In a nutshell, NFC is a tiny chip within a mobile device which allows us to pay for small purchases (say, under a tenner) by simply waving our mobile phone in the general direction of a NFC reader. Payments are instant and secure and mean that the days of digging around in our pockets for change whilst at the bar could effectively be at an end. No more shrapnel at the end of a night out, no more holes in pockets, no more coins down the side of the sofa.

NFC is not new, boffins at the Dutch semiconductor company NXP had the standard approved in 2003. Barclaycard users will be familiar with it through the innovative Visa payWave on certain credit cards. However it hasn’t taken off on mobile phones as planned, largely because the big players in the industry haven’t reached a consensus on how to deploy the technology.

Could Apple now lead the way and finally extend the benefits of this pretty cool technology to the rest of us?

The United Arab Emirates has said that it could move to restrict or monitor BlackBerry mobile phones, as they pose a “national security risk”.

ComputerWorldUK – Jailbreaking iPhones is deemed legal
Apple has lost its bid to criminalise “jailbreaking,” the practice of hacking an iPhone to install unauthorised apps on the smartphone, following a decision by the US Copyright Office and the Library of Congress.

CIO – Wikileaks and Guardian newspaper reveal Afghan War secret documents

The Wikileaks website has released its controversial ‘Afghan War Diary’ (AWD), a 91,000-file collection of reports detailing disturbing and previously unreported incidents involving US and other NATO forces in Afghanistan.

The Daily Telegraph – ‘Most people’s purchases influenced by social networks’

The majority of consumers now consult ‘friends’ or ‘followers’ on social networks, such as Facebook, before choosing to purchase a new item, according to research firm Gartner.

The Guardian – Ofcom: Broadband ISPs are pulling a fast one

Average speed 46% below that promised by ISPs. Mandatory code and clear penalties vital, experts say

Security experts are warning that “unauthorised copies” of a Doctor Who game released last weekend that have begun circulating on P2P networks are likely to pack a nasty surprise.

CIO – JP Morgan gets £33m FSA fine for system failure

The Financial Services Authority has issued JP Morgan Securities with a record £33.32 million fine, after the firm failed to separate its own money from that of clients for over seven years. The problem marked a failure by the company to maintain the correct banking processes, the FSA noted, following a major system change.

BBC – Apple shows off redesigned iPhone

Apple has unveiled a redesign of its popular iPhone handset. The revamped gadget has a stainless steel case, two cameras, improved display and is 24% thinner than the most recent version.

BBC – Immarsat grabs the MacRobert engineering prize

The UK’s top engineering prize has been won by Immarsat, for its Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service.

Computing.co.uk – Gartner identifies the ‘Cool Vendors’ for 2010

Gartner has identified 55 companies that it expects to make a big impact over the coming year. The analyst firm’s Cool Vendors 2010 list includes organisations that offer “impactful and innovative” products and services, including business processes, data, software infrastructure, security, risk management, applications, consulting, outsourcing, green IT and telecoms operations management.

Computing.co.uk – EasyJet trials infrared ash-avoidance technology

EasyJet will use infrared technology to help its aircraft avoid the remains of the ash cloud caused by the eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano.

CBR – Sweden may go 100 per cent cashless to fight crime

In another pioneering example from Scandinavia, which became wired-up much quicker than the UK, in a bid to fight crime Sweden may take a very radical move – and do away with cash altogether. According to a report in German news magazine Der Spiegel, lobbyists are pushing for the nation to move to a completely virtual currency basis.

The Daily Telegraph – Michelin ‘reinvents the wheel’

Michelin claims to have “reinvented the wheel”, integrating tyre, braking system, motorisation and suspension all inside one ground-breaking unit. The latest, most advanced version of the firm’s “Active Wheel” was unveiled at “Challenge Bibendum” a symposium dedicated to environment-friendly mobility, held in Rio de Janeiro.

Computer Weekly – UK finance firms spend more on information security

Almost three-quarters of UK financial services firms have increased their security budgets in the past year, with identity and access management and data loss prevention strategies receiving most funds. Increasing numbers of security threats alongside more regulation is driving increased investment, according to Deloitte’s 2010 Financial Services Global Security Study.



Apple boss Steve Jobs has defended conditions at a Taiwanese electronics firm that products the firm’s popular iPhone, following a spate of suicides.

BBC – The Hurt Locker producers to sue illegal file-sharers

Voltage Pictures, the company behind Oscar-winning film The Hurt Locker, has filed lawsuits against alleged illegal file-sharers of the movie in the US.

