New Microsoft drivers and security updates for Macs

Microsoft has released OS X drivers for its range of keyboards, mice and trackballs and has updated a number of its software applications for both OS X and the Classic OS. OS X drivers OS X drivers are now available for all Microsoft's Mac-compatible keyboards and mice and trackpads. Application updates Office v. ...more

Pentium 4 in the slow lane?

The performance of Intel's forthcoming Pentium 4 processor might not justify its hefty price tag, according to analysts at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF). While the chip manufacturer claims that the Pentium 4 is "the world's highest performance desktop microprocessor," it may be outmatched by its junior sibling, the Pentium III. Some analysts believe that the Pentium 4 could run up to 20 per cent slower than the Pentium III at an equivalent clock speed, and that while Intel insists that clock frequency isn't an accurate indicator of overall performance, the company will be relying on the higher frequencies of the Pentium 4 to lift its benchmark results above those of its predecessor. ...more

Wanadoo moves up to 2Mb broadband

Wanadoo is to offer a 2Mb service to complement its existing 1Mb service. The company doesn't expect existing 1Mb customers to remain on that bandwidth for long, as it is offering an upgrade to the 2Mb service for a one-time charge of ?20, although monthly bills will remain the same. Pricing for the new service sticks at ?17. ...more

Verisign to keep .net

Verisign will retain control of the .net registry for another six years. ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers - the body that co-ordinates the organisation of the Internet - made the ruling at the end of last week. ...more

IBM turns Cloudscape open source

IBM is to hand over the code to the Cloudscape Java based database project to the open source community for free. The code is to be given to the Apache Software Foundation to be developed as an open source project named Derby IBM says that the Cloudscape project - which runs to some half a million lines of code - is worth in the region of ?45 million. The project will be aimed at small businesses and point of sale applications `that don't require the sledgehammer of IBM's DB2 database management system. ...more