Bezos unreformed … Full published article at: Read More »

Apple silent on 'pretty dumb design flaw' A security expert is advising iPhone users to steer clear of the device's default email application until engineers rework what he calls "a pretty dumb design flaw" that could expose users' email addresses to spammers and other online frauds.… Full published article at: Read More »

Class-action call up Little did Microsoft executives realize when they blessed the seemingly brilliant wheeze of "Windows Vista Capable" as a way of flogging the operating system that the idea could turn into a bitter pill their company might have to swallow.… Full published article at: Read More »

Mifare weakness official Two research papers published Monday have finally made it official: The world's most widely deployed radio frequency identification (RFID) smartcard - used to control access to transportation systems, military installations, and other restricted areas - can be cracked in a matter of minutes using inexpensive tools.… Full published article at: Read More »

Phil Muncaster, The amount of energy required to run a data centre rose by 13 per cent between 2006 and 2007, and is expected to continue growing, according to new research by IDC. The analyst firm's latest report estimates that data centre power consumption levels in western Europe exceeded 40TWh (terawatt hours) in 2007 and are expected to grow to more than 42TWh in 2008. The rise is mainly due to the spread of volume servers, which now cover around 90 per cent of the installed base, as well as growth in the average amount of energy that servers...Read More »

Angelica Mari, Marks & Spencer is to cut its capital spending by over 50 per cent in the next two years and divert leftover resources to technology. The retailer expects spending this year to reach around £700m, compared to a previous guideline figure of £800m-£900m, and plans to further reduce costs by focusing on IT and product management. "For 2009/10 we now expect to spend around £400m with the focus on supply chain and information technology systems," said M&S executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose. The company's latest trading update represents its sharpest sales drop in nine years, with a...Read More »

Angelica Mari, Supermarket chain Waitrose is using mobile printers in an effort to reduce food wastage and improve checkout productivity. The Zetes-supplied system used by the printers calculates reductions based on product demand and shelf life. Users can also access a list of unsold reduced items which may need further price markdowns. The key motivation to introduce the printers was to reduce processing time at the till and minimise the amount of unsold items, according to Nick Hart, project manager for branch ordering development at Waitrose. "This system has also enabled us to record increased data for further improved...Read More »

Tom Young, Virgin Media has been ordered to encrypt all portable mobile devices after it was found to have breached the Data Protection Act [http://www.ico.gov.uk/what_we_cover/data_protection.aspx] Data Protection Act in losing an unencrypted disc. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) gave the order after investigating the loss of the disc, which contained personal details on customers that signed up to Virgin Media services in Carphone Warehouse stores from January this year. "The Data Protection Act clearly states that organisations must keep personal information secure," said Mick Gorrill, assistant commissioner at the ICO. "Virgin Media recognises the seriousness of this data loss...Read More »

Angelica Mari, Royal Mail has announced the suppliers for its national mobile service project which will see 25,000 postal delivery workers equipped with handheld devices. As reported by Computing [http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2221229/royal-mail-goes-hands-4112900] reported by Computing in July, the introduction of the devices is part of a £1.2bn IT-driven business transformation at Royal Mail designed to improve customer service by verifying the status of tracked letters or parcels. The handheld devices are being supplied by Intermec, while CSC will develop and maintain the systems supporting the service. The CSC team also includes Blackbay, a provider of mobile workforce systems. Royal Mail van...Read More »

Phil Muncaster, Security chiefs have been warned to pay more attention to user behaviour and the flow of information through their organisations in order to minimise mobile and wireless security incidents. Gartner analyst John Girard said at the firm's IT Security Summit [http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=622507] IT Security Summit in London that the power of today's mobile devices, along with the increasing convergence of platforms and standards and the consumerisation of IT, are increasing the security risks. "When a new technology comes out your [employees] will use those products even if you don't need them, because they're better," he argued. "Therefore you...Read More »