100m surfers hunt down Firefox

With its first anniversary fast approaching, the successful open source Firefox browser has racked up 100m downloads. Often seen as a more secure alternative to the much attacked Internet Explorer, the browser created by Mozilla.org raced past 50m downloads within four months of its full release in May - Firefox breaks 50 million download barrier. ...more

Comment: Consumer goods and copyright conundrums

Copyright laws are under renewed scrutiny, as consumers and media corporations go head to head in a power struggle that could determine the future of intellectual property in Europe. Creative industries want to protect their earnings in the face of Internet distribution and piracy, but influential consumer groups believe their tactics are heavy handed, and that the laws governing copyright are 'outdated' and 'absurd'. 'We need to shake up the copyright law to incorporate consumers' 'fair use' rights, including the right to copy for private use,' said Jill Johnstone, director of policy at the National Consumer Council. ...more

Apple confirms iPhone will launch in June

Apple has confirmed that the iPhone will launch in June. In an email sent to prospective buyers (embedded left), it thanked recipients for signing up for more information, and although it didn't name a specific date it did confirm rumours that the launch would be in the same month as WWDC, the Worldwide Developers' Conference. 'Talk to you soon,' said the email. ...more

Microsoft 'thrilled' by 40 million Vista sales

Microsoft has sold nearly 40 million Windows Vista licenses in the first 100 days that the latest version of the operating system became available, chairman Bill Gates said on Tuesday. Gates said an accelerating consumer shift to digital lifestyles had helped make the operating system the fastest-selling in history, and that premium editions have accounted for 78 per cent of Vista sales. Sales have slowed since the initial rush - 20 million copies were sold in the first month. ...more

UK Government refuses to legislate against spam.

The Government is abandoning the battle against unsolicited email despite its desire to take Britain to the forefront of e-commerce. The job of policing and punishing spammers will be left to ISPs. A spokesperson for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said, "the Government has decided that the most effective way to control unsolicited commercial e-mail is through self regulation by the industry. ...more