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Sprint completes Clearwire WiMAX deal

Brad Reed — 2008-12-01T00:00:00Z

Sprint officially spun off its WiMAX division to Clearwire today, thus paving the way for Clearwire to construct a nationwide WiMAX network.

Is there a hidden cost to data protection?

2008-12-01T00:00:00Z

Companies today realize the threats and consequences of data loss and by now most have some sort of data protection in place. But, many companies that were rushed into data protection by the fear of losing precious data may have been too quick to throw together a patchwork quilt of security software, which is now proving costly.

Qimonda faces Q1 cash crunch, delays financial results

2008-12-01T00:00:00Z

Qimonda AG will face a shortfall of cash in the first three months of next year unless it finds new investors, a strategic partner, or the DRAM industry takes a turn for the better, the company said in a statement Monday.

Acer plans netbook with 10.2-inch screen

2008-12-01T00:00:00Z

Acer, the world's third largest PC vendor, is planning to launch a netbook next year with a 10.2-inch screen, the largest netbook screen from Acer so far, a company representative confirmed.

Despite steady Black Friday numbers, online shopping falls

Sumner Lemon — 2008-12-01T00:00:00Z

The volume of sales at Internet retailers held steady Friday compared to last year, despite the worsening economic outlook and signs U.S. consumers are cutting back on spending.

London hospitals almost back online after worm infection

2008-12-01T00:00:00Z

Three London hospitals whose computer systems were infected with a relatively old worm are now almost back online.

10 Microsoft research projects

John Brandon — 2008-12-01T00:00:00Z

A sneak peek at 10 technologies developed in Microsoft's R&D labs

Glory days: How high school shaped nine IT leaders

2008-12-01T00:00:00Z

Is the child father to the man? Or is the woman a reaction to the child she was? Maybe each of us is the result of a combination of straight lines and U-turns on our life's journey.

Google Earth used by terrorists in India attacks

John Ribeiro — 2008-12-01T00:00:00Z

The terrorists that attacked various locations in south Mumbai last week used digital maps from Google Earth to learn their way around, according to officials investigating the attacks.

TSMC revises down Q4 view on economic woes

2008-12-01T00:00:00Z

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) revised down its fourth quarter sales guidance as customers slashed chip orders amid "continuing weakness in global economic conditions," the company said in a statement.

China's NetDragon teams with EA on online game

2008-12-01T00:00:00Z

Chinese game developer NetDragon Websoft plans to work with U.S. digital game maker Electronic Arts (EA) to create a multiplayer online game based on EA's Dungeon Keeper series of digital games.

Kentucky judge seizes control of the Internet

Scott Bradner — 2008-12-01T00:00:00Z

Kentucky judge's attempt to ban Internet gambling a bad bet, columnist writes.

Tough times and risk management, Part 2

Mark Gibbs — 2008-12-01T00:00:00Z

Gibbs discussed the concept of risk management in IT a couple of weeks ago, and vowed to continue with a discussion of the consequent politics. True to his word, here 'tis . . .

Thumbs up for Android and the G1

Mark Gibbs — 2008-12-01T00:00:00Z

Gibbs has had a close look at the T-Mobile G1, the first phone based on the Android platform, and he's more than impressed -- in fact, he likes it more than the iPhone and might even stick with T-Mobile. Now there's a surprise.

Fear of more attacks could hurt business in India

John Ribeiro — 2008-12-01T00:00:00Z

Mumbai is trying to limp back to normalcy after terrorist attacks last week left around 195 dead, and close to 300 injured. But there are questions whether foreigners will continue to take the risk of doing business in the city and the rest of the country, which have faced repeated terrorist attacks in the past.

World Wiki Plus for iPhone

2008-11-29T00:00:00Z

Apple's App Store lately bears a curious resemblance to the American book trade of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. At the time, Congress hadn't gotten around yet to settling copyright law. Often, printers would poach each other's works. Royalties existed in theory rather than practice. Writers, as always, were routinely cheated of their earnings. Noah Webster, the dictionary man, fought for years against publishers who made a fortune on his Blue Back Spellers while he struggled to eke out a living.

Analyst: Mobile data will continue boom in '09

2008-11-28T00:00:00Z

There will be more than 36 million laptops connected to mobile data networks in Western Europe in 2009, compared to the 26 million estimated for the end of this year, according to market research company CCS Insight.

Intel calls EU antitrust probe 'discriminatory and partial'

Sumner Lemon — 2008-11-28T00:00:00Z

The European Union's antitrust investigation of Intel is "discriminatory and partial," the chip maker complained in an action that's detailed in a recent edition of the EU's official journal, saying it's not being permitted to properly defend itself against the charges.

