Tech giants team on chip future

The team of companies that developed the Cell processor is working to a new five-year plan. The microprocessor design - destined for the PlayStation 3 and next-generation workstations - was developed by IBM, Sony and Toshiba and the electronics giants have an announced a new five-year phase for joint technology development. Having previously collaborated on SOI (silicon-on-insulator) process technologies at 90 and 65 nanometres (nm), they will now focus on 32nm development. ...more

ADSL providers agree to make service swapping easier for customers

A number of broadband ISPs have agreed to sign up to a self-regularity code of good practice, which is designed to make it easier for customers to migrate from one service provider to another. The companies - including AOL, BT, Bulldog, Demon, Virgin.net and Wanadoo - have agreed to try and minimise the delays and disruption experienced by users if they make a switch. ...more

Adobe begins enterprise LifeCycle

Adobe has announced a new suite of PDF and Web application technologies for enterprises. The LiveCycle Enterprise Suite is a J2EE-based server that combines Adobe Flex, the XML and scripting-based Web application development technology, with the capabilities PDF. According to Adobe, when Flash Player is added to the mix, LiveCycle ES enables 'a new class of "customer engagement" applications that easily connect people inside and outside organisations to internal information and processes'. ...more

UK LinuxWorld 2003 cancelled

The first LinuxWorld Conference and Expo UK, due to take place on 3-4 September at the Birmingham NEC, has been cancelled. Despite sponsorship from the likes of Oracle, SuSE and Computer Associates, the show was having trouble gaining traction against a blizzard of Linux shows this year. At the end of June the Linux & Developer Expo ran alongside the Networks for Business show at the NEC. ...more

Parallels simplifies installation for Windows-on-a-Mac software

Parallels has added a new installation assistant to its Desktop for Mac software that enables Macs to run PC operating systems at the same time as OS X. The assistant provides an 'Express Windows OS Installation Mode' for Windows XP and Windows Vista, which automates the virtual machine set-up and Windows installation processes. Users select which Windows version they plan to use, enter their name, company information and Windows activation key and then installation is completely automated, requiring no user interaction. ...more