30th July 2007 Archive

Browse by publication date, or search the site.

Introducing Microsoft LINQ

Book review A new approach to data query in the .NET world.

Microsoft's Language Integrated Query (also known as LINQ), is one of the key features on the .NET horizon. Already out as a beta, it's slated for release as part of Visual Studio 2008 (which goes under the code name of Orcas, which conjures images of packs of killer whales rather than shrink-wrapped development software). …

Developer 30 Jul 2007, 08:53
ICANN opens registrar reform up to public comment

No time like the present

The time for reform at ICANN has come. Long overdue changes to the Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA) are now open for public comment on the ICANN website, as the aftershocks of the RegisterFly failure continue to ripple through the organization entrusted with the technical stability of the internet we all know and love. …

Networks 30 Jul 2007, 09:01
7 BlackBerry 8800 smartphones & Jem's Navigation bundle to be won

Register Hardware daily draw £3k worth of prizes to give away with Register Hardware

We've got seven BlackBerry 8800 smartphones to give away... one every day this week packaged with a free 6-month subscription to Jem Telecom's navigation software that enables you to use your BlackBerry to effectively plan a train, plane or ferry journey, view the road congestion on all major UK roads or as a satellite …

Reg Hardware 30 Jul 2007, 09:05
Europe's floods and fires snapped from space

All looks rather small

The Thames bursts its banks: ESA The flooding in the UK is visible from space, and the European Space Agency (ESA) has the pictures to prove it. The agency's earth monitoring Envisat satellites have also snapped the fires raging across much of southern Europe. The flooding in the UK is the worst to hit the country in 60 …

Space 30 Jul 2007, 09:23
Council worker develops PC energy-saving program

Could save £40,000 per year

A county council could slash its annual energy bill by £40,000, thanks to a computer program developed by one of its staff. Peter Kear, an IT support team leader for Staffordshire County Council, has invented a patch management program that automatically scans the authority's 7,500 computers and switches off those that have …

Small Biz 30 Jul 2007, 09:25
E-petitions could be debated in the Commons

Uk gov gives the nod to report

The public could soon be setting the agenda for debates in the Commons after proposals on e-petitioning won government support. The government has accepted the key recommendations in a report delivered by the Commons Procedure Select Committee in May 2007 on public petitions. Although all petitions will still have to be …

Government 30 Jul 2007, 09:29
Toshiba raises forecast as profits surge

PCs and semiconductors lead the charge

Chip maker Toshiba raised its forecasts for the first half of the fiscal year after the firm enjoyed strong sales in the quarter ending 30 June. The Japanese firm's net profits surged to ¥20.6bn (€126.8m) for the first quarter from ¥4bn (€24.9m) for the same period last year. This represent earnings per share of ¥5.92 (€0.04 …

Financial News 30 Jul 2007, 09:51
Vague and ambiguous use cases revisited

Join Camp Gritty

Oh no, not again: the industry's gone and divided into two camps. In Camp Purity, there's the group insisting that use cases must be abstract and free of any specific technology or UI feature. Simply heavenly! Useless, but heavenly. Then in Camp Gritty, there's the group politely whispering that use cases work better when they' …

Developer 30 Jul 2007, 10:06
IBM: technology will ease travel woes

Cars to get cat-like reflexes

IBM has predicted that travel by plane, train, or automobile is going to be a lot easier in the future. Big Blue gazed into its crystal ball and made predictions about how technology will change the way people travel in the future. The IT giant has listed five changes that will improve the way we get from A to B. First off, …

IT Director 30 Jul 2007, 10:11
ICO scamster jailed for 20 months

Stole £400,000 with data protection fraud

A man who pretended to be from the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and was charging companies to register under the Data Protection Act has been jailed for 20 months. Christopher Williams of Hoole, Chester was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court. Many businesses must register with the ICO under the Data Protection Act ( …

Law 30 Jul 2007, 10:33
Disability question turns on employee's abilities

Could they do better without the disability?

