Behaviour control by smartphone

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is developing mobile phones designed to learn users` daily habits so that they can predict what users will do, reports The Register.

The report says the "smarter smartphone" learns about people`s preferences by logging calls and noting when applications like cameras are used. Location-based functions allow the phone to keep a record of where users work and socialise.

Gathered information will be sent to a server to process and return suggestions or reminders. Possible applications include reminding users not to drink too much the night before an important presentation.

The Beijing municipal government has come under fire for damaging China`s nascent software industry by awarding a large contract to Microsoft.

Chinadaily.com quotes newspapers that say unsuccessful domestic competitors and some central government officials have criticised Beijing for failing to respect a law that stipulates local products should receive preference over foreign products.

According to the Beijing Times, Microsoft last week won a $3.6 million contract, which licenses the Beijing municipal government to use all of its software products for three years.

About 20 000 people have been banned from playing the Half-Life 2 game for using illegal copies of the software, reports BBC News.

Game producer, Valve, shut down the online accounts of the players because it had evidence that their copy of the game had been obtained illegally.

The report says experts expect the success of the Half-Life 2 anti-piracy system might encourage other game makers to create their own version.