A nation of games players?

More than ?1 billion a year is being spent on video and computer games by game-hungry Brits. A new report by research analysts Mintel revealed that the UK gaming market has doubled since 1995, with almost three quarters of children between seven and 14 having a games console in their home. Children from Scotland are the most addicted, with four in five of them owning a console. ...more

Microsoft denies Word exploit claims

Microsoft has dismissed claims that a new vulnerability in Word could be remotely executed. At the end of last week, information about such a vulnerability was posted to the bugtraq list, claiming that proof of concept code was available that could be used to create a Word document that, once opened, would overwrite memory space and allow arbitrary code to be run. The person making the submission suggested that the vulnerability may not be restricted to Word, but might also affect other components in Microsoft's Office suite. ...more

Gossip on the Web

UK broadband users can now enjoy cheap phone calls over the Internet with a new service launched called Gossiptel. The service works for both cable and ADSL users and can be accessed simply by plugging a headse into your PC, or your standard headset into an adaptor. Gossiptel connects to other Internet telephony users that use the SIP (Session Internet Protocol) for free and to standard 'fixed line' PSTN phones at rates starting from 2. ...more

Microsoft betas software locker

Microsoft is trialling a new way to buy software through its Windows Marketplace site. The new 'software locker' technology is designed to make Marketplace easier, with a single interface and checkout facility rather than having to go to individual vendors. Windows Marketplace is a Microsoft site that offers a range of Windows titles from small to medium sized vendors. ...more

Interview: Linux and the Open Source Development Lab

Set up at the start of 2001 as a 'centre of gravity' for Linux, the Open Source Development Lab has drawn in heavyweight computing giants from around the world, adding momentum to the adoption of Linux in the enterprise. We caught up with OSDL Marketing Director Nelson Pratt on a recent visit to the UK to talk all things Open Source. Building membership Currently the OSDL enjoys a wealth of support from chip and system vendors, as well as platform builders and operating systems, but Pratt said there were still names missing from the member list. ...more