Fizzer, a mass mailing virus that allows control of the recipient's computer over IRC has annoyed IRC operators to the extent that they are creating a more-or-less permanent standby communication mechanism for fighting future threats. The use of IRC by the software has drown some IRC channels and servers in …

CNET reports that the case between DVD X-Copy manufacturer 321 Studios and the big movie studios is heading to court Thursday. An article on this site pointed out the tactics of the company.

An article on CNET announces that Intuit, the makers of Quicken and TurboTax will be removing the activation mechanism from next year's version of the tax package. There is still a pending lawsuit and a lot of upset customers, but the decision seems like a good idea, all things considered …

A letter was sent to members of SCO's developer community indicating that they were suspending immediately their Linux efforts and were likely to go after the end users for copyright infringement. The letter asserts (without any proof other than citing some people who had access to the original AT …

Warning: I haven't read the review and I won't do so until I've seen the movie and probably written my capsule review as well. Thus, I don't know if it has spoilers. But, it's a good sign that the big guy liked it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to be out of the allergen-infested East Coast for a few days, but I'm a bit perplexed by the weather predictions here in Los Angeles. When I arrived, I checked the weather on Weather.com and it refers to this weak as being "Partly …

An Apple press release today confirmed that they have moved about 2 million songs so far (about half of them as parts of albums). The rate is slightly slowed from the first week (2 million in 16 days vs. 1 million in 7), but is still a very strong showing …

For those watching for Apple and IBM's next moves in the small server, desktop, and laptop space, the 970 has been the great hope. Find out more about it in this in-depth technical review from ArsTechnica. Warning, it is very detailed.

So, yesterday lots of people were towing the line that Microsoft wanted you to believe that the iLoo was a hoax perpetrated by MSN UK. But, since the AP claimed to have confirmed this with officials, I cast some doubt on that yesterday. Today, Wired agrees with me, and Microsoft …

A story on BBC News reports that the MPA is starting to go after sites that post song lyrics. So, if you have been trying to figure out what song that is that you keep hearing on your radio, better look soon or you will miss your opportunity to find …

As a followup to an earlier story this week, Verizon has turned up 150 of their planned network of 1000 payphone-WiFi devices in New York City. This according to an article on CNET.

CNet is reporting that AOL is creating an additional service that will cost $1.95/month for non-subscribers in order to get skins for the AIM client. It is unknown if AOL will ever move to a fee requirement for their popular instant messaging client, but since their acquisition of …

Taking advantage of the expectation that you are less likely to forget your cell phone than your credit cards, MasterCard and Nokia are teaming up for a pilot program that uses the PayPass system (similar to Mobil's SpeedPass) to pay for goods and services.

If this isn't a public warning that handing police and judicial powers to corporations is a really bad idea (see the DMCA, which grants subpoena powers to companies without a judicial hearing), I don't know what is. According to a story on CNET, the RIAA now says it "mistakenly" sent …

Hopefully it will end up better than the current DVD-/+R[W] format issues that we are having these days, but I wouldn't count on it. ZDNet is reporting that NEC and Toshiba are working together on a new blue laser DVD format to rival the work done by a …

At the E3 expo, Sony announced the planned introduction of a device known as the PSP. An article at CNET contains more info.

According to an article on Canada.com, the most recent census in Canada has 20,000 respondents that report their religion as "Jedi".

I didn't realize it until I did a google search this morning, but apparently this is breaking news. According to a presentation given at the E3 workshops yesterday, the US Army is bringing the popular brand-building "simumercial" (America's Army) to the Macintosh and Linux. There is no announced date yet …

We all hate spam. Now, our legislators are finally starting to get into the act and we need to take a look at some of the Bills that they are writing and debating on our behalf. Of particular concern is the wide divergence of state and local anti-spam laws that …

It's the first day of the E3 Conference/Expo and there isn't any earth-shattering news to report. All of the really big press releases are coming tomorrow as is the opening of the exhibit hall. However, I did attend 3 sessions today and I'll give the recap here. W3:Smart …