Dear Reader,

Welcome to another edition of the Prompt Communications newsletter. Green computing seems very high on the agenda at the moment, with a wide range of stories in the headlines on the subject. As computing spreads to the developing world and the number of devices in use globally looks set to expand even further, it makes sense for the industry to look at ways to ensure the machines we've come to rely on don't end up contributing to the breakdown of our environment.

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

Best regards,

Hazel Butters
Prompt Communications

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Enterprise Technology Update

By Lance Concannon

McAfee offers enterprise security apps

Security vendor McAfee has announced that it plans to offer high end versions of its email and web security appliances for the enterprise market, with availability expected before the end of this year. The company said that it has embarked on a project to build a high-end, blade server approach to the problem of web and email filtering. McAfee already offers similar products for small and medium sized organisations, but these new appliances will be able to handle the much higher number of clients found in large scale enterprises.

Microsoft signs patent pact with Linspire

Following on from Microsoft's recent claim that its patents were being infringed by free software and that users should be made to pay up, the company has been inking deals with various Linux companies keen to ensure their customers don't face the wrath of Microsoft's lawyers. The latest of these is Linspire (formerly Lindows), which has agreed to work more closely with Microsoft in areas such as instant messaging and web search. Users of the company's paid for Linux will be free from persecution by Microsoft's copyright ninjas, but the new pact does not extend to users of the free version of Linspire's system, Freespire.

Intel and Google announce green computing plans

Intel and Google have buddied up to promote a new environmental initiative which will encourage computer manufacturers and purchasers to adopt energy efficient computer hardware and power management tools. The carbon emissions caused by the millions of computers used in the western world have recently come under the public spotlight, with the British government recently launching a taskforce to address the problem.

The Climate Savers Computers initiative aims to achieve 90 percent power efficiency in computer power supplies, which would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 54 million tons per year globally. As well as Intel and Google, 35 other organisations have signed up to the initiative, including Dell and EDS.

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Consumer Technology Update

By Dave "Birthday Boy" Wilby

Microsoft is a local company for local people

If Bill Gates came to my neck of the woods, us locals would be dosselled an' jannicking jus t'clap eyes on the grut fella and garp. That's because I live in East Anglia, a region fortunate enough to retain some traces of its rich local dialect. A new Microsoft project aims to build downloadable dictionaries that will reflect the UK's broad dialect heritage, created from thousands of responses by ordinary people around the country submitting their favourite regional words.

The BBC says the project was initiated by Microsoft Australia which compiled its own dictionary of slang for Microsoft Office just last year. Now with a little help from the British Library, our own local dialect dictionaries will be available for free download this July. Anyone wishing to contribute can still send their entries to dialect@microsoft.com. My favourites right now are polywiggles and jaykies - I've a garden pond wholly bettying with 'em both.

MIT asks: Are friends WiTric?

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have demonstrated a working example of a 'WiTricity' device, which uses magnetic fields to power appliances remotely, claims ZDNetUK. The system could ultimately work like WiFi, delivering power to our gadgets without the need for wires in much the same way as data is already transported. The MIT team says it can light a 60-watt light bulb from a power source two metres away with no physical connections between source and appliance.

Researchers have already coined the term 'WiTricity' to describe the wireless-power technology, which sends power to devices using magnetic induction, synchronising the charger and gadget to exchange energy efficiently without leaking much power to other objects. The design simply consists of two copper coils, one attached to the power source and the other to the device itself. Unfortunately these coils currently have a radius of around 10 inches, although smaller designs are promised for the future.

Cyborgs are alive and well and living in Israel

Itay Baruchi and Eshel Ben-Jacob of Tel Aviv University are working on a project to store data in live neurons for the first time, bringing the creation of a race 'cyborg' human/computer hybrid mutants one step closer to reality! Well, maybe. According to New Scientist though, the team really is developing 'cyborg' computer chips that combine electronic circuits with human cells. Networks of cultured neurons have been tamed with a chemical called picrotoxin, potentially clearing the way for future advanced memory applications and artificial neural networks. We're not really sure if we're ready for this or not, but it's pretty damn exciting nevertheless.

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US Media Report

By Tarryn Morley

One of BusinessWeek's top editors, John Byrne, will be taking over the publication's online edition. Byrne's move reflects how important the online medium has become for BusinessWeek. BusinessWeek.com has experienced a 22 per cent increase in monthly users over the past year.

Rome Hartman, who oversaw Katie Couric's arrival on the CBS Evening News, has been hired by the BBC to develop and executive produce a new one-hour nightly newscast for BBC America and BBC World. The newscast will be anchored from Washington, DC, and will "showcase the best of BBC journalism for American audiences."

The International Herald Tribune is launching an international edition of T, the New York Times' acclaimed style magazine in early December. International T will be published periodically, with its issues following the rhythm of the fashion, style and design seasons.

Veteran games journalist Mark Androvich has been appointed as GamesIndustry.biz first US editor. Androvich, who has nine years of experience as a games journalist, will produce the US-focused content on GamesIndustry.biz and manage the site's relationships with North American games companies.

UK Media Report

By Tarryn Morley

Marcus Warren has been appointed editor of telegraph.co.uk as part of a reshuffle at the news site. While Warren will assume day-to-day responsibility for the site, Edward Roussel, digital editor for the Telegraph Media Group, will oversee strategic projects and services such as search optimisation and My Telegraph.

There are a number of recent changes at The Independent. Sean Farrell, head of media relations at Standard Chartered, is joining The Independent as financial editor and will cover the financial services industry.

Esther Shaw will be replacing James Daly as deputy personal finance editor. Daley is now the personal finance editor. Shaw will continue to be deputy personal finance editor at The Independent on Sunday.

Tom Bureau, managing director of CNET's UK division, will be leaving at the end of June. Bureau has been credited with helping to make CNET one of the UK's biggest online-only publishers. Jill Orr, currently head of consumer media for CNET Networks UK, will be replacing Bureau.

Peter Gumbel has been appointed Europe editor at Fortune Magazine to replace Nelson Schwartz, who has joined the New York Times business desk. Gumbel joins Fortune from Time Europe, where he was a senior writer.

Best of the 'Net

By Lance Concannon

Journey of Mankind

The internet isn't just for funny pictures of kittens and videos of old people falling over you know, some of it's quite educational too. This interesting little timeline animation shows the fascinating journey taken by our earliest ancestors as they spread from the heart of Africa and colonised the entire face of the planet.