Employment tribunals should assess worker disability not in comparison with the rest of the population, but in comparison with the performance of that worker without that disability, the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) has ruled. The ruling was given in the case of a senior policeman who requested extra time in examinations …

Small Biz 30 Jul 2007, 10:36
New tool enables loading of unsigned drivers in Vista

Use at your own risk

A new software tool has been released by Linchpin Labs that allows the loading of unsigned and legacy drivers on Windows XP, 2003, and most importantly Vista. One of the system management and control methods that Microsoft implemented with Windows Vista is requiring system drivers to be digitally signed before they will load …

Software 30 Jul 2007, 10:55
Smarten up your virtual security posture

Securing virtualised environments

Virtualisation is now widely acknowledged as an important development in enterprise computing with forecasts of rapid growth for both server and storage virtualisation. It is also widely acknowledged that managing a virtualised environment is more difficult than managing a traditional one. "The increased complexity which …

Developer 30 Jul 2007, 10:59
Dutch telecoms firm to bid for Getronics

Relief in the air?

Dutch telecommunications company KPN says it intends to launch a €766m bid for struggling IT services company Getronics NV. Last year, merger discussions between KPN and Getronics led nowhere. Instead, Getronics shedded businesses in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and China, and majority stakes in its French and Japanese operations. …

Channel Register 30 Jul 2007, 11:00
US denies entry to security researcher

Fear of a Black Hat

A high profile security researcher has been refused entry to the US on the way to this year's Black Hat security conference over "visa irregularities". Reverse engineer Thomas Dullien (better known by his nom de guerre Halvar Flake), and a long-time fixture of the Black Hat conferences, reports that he was denied entry to the …

Security 30 Jul 2007, 11:02
Cisco disconnects Linksys brand

The network is the SMB router

Cisco will ditch the Linksys brand to bring all SMB and consumer gear under its single networking omnicorp banner. CEO John Chambers blabbed the plan to journalists at a European roundtable last week. Chambers opined: "The reason we kept Linksys' brand because it was better known in the US than even Cisco was for the …

Small Biz 30 Jul 2007, 11:02
CTIA beats drum for status quo

Accuses Google of begging for government subsidy

The CTIA, representing the US wireless industry, has responded to Google's attempts to have the 700MHz auction rules rewritten - unsurprisingly coming out in favour of maintaining the status quo. 700MHz is coming up for auction in the US next year, and Google said it was prepared to spend $4.6bn if the FCC changes the rules, …

Mobile 30 Jul 2007, 11:04
32GB storage to go, please

Portable storage goes XXL

It’s a pretty safe bet that anything limited edition will be a greatfully received Christmas gift. So for the storage geek in your life, why not consider equipping them with one of Toshiba’s colossal 32GB USB Flash memory drives. The Toshiba TransMemory U2K drive series, which now also includes 1, 2, 4 and 8GB models, can be …

Reg Hardware 30 Jul 2007, 12:04
DVLA turns censor on grubby number plates

'57': this filthy integer must be stopped

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has swooped to protect Britain from mechanised filth peddlers who it suspects will exploit the new "57" number plates to mount a terrifying campaign of highway ribaldry. The new plates will allow drivers to spell "ST" or "SY", opening the floodgates to a torrent of eye-watering …

Government 30 Jul 2007, 12:26
Ingram Micro profits drop, COO quits

HQ pulls in Monie and more money

Ingram Micro, the world's largest computer products distie, posted a second quarter profit loss last Thursday and announced that the firm's president and chief operating officer Kevin Murai was stepping down. The firm netted income of $52.4m for Q2, or $0.3 per diluted share, down $1.4m from $53.8m or $0.32 per diluted share …

Channel Register 30 Jul 2007, 12:28
Dell expands Japanese retail deal

Realises shopping is big in Japan

Dell is increasing its retail presence in Japan, extending a deal it has had with Bic Camera stores since 2000. Previously, Japanese customers could order Dell computers at in-store kiosks but not actually pick up a machine. But from early next month Dell machines will be available to pick up and take away from 22 Bic Camera …

Channel Register 30 Jul 2007, 12:34
Boffins trial cheap landmine sniff-tech

Technology helps people shocker

American boffins reckon they may have found a way to build landmine-detecting equipment more cheaply, possibly offering hope to dispossessed people in warzones around the world. Landmines are cheap to make and easy to lay. Once laid, they are difficult and dangerous to clear up: so much so that minefields often become …

