Gartner warns over Google Desktop

Research firm Gartner is the latest company to warn organisations of the security risk presented by Google's Desktop 3. In a report, Gartner concludes that the danger of company confidential data being intercepted outside the corporation's firewall represented an 'unacceptable risk'. Version three of the Desktop file management tool includes a controversial 'Search Across Computers' feature which allows a user to set certain files held on a particular machine to be made available as part of the search results from another PC. ...more

Linux total cost of ownership cheaper than Windows

A report sponsored by IBM claims that the total cost of Ownership (TCO) of Linux is considerably less than Windows. This is curiously at odds with similar studies, sponsored by Microsoft, which draw the opposite conclusion. The report from the Robert Frances Group looked at the TCO for large application servers, comparing Linux, Windows and Solaris solutions. ...more

Apple patent spawns tablet speculation

News that Apple has applied for a European design trademark for a handheld computer has spawned much speculation over the weekend. The application pictures what looks like an iBook with the keyboard removed and is the first sign that Apple may be about to re-enter a market it has steered well clear of since the demise of the Newton. Releasing a tablet or even a PDA would fly in the face of everything that Apple CEO Steve Jobs has said recently. ...more

And also today (14-August-2001), for the record...

Here, in brief, are some of the day's other stories. Pentium 4s at 2GHz As we had already previewed, Pentium 4s clocking 2GHz are on their way. The new processors will be officially unveiled at a press conference on Monday 27 August. ...more

Microsoft breathes Live into Shopping

Microsoft is preparing to release yet another component of its Windows Live initiative. The company is set to add 'Shopping' to the list of services which already includes, Mail, Custom Domains (web hosting), Messenger, Safety Centre and Office. Although Microsoft is not saying much about the new service named Windows Live Shopping just yet, it will sit between Windows Live Expo and MSN Shopping, presumably as some kind of rival to Froogle or Kelkoo. ...more