Dear Reader,

For any feedback on our newsletter, or to discuss how we can help you with your technology PR, marketing, copywriting or surveys, please email me at hbutters@prompt-communications.com. We are always delighted to hear from you.

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Hazel Butters
Prompt Communications

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Technology Update

By Sean McManus

Vista bug bugs users

According to Computer World, Microsoft Vista has been pestering users to re-activate their operating systems, even though they've already done it once. Microsoft gives users 30 days to activate Vista when they buy it, by supplying a valid licence key. If they don't, it switches to the euphemistically named 'reduced functionality' mode, in which virtually nothing works. Activation is supposed to be required once only, but a bug in the software was forcing users to reactivate their software after making changes to the machine, including installing new hardware or software or removing a program. Microsoft has now issued a patch, which it claims resolves the problem.

The activation technology is intended to prevent piracy, but has the side effect of locking all data in to Microsoft's existence. If people want to access archive data in twenty years' time and the OS fails, will Microsoft still exist to activate Vista? Will it decline to do so because the OS is unsupported?

Germany debates police spyware

German police want permission to infect suspects' computers with their own spyware, so they can intercept communications before they are encrypted, The Register reports. Last November, a magistrate ruled that the practice violated the suspect's right to refuse to give evidence.

Minister of the Interior Wolfgang Schäuble is now planning to bring in new legislation to legalise crime-busting spyware. Privacy advocates will be watching closely to see what safeguards are in place to protect the privacy of innocent citizens. It remains to be seen how effective the move will be: anyone smart enough to use encryption is likely to use firewalls and antispyware software to prevent intrusion.

WordPerfect strikes Microsoft and Google with Lightning

Corel has launched a lightweight new word processor called 'WordPerfect Lightning', which goes head to head with both Google and Microsoft. The software is billed as providing essential tools (including PDF browsing and printing) without adding features users don't need. A popular criticism of Microsoft Office is that most people only use a tiny fraction of its features.

Lightning includes modules for making notes from websites and organising them and 200MB of online storage but it omits basic features like bookmarks and thumbnails in the PDF reader and the word count function in the word processor. It's in beta though, so it's possible these features will be added as it develops. This release comes shortly after Google announced that it is to sell a supported version of its online applications for small businesses, an incursion into Microsoft's homeland.

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Consumer Technology Update

By Dave Wilby

Broadband Britain brought down to earth

When research firm Point Topic conducted its Broadband Consumer Survey last year, 92 per cent of customers said they were either very or fairly satisfied with their provider. It appeared the broadband wrinkles had finally been ironed out and provision had become a reliable commodity with value-adds the only differentiators. Sadly this year's fresh survey reveals that figure has now fallen to 77 per cent, with dissatisfied respondents doubling to nine per cent.

With new entrants like TalkTalk and Sky taking the brunt of adverse comments, is it fair to say that inexperienced providers from other markets are creating the same problems for the broadband market that 'free' and virtual providers underestimating capacity and support demands created for the dial-up market less than a decade ago? Certainly the BBC seems to think so, scheduling a Watchdog expose for this week's show.

Apple TV later still to STB party

Will Dell make 'phones?

BitTorrent swerves piracy debate by launching legal video download site

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On The Blog

This week on the Prompt Communications Blog, Sean discusses the new social media guidelines issued to members of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

US Media Report

By Kay Wilson

And the winner in the most successful money spinner category tonight is… ABC! Oscar night not only brought out the red carpet for the celebrity A-listers but was also a bash for the biggest cheque books in the advertising world. ABC Network was reportedly charging more than $1.6million for each 30 second 'message' and raking in an estimated $8 million more than last year.

Although the viewing ratings have declined over the years, big corporations obviously feel the audience is still full of quality shoppers as statistics show that the majority of Oscar viewers are women.

In New York, The Village Voice has acquired Deborah Kolben as managing Editor. The nationally awarded journalist has written pieces for the Guardian and the Financial Times.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal has moved Kate Kelly from its City of Angel's bureau to the New York office where she will cover investment banking and in the Nation's capital Sridhar Pappu will be joining The Washington Post during March as a political reporter.

In the hi-tech media, there is promotion for Lafe Low as he is named executive editor for Redmond magazine along with Peter Varhol, who adds this title to his existing one of editor in chief. Yet to be replaced is Anne Chen, who leaves eWeek at the end of this week as its senior writer.

What's in a name? Well obviously more than we think as the eggshells have definitely been stepped on in the Polish quarter of New York. David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker has come under criticism by those of Polish origin over a cartoon published that suggests that the traditional Polish name "Zbigniew" is a somewhat difficult word to pronounce. The artist, Robert Weber, has obviously never been to Wales.

UK Media Report

By Annie Kasmai

Mark Odell has joined the international companies news desk as deputy news editor for the Financial Times. Odell was formerly a reporter at the UK companies desk for the FT.

Kevin Johns, reports editor, has left Campaign magazine. Johns is moving to Sydney to pursue new journalistic opportunities. James Hamilton is acting features editor in John's absence until a replacement is appointed.

Alicia Buller has joined Revolution as feature editor. Buller was previously features editor at Arabian Business magazine.