Software
Opera for all
Opera Software last week released a redesigned version of its web browser software for Windows, Mac, Linux, FreeBSD and Solaris, the first time the Norwegian firm has released versions simultaneously on all these platforms. The first beta (test) version of Opera 7.50 includes a new user interface, an internet relay chat facility and improvements designed to enhance the browser's reputation for speed. The email client adds indexing of email contents, and support for RSS feeds and an external spellchecker. A version showing adverts is free, and the ad-free version is currently 25% cheaper than usual at $29.25.
www.opera.com/download
Olympic security
The Athens Olympics will use software from UK firm Autonomy to boost security, the firm said last week, as a result of a deal between it and Science Applications International Corporation, which is providing security infrastructure to the Greek government during the games. Autonomy's software, which is used by US intelligence services as well as the commercial sector, will help automate the analysis of data and the identification of potential threats, and can work with materialreceived in Greek. It uses Bayesian pattern-matching to calculate the likelihood of a link between data, allowing it to compare material held in different formats.
Mobile
TV to go
Targeted at business travellers, and holidaymakers who don't want to miss a kick of Euro 2004, the Lifeview TV Walker, (right) is a mobile phone-sized TV tuner that connects to a laptop via a USB 2.0 connector. The device covers all three worldwide TV standards so it will work in the US as well as European countries. Also on board is an MPeg encoder that supports MPeg 1, 2 and 4 recording. The tuner comes with PVR software, enabling users to save programmes on their laptop's hard disk. It is available now for £65 plus VAT from ECS.
www.ecs.uk.com
Wireless MP3
In Japan, Toshiba has unveiled the latest in a series of Gigabeat hard disk-based MP3 players. The Gigabeat G21 is similar to its predecessor, the G20, in that it is the thinnest 20 gigabyte hard disk player on sale. Only this time around, Toshiba is supplying the player with a Wi-Fi-equipped wireless cradle. Owners will be able to load music wirelessly on to the player from any PC across a network, as well as play the music stored on the G21 on other connected computers/ hi-fi systems. There's no confirmation of a UK launch, although early adopters can buy one via the US website www.dynamism.com for $688 (£385).
Smart phones
Orange updates
It appears that the successor to the Handspring Treo 600 Palm-based smartphone, which is sold in the UK by Orange, is on the cards. A slip by a US bank in a communication to investors confirmed rumours that have been across the web for months that the Handspring Treo 610 is likely to launch in late summer. The device will keep the form factor of its predecessor including its mini thumbpad, but will sport a higher resolution screen, more memory and offer Bluetooth connectivity. Some reports suggest the 610 will also jettison the 600's integrated VGA camera.
www-5.palmone.com/uk
Samsung's trio
Samsung is claiming to be the first manufacturer to offer a trio of handsets that use the three different smartphone operating systems: Palm, Microsoft Pocket PC and Symbian. Already on sale in the US, the i700 is an upright phone (it is like a smaller version of the O2 XDA 2 ), which uses Microsoft's Pocket PC phone edition software to deliver applications such as Outlook and Internet Explorer. Samsung also claims the phone can access the internet via wireless (802.11b) networks if an SD/IO card is added. The i500 is a smallish clamshell phone with a swivelling screen that runs Palm's 5.2 operating system. It features a 65k colour screen, VGA camera and is compatible with the Graffiti handwriting recognition system.
Completing the line-up is the D710, which uses the Symbian operating system with Nokia's Series 60 interface. The phone is like a larger version of the Siemens SL55, in that the bottom half of the phone slides down to reveal its keypad. The D710 is also Samsung's first handset to feature a camera capable of taking megapixel images. Other features include video capture and playback, MP3 and a 65K colour screen. All three launch in the summer.
www.samsung.co.uk
Accessories
iPod pouch
Bought yourself an Apple iPod but not sure where to put it when you go out? The Felicidade Groove Bag Triplet might be the holdall you've been waiting for. Not only has it been designed with a special pouch to keep your music player in, the white bag also sports a pair of speakers to enable owners to share their music. Available with a choice of handles, the bags are on sale via www.shop21.uk.com for £104.58. If you prefer something more fashionable, Italian design house Gucci also has a dedicated iPod bag. Featuring a beige and black design, it is available for $195 from www.gucci.com .
Broadband
BT widens access
Opera BT claims that, next year, 99.6% of UK homes will be able to have broadband access if they want it. As part of this new drive, BT is dropping the requirement whereby rural communities must have a minimum number of applicants before they are considered. Now practically every area will have access to broadband whether they register or not. BT claims that by the summer of 2005, Britain will be a world leader in broadband availability.
Stat of the week: The need for speed
The Pew Internet & American Life Project reports that 55% of all adult net users in the US now have access to broadband internet at home or work. As the figures, right, show, broadband users continue to be much more active than those surfing at lower speeds.
