freedom2surf plugs in to UK-wide Wi-Fi network

Freedom2surf has introduced a new version of its Hotspots wireless Internet package that provides access to 1,300 Wi-Fi access points across the UK. Pay-as-you-go access to BT's Openzone network costs just 10p a minute - which freedom2surf notes is half the price that BT itself charges. Minutes can also be block-bought in advance, starting at ?4. ...more

Fresh spoofing vulnerability found in browsers

A dialog origin spoofing vulnerability has been discovered in several Web browsers, including the leading browsers for both Mac OS X and Windows. The vulnerability, rated less critical, affects Safari, Internet Explorer 5.x, Camino 0. ...more

JPEG Committee hits back at patent claim

The JPEG Committee is to hit back over claims by US videoconferencing company Forgent and its lawyers that it 'owns' the patent to JPEG's run-length encoding data compression technology. The Committee is now seeking to prove that 'prior art' exists to the granting of the patent in 1995 and is gathering examples from around the world. Anyone who has any examples to offer should contact The JPEG Committee directly. ...more

Amazon in talks to launch digital music service

Amazon is in talks with the big four record companies over plans to launch its own digital music service, according to the Wall Street Journal (via Marketwatch). The WSJ reports that the online retailer is considering a subscription-based service supported by a cheap, Amazon-branded portable player. It states Amazon believes that deploying the subscription model will set it apart from Apple, despite the failure of Napster's, RealNetworks' and Yahoo!'s subscription services to make much of an impact on iTunes' market dominance. ...more

BT boffins map out motorway data networks

Time for a new transport protocol, believes BT, quite literally: BT researchers are investigating the possibility of using cars on the UK highways to create a large-scale communications network. A new 'information superhighway' quips BT. A DTI-funded prototype is being developed - using wireless LAN technology - whereby individual vehicles will contribute data for better road management by traffic control centres, as well as provide certain information back to drivers. ...more