Intel backs specification for low-cost blade servers

HIGHLIGHTS

News: Intel backs specification for low-cost blade servers
News: Desktop on a USB drive ready for enterprises
News: Ransomware Trojans work of single group
News: UK government plans carbon offset code
News: Verizon revenue, net income up on Fios strength
News: Verizon Wireless to acquire Rural Cellular
News: California report slams e-voting system security
News: Hotmail maintenance glitch locks users out
News: Online legislation-writing effort gets good reviews
News: Virtual data center tests utility computing limits
News: RIM refutes security concerns over BlackBerry 8820
ITWhirled: Self-loathing Washingtonians have spirits lifted by soulless machine


NEWS UPDATES

Intel backs specification for low-cost blade servers
Intel Corp. expects a draft specification for blade servers to help vendors cut their development costs and push the space-saving systems into new markets.


Desktop on a USB drive ready for enterprises
Software that lets you carry your data, applications and personal desktop around on a USB-attached device is expanding into enterprises.


Ransomware Trojans work of single group
The two most prominent ransomware Trojans of recent times could be the work of the same or a closely-related Russian group, an analysis has suggested.


UK government plans carbon offset code
A U.K. government quality mark will help IT purchasers choose suppliers with valid carbon offset plans instead of untrustworthy ones, when it arrives later this year.


Verizon revenue, net income up on Fios strength
Verizon Communications Inc.reported net income of US$1.7 billion for the second quarter of 2007, up slightly from a year ago, fueled largely by increases in data and wireless revenues.

Verizon Wireless to acquire Rural Cellular
Verizon Wireless Inc. has agreed to acquire Rural Cellular Corp., a mobile telephone service provider focused on rural areas in the U.S., the companies announced Monday.


California report slams e-voting system security
Researchers commissioned by the State of California have found security issues in every electronic voting system they tested, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen said Friday.


Hotmail maintenance glitch locks users out
Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Live Hotmail Webmail service remained inaccessible to a portion of its users for several hours on Friday, but the problem has been resolved.


Online legislation-writing effort gets good reviews
A blog launched this month has teamed with a U.S. senator in an effort to write new broadband legislation, and so far participants have given the process high marks.


Virtual data center tests utility computing limits
A pair of utility computing vendors have stress-tested what they claim is the world's largest virtual data center, including 443 CPUs, 920GB of RAM and 47TB of storage.


RIM refutes security concerns over BlackBerry 8820
Research In Motion (RIM) shot back at criticism from industry analysts that Wi-Fi security concerns would mean limited enterprise use for its new dual-mode BlackBerry 8820.


ITWHIRLED

Self-loathing Washingtonians have spirits lifted by soulless machine
Thousands of residents of the United States capital were expected to have their self-esteem boosted by the "Compliment Machine", a new piece of public art that will soon hit Washington's streets. The device includes an iPod Nano loaded up with a number of affirmations and compliments, which it will chirp out at random at passers by. Experts expect the inanimate collection of electronics to make listeners feel better about themselves than they have in years.