Toshiba pushes the flash memory envelope

Good news for gadget designers - Toshiba has managed to double the capacity of its NAND flash memory, with 4Gbit ICs. Greater memory capacities, of course, give improved scope for miniaturisation or more powerful functionality, for devices such as digital cameras, MP3 players, smartphones and the like. Described by Toshiba as the semiconductor industry's first 4Gbit single-die, multi-level cell (MLC), NAND flash memory, the chip is made on 90-nanometer process technology and reportedly doubles the capacity of Toshiba's present largest single-die NAND flash memory. ...more

UK surfers are most demanding

According to ADSL Guide, UK users demand more from their Net connections than those in other countries and their usage is only likely to be intensified as 8Mbps connections become more widespread. Add to that the demands on bandwidth that will be imposed by IPTV and video-on-demand services and ISPs will be faced with escalating bandwidth costs without a corresponding rise in revenues. 'The big question with no answer currently is what will Ofcom and the telecoms providers, of which the BT Group and NTL Incorporated are the largest, do to ensure that the UK can continue its growth into a digital economy,' writes ASL Guide's Andrew Ferguson. ...more

Incidence of Internet worms wriggles higher

Levels of Internet worm viruses rose by one per cent last month according to security experts Sophos. The company believes around one in 18 emails is laden with a virus - around 5.6 per cent. ...more

Board of Letsbuyit.com resigns

The board of co-operative buying site Letsbuyit.com resigned Wednesday, leading to fears that the innovative shopping site will be forced to close. The Dutch site, which operates in 14 European countries, is facing insolvency proceedings and is currently being run by court-appointed administrators Paul R. ...more

Apple maintains iPod dominance

Apple has maintained its dominant position in the US market for portable music players, with iPods accounting for three in every four sold. Defying predictions that the iPod bubble would burst, Apple took 75.6 per cent of the world's largest market in the second quarter of 2006. ...more