CIO – Government to release IT contract financial details

The coalition government will publish all new IT contracts it signs from July, as part of what prime minister David Cameron has called “greater transparency”.

The Register – No-good scareware varmints exploit Wild West game

Varmints are exploiting interest in a treasure hunt tied to popular Wild West-themed game Red Dead Redemption to lay scareware traps.

IT PRO – Thieves steal virtual items from hotel
While the Habbo Hotel thefts were virtual, there were still real financial ramifications.

Total Telecom – Google sites increase share of online video viewing – comScore
YouTube accounted for bulk of Google’s 13.09 billion videos viewed online in April.

ComputerWorldUK – Government to release IT contract financial details
The coalition government will publish online all new IT contracts it signs from July, as part of what prime minister David Cameron has called “greater transparency”.

The Daily Telegraph – Sony: ebooks to overtake print within five years

Sales of ebooks will overtake print books within the next five years, Sony has predicted.

BT is to roll out Facebook-style social networking services to its 100,000 employees, in a move that will allow staff to collaborate more effectively on projects whether they are in the office or working remotely. The company, which reported £1m profits this month, said the system would lead to significant gains in productivity and help the organisation keep track of the skills of its workforce.

The Daily Telegraph – ‘Quit Facebook’ protest day flops

A day of planned protests against the social networking site Facebook appeared to flop after just over 30,000 of the site’s 500 million users deleted their Facebook accounts.

ZDNet – NHS top culprit as UK data breaches exceed 1,000

More than 1,000 security breaches involving the loss of personal data have now been reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office, with the list topped by the NHS, the privacy watchdog said on Friday.

IT PRO – Google ditches Windows for ‘security’ reasons
Employees of the internet giant have claimed they are being moved away from Windows operating systems after the hack attack the company faced in December.

IT PRO – Bing may replace Google on iPhone 4G
Rumours have resurfaced that Apple may be planning to snub Google on the next version of the iPhone and iPad by making Microsoft’s Bing the de facto search engine.

Total Telecom – Google crowns Facebook king of Internet visits
Google on Friday released Web traffic data indicating that Facebook is king when it comes to online visitors despite criticism about privacy at the social-networking service.

ComputerWorldUK – Hackers promise demo of Google Android rootkit
Security researchers will demonstrate a malicious “rootkit” program they’ve written for Google’s Android phone next month at the Defcon hacking conference in Las Vegas.



The UK ranks a lowly 33rd in the global home internet speed rankings, according to Net Index, a new site from broadband testing group Ookla.

Computing – Ofcom report – a step towards opening BT’s infrastructure

In a step towards the opening of BT’s infrastructure to competitors, Ofcom has published a report, called Operational models for shared duct access, with a series of recommendations for BT and communications suppliers to create a workable model.

IT PRO – Miliband questions coalition IT cuts
David Miliband believes what the new coalition Government considers ‘waste’ may leave a lot to be desired.

ComputerWorldUK – Google lets users opt out of Analytics web tracking
Google has released an add on for web browsers that allows users to opt out of its Google Analytics website tracking service. Google’s blog post announcing the software claims the move is calculated to “provide even more choice and transparency for both website owners and users”.

The Daily Telegraph – BBC iPlayer coming to Apple iPad

An iPad-optimised version of BBC iPlayer will be available for the Apple device on Friday.

The Daily Telegraph – Every terrestrial TV programme to be available via BBC iPlayer

Changes announced today to the BBC iPlayer will see the catch-up TV service link through to other TV on-demand websites, as well as integrating Facebook, Twitter and MSN

Computer Weekly – Fifa World Cup supercomputer is based in Slough

Fifa has unveiled its Fifa.com supercomputer site, which will support online access to the world cup. The site, based in Slough, uses 75 supercomputers to serve more than 5.5 billion page views to fans of the 2010 World Cup. The site will offer two petabytes (2,000 gigabytes) of video streaming bandwidth which, according to Fifa.com, is twice the storage required to render the recent movie blockbuster Avatar.

The Daily Telegraph – Google Chrome out of beta

Google’s web browser, Chrome, has moved out of beta for Mac and Linux users, the company confirmed. The new versions boast several new features, including improved support for HTML5, the video technology that rivals Adobe Flash, and the ability to synchronise browser preferences between computers.

