Internet
Slack delivery
Supermarket websites are failing to deliver, according to a report published this week. Almost all the big name services had problems, according to the survey carried out for trade magazine The Grocer. It took 80 minutes to order 33 items from Sainsbury's, and the goods arrived three hours late - with two items missing. The Iceland shopper struggled to find items, ordering took 135 minutes and the company could only deliver in a two-hour slot, once a week. The Asda order took 130 minutes to place, and arrived 20 minutes late - with 13 items missing. Tesco delivered on time and only needed 50 minutes to place the order. But it still made mistakes. Waitrose and Ocado did best, with both orders complete and on time.
Sounds good
Apple has introduced new versions of its best-selling iPod portable digital music player to accompany its new music service. The company is billing the new iPods, which can store and play thousands of music files from your Mac or PC, as being lighter than two compact disks in their cases, and, at 0.62 inches thick, thinner too.
The new 15 and 30GB models come with a new docking device, which should make it easier to connect the player to a Mac or PC. The base station also includes a line out socket, for a connection to a hi-fi. And the outside of the player has been redesigned, with four backlit buttons arranged below the screen to make navigation easier. The software on the devices has also been updated, allowing users to compile playlists while on the move. The 10GB model costs £249, the 15GB model £299 and the 30GB version £399.
www.apple.com/uk
Web radio
According to a new report, internet radio stations are attracting three times as many listeners as they did three years ago. Ratings agency Arbitron says that more than 100m have tuned in to stations online and that many are plumping for the more obscure broadcasts. Among the most popular are Yahoo's service Launch, Seattle-based jazz station KPLU nd Live 365, which offers any one with internet access the opportunity to start their own webcast.
Westminster Wi-Fi
Forget 3G. 4G is coming, but you'll have to be passing through Westminster to take advantage of it. The borough's council is to create Westminster 4G, a blanket Wi-Fi (wireless Lan) zone across Soho and other areas of the West End. From next month, council staff will be able to access the internet via laptops/PDAs equipped with 802.11b wireless facilities. The scheme's architect, West End Conservative councillor Ian Wilder, says the 4G zone will revolutionise the way the council monitors noise, traffic and security. Council workers will also be able to log on to the systems in real time.
<A HREF="http://www.westminster.gov.uk"" TARGET="_NEW">www.westminster.gov.uk
Gadgets
Palm bounces back
After a series of poorly received PDAs, Palm looks set to re-establish itself in the handheld PC market with a pair of innovative, competitively priced models. Aimed at the high-end business users, the Tungsten C is Palm's first PDA to feature integrated Wi-Fi. The top end model also packs a 400MHz Intel processor, Palm's latest operating system - 5.2.1, 512MB of storage, 64MB of memory and a built-in keyboard. At £400, it costs significantly less than other recent Palm products.
Its second model, the Zire 71, is pitched against Sony's Clie range of models in that it features a raft of enter tainment applications, including an integrated camera, and MP3 and movie players. It is available now for £245.
www.palm.com/uk
Vulcan PC
Remember the Psion 5 organiser with its small, but usable screen and keyboard? Due to be launched later this year by Vulcan is a PC not unlike the old PDA. Its one inch-thick mini PC features a 5.8in screen, 20GB hard drive and 256MB of Ram. It has a full Qwerty keyboard, runs Windows XP and features integrated Wi-Fi. The price is expected to be around £1,500.
http://minipc.vulcan.com
