Only 50% PCs Vista graphics compliant

A new Gartner study shows that although most PCs will be able to run Microsoft`s Windows Vista operating system, only half will be able to give users the full experience of the Aero user interface, reports eWeek.

Gartner says although mainstream processors and hard drives offer plenty of performance and capacity for the new operating system, anyone buying PCs should ensure at least 1GB of memory and a recent graphics processor to handle Vista`s Aero user interface properly.

Aero adds a translucent task bar and window frames, in addition to real-time thumbnail previews. These new features require extra graphics power to access all that Aero has to offer.

Security experts have warned that an unpatched vulnerability in Internet Explorer (IE) could aid fraudsters in pulling off phishing scams, reports News.Com.

The report says the latest flaw to be uncovered could be exploited to fake the address bar in a browser window. According to security monitoring company Secunia, this tactic could be used in phishing scams to trick users into believing they are on a legitimate site.

Secunia says the flaw exists because of an error in the way the Microsoft Web browser loads Web pages and Macromedia Flash animations. The vulnerability affects IE 6.0 on Windows XP with all current security patches. It also affects the latest IE 7 Beta release.

AtomFilms and Verizon Wireless have signed a multi-year exclusive agreement to bring AtomFilms` original short films to Verizon`s mobile content service V CAST, signalling the start of short Internet-style content as the new wave in mobile television, reports M&C.COM.

AtomFilms says digital entertainment gives consumers total control of their viewing experience, allowing access wherever and however long consumers want it. The company believes short-form video content is perfectly suited for customers on the go.

According to forecasts from eMarketer, there will be 100 million worldwide users of paid or sponsored mobile broadcast video services by the end of 2009.

Intel will supply samples of NOR multi-level cell flash memory chips at 1Gb density using its 65nm process technology to customers towards the end of the second quarter. It claims it will be the first to do so.

Intel`s NOR Flash memory chips are used in devices such as cellphones to manage critical phone operations, handle personal information management data and to store photos, music and videos.

Intel says its handset OEM customers will benefit from a common flash architecture that will simplify the migration from 90nm to 65nm process technology.

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has introduced three variants of its dual-core Opteron processor, reports Information Week.

The report says the three variants are: the model 885, designed for eight-way, 16-core enterprise servers; the model 285, intended for two-way, four-core workstations and servers; and the model 185, for one-way, two-core servers and workstations.

AMD says the new processors will help minimise overall server power consumption and cooling requirements, but has not indicated if or how the three variants of the Opteron dual-core differ from each other physically, or at what clock frequency the chips are capable of operating.