1st April 2003 Archive

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Virgin Mobile to launch mobile phone breathalyser

April flipping fool

Those wags at Virgin Mobile claim they are about to launch a new phone that has an in-built breathalyser. Of course, it hasn't been designed for anything quite so public-spirited as to prevent people on the pop from drinking and driving. No, no, instead, it's to stop people from sending embarrassing texts or making nuisance …

Bootnotes 1 Apr 2003, 07:25
Uncle Roger's improper Ganda

Opinion Swedish school system let him down

The Ganda virus shows why the Internet isn't the best source for reliable war news, and malicious code isn't a good medium for anything, writes SecurityFocus columnist George Smith. Laugh at the news of poor "Uncle Roger" from Haernoesand, Sweden, the mistreated student/virus-writer rousted by the coppers for creating a virus …

Security 1 Apr 2003, 07:48
Free software gives hackers taste of own medicine

April Fool Controversial retaliation

IT security specialist Backfire Security today announced the availability of a software download as a discrete desk-top client application which wreaks revenge on those hackers and culprits attacking your network or infecting users with worms and/or viruses. The freeware package - PAYBACK v1.0 - is available from www. …

Bootnotes 1 Apr 2003, 08:12
£18,000 buys you surrogate ‘cyberbaby’

April Fool Web organisation hits new low with '2d kids'

Well, it had to happen. After the highly distasteful internet auction of twins last year and the temptation for unscrupulous chancers to exploit the web's potential audience in the search of profit, an outfit calling itself "The National Society for Social Change" (NATSOC) is offering busy executives the chance to procure a "2d …

Bootnotes 1 Apr 2003, 08:35
Is your website accessible? Probably not

Deaf not leading the Blind

The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) is to conduct a formal investigation to focus on web access, writes Peter Abrahams, of Bloor Research. One thousand websites spanning the public and private sectors are to be tested for basic compliance with recognised industry accessibility standards. According to the DRC, Britain's …

Music and Media 1 Apr 2003, 09:39
AMD, Fujitsu to merge Flash ops

Chance to become number two in the biz

AMD and Fujitsu have agreed to merge their Flash memory operations in a bid to mount a direct challenge to Intel's dominance of the market. The two companies' Memorandum of Understanding - which will presumably require shareholder and regulatory authority approval before becoming a done deal - calls for the merger of Flash …

Channel 1 Apr 2003, 09:55
419 scammers surface in Baghdad

Hard times in Nigeria force relocation?

With Gulf War II less than two weeks old, we're impressed to see that Nigerian advanced fee fraudsters - or "419ers" as they're known in the parlance of international scams - have rapidly deployed to offer Western partners a bite of the Iraqi oil billions falafel: 10 Jasim Street, Ibrahim'Ali, Baghdad, Iraq. Email: falbashar@ …

Bootnotes 1 Apr 2003, 10:06
Intel extends Celeron range

Now runs at 2.3 and 2.4GHz

Intel yesterday grew the Celeron desktop line with two new processors running at 2.3 and 2.4GHz, respectively. We say 'new', but both parts are essentially second-generation Pentium 4 chips - aka Northwood - with most of the on-die L2 cache switched off. The Celerons contain 128KB of cache, operate with a 400MHz frontside bus …

Channel 1 Apr 2003, 10:10
Cost turns UK punters off 3G – survey

Counting the pennies

Researchers are warning the mobile phone industry that the high cost of phone calls and handsets could dent the uptake of 3G mobile technology. According to the Work Foundation, people in the UK worry about the cost of using mobile phones far more than is commonly assumed. Report authors James Crabtree, Max Nathan and Simon …

Mobile 1 Apr 2003, 10:19
CSC gets tough on file-sharing employees

Offenders face counselling - or the boot

Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) has warned employees that they face "counselling" or even the sack if they are found to be using the firm's network to download and store illegally-held copyright material. The stark warning was contained in an internal memo sent last Friday in which CSC explained that it has been notified by …

