Windows Watch

Open source offers an answer to the CarrierIQ spying controversy

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:22:00 GMT

Developers of the popular custom Android distribution CyanogenMod have come out against the controversial tracking software vendor CarrierIQ, and stated publicly that none of their software has ever used the monitoring system. Russell Holly, respected Android community member and contributor...

It came from outer space

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:08:42 GMT

So the UARS satellite is finally down. After a week hiding under our desks wearing helmets and body armour, we can all safely emerge and go about our business like rational people again. NASA reports that the decommissioned orbital laboratory...

Euclideon promises ten thousand times more detailed graphics

Richard Plant — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:08:40 GMT

Have you seen the technology video that has set the pulse of the web racing? Well, here's your chance: It's a lovely demonstration (if you ignore the voiceover), but Euclideon's technology many not revolutionise the way graphics are created just...

The Sun's password policy sucks

Richard Plant — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:53:30 GMT

The break-in at The Sun by hackers using the social networking accounts of LulzSec (who may or may not be our favourite Lulz lizards riding the waves again) caused an awful lot of red faces at Wapping. It's stretching credulity...

Civil liberties, tracking and Moore's Law

Richard Plant — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:57:46 GMT

If you are reading this now, stop what you are doing and look at this. Technological guerrillas iFixit have teamed up with Wired to get their hands on what they claim is a GPS tracking device designed for use by...

Watch one chat bot Turing test another

Richard Plant — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:06:59 GMT

I'm surprised this never occured to anyone before. Yiran Sheng is an MBA student at Syracuse University, who apparently has access to the Internet, a lot of time on his hands and a sense of curiosity: I do not know...

Bandwidth caps, net neutrality and Canada

Richard Plant — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:03:00 GMT

Update: Another victory for protest! Canada's Conservative government has stated that they will repeal the statute allowing UBB unless the telecoms regulator rescinds it voluntarily. “The CRTC should be under no illusion — the Prime Minister and minister of Industry...

So apparently T-Mobile hates its customers

Richard Plant — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 14:10:44 GMT

Update: Well, that went well. T-Mobile have realised what a hornet's nest they've stirred up, and have backed off from cutting existing customers allowances. However, any new and upgrading customers will be subject to the new 500MB limit. So be...

Revisiting XBMC, and the trouble with Blu-ray

Richard Plant — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 14:11:00 GMT

The developers that run the open source media software project XBMC released the latest updated version of their excellent music, movie and TV consumption application. Actually, describing XBMC as a media player does it something of a disservice. It is...

Razor 1911, Anonymous jump into the Wikileaks fray

Richard Plant — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 09:58:29 GMT

Venerable pirate group Razor 1911 has announced that in response to the recent attacks on Wikileaks’ hosting, it will henceforth mirror the site’s content at wikileaks.razor1911.com. Razor 1911 joins the hundreds of groups and individuals who have given Wikileaks access...

Apple abandons Xserve, leaves corporate customers hanging

Richard Plant — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:08:46 GMT

So, it seems that Apple has decided that it no longer needs even the semblance of a business server offering, as it has discontinued the Xserve as of January next year. The company says that it will continue to honour...

Microsoft creates charity mouse for Breast Cancer Awareness

Richard Plant — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 15:40:12 GMT

Apparently, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and Microsoft have created a special edition of their popular Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 to draw attention to the campaign. For every special edition mouse (decked out in fetching pink, as seen right) sold...

Microsoft leaps to protect NGOs (and its reputation)

Richard Plant — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 15:37:17 GMT

Trawling the Interwebs often nets us some pretty interesting stories (usually involving cats for some reason), but this little gem stands out for me this week.It appears that, in a display of the heavy handed tactics that are coming to...

Microsoft launches new Windows Home Server preview

Richard Plant — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:35:48 GMT

Microsoft has released a preview build of the new edition of it's next Windows Home Server product, codenamed 'Vail'.I've spent some time with earlier versions of WHS myself, and I've found it to be a great, if frustrating product. While...

Trials and Tribulations

Richard Plant — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:25:42 GMT

Welcome to Computerworld’s regular round up of coverage of Microsoft’s latest operating system. We’ll be tracking the progress of IT shops as they get to grips with Windows 7, and give you the latest updates on their keys to success....