Science 30 Jul 2007, 12:58
Microsoft seeks divine help to boost XNA

Guildhall to the rescue

Microsoft has enlisted the Guildhall, the specialist video gaming faculty at Dallas's Southern Methodist University (SMU), to help it boost the fortunes of its XNA suite of game development tools. The Guildhall was one of several academic institutions which backed the original XNA launch when the first beta version was …

Developer 30 Jul 2007, 13:02
Terra Firma tightens grip on EMI

Awaits 90 per cent backing, given extended deadline

Private equity firm Terra Firma looks almost certain to buy EMI following a last-minute extension for its £2.4bn agreed bid from the music group. EMI had given Terra Firma, founded by Guy Hands, until 1pm yesterday to secure the thumbs up from 90 per cent of its shareholders, but it had only garnered 85 per cent by Sunday, …

Financial News 30 Jul 2007, 13:08
Do IT chiefs lack vision?

Reg Technology Panel Performance review

A high profile industry analyst recently appeared to be implying that US IT management lacked vision, which we at Freeform Dynamics thought was a bit out of order. Analysts should be there to help rather than to pass judgement (see discussion here). But it does raise an interesting question, so we got to thinking about who …

Reg Technology Panel 30 Jul 2007, 13:26
Logitech keyboard rides the Wave

Touchy feely...

Numb fingers, sore wrists, aching arms and painful fingertips are all just some of the problems that can be caused by our 21st century addiction to the keyboard. But, Logitech has taken these pain-points onboard and, with a little aquatic inspiration, created the Wave keyboard. It claims the keyboard, which is available in …

Reg Hardware 30 Jul 2007, 13:50
VXers publish blog poisoning tool

Script kiddie tool foils captchas

Virus writers have created a malicious tool capable of automating the publication of spam and links to sites hosting malware on forums and blogs. XRumer dumbs down the process of posting so-called blog spam. Blog spam has been used as a tactic by penis pill purveyors and others to attract attention and (occasionally) boost …

Security 30 Jul 2007, 14:46
Toshiba's burning desire for HD DVD

Toshiba says no way to Blu-ray

Toshiba has raised the bar slightly higher in the high definition (HD) format war. The manufacturer has released a notebook under its Qosmio range that is equipped with an HD DVD-R drive, further shunning the rival HD Blu-ray format. The Qosmio G45-AV680 incorporates an HD DVD-R/DVD optical drive, which the manufacturer …

Reg Hardware 30 Jul 2007, 14:51
Woz backs internet video start-up

With his mind not his money

Apple guru Steve Wozniak and Red McCombs, a co-founder of advertising behemoth Clear Channel, are backing an internet start-up which uses compression to improve online videos. Currently being used to run a site for flogging secondhand cars, they believe the high quality videos can be used in various ecommerce sites. Hotswap …

Small Biz 30 Jul 2007, 14:53
Codice Software shows off new SCM tool

Plastic fantastic

There seems to be a bit of excitement in the ALM (Application Lifecycle Management) world just now. As we predicted, the big boys are fleshing out their offerings by acquisition – and exciting new products are appearing. At a recent BCS CMSG gathering, we were rather taken by the intriguingly-named Plastic SCM (Software …

Developer 30 Jul 2007, 14:58
Bush to Congress: streamline star-chamber spy court

I've already tried ignoring it

President George Bush has urged Congress to approve modifications to American laws governing surveillance and wiretapping. In his Saturday speech to the nation, the President said the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) was out of date, and that it hampered US terror-busting spooks unduly. Under FISA, when feds or …

Government 30 Jul 2007, 15:06
Denon sits on the fence in HD war

Updated Denon hedges its bets over HD DVD and Blu-ray

Denon Electronics has dipped its toes into the Blu-ray hardware market, unveiling its first player for the next generation format. However, the manufacturer is still sitting on the fence in the ongoing High Definition Wars. The DVD-3800BDCI operates on the BD-ROM Profile 1 version 1.1, which becomes mandatory for all players …

Reg Hardware 30 Jul 2007, 15:11
Carousel fraud jumps to record high

VAT merry-go-round

A significant number of carousel fraud cases worth more than £100,000 passed through English courts in the first six months of the year. KPMG Forensic, which monitors fraud figures, said there was a total of 107 fraud cases in the six months leading up to June this year, which had a total value of £594m. It said the dramatic …

