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Apple reclaims speed title

For a brief period about four years ago, Apple Computer held on to the personal computer speed title with the release of its G3 chipsets.

For a brief period about four years ago, Apple Computer held on to the personal computer speed title with the release of its G3 chipsets. After slipping behind again with the introduction of chips from Intel and AMD with 64-bit architecture and speeds up to four Gigaherz, Apple is back on top with its new Power Mac G5.

The G5 chip, built by IBM, also employs 64-bit architecture and can handle twice as much data as PC microchips – which should put them on top for, oh, about six months, before something newer comes along.

Holding the speed title is expected to boost sales for Apple Computer, which has seen its market share drop to about two per cent in recent years.

The Mac OSX operating system, a new version of Quark Express, Apple iTunes, the iPod, Apple’s popular online music library, and a new line of affordable eMacs and PowerBooks are also helping to turn things around.

For more information on the G5, visit www.apple.com.

Harry Potter and the Order of all Orders

Amazon.com has shipped a record 1.3 million copies of Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix, breaking the previous e-commerce record of 410,000 copies held by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2000. No other book, CD or product has sold as many items online.

Because of the volume they were dealing with, Amazon.com was able to offer a 40 per cent discount off the retail price of $29.99 US. Even with the shipping fee of $4, customers still saved money, and for the most part the books were delivered by the official release date on Saturday, less than a day after the book went on sale.

The Web for a rural elite

A new survey by Statistics Canada has revealed that students is rural areas rely more on institutional computers than students in urban area. The study also found that males were slightly more likely to use computers than female students.

According to Statistics Canada, 29 per cent of rural students use a computer at school every day, compared to just 19 per cent of urban students.

The interesting thing is that fewer rural homes actually have computers, which means that the majority of rural high school students are accessing computers at their schools and libraries.

Although you probably could have guessed, the study also found that parents with a higher level of education, high school and college or university, were more likely to have computers in their homes.

Hands-free no safer

Cell phones with hands-free headset are no safer for drivers, according to a recent study by the Swedish national road administration.

In tests with 48 people in simulators, with half using regular hand-held cell phones and the other half using headsets, reaction times were equally impaired.

Scientists believe that it is the act of talking on the phone that divides a driver’s attention, not handling the device, that presents a problem.

The Swedish report backs up a another recent study by the Pyschological Science Journal that reached a similar conclusion.

Despite the results of these studies, Sweden has no plans to introduce laws to prohibit the use of cell phones while driving.

Homestar Runner

Flash animations are taking over the Web, it seems, with blocky cartoons popping up just about everywhere. What was a cool new technology has produced so much mediocre material that you wonder why people bother anymore.

Then along came Homestar Runner, a Flash animation series of cartoons and games put together by the Chapman Brothers.

Yeah, it’s simplistic stuff, but the stories are actually funny, the voices are good, and the animation – crude as it is – works.

The Web site, www.homestarrunner.com, has become a huge hit on the Internet, attracting a wide cult following. Check it out for yourself.

Hatch’s devious plan for downloaders

Think of it as a three-strikes-and-your wiped out plan. Senator Orin Hatch, the chairman of a judiciary committee on Internet copyright abuse and its effects on the music and entertainment industry, is proposing the development of a new technology that would remotely destroy your computer files if you were caught illegally downloading copyrighted files three times.

The downloader would receive warnings the first two times, letting them know what’s about to happen.

Such a move would currently be illegal under federal anti-hacking laws, but that law could be changed to allow reverse hacking, and, in some cases, the destruction of illegal, copyrighted materials.

He’s not the first person to suggest this remedy, but Hatch’s position on the Senate committee that is investigating the issue – and his own songwriting credentials – gives his statements a little more weight.

The Recording Industry Association of America, which represents the major music labels in the U.S. on this issue, fell short of endorsing Hatch’s idea, but said they do support stronger measures to curtail downloading.

Microsoft thief on company payroll

Microsoft’s biggest software thief turned out to be on the company payroll. On June 23, a Windows developer by the name of Richard Gregg was formally indicted on 62 counts of fraud.

According to investigators, the 43-year-old placed orders for5,436 units of software with a retail price of $17 million, which he allegedly resold and pocketed the money.

Gregg was put on surveillance back in December when the thefts came to light.