Latest Technology News

Dawinderpal Sahota, Computing, Friday 3 September 2010 at 15:11:00

X-Factor releases app for Nokia smartphones, but not iPhones or Android handsets

Nokia has launched a new X-Factor app for its smartphones. The app is exclusive to Nokia and is not available for iPhones or Android handsets.

The application can be downloaded via Nokia’s Ovi Store. It gives fans of the ITV show access to exclusive photos, gossip, games and video clips from the show.

It also features a competition that is exclusive to Nokia owners as well as exclusive behind the scenes footage with the show’s judges.

Fans will also be able to access and contribute...

Dave Bailey, Computing, Friday 3 September 2010 at 14:58:00

Most users have more broadband than they know what to do with, apparently

Mobile operator O2 published a study today suggesting millions of broadband users were wasting money buying broadband services too fast for their needs.

O2 head of home and broadband Felix Geyr said, "Sixty-two per cent of broadband consumers in our survey would prefer their ISP to provide packages based on their specific needs."

He added that the industry therefore needs to "tailor its services to people’s needs, help consumers understand exactly what they should be buying and avoid marketing based...

Dave Bailey, Computing, Friday 3 September 2010 at 13:26:00

It's a broadband beauty contest, says analyst.

BT's infrastructure arm Openreach is to trial a scheme allowing communication providers (CPs) to nominate exchanges they want upgraded to fit in with their fibre rollout plans.

However, Openreach said the scheme is only open from September to December 2010, is limited to CPs already buying Openreach’s Generic Ethernet Access (GEA) product, and that involvement in the scheme is subject to "certain commercial commitments" being met.

The exchanges would need upgrading due to fibre being required to run from all the street cabinets and...

Dawinderpal Sahota, Computing, Friday 3 September 2010 at 16:19:00

NASA's preferred headset provider uses disk fragmentation software

Headset manufacturer Plantronics has deployed Diskeeper software to prevent disk fragmentation slowing down its PCs.

The company has installed the product across its 250 associate offices across Europe, at a price of “£20-something per user, per year”, according to Philip Jones, IT manager at Plantronics Europe.

“Prior to having Diskeeper, we were like a lot of companies; we had hard disk failure, data corruption and performance slowdown. Performance slowdown is very common, at work or at home...

Dave Bailey, Computing, Friday 3 September 2010 at 11:17:00

Network giant making waves in the smart grid metering services market

Network giant Cisco has announced its intention to acquire IP wireless smart grid pioneer Arch Rock Corporation.

Buying the San Francisco-based firm would "position Cisco as a strategic partner to utilities working to better manage power supply and demand," said Cisco's smart grid business unit general manager Laura Ipsen.

"Arch Rock's wireless mesh technology enhances Cisco's IP-based, end-to-end smart-grid offerings," added Ipsen.

Arch Rock's IP wireless mesh technology is designed to allow utilities...