News Updates

OK, lots of information for you to saok up, so keep your eyes peeled.

In a great reversal of roles, it has recently been discovered (although the event happened years ago) that the company most associated with trying to combat piracy of its software (yep, Microsoft again) was in fact found guilty and fined by a french court for doing just that - selling software from another company as its own. Read the Register's great article for more info.

A novel but disturbing way to clone mobile phone SIM cards has been discovered by IBM. So be aware. It only takes minutes to make a copy of your phone so that someone can make phonecalls that appear on your bill.

The forever popular australian soap opera Neighbours has reached its 4000th episode. This is the program that has launched the careers of many a famous singer or film star (including Kylie Minogue).

With only a few more days left before the release of Spiderman and Star Wars episode II it has been announced that copies of the films are already circulating on the internet. This comes as no surprise, as most things spread quickly over the net and there is definitely enough people who would like to get hold of them in advance. What does surprise me, however, is the fact that people are still able to make recordings of the films in previews at cinemas. Wouldn't you think that the companies would try to ensure that nobody carries in with them any recording equipment? Although, on the other hand, it probably does the films good to have a version released in advance, as people see it on their computer screens and decide whether its worth seeing or not. If it is, they tell their friends and everbody goes. If it isn't, there won't be much abuse from people who have paid to see it and didn't like it at all.

And now some very sad news about another train crash that's happened close to london. Yet again the english railway system is proving that privatisation of essential services does not work. Six people have died this time (the Hatfield one had 4) and nine are seriously injured. It has also caused substantial damage to the station it was passing through at the time its three coaches derailed.

So, after all that news you are probably wanting a break. Well, go forth in the knowledge that you didn't have a Maths exam set by a sadistic lecturer, where the results came out too complicated to be able to manipulate afterwards. Yes, I'm not in the best of moods about today's exam.

Back to the grindstone.