Management Today – Currys customers to get iPad before pre-orders arrive

A coup for DSGi – but dedicated fanboys may have to wait two weeks to get their iPads. Apple has admitted that dedicated fans who pre-ordered the iPad as soon as it was announced could face delivery delays of up to a fortnight – but those who didn’t bother may be set to get their hands on one sooner. DSGi, the owner of PC World, Currys and Dixons, has scooped its rival high street retailers by announcing that its outlets will be seeling the new iPad from 9am on Friday.

CIO – Queen’s Speech adds to IT concerns about cuts

Public sector IT professionals are increasingly worried that vital projects will be canned to meet budget cuts. IT suppliers, who earn annual revenues of £17 billion from public sector contracts, are also expressing serious concerns over the government’s near £3bn cuts in project spending.

BBC – First human ‘infected with computer virus’

A British scientist says he is the first man in the world to become infected with a computer virus. Dr Mark Gasson from the University of Reading contaminated a computer chip which was then inserted into his hand.

BBC – Big Irish crackdown on net piracy

The Irish Republic has begun a piracy crackdown which could see customers cut off from the net for a year.



There are around 450 criminal gangs around the world making money from images of child sex abuse, the UK’s Internet Watch Foundation has said.

IT PRO – HTC asks for iPhone, iPad and iPod ban
HTC has asked the US International Trade Commission to ban sales of Apple’s products in a patent infringement case.

Total Telecom – LG unveils its first US Android smartphone
South Korean vendor presents Ally; will sell through Verizon Wireless this month.

ZDNet – Office 2010 launched to business

Microsoft has released Office 2010 and SharePoint 2010 to volume licensing enterprise customers, ahead of the software’s retail launch in June.

ZDNet – ID cards, National Identity Register scrapped

The Conservative-Liberal Democrat government has confirmed that it will scrap the ID cards scheme and the National Identity Register

SC Magazine – Google responds to international information commissioners criticisms on Buzz privacy issues

Google has responded to international criticism on privacy issues surrounding its Buzz social networking site.

Smartphones could have their battery life extended by up to 20 per cent by changing what type of memory they use. Samsung has announced plans to produce memory modules built of what is known as a phase change material.

BBC – Student convicted of hacking Sarah Palin e-mail account

A jury in Tennessee has convicted a former student of hacking the e-mail account of Sarah Palin. David Kernell, 22, was found guilty of obstructing justice and unauthorised access to a computer.

The Register – Internet Explorer drops below 60 per cent market share

Less than two thirds of surfers are now using Microsoft’s browser on the web as Google’s Chrome continues its northward assault.

CIO – Adobe CEO responds to Steve Jobs Flash attack

Grab your ringside seats, gang: Apple and Adobe are at it again, and this time, the fighting’s turning fierce. In one corner, you have Steve Jobs, decorated CEO of what may be both the most loved and most hated company in technology. In the other corner, you have Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, who can’t understand why Jobs won’t allow his Flash software onto the iPhone, iPod, or iPad

The Financial Times – Apple shifts 1m iPads in first month

Apple has sold 1m units of the iPad in the four weeks since it went on sale in the US, suggesting that demand for the touch screen tablet computer is higher than anticipated. However, the company faced criticism from users who complained that the 3G iPad, released at the weekend, was delivering poor video performance over AT&T’s network.

The Daily Telegraph – Head teacher calls for Facebook ban

The principal of a school in New Jersey has asked students to join a voluntary ban on social networking and text messaging to prevent cyber bullying. Anthony Orsini, head teacher at Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Ridgewood, New Jersey, sent an email asking parents to help wean their children – aged between 11 and 14 – off social networking websites such as Facebook, and to keep a careful track of their text messages.

The examination of computers belonging to a technology blogger who bought an iPhone prototype has been put on hold.

BBC – Google warning on fake anti-virus software

Fake anti-virus software that infect PCs with malicious code are a growing threat, according to a study by Google.

IT PRO -Data breaches often an insider job
It is time to worry about what those inside your company are doing rather than focusing on external threats, according to the chief executive (CEO) of Cyber Ark.

IT PRO – Will BlackBerry 6 OS help level the mobile playing field?
For over a decade RIM has been delivering push email, calendar and contacts integration and all-day battery life but despite boasting more than 40 million BlackBerry users, in recent years first iPhone and then Android have challenged the popularity of the BlackBerry.

Information Age – HP to buy mobile device maker Palm for $1.2 billion

Hewlett-Packard has agreed to acquire Palm, a US mobile device maker whose financial performance during 2009 was one of the worst in the technology industry.