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Call to scrap 'illegal databases'

A quarter of all government databases are illegal and should be scrapped or redesigned, according to a report.

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New broadband '10 times faster'

Thousands of people in south Wales will be among the first in the UK to have access to super-fast broadband.

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Virgin eyes 150Mb broadband speed

Virgin Media says it will start offering 100 to 150Mbps broadband speeds up to two years before BT completes its rival network.

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Virgin becomes online gatekeeper

In the battle to dictate the shape of future online use Virgin Media has, almost quietly, manoeuvred itself into a position of dominance.

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Extent of council spying revealed

Councils in England and Wales have used controversial spying laws 10,000 times in the past five years, figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show.

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Call to 'shut down' Street View

A formal complaint about Google's Street View has been sent to the Information Commissioner (ICO). Drawn up by privacy campaigners, it cites more than 200 reports from members of the public identifiable via the service.

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Windows Touch coming to a PC soon

The multi-touch controls familiar to Apple iPhone users will be built-in to Microsoft's Windows 7. Windows Touch will be a "first class way to interact with your PC alongside mouse and keyboard," said the firm.

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Social network sites 'monitored'

Social networking sites like Facebook could be monitored by the UK government under proposals to make them keep details of users' contacts.

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Social sites dent privacy efforts

Greater use of social network sites is making it harder to maintain true anonymity, suggests research.

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China 'blocks YouTube video site'

China is reported to have blocked the YouTube video-sharing website because it has been carrying video of soldiers beating monks and other Tibetans.

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China criticised over YouTube

China's move to block YouTube has been criticised by a leading advocacy group that promotes constitutional liberties in the digital age.

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'Three strikes' law for net users

French internet users persisting in illicit downloading of music and films could have the plug pulled on their internet if a controversial new law is approved.

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The net helps music sing new songs

Twenty years ago we were told that Home Taping was Killing Music. But if the SXSW Music conference is any guide then it is in rude health even though internet technologies are changing almost every aspect of music, and many are struggling to accommodate the change.

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MTV and YouTube go head to head

A higher percentage of 15-24 year olds in the UK have watched a music video on YouTube than on dedicated music channels, according to a new study.

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European mobile data prices set

Using a mobile phone abroad in Europe looks set to get cheaper. European MPs have brokered an agreement that will see the tariffs for making calls, sending text messages and browsing the web fall from July 2009.

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'Scareware' scams trick searchers

Makers of fake anti-virus software are exploiting search engines to drive people to sites peddling 'scareware'.

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A 3D web moves closer to reality

The 3D web moved closer to reality as Mozilla, the developer of the Firefox browser, joined forces with graphics consortium Khronos.

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Man follows sat nav to cliff edge

A car was left teetering on a cliff edge after the driver followed sat nav directions down a Pennine footpath.

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Big websites urged to avoid Phorm

Seven of the UK's biggest web firms have been urged to opt out of a controversial ad-serving system.

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Last.fm to charge for streaming

Internet radio and social music site Last.fm is to start charging listeners outside the UK, US, and Germany.

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Streaming games service launched

After seven years in stealth mode, a Silicon Valley start-up has launched a "revolutionary" video game service that offers new competition to consoles.

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Nintendo Wii sales hit 50 million

Global sales of Nintendo's Wii console have passed 50 million, the company's boss Satoru Iwata has said.

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Memory sticks offer safety advice

School leavers in south west Scotland are being given special memory sticks carrying advice on topics like sexual health, drugs and personal safety.

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Microwaves 'improve fog landings'

Passengers flying into Heathrow in fog or poor visibility will be guided in using a new microwave-based system.

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Pupils 'should study Twitter'

Primary school pupils should learn how to blog and use internet sites like Twitter and Wikipedia and spend less time studying history, it is claimed.

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Man admits video games gun threat

A man has admitted pointing a BB gun at a woman's head in a dispute over scratched Playstation games.

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Iphone games platform

The iPhone is set to become the dominant gaming platform because of connectivity and the strength of the App Store, a conference has heard.

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PC rules supreme in gaming world

The personal computer dominates as the number one way to play games despite the advances of the Xbox and Playstation.

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