Intel could exit entry-level chipset market

Intel plans to phase out its 865 and 915PL/GL chipsets in the fourth quarter and exit the entry-level chipset market, sources with motherboard makers revealed. Intel has only told some first-tier mobo makers and OEM clients about the decision, and the company is not expected to make a public announcement, the sources said. Intel declined to comment. ...more

German virus author charged with computer sabotage

The teenager accused of authoring the Sasser and Netsky worms has been formally charged with computer sabotage. Eighteen-year-old Sven Jaschan was arrested in May at his parents' home in Waffensen, Lower Saxony, in northern Germany. German authorities were tipped off by one of his associates, who stands to claim a $250,000 bounty posted by Microsoft if successfully convicted. ...more

Liberty Alliance responds to MS and IBM identity system

Liberty Alliance has responded to the WS-Federation specification for managing user identities as part of Web Services - IBM and Microsoft want to federate your identity. It has also published a set of business guidelines - templates to help organisations manage the propagation of user identities and policies. This area concerns a 'federated identity' system, such as that can support single sign-ins - eg a single login can be propagated across all participating trusted systems. ...more

Consumer electronics set to enjoy 11 per cent growth in 2005

Global shipments of consumer electronics products are expected to grow 11 per cent on-year in 2005 from about $113.5 billion recorded in 2004, thanks to brisk sales of digital TVs and portable MP3 players, said the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), organizer of the recently concluded Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which was held in Las Vegas from January 6-9. In the US alone, shipments of MP3 players are likely to hit 10 million units, worth about $1. ...more

Microsoft primes its ODF translator

Microsoft has announced version one of its ODF translator to support the Open Document Format within its Office environment. Microsoft stumped up the cash for the translator, although Clever Age, DIaLOGIKa and Aztecsoft developed and tested the add-in. The translator is available under a BSD-like licence from Clever Age, meaning it is open-source with a liberal licence. ...more