Mess.be reports: Skype, announced version 1.1 of its Internet telephony service, adding new design and improved instant messaging features to put it better placed compared with other messaging rivals such as MSN Messenger. While Skype has always been superior to its main rivals in terms of voice quality, critics pointed to its rather spartan instant messaging functions. The latest version indeed puts its wealthy rivals to shame with its smart clear interface and total absence of any advertising. Other benefits over other voice chat, instant messaging and file transfer programmes are the Skype encryption,...

It seems like Apple can also be at the receiving end of a lawsuit, too: Californian Thomas Slattery filed suit against Apple because ‘Apple has turned an open and interactive standard into an artifice that prevents consumers from using the portable hard drive digital music player of their choice’. With over 200 million songs sold, and Apple controlling over 80% of the hard drive digital audio player market, is this just a case of someone just trying to cash in on Apple’s success? Or is this genuinely an issue of buyer lock-in and monopolistic practices? A few days ago I was wondering...

Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) is a security technology that helps protect Windows users from spyware and other potentially unwanted software. Known spyware on your PC can be detected and removed. This helps reduce negative effects caused by spyware including slow PC performance, annoying pop-up ads, unwanted changes to Internet settings, and unauthorized use of your private information. Continuous protection improves Internet browsing safety by guarding over 50 ways spyware can enter your PC. The worldwide SpyNetâ„¢ community plays a key role in determining which suspicious programs are...

“The AP is reporting that so called “Spam King” Sanford Wallace has agreed to stop spamming… at least temporarily until the FTC suit is settled” At best this is a precursor of things to come, and at worst it’s a nice break. I got this from Slashdot…Let’s hope it’s a precursor!

Which OS are You? NOOOO WOT MAKES ME WIN 98?! :@ Take it here

“Human Beans is selling the perfect gift for the geek who has everything. It’s the PowerPizza, a pizza box for transporting your precious laptop in. From the web site: Desirable laptops are desirable to thieves too. Disguise your laptop with a PowerPizza and reduce the risk of getting it nicked.” Find it here: http://www.humanbeans.net/powerpizza/

Taiwanese police have seized some 60,000 allegedly dud AMD processors believed to have been made ready for sale as fully functioning product. However, over 1m re-marked chips may already have entered European and Asian sales channels. According to local news reports, the chips were taken from the premises of a company named as Hao Hwa Technology following a tip-off from AMD’s Taiwanese operation. The CPUs, a mix of 32-bit and 64-bit parts, were said to be defective and earmarked for destruction. Before that could take place, the chips were taken from one of AMD’s packaging and testing...

Veteran developer surprised by granting of prestigious British honour Lionhead founder Peter Molyneux has been made an OBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours list, with the honour being granted to the veteran developer for services to the computer games industry. Speaking to the BBC, Molyneux expressed surprise at his naming on the list, saying that “it’s come completely out of the blue… I never would have guessed that I’d have that kind of honour.” Molyneux founded Lionhead Studios in 1997, and since then has been instrumental in the creation of successful titles...