Intel has seen the light

Intel`s research labs are exploring ways of speeding up processors by using silicon photonics or on-chip components that use light to transmit data to replace copper wire electrical interconnects.

eWeek.com reports that although Intel believes optical will eventually overtake electrical interconnects to achieve the goal of increasing the performance of multi-core processors, the chipmaker says it will be a while before it can make the switch.

Intel says silicon photonics could be an ideal way of moving data in and out of processors because of its potential to offer very high bandwidth of around 10Gbps and its ability to be designed directly into the chip.

Intel plans to reduce costs by manufacturing all the necessary components, including lasers, using its standard chip-manufacturing techniques.

Intel is working to create prototype silicon photonics interconnects that can link racks of servers. These rack-to-rack interconnects are likely to be the first application of photonics and are expected to appear within three to five years. Intel expects circuit board-to-circuit board connections to arrive around 2010.

Several security holes in the RealNetworks media player could put PCs at risk of attack, the company has warned.

News.com reports that four vulnerabilities in RealPlayer have been discovered. RealNetworks says the most serious vulnerability could allow an intruder to gain control of a computer, but software updates are available to plug the holes.

The problems exist in current and some older releases of RealPlayer, and they affect versions for Windows as well as Mac OS and Linux.

RealNetworks says three of the four flaws could be exploited using a malicious media file to overwrite local files, execute ActiveX controls, and take over a user`s computer. To take advantage of the fourth flaw, a hacker would need to build a malicious Web site.

Sun Microsystems and EMC have announced improved compatibility between Sun`s Solaris 10 system and EMC`s storage systems as well as a new joint support system, reports Computerworld.

According to the report, the companies say the strategic alliance is in response to requests from users. EMC says many of its users are also using Sun`s products and have asked for collaboration between the two to offer better leverage for their IT investments.

Under the agreement, EMC will port many of its software applications for use with Solaris 10, Sun`s Sparc processors and Opteron processors from Advanced Micro Devices. The applications being ported include EMC PowerPath, EMC Documentum, EMC Legato backup and archiving software, and EMC Smarts network management applications.

One in 10 UK Web sites fail to work properly on the open source Firefox Web browser, according to a study that assessed 100 leading consumer sites, reports BBC News.

The report says sites that proved difficult for Firefox users to navigate included a government employment Web site.

Firefox is an open source browser whose share of the market grew to 8% in May, according to US-based analyst NetApplications.

Of the Web sites tested by SciVisum, 3% were found to be turning away non-Internet Explorer users and 7% of the sites included non-standard code recognised only by Microsoft`s browser.

SciVisum says companies that value their brand should address this issue immediately and make their Web sites accessible to all browsers and users, including people with disabilities, by adhering to Web standards.

European aviation authorities say mobile phones would improve security on commercial air flights without posing a safety risk to the passengers on board, reports The Register.

The report says the findings are included in a little-known report that was published late last year and was carried out for the European Commission and EuroControl.

The report says that on-board mobile communications would improve aircraft security, because they would facilitate communications between on-board sky marshals and security officials on the ground.

The phone service would be provided by a small base station on the plane, which would then connect to terrestrial telephone services via satellite or radio links. However, the report says even if mobile phones are judged to be safe, there are other issues that would have to be addressed by airlines before phones could be used, noting that airlines would have to introduce guidelines for making and receiving calls.