Data layers added to Google Earth

Google has added 'data layers' to the satellite images of Africa shown by its Google Earth service. The data layers provide contextual information from National Geographic magazine, webcam images and aerial photography from across the continent. Across Africa, wherever you see the yellow National Geographic logo you can zoom in to see the title of each feature article or photograph. ...more

SCO strategy sends Linux users to license

SCO's threat working a treat? SCO has said that its strategy of sending warning letters to Linux-using corporates - before any of the code in dispute had been made public - has proved successful in driving users towards the take-up of licences. 'We had a lot of customers that approached us based on the letter to the Fortune 1000 and the Global 500 and we have been following up with a lot of them,' said Blake Stowell, SCO's Director of Public Relations. And the announcement of SCO's Unixware licence for Linux, announced a week last Monday, has also sparked interest. ...more

Yahoo! introduces My Web 2.0

Yahoo! has introduced a new concept of community web searching. My Web 2.0 dispenses with the traditional concept of PageRank and, instead, ranks pages according to 'recommendations' from other users. ...more

M&S tops high street websites survey

Marks & Spencer has come out top in a survey of the ecommerce websites of leading high street brands. M&S was the only retailer among the 20 surveyed that scored an average of more than 80 per cent across 20 usability and accessibility tests conducted by Webcredible. Only four more sites managed to reach 70 per cent - Early Learning Centre, Mothercare, John Lewis and HMV - while Argos, Boots, Currys, H Samuel and Waterstones also recorded above-average scores. ...more

Microsoft Office 2007 goes gold

Microsoft has officially gone 'gold' with Office - it has announced the completion of the 2007 Microsoft Office system code and confirmed that all products have been released to manufacturing (RTM). The dates for the release of Vista and Office 2007 were leaked last week, with 30 November marking the business availability of the much-delayed Windows Vista, Office 2007 and Exchange Server 2007. 'We've crossed the development finish line and the team deserves to celebrate,' said Jeff Raikes, President of the Microsoft Business Division. ...more