Cooler chips
AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) has extended its range of 64-bit Athlon 64 processors by adding three mobile chips and a version aimed at desktop PCs and "desktop replacement" notebooks. The company says they deliver high-end performance with digital media. Prices for the mobile processors range from $192 to $293 in quantities of 1,000, while the desktop replacement 3400+ chip costs $417. AMD is competing with Intel, which is expected to launch its Prescott chip -an updated Pentium 4 with extra multimedia instructions -next month. Also, Intel has started shipping cut-price Celeron versions of its Pentium-M processors.
Not so smart
Microsoft says it has stopped development of its Smart Display flat screen terminals, which went on sale a year ago. The system, codenamed Mira, connected wirelessly to a Windows XP Pro desktop PC so users could move around with it. However, the screens were basically cut-down versions of Windows CE computers, and with prices starting at $799, seem to have proved uncompetitive with cheap and powerful notebook PCs.
Tablet upgrade
Toshiba claims to be the first to incorporate a dual axis accelerometer in a notebook PC: it senses the orientation of the screen, and allows pages to be scrolled in any direction by tilting the computer. This is one of the features of Toshiba's new Tablet PC, based on Intel's Centrino wireless chipset. The M200 (around £1,300) retains the swivel-screen format of the current Portégé 3500 but has a faster 1.5GHz Pentium-M chip. For desktop use, the system has a specially designed docking station that can be tilted up and down for normal pen use or as a monitor with separate keyboard and mouse.
Virtual keys
The Virtual Laser Keyboard attaches to a handheld PDA (personal digital assistant) and projects an image of a full-sized keyboard on to the surface of a desk. Users then type on this image to enter data into the PDA. The laser system detects the position of the fingers and transmits this to the device. iBiz Technology says the first model, costing around £60, will be available for Palm, Pocket PC and desktop or notebook PCs in the next few months. Later in the year, a version will be available later for mobile phones. www.ibizcorp.com
Gone phishing
Netcraft is offering a service it claims can help identify "phishing" sites. Customers of banks and financial services organisations have been hit by these false internet shop fronts, which are designed to lure them into revealing their authentication and log-on details. Netcraft surveys 46m websites, and says it can search for commonly used phrases, trademarks and domain names. Combined with spam monitoring and security certificates, it allows the company to find suspicious sites that might otherwise go undetected. http://news.netcraft.com/archives/security.html
Reverse gear
Covisint is selling its B2B (business to business) auction service for the automotive industry to FreeMarkets. The service was created by General Motors, Ford and Daimler Chrysler to offer a reverse auction marketplace for parts suppliers. The so-called Dutch auction approach of undercutting competitors' bids for supplying goods and services has become unpopular with some suppliers in the economic downturn. The business has also been investigated in the US for anti-competitive practices. By selling the auction to FreeMarkets, the Covisint partners -along with later recruits such as Volkswagen, Toyota and Renault/Nissan - free themselves of that burden, and will concentrate on supplying management portals and data messaging services. www.freemarkets.com
One year left
Organisations across the state sector have just one more year to prepare for the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which comes into force in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on January 1, 2005, with parallel legislation in Scotland. The Foreign Office, which last week released 6,500 files under the 30-year rule, says that by next January it will be ready to release data that is 30 weeks, 30 days or even 30 minutes old. The act will allow anyone to request information from a state sector body and, with some exceptions, receive the information within 20 working days. www.dca.gov.uk/foi/foidpunit.htm
Auction warning
Consumers should treat auction sites as if they were private ads in newspapers rather than retailers, according to the Department of Trade and Industry. It says buyers should check details of the goods and whether postage and insurance are included. It suggests checking sellers' reputations, and finding out if they are in the UK, or at least an EU country. If not, there is little legal recourse if goods are faulty or not delivered. The DTI recommends auction buyers use a credit card, which can offer compensation if there are problems, or an escrow service, where the payment is released only when the buyer confirms receipt. www.consumer.gov.uk/consumer_web/e-shopping.htm
