UK games chart: Need for Speed is the New Year's number one

Unsurprisingly, the post-Christmas games market is a bit sluggish, according to this week's ELSPA UK games chart. It's a New Year but EA's multi-format street racing game Need For Speed: Most Wanted remains in pole position. Despite all the simian-based hype around the Kong movie, no amount of dinosaur stampeding can lift Ubisoft's multi-format spin-off, King Kong: Official Game of The Movie up from second place. ...more

Sun GPLs Java

Sun Microsystems is to release its key Java platform under the same licence used for Linux and other open-source software. The first parts of Sun's Java Platform Standard Edition and Mobile Edition will be available today under the GNU General Public License (GPL). Additionally, Sun's Enterprise Edition for Java will be released under the GPL, having previously been licensed under Sun's OSI-approved Common Development and Distribution Licence. ...more

29-03-2002 Essential news of the week

Brought neatly together and presented on a plate, here is a roundup of some of the week's main news stories from the world of IT. Netscape market share drops 40 per cent Video streaming future for Flash? Dell's budget notebooks get slimmer Microsoft sanctions may extend beyond PCs Sun simplifies Web services for consumer devices EU to make its mark on the Internet Have GPRS will travel Lexmark unveils 2002 inkjet range Don't forget, we welcome your comments. Just click on a story and go for the 'Comments' link on the right-hand side of the screen. ...more

BT profits up 56 per cent

BT has announced a profit before taxation of ?502mn for the last financial quarter, a rise of 56 per cent on the corresponding period last year. Earnings per share rose 64 per cent. The company has also succeeded in wiping $4. ...more

HMV commits ?10mn to home-grown music service

HMV has invested ?10mn to launch its own music downloads store in the second half of next year. The UK high street retailer will sell Windows Media files through proprietary jukebox software to be developed by Microsoft. HMV's current download supplier, OD2, will be ditched as the retailer deals direct with record labels. ...more