Bryce 5 redraws the OS X landscape

Bryce 5, the OS X native version of the 3D landscaping and animation application, will be released in July. Corel bought Bryce from Metacreations last year and has added several new features to the software in addition to carbonising it for OS X. Most significantly, Bryce can now render across a network of computers, with no limit on the number of machines that can share the load. ...more

US Department Of Homeland Security warns of Phatbot Trojan

The US Department Of Homeland Security CERT division yesterday warned of a new Trojan code found on the Net that can infect using a range of methods. Phatbot is similar to the more widely known Agobot Trojan and can gain full access to and run code on infected machines. It spreads through trying commonly used passwords and usernames to gain access to other network shares. ...more

CeBIT 2007: Commodore Gaming revives brand

Those nostalgic for the Commodore 64 should note that the brand is reportedly relaunching with a range of gaming PCs at CeBIT 2007, courtesy of Commodore Gaming. '25 years ago, Commodore launched the best selling personal computer of the late 20th Century, the C64, and defined the early computer games experience for millions of people worldwide,' said CEO, Bala Keilman in a statement. 'We are privileged and excited to bring the Commodore brand back to the gaming community and mark a new chapter in its history with this exceptional machine. ...more

Apache on warpath with Microsoft Caller ID

Open Source development group the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) is at loggerheads with Microsoft about licensing restrictions it places over its contributions to the Sender ID technology proposed to help combat spam and fraudulent email. One of the pillars of the Sender ID technology is the Caller ID software, which has been added under a Royalty-Free Sender ID Patent License Agreement. But in an open letter, the Apache Foundation, which builds the popular Apache Web server and other Internet and email applications, has criticised Redmond for placing any restrictions on the technology. ...more

PowerVR returns to the PC

A report seen by our sister publication Custom PC details two new desktop graphics chips, codenamed Muse and Athena, which will use an updated version of the PowerVR tile-rendering technology. PowerVR's tile rendering breaks down the display into a series of rectangular tiles. The main benefit is that the card doesn't render anything that's obscured by another object in front, which improves performance. ...more