DoubleClick launches mobile ad platform ... FBI investigates Unisys over U.S. gov't hack ... OLPC offers give one, get one

IN THE NEWS

OLPC offers give one, get one for $400
The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) group has launched a program that will let U.S. and Canadian residents pay $400 for one laptop to keep and one to give to a child in a developing nation.

FBI investigates Unisys over U.S. government hack
IT systems integrator Unisys Corp. is under fire for allegedly failing to detect the hacking of U.S. Department of Homeland Security computers, an incident that resulted in data being sent to a Chinese-language Web site.

DoubleClick launches mobile ad platform
DoubleClick Inc. is expanding its advertising services for mobile phones, it announced Monday, as it continues waiting to find out if Google Inc.'s attempt to buy it will pass muster with regulators.

Verizon Business adds to service-level agreements
Verizon Communications Inc.'s Business unit has expanded its service-level agreement (SLA) options, allowing customers to invoke their SLAs on the last mile of their network connection, even in cases where Verizon doesn't own those pipes.

Chinese retailer Gome to sell Dell computers
One of China's biggest electronics retailers Gome Electrical Appliances Group will soon start selling Dell computers at its chain of stores across China.

Virgin drops Windows Media-based music download service
Virgin Group Ltd. will shut down its online music subscription and download service in the U.S. and U.K. next month, leaving one less competitor for Apple Inc.'s iTunes Music Store.

Check Point touts Skype blocking technology
Check Point Software has beefed up its enterprise security gateways, in an effort to protect corporate networks against the risks associated with IM and peer-to-peer application such as Skype.


STORAGE TIP

Getting more performance out of high transaction-rate databases
By David Hill, Mesabi Group

What seems to be the problem? Your organization may have an on-line transaction processing (OLTP) system with a high transaction rate. High transaction rate databases may place a high I/O resource demand on performance that may result in response times outlined in the SLA not being met, batch jobs take too long, etc. You'll need a solution. Here's what you need to know.


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OLPC offers 'buy one, donate one' deal ... Microsoft, Philips test White Spaces device ... CCTV cameras don't solve crimes in London

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GADGET GIVEAWAY

It's Fall, and we have a new gadget giveaway ... just for the heck of it. We've brought back the ultimate geek tool, the Swiss Army knife equipped with USB flash drive, LED light, and ballpoint pen.

Enter now for a chance to win!


ITWHIRLED

For sale on eBay: One smallish European country, slightly used

Citizens of Belgium went to the polls more than three months ago, but the nation's squabbling political parties still haven't been able to agree on a new cabinet yet. Since nobody else seems to want to run the place, disgruntled Belgian Gerrit Six put the country up for sale on eBay. The company pulled the auction when someone placed a $14 million bid.

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POLL

Does the iPhone price cut change your mind about buying one?

- Not really - it's still too much for too little
- I'm holding out - it'll come down another $50 or so soon enough
- Now that it's in the sweet spot, I've got my credit card ready
- It sure made me change my mind about having bought one at the old price, I tell you what