Apple tech hacked

A hacker has broken the locks on Apple Computer`s wireless streaming technology.

According to AP, the hack is believed to be the work of Jon Lech Johansen - the 20-year-old Norwegian hacker famed for developing DVD encryption-cracking software. Also known as 'DVD Jon`, Johansen has released a software key on his Web site that helps unlock the encryption Apple uses for its AirPort Express.

The Express device allows users to broadcast digital music from Apple`s online iTunes Music Store on a stereo that is not plugged into a computer. Some security consultants say the key - coupled with another program he released - has helped open the door for other software applications to work with AirPort Express other than Apple iTunes.

Johansen, an avid open source supporter, is believed to have been critical of the fact that Apple`s products are largely designed not to work with other company`s offerings.

Numerous companies, governments and others will spend an estimated $8.6 billion (R55 billion) on nanotechnology research and development this year, ZDNet reports.

The figure marks a significant jump from the estimated $3 billion spent in 2003, according to an annual state of the industry report from Lux Research, a consulting firm that studies the industry.

A growing portion of the funding will come from the private sector, with around 1 500 companies - including GE and Intel - announcing R&D plans, says Lux MD F Mark Modzelewski. "We expect 2004 to be the last year that governments outspend corporations on nanotechnology."

Nanotechnology refers to the science of building products out of components measuring less than 100 nanometres.

Microsoft has announced a list of 50 applications that will be affected by the much-anticipated Windows XP Service Pack 2 update, reports Ziff Davis.

According to the software giant, a number of the applications could require a degree of tweaking before they will work properly. Among the applications mentioned on the list are Web servers, remote desktops, file-sharing applications, FTP clients, multimedia streaming software and e-mail notifications.

A number of systems management applications will also need to be manually modified in order to work with the SP2 update, the company says in one of its Knowledge Base articles posted on its Web site. "After you install Windows XP SP2, client applications may not successfully receive data from a server." The article also states that some "server applications that are running on a Windows XP SP2-based computer may not respond to client requests".

Competing technology groups are working on numerous ways to speed up the data rates of WiFi, which could reach up to 540Mbps. At present, the fastest 802.11 technology works at around 54Mbps.

According to BBC, two competing technologies - WWise and TGn Sync - are being assessed by the US organisation that rubber-stamps improvements to wireless technology.

The differing proposals to speed up WiFi data rates are backed by different companies. The TGn Sync proposal has Agere, Intel and Atheros as its backers, while Texas Instruments, Broadcom and others back the WWise idea.

By modifying the way WiFi transmits data, the WWise group claims it can reach speeds of 540Mbps, while a more standard approach could boost speeds to 135Mbps, it says. TGn Sync claims it too is aiming for speeds in excess of 500Mbps.

Final decisions on the 802.11n standard are not expected before 2007.