On The Net - Computing News

with Chris Goh

HotNews

The American Recording Industry Association has spent a bundle to stop people copying music, but last month the Australian Recording Industry Association preferred to go in through the front door when it backed a raid by Music Industry Piracy Investigations (MIPI) on the Sydney office ofSharman Networks, which distributes one of the most successful P2P sharing software programs, Kaaza. ARIA was allowed to take part in the raid as part of a law that allows litigants to search and seize evidence in copyright cases. Sharman has appealed to the Federal Court over the order authorising the raid.

Sharman officials say the homes of two Sharman executives were also searched, including Kazaa CEO Nikki Hemming's home. MIPI officials and music industry lawyers also reportedly sought documents at Telstra and at the University of NSW.

Intel has succumbed to AMD's better idea. For almost six years, Intel has been trying to roll out 64-Bit CPUs with little success, because it needed all the software to be rewritten. AMD developed a 64-Bit chip that would also run 32-Bit software (which is what IBM did for Apple with the G5). Intel will now do the same with its current Pentium IV line up, giving users expanded memory space.

After many years of trying to work with the likes of Lockheed and General Dynamics, the Pentagon has launched a public competition offering $1 million to anyone who can create a pilot-less land vehicle able to autonomously traverse a 320km course that is yet to be mapped.

In a bid to compete with Optus, Telstra slashed its retail DSL price to $29.95, which attracted the attention of the competition watchdog, the ACCC, after competitors complained it was less than the wholesale price of the service to them. Telstra subsequently lowered its wholesale price to just below that level, which is still causing problems.

Apple and it's music program, iTunes, are being sued by The Beatles and Eminem. The business end of The Beatles, Apple Corp, signed a $27 million contract in 1991 that allowed Apple Computers to use their trademark on the proviso that Apple Computers wouldn't use it in the music market. I suppose back then, no-one had dreamed up MP3s. Now iTunes is Apple's most popular product. Oops. Meanwhile, rapper Eminem is suing Apple because of an ad campaign that used his song Lose Yourself despite his claim that he turned down their request. Since Apple were always seen as the good guys up against big bad Microsoft, it leaves you wondering if they're all just peas from the same (i)pod.

Disney fell out with Pixar late last year, but believes it picked up a gem in the late Jim Henson's (of Muppet fame) company. Stay tuned for a Mickey Mouse meets Miss Piggy romance.

Hotsites

www.origami.com

For the life of me I don't know why I didn't discover this sooner. As a kid, I loved origami. This is one of the most comprehensive listings of all things to do with paper folding. It's an exceptional site - and you can search the diagram database for PDF files of the folding instructions.

www.cheesenet.info

Okay, so this is a weird one, but I'm sure there are plenty of Echo readers who love cheese. This site aims to catalogue all the world's cheeses (and but ignores the Southern Hemisphere) and also features poetry about them. Things don't come much cheesier.

ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

I don't think my grammar will improve, but this is a site for those of use who lack the necessary dexterity in how we form our syntax. Check this great site to help your grammar burdens.