LG hedges bets on mobile broadcasting

LG Electronics has announced support for two more mobile broadcasting standards from Nokia and Qualcomm in addition to its existing terrestrial digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) phone.

The Chosun Ilbo newspaper says the move will give LG a head start in the global handheld broadcast terminal market because Nokia`s DVB-H (digital video broadcasting-handheld) and Qualcomm`s MediaFLO (media forward link only) technology compete with DMB for adoption as the global standard.

LG plans to unveil handsets for all three broadcasting standards at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week.

Computer users are being alerted to a new flaw in Microsoft Windows, which can be used to attack a PC. US net watchdog, the Computer Emergency Response Center (Cert), has issued warnings about certain types of image files used by the Microsoft Windows operating system.

BBC News reports that numerous Web sites were taking advantage of a flaw in Windows metafiles (.wmf) to sneak into computers and install spyware. Cert says exploit code has been publicly posted and used to attack fully-patched Windows XP SP2 systems.

Microsoft says it is investigating the matter and has warned users to exercise caution when they open e-mail and links in e-mails from untrusted sources. The report says Microsoft has also provided details of a temporary way around the flaw, which involves switching off the Windows Picture and Fax Viewer in Windows XP.

A US company that makes video display products for military and industrial uses, eMagin, has developed a wearable headset to give iPod video displays a higher resolution and appear larger to deliver a big-screen experience.

The EyeBud system consists of a separate control module with rechargeable battery pack and a headset, which uses the same technology as eMagin`s more advanced Z800 3Dvisor that puts a display in front of each eye and uses head-tracking technology to let people look around virtual worlds.

However, according to the Seattle Post, this latest iPod accessory is expected to cost about $200 more than a 60-Gig iPod when released to market in the first half of 2006.

The chief designer of Apple Computer`s iPod digital music player has been named in the Queen`s Honours List, reports News.Com.

Apple`s senior VP of design, London-born Jonathan Ive, has been awarded the title of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) by the queen in recognition of his achievements in industrial design.

Ive studied design at Newcastle Polytechnic in England. In 1989, he became a partner at Tangerine, a London-based design consultancy where he worked on products ranging from power tools to wash basins. He joined Apple in 1992 and became the leader of the company`s design team in 1996.