Apple G5 ads pulled

The UK`s Independent Television Commission (ITC) has reportedly decided that Apple`s claim of the G5 being "the world`s fastest, most powerful personal computer" does not meet its standards for truth in advertising. Ars Technica and Slashdot both note the developments, saying the ITC is an independent entity that oversees advertising on commercial TV networks.

One curious aspect of this matter, reports the first site, is the fact that "apparently only eight viewers" complained about the ad. "That`s a remarkably small number...."

Oracle says it may be forced to abandon its hostile $7.3 billion bid for PeopleSoft if the latter continues to offer its customers licensing-fee refunds in the event Oracle succeeds, reports today`s Wall Street Journal.

Oracle has asked the Delaware Court of Chancery to speed action on an injunction against PeopleSoft`s "customer-assurance programme" under which PeopleSoft has been offering customers refunds of between two and five times their software-licensing fees if an acquirer fails to meet certain conditions.

Pornographers quoted by AP say they cannot compete with online offerings anymore. "The audience is just as large, but the Internet has transformed the product and its delivery."

Just over a month ago, one such purveyor, Al Goldstein, stopped publishing Screw magazine and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. AP sees similar pressures throughout the adult publishing field. "Bob Guccione`s General Media, for instance, has also filed for Chapter 11 protection, although the company`s trademark Penthouse magazine continues publishing while the company restructures."

Goldstein sums it up: "We are an anachronism; we are dinosaurs; we are elephants going to the bone cemetery to die. The delivery system has changed, and we have to change with it if we want to survive."

Motorola has purchased ultra-wideband start-up, XtremeSpectrum, one of the companies working on products supporting high-data-rate personal networking wireless communications using the IEEE 802.15.3a standard. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, reports eWeek.

Singapore has introduced tough new laws that allow authorities to take action against "cyber terrorists" before they strike. The Straits Times daily said changes to the Computer Misuse Act, which passed through Parliament yesterday, allowed for "pre-emptive action" against hackers.

Under the old law, authorities could only act after a hacker committed a crime. One member of Parliament dubbed the new laws the Internet version of the Singapore`s Internal Security Act that allows people to be jailed without trial.