Mumbai terrorism, worm warning, holiday woe

2008-11-28T00:00:00Z

A wave of coordinated terrorist attacks across Mumbai late Wednesday dominated the news this week, with bloggers and people using Twitter helping to get information to families and friends of those affected. Multinational technology companies are not expected to change their business strategies as a consequence of the stunning attacks, which targeted westerners.

WriteRoom for iPhone

2008-11-28T00:00:00Z

I’m sure you’ve been in a store and had the idea of a lifetime. You frantically search around you for a slip of paper to jot it down, but you can’t find anything. You turn to your iPhone, but you just can’t bring yourself to use the included Notes app because of its lack of customizability and syncing. Sighing heavily, you resign yet another world-changing idea to the possibility of remaining trapped within the echoing corridors of your mind.

Hot jobs: Software implementation analyst

2008-11-28T00:00:00Z

Job description: The software implementation analyst ensures that deployments of new applications or upgrades are planned and carried out correctly. They act as a bridge between the software developer and the IT infrastructure team that handles installation and maintenance, says Carlo Carbetta, vice president of operations development at CIO Partners, an executive search firm. They determine whether the applications interoperate with existing systems and plan for customization or integration work. This person may be involved in testing, creating documentation and dealing with end users.

MindNode Pro 1.0.3

2008-11-28T00:00:00Z

The use of mind mapping software is becoming increasingly common in corporate America, but who wants to fork out hundreds of dollars just to create these tangled bubble diagrams at home? Thankfully, you don't have to. At less than $20, Markus Müller's MindNode Pro 1.0.3, is a fun, colorful, and simple-to-use application with a learning curve so shallow even your boss could figure it out.

First look: Microsoft Arc Mouse

2008-11-28T00:00:00Z

Microsoft's Arc Mouse takes a different and unique approach to mouse design. It looks like, well...an arc. And it actually folds so it doesn't take up a lot of room in a laptop bag.

UK prosecutors investigate BT over online ad system

2008-11-28T00:00:00Z

British prosecutors are investigating whether incumbent operator BT illegally tested an online advertising system without users' consent.

Hands on with the HTC Touch HD

2008-11-28T00:00:00Z

Taiwanese smartphone developer High Tech Computer (HTC) debuted its biggest threat to the iPhone 3G yet earlier this week, the HTC Touch HD, and I had a chance to use one for a few hours on Friday.

EU telecoms ministers back watered-down legal reforms

2008-11-28T00:00:00Z

Plans to reform Europe's legal landscape for the telecoms industry remain on track, after nearly being derailed at a tense meeting of government ministers Thursday.

Singapore's StarHub offers femtocell service

Sumner Lemon — 2008-11-28T00:00:00Z

Singaporean operator StarHub is rolling out a femtocell service that allows mobile subscribers to make calls at home using their broadband Internet connections instead of the cellular network.

WriteRoom 2.3

2008-11-28T00:00:00Z

WriteRoom is what TV chef Alton Brown would call a "unitasker": It's a tool designed for only one function. But while Brown frowns on such tools in the kitchen, even the toughest critics would be hard pressed to find fault with WriteRoom. When it comes to helping you write without distractions, no program does better than this one-job wonder.

Billy Frontier for iPhone

2008-11-28T00:00:00Z

He's stared down many a bandit (and the occasional orangutan), but to my knowledge, Clint Eastwood never faced off against aliens, ghosts and lizard men hurling barrels of dynamite at him. Still, this would have been interesting to watch--and the idea of it makes for a great game for the iPhone or iPod touch.

Europe to cap prices for roaming text messages and data

2008-11-27T00:00:00Z

European telecommunications ministers gave their backing on Thursday to a plan to cap retail prices for sending SMS (Short Message Service) text messages and browsing the Internet using mobile phones while abroad.

Nokia wants to automate your home

2008-11-27T00:00:00Z

Nokia is developing a device to link mobile phones to home automation systems. Using a mobile phone consumers will be able monitor and control security, heating, and ventilation systems via its gateway Home Control Center, Nokia announced on Thursday.

Estonian ISP cuts off control servers for Srizbi botnet

2008-11-27T00:00:00Z

An Estonian ISP that temporarily hosted the command-and-control servers for the Srizbi botnet, responsible for a large portion of the world's spam, has cut off those servers, according to computer security analysts.

