Webhost sees Paypal accounts closed
by Brian TurnerMajor webhosting provider Sprintserve.net announced in an emergency bulletin today that Paypal has closed its Paypal accounts.
Using different Paypal accounts for different subsidiaries, Paypal stated this represented “excessive risk” because of possible links between the accounts.
The Paypal accounts were first “limited” to prevent funds being withdrawn, then finally closed.
While the company is able to move [...]
Microsoft close to fine
by Brian TurnerMicrosoft are expected to be slapped with a 2m euro/day fine by the European Commission.
It comes after a long and bitter legal dispute, in which Microsoft were ruled in 2004 to have abused their monopoly position.
Microsoft was ordered to provide code to help other companies develop compliant software for the Windows operating system.
However, the EC [...]
Google ready to launch music service?
by Brian TurnerRumours that Google are developing a music download service continued to gain momentum.
Google already has a section of it’s Google.com website blocked off from public view, but carrying the name “Google Tunes”.
Now one sharp eyed surfer has noticed that Google is changing the way it deals with searches for music online.
The change includes a new [...]
Google checkout launches – but is it a privacy threat?
by Brian TurnerGoogle has formally announced the launch of it’s long anticipated payment gateway – Google Checkout.
However, as with most recent Google releases, it seems one of the primary purposes is to collect data on what people are doing online.
Online merchants that offer Google Checkout for purchases will be giving Google a free reign over customer data [...]
June 19, 2006
Google admits “bad data push” error
by Brian TurnerGoogle has publically admitted that a change in datacenter infrustracture has caused serious problems for the search engine, and its search results.
The comments were made by Google employee, Adam Lasnik, on the technology forum Threadwatch, in which he admitted that Google had a “bad data push” error.
They were made in response to revelations that a [...]
June 16, 2006
Gates to close on Microsoft
by Brian TurnerBill Gates has announced plans to leave the day to day running of Microsoft, to concentrate on charity work.
It comes at a time when Microsoft is under increasing pressure over the delayed release of its Windows Vista operating system.
While analysts are not too surprised by the announcement, it does raise the question as to what [...]
Pentagon datamines social networks
by Brian TurnerNew Scientist reports that the Pentagon is datamining social networks.
This is to allow the US government to draw up detailed personal profiles of individuals, according to what they post to the internet.
It is also intended to work out which individuals are connected to blacklisted organisations, either directly, or through people they interact with online.
Ironically, attempts [...]
June 14, 2006
Unemployment and inflation haunt interest rates
by Brian TurnerWarnings that UK interest rates would likely rise later in the year increased, after figures revealed a surge in both unemployment and inflation figures.
Unemployment increased to 5.3% for April. Ironically, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also showed an increase in the number of people employed.
The question is how can jobless figures and employment figures [...]
June 8, 2006
Wordpress hacked
by Brian TurnerMatt Mullenweg, lead developer of the popular Wordpress blogging platform, inadvertently provided clues to a key password – allowing an authorised user full access to the Wordpress site.
The user simply posted a warning that the password had been easy to guess, rather than causing damage to the servers.
Although Matt Mullenweg has now corrected the issue, [...]
June 7, 2006
Interest rate rise increasingly likely
by Brian TurnerThe Bank of England is increasingly likely to raise interest rates later this year.
The suggestion comes after a string of economic indicators showed that UK manufacturing and consumer spending continued to be healthy, while inflation continues to strengthen.
Yesterday the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF) announced that UK manufacturing was enjoying a 10 year high in production.
Meanwhile, [...]
Google treats copyright as opt-in – publisher
by Brian TurnerGoogle’s infamous Google Books project was accused of copyright infringement by French publisher La Martiniere.
La Martiniere, which also owns Le Seuil, Delachaux, Niestle and Harry N Abrams, accuses Google of copying 100 of its titles without permission.
Google responded by stating the publisher had every right to opt-out of the project.
Which really underlines the arrogance of [...]
Music industry continues short-sightedness
by Brian TurnerThe music industry in Europe has been accused of being short-sighted, after forcing broadband provider Tiscali to reduce access to online music on its file-sharing network.
At present, Tiscali has an agreement with the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) to allow users to listen to tracks online but not download them.
The IFPI objected because [...]
Google spreadsheet flops
by Brian TurnerSearch Engine giant Google has released an online spreadsheet application.
A specific aim is to try and draw users away from Microsoft Office products, not least Excel, to help increase Google’s market share of PC users directly.
However, the announcement has been poorly received, with complaints that the software is “feature-poor”.
Additionally, continued concerns about privacy have yet [...]
June 2, 2006
Employment opt-out stalls at EU
by Brian TurnerAttempts to renegotiate an opt-out from the EU’s 48-hour working week have stalled.
Currently the EU has a directive that European workers should not have to work over 48 hours in a week.
Additionally, they should be entitled to 1 day off each week, with 11 days of assured holidays.
However, the UK is one of a small [...]
Privacy fears over Mozilla Firefox
by Brian TurnerPrivacy fears have been raised over the possibility of Firefox data being supplied to Google.
The Mozilla Firefox browser has become an increasingly popular alternative to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser.
Google have been working more and more closely with the Mozilla Foundation, who are responsible for developing the Mozilla suite of tools, including Firefox.
The latest colaboration, due [...]