Virtual PC gets Windows 2000

Virtual PC 4.0, software that allows Mac users to run Windows-only applications, is now available equipped with Windows 2000 emulation. The software, developed by Connectix, now provides a choice of three different Windows environments: 98, Me and 2000. ...more

Grey Goo worm targets Second Life

Virtual world Second Life was forced to shut down for 15 minutes following an outbreak of a worm that brought servers running the game to a standstill. The worm, called 'Grey Goo', generated spinning golden rings reminiscent of the console game 'Sonic the Hedgehog'. As users picked up the rings, malicious scripts ran which propagated the worm and created more rings. ...more

iTunes ID labels are ineffective anti-copying measure

Labelling iTunes downloads with the buyer's ID is not an effective measure against file sharing, two computer scientists and DRM experts have concluded. Ed Felten and Alex Halderman of Princeton University argue that there is no effective method for distinguishing between files that have been deliberately shared and files which have been 'stolen'. A highly probable scenario, Felten and Halderman note, given that more than 10 per cent of PCs are infected by bots that could be directed to swipe iTunes files. ...more

HP memo highlights Microsoft threat to open source software

A two year old memo from a senior executive at HP has been uncovered which reveals the company's growing fear that it might be on the wrong end of a broad legal assault against companies selling open source software. The email, dated 3 June 2002, was sent by Gary Campbell, then vice president of strategic architecture, to a number of other HP execs, following the completion of a cross-licensing deal with Microsoft. 'Basically Microsoft is going to use the legal system to shut down open source software,' he wrote,' Microsoft could attack Open Source Software for patent infringements against OEMs, Linux distributors, and least likely open source developers. ...more

Toshiba high speed DVD writer hits the shelves

Toshiba Europe has begun to ship its new double-layer (DL) DVD writer capable of writing 5x on DVD+R media. The company says that the half height SD-R5372 offers the fastest DL write speed of any DVD writer on the market. Toshiba says that the device can store up to 8. ...more