Next Mozilla incarnation speeds browsing

The Mozilla organisation has announced the availability of version 0.1 of its Phoenix browser, which is claimed to start up in half the time of the current Mozilla 1.1 browser and Netscape. ...more

Opteron powers AMD financials

AMD is back in the black. Intel's rival has reported a net income of $11m - generated from sales of $1.260bn - for its second quarter of 2005 (ending 26 June). ...more

MP3 is all around us

The creators of the MP3 format - the Fraunhofer Institute - are planning to extend the encoding system to simulate surround sound. Dubbed MP3 Surround, extra data is added to the sound files to encode directional information, enabling the simulation of surround sound without having to record audio data on separate channels. The Institutes states that the new system will be compatible with existing MP3 software and music players, but obviously new players will be needed to take advantage of the new sound support. ...more

Microsoft chalks up 5,000th patent

Microsoft has announced that it has chalked up its 5,000th patent at the US Patent Office. The Patent number 6,999,083 covers technologies which allow games console users who are online to watch a game in progress. That's right, not to play a game online, just to watch it from anywhere in the world. ...more

Online music database uncovers huge CD 'hoax'

An online database used by jukebox software such as Apple's iTunes has uncovered what could prove to be one of the biggest hoaxes in the history of music. The database is used by these applications when they import a CD to match the length, order, and number of tracks on a disc to the information it stores. The application then downloads this data and attaches it to the ripped tracks, saving the user from having to enter it themselves. ...more