Government backtracks after proposing measures including terminating broadband connections to curb filesharing (updated)

The Times – Chinese students may have engineered cyberattacks on Google

Students at an elite Chinese university who won an international “Battle of the Brains” contest may have been behind the cyberattacks on Google that escalated into a major diplomatic incident last month.

CRN – Rivals unruffled by Virgin launch

After entering the business telecoms arena, Virgin has been cautioned that it needs more than a well-known brand and impressive rhetoric to succeed in the market.

Computerworld UK – Apple culls adult apps from iPhone app store

Apple reportedly has a new policy for its iPhone app store in which any application with “overtly sexual content” will be removed from the App Store, according to an e-mail obtained by TechCrunch.

Computer Weekly – Government invests £200m in high-tech industry

The government is investing £200m in digital and advanced manufacturing businesses as part of a drive to boost skilled jobs in the UK. The government pledged £100m, and this was matched by another £100m raised by the European Investment Fund. The money will be invested in technology-based businesses “where there are significant growth opportunities”.

Computer Weekly – Banks must embrace social media, research reveals

Research from Datamonitor has quashed any remaining doubts about the use of social media to manage finances. Already 50 per cent of UK citizens use online tools to make financial decisions, the research found. This is compared with a significant, although lower, 41 per cent globally.

CEO Ronan Dunne says operator saw strong demand in December despite expiry of exclusive Apple partnership.

The Register – iPhone App Store bars mention of Google Android

Apple has told a tiny mobile software developer that its application cannot be included in the iPhone App Store if it mentions Google Android.

The Register – NASA develops spaceship work robot called ‘R2′

Definitely the droid we’re looking for, say space chiefs.

ComputerworldUK – Amazon prepping touchscreen Kindle?

Amazon.com has purchased flexible touchscreen maker Touchco in an apparent attempt to beef up technology aboard its Kindle e-readers to better compete against Apple’s iPad, the New York Times reported.

The Daily Telegraph – New online Shakespeare game becomes internet hit

An online Shakespeare game based on Romeo and Juliet has become an internet hit, drawing in 22 million players worldwide. “Romeo wherefore art thou” sees web users take on the role of one of Shakespeare’s most famous characters, as he collects flowers for Juliet.

Computer Weekly – Gartner identifies IT trends for 2010

Cloud computing and social computing will be major issues for CIOs in 2010, with businesses set to relinquish control over some parts of their IT estate as the trends take hold, according to analyst group Gartner.

The Apple App Store celebrates its first anniversary tomorrow (11 July). In the last twelve months more than 50,000 applications have been added to the site, some of which have bordered on the ridiculous. Apps like iFart, Baby Shaker and the ludicrously expensive I Am Rich app, which cost $999, have made the headlines as developers let their imagination run wild.

This got me thinking – what ridiculous apps don’t exist? Here’s a list of 10 that don’t and probably never should. Let me know if you can think of any more!

1. iDon’t believe it! – Lets ‘One Foot in the Grave’ fans hear the dulcet tones of Victor Meldrew at the touch of a button
2. Phone a friend – Fancy a rant, but none of your friends are picking up their phones? This app will murmur in agreement as you get things off your chest
3. Why iMan – Translates Cheryl Cole’s Geordie accent so that American fans of the X Factor can understand what she’s saying – according to the Mirror they’re baffled!
4. Tweets ahead – Alerts you to people twittering nearby so you can tweet-up and awkwardly talk about twitter before blocking each other’s account
5. Whatever the weather – Brings up a list of locations where the weather is worse than it is where you are, so you don’t feel so glum when it’s raining
6. Isn’t he cute? – Oohs and ahs at people’s baby pictures – so you don’t have to!
7. Bookface – Helps you connect and share with the book characters in your life
8. Rock-paper-scissors – The ultimate labour saver! Randomly displays a picture of  rock, a piece of paper or a pair of scissors  so you don’t have to go to the effort of using your hands
9. Hammer time – The world’s most untouchable app. Reads out the time in MC Hammer’s voice whether you want it to or not
10. Cloud call – Records your phone calls and presents them to you as a handy word cloud