Virgin joins 'free' broadbandwagon

Virgin Mobile and broadband provider Virgin.net, both of whom are now owned by the cable company NTL, are the latest to make a 'free broadband' offer to customers. The companies plan to offer a year of 8 Mbps broadband, for no additional cost, for customers that take one of Virgin Mobile's new SIM-only pay monthly tariffs. ...more

High-end PowerShot gives professional control

Canon has launched its PowerShot G2 digital camera, aimed at the semi-pro and advanced enthusiast, offering heaps of manual control. Rather than the usual point and shoot affairs, the 4megapixel offers SLR-like control, with three autofocus modes, three AF points with 12 shooting modes (including Shutter priority, Aperture priority and full manual mode). You even get an exposure histogram graph for image evaluation, allowing you to fine tune your exposure settings. ...more

Nokiagame hype coming your way

Nokia is launching an online game that is tipped to be the next "Big Brother". Players of Nokiagame take on the role of a fictional character and use their powers of detection to unravel the clues and win the top prize. This is a trip to the MTV snowboarding weekend in the Italian Alps in January. ...more

UK data privacy watchdog calls for more powers

The head of the UK's data protection authority has called for more powers to carry out inspections and audits of organisations to check compliance with the Data Protection Act. Richard Thomas, the Information Commissioner, told Parliament's Home Affairs Select Committee, that such new powers would go some way to ensuring public confidence in initiatives and technologies which could otherwise accelerate the growth of a surveillance society. Currently the Information Commissioner's Office must gain consent before inspecting an organisation, but Thomas told the Committee that data protection is an essential barrier to excessive surveillance and it is wrong that his Office cannot find out what is happening in practice without the consent of each organisation 'The risks that arise from excessive surveillance affect both individuals and society as a whole,' he said. ...more

Fourteen new broadband dates

Fourteen further exchanges have got the green light for ADSL upgrades, the latest successes of BTs broadband registration scheme. The following exchanges will bring the total for May to 34, joining the 20 whose ready-for-service dates were announced in February. The 14 new exchanges and dates are: 14 May - March, Cambridgeshire and Frensham, Surrey; 21 May 2003 - Aberdeen Ashgrove, Grampian; Armthorpe, South Yorkshire; Epping, Essex; Knottingley, West Yorkshire; Lingfield, Surrey; Portishead, Avon; Prestatyn, Clywd; Redditch Old Town, Hereford & Worcester; and Runcorn East, Cheshire; 28 May - Aberdeen Bielside, Grampian; Bewdley, Hereford & Worcester; and Downhall, Essex. ...more