Internet

Microsoft is getting serious about global security, offering a free anti-malware package code-named Morro that has been specially designed for low cost PCs in developing nations.

The software will be available in the second half of 2009 and will provide 'comprehensive protection' from 'the majority of online threats', including viruses, spyware, rootkits and trojans.

Morro is based on - and will replace - the current Windows Live OneCare subscription service, although it has been architected to use fewer computing resources, making it ideal for low-bandwidth scenarios or less powerful PCs.

Microsoft vs malware ... read more »

Rumours are still circulating that Apple is developing a search engine to perhaps rival Google, in a bid to ring fence all the money-making potential of its Safari browsers.

TechCrunch.com has looked into the possibility of such an occurrence, possibly due to the fact Apple will be less than happy to see Google intending to eat some of its market share with the Android range, and thinks there may be a ring of truth in the tales.

Although there hasn't been a hardcore drive within the industry to nab the best engineers to build said engine, there is a real opportunity for Apple to make some decent cash out of the traffic it drives through its Mobile Me services, as well as the browser use on PCs, Macs and iPod touch / iPhones.

Search of choice ... read more »

Hot desking, virtual meetings and working on the move are all concepts that are going to radically change how we earn our livings.

Advances in mobile technology are driving this transformation in our working lives as PDAs and smartphones meld together, notebook PCs become smaller and more powerful and, with WiMax just around the corner, super fast access to the internet becoming available to anyone anywhere.

On a practical level, is it possible to become a digital nomad and work wherever you happen to lay your notebook PC? We take a close look at the latest mobile technologies, but more importantly, we'll also show how the best of them can finally deliver the mobile computing experience that we've all been waiting for

The road warrior's armory ... read more »

Nike has launched its redesigned NIKEiD website, which means that sportswear fans and sneaker pimps can now customise their look better than ever before.

The new site boasts a number of "new design tools, a wider array of customisable product for consumers – including Nike Sportswear and product showcased on the track in Beijing – and an enhanced online experience."

Sneaker pimps

Nike fans can customise nearly every kind of Nike product available - from footwear and apparel through to bags and tees.

"Consumers want to create their own customised Nike products and be able to share with friends," said Joaquin Hidalgo, Nike Vice President of Global Brand Marketing.

"The new site's wide array of updated, intuitive design functions allows people to create the product their way, anytime, anywhere. It's a leap forward." ... read more »

Flickr is celebrating after its three billionth photogrpah was uploaded.

The photo sharing site has been one of the internet's success stories, allowing users to upload their libraries of pictures and is considered one of the first 'Web 2.0' sites.

The site's straightforward search and tagging of photos has played a huge role in its success, allowing people to look for specifics or merely browse through as they please.

Grey door

The three billionth photo was posted by garret_ryan_smith and is a photo of a grey door – perhaps not the most exciting image in the database.

The photograph is tagged: "Take the pinky of either your left or right hand, hold it next to the corner of your mouth and say '3 beelleeeeon photos…' That's it above — our three billionth photo." ... read more »

Governments and ISPs may be stepping up the war in the battle against illegal downloaders, but famous peer-to-peer site Pirate Bay is flourishing, with a huge growth spurt this year taking it up to 22 million active peers.

Bearing in mind that number was 12 million in April, it shows an amazing growth for the Swedish site – which had set a target of 20 million by 2009 but has smashed it within months.

Peer-to-peer (P2P) software like BitTorrent has become the most popular way to download files over the internet, but although it is used legitimately in many of the mainstream providers (both Sky and BBC, for instance) it is also inevitably the easiest way to get your hands on copyrighted material without paying for it. ... read more »

Google has announced that it is abandoning a deal with Yahoo over search advertising, as it became clear that US regulators would attempt to block any tie-up.

Google stated that it does not wish to become embroiled in a 'protracted legal battle' over the deal, which the Justice Department objects to.

"…it's clear that government regulators and some advertisers continue to have concerns about the agreement, Google David Drummond, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer wrote on the company's official blog.

Parking brake

"Pressing ahead risked not only a protracted legal battle but also damage to relationships with valued partners. That wouldn't have been in the long-term interests of Google or our users, so we have decided to end the agreement. ... read more »

The US Federal Communications committee has sparked a digital land rush by approving unlicensed use of the 'white space' spectrum that neighbours terrestrial TV signals.

In a landmark ruling, it agreed with tech companies like Google, HP and Microsoft that the 50-year old buffer frequencies can be used by a new generation of wireless gadgets, promising ubiquitous - and even 'free' - mobile broadband.

Broadcasters fear that allowing unfettered access to the frequencies will result in increased (or fatal) interference with their terrestrial TV broadcasts, as well as troubling theatre or hospital communication systems.

Wireless wondering ... read more »

New trials of P4P technology have been run by Comcast and for the first time ever the company has released the results. And they make for impressive reading.

According to the company, P4P technology increases P2P speeds by a whopping 80 per cent.

This is not all: the speed does not increase your network load, keeping bandwidth pretty much the same as if you were using a normal peer-to-peer network.

The way the technology seems to work is by localising P2P traffic – so your computer doesn't go looking for data all over the world, but keeps it within your ISP's own network.

Cheap to run ... read more »

No longer do you have to sift through the daily papers to see fantastic cartoon artwork created by the likes of Ralph Steadman, Martin Rowson and Steve Bell, as thousands of their pieces have been made available for free online.

The collection of works has been created by the British Cartoon Archive (BCA) and includes more than 120,000 images taken from 250 leading cartoonists.

Important collection

Speaking about the collection, Head of the BCA, Dr Nicholas Hiley, said: "Whether you are a cartoon fan or an academic interested in using the archive content for teaching and research purposes, the new website provides the widest possible access to the most important collection of British newspaper cartooning." ... read more »