Week in Review: Gates, Nokia and ICANN

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Bill Gates leaves Microsoft

Bill Gates finally leaves the empire he built from the ground up to work full time at his charity. Gates started Microsoft in 1975 and built a company which has dominated the PC market for three decades. He still remains non-executive chairman and Microsoft’s biggest shareholder, but will now concentrate on the problems of the developing world rather than software development.

Nokia buys Symbian

In an unexpected and sudden move, mobile phone giant Nokia buys out the remaining shareholders of software firm Symbian. It also throws the doors of the platform open, making and source and waiving royalties in a clear statement of intent against the iPhone and Google’s upcoming Android platform. The plan has also united other mobile phone manufacturers and could see a single open platform for converged mobile devices.

ICAAN board approves domain name expansion

The internet naming system undergoes a complete shakeup as a major proposal to change the structure of internet addresses is approved. The ICAAN president says it is a huge step and will lead to a massive increase of ‘real estate’ on the internet. Applications will open when ICAAN draws an implementation plan, and is most likely to be finalised next year.

ICO to take action against HMRC, MoD for breaches

The Information Commissioner will take ‘formal action’ against HM Revenue and Customs and the Ministry of Defence after major reports are released which detail major institutional failures by the government departments. It will look monitor the situation closely and require reports, and any non-compliance could lead to criminal action. The government also confirms that £155 million will be spent on data security at the HMRC.

Oyster cards at risk from cloning

Dutch researchers discover that London’s contactless transport payment cards can be cloned and copied by anyone using a standard laptop. All the cloner would have to do is brush past anybody with a wireless card and wirelessly read the details. The details can be copied to infinite numbers of blank cards, and used for free travel.

CCTV will ‘hear’ as well as see

University of Portsmouth scientists have made CCTV cameras which are smart enough to detect crimes that are taking place just by it sound. It is responsive to within 300 milliseconds, about the same time it takes a human head to turn if it heard a noise. The scientists claim that the technology would get better over time which could even hear specific voices rather than sound.

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