period last year. According to the CEO Donna Dubinsky, as quoted in the LA Times, the reduced expectations "reflect short-term competitive inventory pressures, significant price reductions throughout the market and softened consumer demand over the past two months". ...more

Gartner predicts top 10 disruptive technologies

Mash-ups, virtual worlds, social software, the growth of multi-core processing and environmental issues - these are the things that will shape the IT industry over the next five years, according to analyst firm Gartner. The firm has shared its vision for the 10 most disruptive technologies ahead of its European Symposium/ITexpo, which takes place later this month in Barcelona. Gartner believes that CIOs and IT directors need to take heed of emerging technologies, or risk being caught out by the demands of both their business colleagues and their customers. ...more