MacBook wireless hackers to work with Apple

A computer security firm that wirelessly hacked an MacBook at a recent Black Hat security conference has revealed that it is now working with Apple to help prevent any further vulnerabilities. SecureWorks researchers David Maynor and 'Johnny Cache' showed how easy it was to gain access to the Apple portable. They revealed that they had used a third-party wireless card and drivers rather than Apple's built-in AirPort technology and maintained the security problem could be replicated using different hardware instead of a Mac. ...more

Napster man is new Radio 2 head of music

The BBC has announced that Jeff Smith, director of UK and International programming at Napster, has been appointed to one of the most influential posts in UK music. From next month, Smith will take over from Colin Martin as Radio 2's head of music, giving him overall responsibility for the output of the UK's most popular radio station. 'Colin Martin is a very hard act to follow but I have no doubt that Jeff's love of music, industry experience and recent role at Napster puts him in a unique position to move Radio 2 forward,' said Lesley Douglas, controller of both Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music. ...more

Microsoft signs up first European protocol licensee

Microsoft has announced that Quest will be the first company to license server protocols under the terms of the European Commission' March 2004 antitrust ruling. Quest, which makes tools for database, applications and Windows management, will have access to the communications protocols that are implemented in Windows Server Operating Systems and used by a Windows Work Group Server to deliver group and user administration services. The EU ruling required Microsoft license these protocols on 'reasonable and non-discriminatory terms'. ...more

IBM suspends Transmeta project

IBM has turned its back on a deal that would have given chip manufacturer Transmeta its highest-profile deal yet. In June, IBM unveiled a ThinkPad 240 notebook using Transmeta's revolutionary Crusoe processor. The plan was to release the notebook in the fourth-quarter of this year. ...more

BT's ?20 no frills broadband is no cheaper than rivals

BT's new 'no frills' ?20 broadband service, announced yesterday, has already come in for heavy criticism. Other ISPs including Tiscali, AOL and Freeserve have pointed out that the service is not only more expensive than it first appears, but in fact is dearer than rival services that do not place the same restrictions on users. At ?20 per month plus ?80 for installation and a modem the total cost of ownership (TCO) for the first year is ?320, for which you get a restrictive 1GB per month limit on total upstream and downstream data transfers. ...more