Sony may expand PlayStation hard drive capacity

Sony said on Tuesday that it is considering launching a PS3 console with a larger hard disk drive capacity, in a bid to cater to the needs of hardcore gamers and other heavy users. The company had previously announced the decision not to make a 20GB version available when PS3 launched in Europe last month, leaving it with just the single, 60GB version. 'For users who vigourously store [games and other entertainment content] in the PS3, 20GB is probably going to be too small, and even 60GB may not be big enough eventually,' Sony Computer Entertainment spokesman Satoshi Fukuoka said. ...more

Microsoft upgrades Outlook flaw to 'critical'

Microsoft has upped the warning level for one its March security updates. The status of the update in Bulletin MS04-009 has been upgraded from 'important' to 'critical'. The software involved is Outlook 2002, in both its standalone form and as part of the Microsoft Office XP software suite. ...more

Production to double at iPod mini disk factory

Hitachi is to double the output of factory that makes that 1in disk drives used in Apple's iPod mini. A shortage of drives coupled with unanticipated demand has created to a six-week waiting list for the portable music player, and delayed the European launch until July. Hitachi will invest $200mn in the Thailand plant, which also makes drives for both laptop and desktop machines and will employ some 16,000 workers. ...more

Poor communications pushes IT projects over budget

Survey reveals more than 60 per cent of IT directors think poor communications are the key reason for failed IT projects and 30 per cent say this puts more than half over budget. A survey of 75 senior IT directors conducted by Borland found that 41 per cent of respondents said the problem was serious enough for them to adopt Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) products within a year, to help keep dialogue at the various stages of a project fluid. It comes as no surprise then to discover that Borland has just such products up its sleeve. ...more

Music on the move: music on a mobile phone

With the widely anticipated launch of the Motorola iTunes phone next week, the arrival of the Nokia N91 'Jukebox' and Sony 'Walkman' W800 phones, and the launch of HMV Digital with support for phone downloads, attention is focussing on the role of the mobile as a music device. But along with obvious advantages - such as their portability, usability and growing memory capacities - there are potential drawbacks - battery life, sound quality and integration (or otherwise, with music download services. We've been tracking this area and can reveal the results of our Music on the Move survey, which considered issues of Digital Rights Management (DRM) and the current popularity for music on mobiles. ...more