In Mumbai, bloggers and Twitter offer help to relatives

John Ribeiro — 2008-11-27T00:00:00Z

Bloggers pitched in offering information and other help to people worldwide as Indian police and commandos battled it out Thursday with armed terrorists in two top hotels and a residential complex in south Mumbai.

Nokia to pull out of Japanese handset market

Martyn Williams — 2008-11-27T00:00:00Z

The world's largest cell phone maker is pulling out of one of the world's biggest cellular markets. Nokia said on Thursday that it will stop developing handsets for NTT DoCoMo and Softbank Mobile, effectively ending a push that began five years ago when Nokia re-entered the Japanese market with the launch of 3G services here.

Elpida to raise stake in Taiwan DRAM venture

2008-11-27T00:00:00Z

Japanese DRAM maker Elpida Memory plans to increase its stake in a joint venture Taiwanese DRAM maker, giving it control over the venture and providing partner Powerchip Semiconductor with a much needed cash infusion.

Asustek to unveil US$200 Eee PC netbook next year

2008-11-27T00:00:00Z

Asustek Computer plans to unveil a new Eee PC netbook that costs just US$200 in the first quarter of next year, a company representative said Thursday.

Panasonic forecasts 90 percent drop in profits this year

Martyn Williams — 2008-11-27T00:00:00Z

Citing a "sharp deteriation" in business conditions, Panasonic has slashed its full-year sales and profits forecasts.

Bamboo laptop by Asustek to debut Saturday

2008-11-27T00:00:00Z

Asustek Computer plans to debut a nature-friendly laptop PC with a casing made of bamboo on Saturday at Taiwan's IT Month exhibition.

Sharp to team with Italy's Enel on solar power

Martyn Williams — 2008-11-27T00:00:00Z

Sharp and Italian electricity utility Enel plan to set up a number of solar-power plants in the coming years and are also discussing joing production of solar cells, Sharp said Thursday.

Mumbai terrorist attacks don't deter technology companies

John Ribeiro — 2008-11-27T00:00:00Z

Terrorist attacks late Wednesday in Mumbai are unlikely to make multinational technology companies change their strategies for India.

How spyware nearly sent a teacher to prison

Robert McMillan — 2008-11-27T00:00:00Z

If there's a poster child for the dangers of spyware, it's Julie Amero.

Wall Street Beat: Clouds loom for IT despite holiday break

Marc Ferranti — 2008-11-27T00:00:00Z

The U.S. Thanksgiving holiday is bringing momentary relief to weary IT investors, but forecasts of flat sales or absolute declines for semiconductors, mobile devices and online commerce mean that it will be a while before the clouds lift from the tech sector.

Microsoft warns of malware exploiting known vulnerability

John Fontana — 2008-11-26T00:00:00Z

Microsoft is warning users of a rise in attacks on a vulnerability in Windows that could trigger a worm infestation on networks, and the company is encouraging companies to apply an emergency patch released in October.

MySpace suicide case brings misdemeanor convictions

Stephen Lawson — 2008-11-26T00:00:00Z

A Missouri woman accused of creating a fake MySpace account to torment a girl who later committed suicide has been convicted on three misdemeanor counts but acquitted of felony charges.

Xi Mtower HAF-SLI

2008-11-26T00:00:00Z

The Xi Mtower HAF-SLI gaming desktop is an overclocker's dream. We haven't seen a vendor push a CPU as far as Xi has dared to go here, and it's a testament to the company's craftsmanship: It ratchets up a 3.33-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 to 4.5-GHz of computing power on nothing but a typical--albeit bulky--Cooler Master air cooler.

Hardcore Reactor

2008-11-26T00:00:00Z

It's time to cash out the mutual fund. Hardcore Computer's Reactor gaming system has a US$10,000 price tag, and its design is almost as eye-popping. But what does this cool investment get you? Oil. A lot of oil.

Microsoft files new cybersquatting charges

2008-11-26T00:00:00Z

Microsoft has charged a Florida company with cybersquatting in a new lawsuit filed Wednesday.

Seagate fixes bug in 1.5T Barracuda drives

Agam Shah — 2008-11-26T00:00:00Z

Seagate on Wednesday said it has fixed a bug affecting some Seagate Barracuda hard drives that caused applications to pause.

Gartner: Economy hits cell-phone sales

Stephen Lawson — 2008-11-26T00:00:00Z

Economic woes slashed cell-phone sales growth in the third quarter of this year as consumers waited longer to replace their handsets, and the market is likely to contract next year, according to Gartner.

Beta Watch: Juice, EveryScape, Shoeboxed

2008-11-26T00:00:00Z

Juice: Research Assistance in Firefox