BBC bids for big increase in licence fee

The BBC has put in a bid to increase the licence fee paid by British viewers and listeners well above the rate of inflation. The corporation says it needs the extra funds in part to finance the rapid increase in its digital services ranging from the digital channels such as BBC3 and BBC4 and online services like the TV and radio programme download service currently under trial. The plea for a rise of 2. ...more

Google helps power broadband over electricity lines

Google is looking to boost broadband over power lines. It is among a group of companies making new investments in this specialised form of Internet access. Specifically, Google, the Hearst Corporation and Goldman Sachs are investing in Current Communications Group. ...more

Microsoft releases security source code

Microsoft has said it will publish the source code for a new security system, currently titled Palladium, which will be introduced into a future version of Windows, possibly as early as 2004. The reason behind this, according to product manager Mario Juarez, is one of trust. 'We will be publishing the source code because people will need to trust this,' he said. ...more

Camcorder man charged in US with copyright theft

A man in the US has been charged under new laws aimed at stamping out illegal distribution of new films. The man, Curtis Salisbury, aged 19 of Missouri, was discovered recording new films with a camcorder while in a cinema. Curtis is alleged to have made copies of the latest films 'Bewitched' starring Nicole Kidman and 'The Perfect Man' for distribution on the Internet through illegal warez sites. ...more

Intel's mobile Dothan to debut 16 February

Intel will debut its new Centrino mobile processor, codenamed 'Dothan', on 16 February. This is according to a report on the Californian-based website XbitLabs. 'Dothan' is the codename for the next-generation core for the Pentium M mobile processor, succeeding 'Banias'. ...more