Java ousts C++ in American high schools

The US College Board has further sanctioned the establishment of Java by making it the language of choice for high school programming tests. C++ was the language previously used. The Java language will be used for tests of programming skills in advanced-placement (AP) computer science tests (the AP tests enable US high school kids get credits for college-level courses). ...more

mobile phone virus gets more mobile

A mobile phone virus has been found in the wild in the US and South Africa, eight months after it was released in The Philippines. Cabir has now spread to 13 countries including the UK but only reached the US today, when it was discovered in a gadgets shop in California. A passing techie recognised a telltale image on the infected phone's screen. ...more

Mandrake marches into new year with enterprise server and desktop range

Mandrakesoft has marched into the new year with a full set of corporate products, including a desktop. The company is promising lengthy development cycles for the most robust and stable platforms and a five-year maintenance program, meaning customers can be assured the products will not be superseded and will continue to receive support. Mandrake's development process for its MandrakeLinux line goes through three stages: an in-house core version known as cooker, an initial product released under the Community tag, and an Offical version which is the result of feedback from thousands of developers using the Community version. ...more

Vending machines to sell music downloads for cash

A new venture will allow consumers to use hard cash to pay for digital music at a huge variety of public places. Inspired Broadcast Networks is working with Entertainment UK, using BT's DSL broadband network to offer digital music to buy via mobile phone, kiosks, vending machines and networked jukeboxes, as well as more sophisticated mobile devices. It means that you can go into pubs, clubs, shops and other places you might expect to find a vending machine and pay for digital music with cash or card. ...more

Duron ups the ante to 1.2Ghz

AMD has released a budget Duron desktop CPU clocked at 1.2Ghz. This brings it up to speed, and price, with Intel's fastest budget chip: the 1. ...more