Arise, Sir Bill

It has been announced that the Queen is to award a knighthood to the founder and now chief software architect of Microsoft, one Bill Gates. To be precise, as a foreign national, he will receive an honorary knighthood and according to etiquette should not addressed as 'Sir'. As an American, he follows in the footsteps of other honorary knights such as George Bush senior and Steven Spielberg. ...more

Microsoft pays another regular dividend

Microsoft has announced a regular quarterly dividend for shareholders. The board has declared a dividend of $0.08 per share, payable 10 March 2005. ...more

OS X Server release imminent

Apple has revealed that a new version of the OS X Server software will be made available shortly after Mac OS X itself is released. Mac OS X Server provides a set of tools for managing a server-based network, including file management, print, Internet and Web serving, client management and directory services. It includes IP-based support for file sharing with Macintosh, Windows, Linux and UNIX clients, FTP support for Internet file transfers and incorporates Postscript print spooling. ...more

Japanese firms poised with paper-thin RFID controllers

Two Japanese firms are poised to introduce the first RFID controller that is both flexible and thin enough to be inserted into a piece of paper. Semiconductor Energy Laboratory (SEL) and TDK have developed a prototype 8-bit bendable microcontroller that is just 800um think and will now work on refining the production process to reduce that to 100um. This would easily fit in a piece of paper without affecting the appearance or texture. ...more

Scientists build the world's fastest transistor

Scientists at the University of Illinois have built what they claim is the world's fastest transistor. The new device has smashed through the 600GHz barrier and switches at a world record 604GHz. The researchers behind the transistor say that a terahertz transistor could now be within reach. ...more