Nature journal puts blogging into peer reviews

The scientific journal Nature is to adopt an open peer-review system to judge papers submitted for publication. Manuscripts will be uploaded to a pre-print server and made available online in what is essentially a blog, allowing members of the scientific community to comment on the content's merit. Comments submitted are subject to review themselves before being published, and anyone commenting must put their name and institution to their words. ...more

Net fraudsters netted from East to West

Internet fraudsters have received their comeuppance in the US and China. Mark Jakob has been sentenced to 44 months in an LA prison after manufacturing a fake press release for Emulex that sent the hi-tech company's shares tumbling. Jakob had sold 3,000 Emulex shares short, hoping that the price would decline, allowing him to make a tidy profit once his borrowed shares were repaid at the lower price. ...more

ASA ticks off Telewest for anti-BT broadband advert

Cable broadband provider Telewest has been admonished by the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) for misleading advertisements. Ads placed in the regional press targeted existing dial-up users with the slogan: 'Faster broadband for just a few pounds more than dial-up,' and the claim that its '256kbps service is the fastest home cable broadband connection available at the price.' However, the advertisement compared Telewest's entry-level offering with that of BT, which offers a more expensive product, but at 512Kbps. ...more

AJP launches value Sonoma notebook

AJP is hitting the market with a value widescreen Intel Sonoma-based laptop. While many notebook manufactures have taken advantage of Intel's upgrade to its Centrino platform to present heavyweight, full-powered desktop replacements, AJP is taking more of a budget tack. The machine - the Z71A - is priced from ?749 (excluding VAT). ...more

Microsoft EU appeal faces judge sacking delay

Microsoft's appeal against EU antitrust penalties could be delayed this week, if the presiding judge is sacked over comments he made to a French legal journal. In an article in Concurrences, the aptly-named Hubert Legal called court officials 'ayatollahs', accusing them of using their knowledge of court procedures to manipulate judges' decisions. Bo Vesterdorf, president of the European Court of First Instance in Luxembourg, said that the comments so upset court staff that Legal should be removed from his post. ...more