Dell stop shipping Windows XP on 22th October 2010

For the average consumer, that means you've got just over a month to get
whatever XP-equipped systems you want from Dell. Some "qualified
customers" will still be able to get Windows XP pre-installed via Dell's Custom Factory Integration service.

MS Support may continue till at least 2012.

Certain Windows 7 Licence versions allow users to install any source of XP media as alternate to Windows 7.  Windows XP is probably still on twice as many PCs as Vista or Windows 7.

Operation B49 is a Microsoft-led initiative to take down a known botnet - Waledac
- through industry collaboration and legal process. Operation B49 is
just one action in a long term effort by Microsoft to combat cyber
threats and advance the security of the Internet for everyone. from support.microsoft.com/contactus/cu_sc_virsec_b49

Microsoft has removed 277 domains used by Waledac leaving about 90,000 infected computers without a Bot Master. This has been more successful so far than the attempt by Computer Security Experts to take down Zeus.

It's a good 10W Mono FM radio, with AUX input for your iPod/iTouch or PMP. It has Internet Radio, Podcast streaming and can play your home media server/PC (or Mac content too) via DNLA or uPnP.

It has WiFi and ethernet. Also strangely Digital Audio output (SPDIF optical and RCA cable). No indication if it does RDS. No DAB. £135

12V charger Solar panel. 2W peak. Typically 0.25W to 1W. Shower proof.

Currently (5th September 2010) under €12 in Irish Maplin Stores. Reduced from about €33,

Suitable for rechargeable radio or charging Netbook. I have one for my FT817ND radio and it does still trickle charge it in dull evening light. (no need to activate Timed charger mode to trickle charge.)

Online link: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx...

On promotion until 07/09/2010

The USA has long history of conflict with the rest of the World over Intellictual Property. It's not just really stupid patents that should never have been granted or the widespread "piracy" of European books in the past by republishing in USA without paying royalty and also gratuitious changes to text. In English speaking countries out side USA, the "American" spelling and grammer is not changed.

There is a big problem with music royalties on Radio, despite the RIAA and DMCA.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_...
The parties calculated that the “business exemption” had nullified 1,219,900 Euro per year.

Though there is some new content planned for Irish Digital TV,  really there is nothing new. So far it's really just a replacement of Analogue with very basic repeat of RTE news and possibly the addition of TV3's "3e"

Seen on a Retail mag for TV in Ireland and scanned by Byte 20th August 2010

(From IER , Irish Electrical Review, a Trade magazine for Electrical Retailers)

Just because you can buy a Video Sender, Mains Networking adaptor, walkie Talkie, security camera  or Baby monitor in PC World/Currys, Maplin or eBay doesn't make it legal or a good idea:

via BBC