Music and Media 1 Apr 2003, 10:54
MPs question Inland Revenue over C&W tax deal

Flogs some Euro biz

Cable & Wireless today announcing that it's got "its" £1.5 billion, set aside to cover a secret potential tax liabilities, back from escrow. At the same time, members of the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee are asking the Government some searching questions over the tax deal brokered with C&W, which saw the firm …

Business 1 Apr 2003, 12:01
Nortel looks to boost security and mobility in WLANs

Products due Q2

Nortel Networks yesterday announced a set of products designed to help customers tie wireless LANs into corporate networks, with security and mobility improvements to improve the scalability of the technology. The Canadian networking firm has developed an architecture geared to boosting security and improving wireless roaming …

Data Networking 1 Apr 2003, 12:02
Are Scott, Carly and Larry risking time at Camp X-Ray?

Donations can cost you your liberty

Making a charitable donation could find you in Camp X-Ray. Scott McNealy, Larry Ellison and Carly Fiorina, please note, you've been doing it too. As we'll explain. And you could be at risk too, dear reader: if it's the wrong charity ... at the wrong time. Take the case of senior Intel Engineer Maher Mofied 'Mike' Hawash. Hawash …

Music and Media 1 Apr 2003, 12:06
Apple 12in PowerBook G4

Review A Reg long-term, in-depth test

It's easy to be impressed by a new computer when you've only had it for a few days. It still smells fresh, nothing's been spilt on the keyboard, it still looks shiny. And the idiosyncrasies and glitches haven't had time to emerge. Unless there's something spectacularly wrong with the machine, it will get the thumb's up. That's …

Mac Channel 1 Apr 2003, 12:17
UK drivers face fines for ‘wrong type of hands-free device’

Bluetooth in-car restrictions are 'unworkable'

Six million UK drivers face fines for using the wrong type of hands-free device. That's the warning from pressure group the Association of British Drivers (ABD) which is trying to raise awareness about a proposed government ban on in-car mobile phones. The 6,000-member ABD, which campaigns for better conditions for motorists, …

Mobile 1 Apr 2003, 15:19
BT to reveal price cuts this week

Busy bees

BT is expected to reveal details of its much-hinted-at broadband "price cuts" later this week. Sources claim the monster telco will make its announcement about possible price cuts in the next couple of days. However, BT remains tight-lipped about any possible announcement even though it has been criticised by some ISPs for …

Telecoms 1 Apr 2003, 15:23
What the hell is a ‘proximity server’, and why should you care?

Bridging last-yard data

How interesting: more strange fusions at the edge of the network. CeBIT saw the emergence of the personal wireless gateway. As Guy Kewney reported here and as we discussed further, here, the "phone hub" or PMG "personal mobile gateway" allows you to move your mobile phone - or other wireless-enabled trinkets - between networks …

Mobile 1 Apr 2003, 21:34
Third of tech firms ignore customers

Only a third, hmmm?

A third of tech firms fail to reply to Web-based enquiries from customers, according to a survey by US-based consultants. In its latest study into how companies treat their customers online, The Customer Respect Group found that six out of ten firms responded to email requests within 48 hours, while one in ten took four days or …

Small Biz 1 Apr 2003, 22:53
Content is king for 3G. But what content?

Analysis I want my Killer app

Content and applications are the key to spurring uptake in 3G mobiles. Says who? Says the panellists debating a Work Foundation study, MobileUK: Mobile Phones and Everyday Life, last night at the organisation's London offices. According to the report the high cost of phone calls and handsets could dent the uptake of 3G mobile …

Mobile 1 Apr 2003, 23:25
EMC backs Brocade on SAN applications

But demands software standards in the longer term

EMC is developing volume management software to run on Brocade's SilkWorm Fabric Application Platform (FAP), and in the process declared its intent to push hard for standards in the nascent SAN application platform market. The SilkWorm FAP is an intelligent Fibre Channel switch that allows storage management applications, to …

Storage 1 Apr 2003, 23:58