Apple still leads music

Apple is still in the US digital music player market lead for Q2 2006, despite the onslaught of music-playing mobile phones, reports PC World.

This is according to research done by the NPD Group, which indicates Apple still has a 75.6% share.

Other mobile music leaders include SanDisk (9.7%), Creative Technology (4.3%), Samsung Electronics (2.5%) and Sony (1.9%)

Blu-Ray disc players and movies expected to sell later this year in Japan and the US will share the same region code, reports Macworld.

DVDs from the two countries use different region codes, which causes software incompatibilities between them, resulting in content producers attempting to better manage release and sale of content around the world.

However, this system has proved easy to hack, and multi-region players that accept software from any region are readily available and popular among consumers, making the use of different region code essentially unnecessary.

News.com reports a national anti-crime group in the US is urging Congress to pass laws against cyberbulling.

This growing problem now affects approximately 13 million school children a year, and consists of mean, threatening, or embarrassing messages delivered online and via portable devices like cellphones.

Congress has already made attempts at protecting children online among its top priorities in recent months, although its efforts have focused more intensely on the threat of adult-aged predators.

A minor tweak in existing silicon transistors could allow for faster and cheaper mobile phones and cameras, according to BBC News.

UK researchers at the University of Southampton have added fluorine to silicone devices to make it the fastest transistor of its type.

The tested device clocks a speed of 110GHz, meaning operating circuit speeds of 11GHz.

Unhappy eBay traders have expressed concern at the rise in fees and a drop of visibility and are boycotting the auction site, says BBC News.

About 300 participants took part in the "striking".

eBay`s UK community manager, Dan Wilson, says the boycotters are but a "drop in the ocean" compared to the larger picture, but at the same time expresses concern over not dismissing customer anxiety.