Crime 30 Jul 2007, 15:13
MS-DOS paternity suit settled

Computer pioneer Kildall vindicated, from beyond the grave

An overlooked court case in Seattle has helped restore the reputation of the late computer pioneer Gary Kildall. Last week, a Judge dismissed a defamation law suit brought by Tim Paterson, who sold a computer operating system to Microsoft in 1980, against journalist and author Sir Harold Evans and his publisher Little Brown. …

Operating Systems 30 Jul 2007, 15:23
Boffins use nets of carbon to snare toxic gases

Catching nano-butterflies

Researchers at the University of Manchester have discovered that graphene, the world's thinnest material, is capable of detecting the tiniest amounts of toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide and alcohol vapour. The researchers suggest that the gauzy mesh of carbon atoms could one day be a crucial component in sensors checking …

Physics 30 Jul 2007, 15:28
Revo Pico+ DAB radio

Review Pick up a perfect portable radio partner

Digital radio has come along way in a short time and thankfully the DAB market in now maturing with a wider range of choice that offers not only the variety of DAB stations, but also more features to more effectively exploit the digital nature of the medium. Revo Pico+ portable DAB radio The growth in popularity of DAB …

Reg Hardware 30 Jul 2007, 15:40
MIT in Matrix 'Crowd Farm' plan

The architects had found all the bullshit they would ever need

Two MIT students have won a cash prize and international kudos after developing a plan to generate energy using "Crowd Farms." James Graham and Thaddeus Jusczyk's scheme was judged the winner at the Holcim Forum 2007, focused on the theme of urban transformation and funded by the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction. …

Physics 30 Jul 2007, 16:15
Mario worm targets retro gamers

VXers deploy Donkey Kong ruse

Infected emails doing the rounds on the net on Monday promise the chance to run one of the classic Super Mario Bros games by clicking on an attachment. The infected emails actually harbour the Romario-A worm , which in addition to launching a game starring the linguine-loving Italian plumber, also attempt to infect other …

Anti-Virus 30 Jul 2007, 18:02
Fotango in state of shock, as Canon Europe plots escape

Exclusive Zimki - a crisis platform

One day, you're a startup on top of the world, serving as the Diamond sponsor of the popular OSCON conference alongside Intel and Microsoft. The next, your COO quits. And the day after that, your parent company looks set to abandon you. Life is tough at Fotango, the maker of the Zimki utility computing platform. The Register …

Applications 30 Jul 2007, 18:05
YouTube video-fingerprinting due in September

Google 'hopes'

YouTube will unveil FBI-quality video-fingerprinting technology in September. Well, that's what Google hopes. Or, rather, Google wants a judge to think that's what it hopes. On Friday, with Google facing a three-pronged copyright trial at a federal court in New York City, a company lawyer told the presiding judge that its …

Music and Media 30 Jul 2007, 19:34
OSI Prez confronts irate users over 'badgerware' license

Quick action needed after nine months

Open Source Initiative (OSI) President Michael Tiemann has responded to queries about the organization's decision to "rush through" approval for a new badgerware license by saying that the OSI board did its best for "the community." Last week, the OSI slapped the official open source tag on Webtwopointzero-y start-up Socialtext …

Software 30 Jul 2007, 20:30
Documentum 6 goes flexible

Proprietary leash loosens for EMC platform

The market has changed since EMC released the last major upgrade to its Documentum platform two years ago. The world of enterprise content management has gone multi-vendor, and the proprietary-heavy Documentum was starting to look crusty and demanding next to the competition. So to get its flagship platform back to pace, EMC …

Storage 30 Jul 2007, 21:50
Investors stunned by Sun's apparent health

Q4 pumped full of black ink

Shares of Sun Microsystems jumped close to 10 per cent in after-hours trading, as the hardware maker posted strong fourth quarter results. Longtime Sun followers, however, may be less moved by the figures since Sun relied more on cost-cutting than sales to improve its bottom line. Sun posted fourth quarter revenue of $3.84bn - …

Servers 30 Jul 2007, 23:12
California e-voting machines have more holes than Swiss cheese

Flaws in all systems studied

Hackers hired to evaluate the security of e-voting machines used in California found serious flaws that could allow for vote tampering in all three systems studied. The defects included the ability to overwrite firmware, install malicious applications, forge voter cards and gain access to the inside of voting machines by …

Security 30 Jul 2007, 23:47