Internet providers offer parents bar on porn

Internet providers offer parents bar on porn

Four leading web providers are to offer customers the option to block adult content at the point of subscription, the BBC understands.

BT, Sky, Talk Talk and Virgin will offer the protection for smart phones, laptops and PCs.

It comes as David Cameron is set to meet industry representatives amid concern over sexualisation of children.

The prime minister will also launch Parentport - a website to help parents complain about inappropriate content.

And he will back a ban on billboards displaying risque images near schools.

The new measures, aimed at helping parents protect their children from internet porn and other explicit sites, follow a report earlier this year by the Mothers' Union charity.

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Blackberry services down in Europe, Middle East and Africa

Blackberry services down in Europe, Middle East and Africa

Millions of Blackberry owners across Europe, the Middle East and Africa have been left without services following a server crash.

Owners of the smartphones were unable to browse the web, send email or instant messages.

The problem appears to have originated in a datacentre in Slough which handles Blackberry services for the affected regions.

Blackberry UK said it knew about the problem and was "investigating".

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YouTube to offer film rentals in the UK

YouTube to offer film rentals in the UK

Video site YouTube has started a movie rental service in the UK.

Blockbusters such as The Dark Knight and classics including The Birds can be watched via the site. In total, about 1,000 movies have been made available.

New releases will cost £3.49 to rent and library titles £2.49. Users have 30 days to begin watching a film, and 48 hours to finish it once they start.

The UK is the third territory to get the movie rental service after the US and Canada.

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Ofcom delays 4G mobile auctions

Ofcom delays 4G mobile auctions

Telecoms watchdog Ofcom is to delay auctions that would sell chunks of radio spectrum to support future fourth-generation mobile services.

The process was initially scheduled to take place early in 2012 following a consultation about the proposals during 2011.

However, Ofcom said the strength of the responses to that consultation had persuaded it to delay the auction.

It said (it) now hoped to run the sale towards the end of 2012.

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Apple 'visionary' Steve Jobs dies aged 56

Apple 'visionary' Steve Jobs dies aged 56

Former chief executive and co-founder of US technology giant Apple Steve Jobs has died, the company says. He was 56.

"Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve," Apple said.

Jobs announced he was suffering from pancreatic cancer in 2004.

Microsoft boss Bill Gates said Jobs' "profound impact" would " be felt for many generations to come".

Mr Gates added: "For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honour. I will miss Steve immensely."

US President Barack Obama also paid tribute: "Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was among the greatest of American innovators - brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he...

BT turns up broadband speed dial

BT turns up broadband speed dial

BT is to launch a fibre optic service that will deliver speeds of up to 300Mbps (megabits per second) to some UK homes by spring next year.

The service is only likely to be made available to a minority of people with others promised speed boosts of up to 80Mbps.

The UK government welcomed the news.

But broadband figures reveal the UK still has a long way to go to achieve its goal of being the fastest in Europe by 2015.

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Chrome browser 'is becoming number 2'

Chrome browser 'is becoming Number Two'

Could supplant Firefox - analysts predict tight finish

Google's Chrome browser will edge past Mozilla Firefox in a matter of months, web stats poking firms have concluded. Irish company StatCounter foresees the Google browser becoming the second most used browser on the net by December.

In the StatCounter predictions, relayed to Computer World, Chrome will sweep 26.6 per cent of the market share by December and Firefox will be sitting on 25.3 per cent. Internet Explorer will retain its dominance through user inertia, holding approximately 40 per cent.

The actual measured statistics for last month show that Chrome is closely tailing Firefox. The Google browser's global average user share for September was 23.6...

Apple unveils refreshed iPhone 4S, but no iPhone 5

Apple unveils refreshed iPhone 4S, but no iPhone 5

Apple has unveiled the latest iteration in its iPhone range, but there was no sign of the widely rumoured iPhone 5.

The iPhone 4S, as the model will be known, boasts an improved camera and significantly extended battery life.

It will run the latest iOS5 operating system, which is set for release on 12 October.

The event was the first major announcement for new boss Tim Cook who took over from Steve Jobs in August.

The iPhone 4S, which will go on sale on 14 October, will be available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models - in both black and white.

It has the same look and feel as the existing iPhone 4 which was launched 15 months ago.
However, Apple said that updates to iOS meant the phone would boast some "200 new features".

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HTC to release urgent privacy fix for smartphones

HTC to release urgent privacy fix for smartphones

HTC is to release an urgent update for several of its smartphones to fix a vulnerability which could leave personal information at risk.

The Android Police blog discovered that a user's GPS location and call logs could be easily accessed by net-enabled apps.

After investigating, HTC admitted the flaw could be "exploited by a malicious third-party application".

It said affected users will be notified of the update automatically.

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Apple expected to launch iPhone 5

Apple expected to launch iPhone 5

Apple is expected to launch the fifth version of its best-selling iPhone today.

Journalist have been invited to a "Let's talk iPhone" event at its California campus due to start at 10:00 PDT (18:00 BST).

Doubts surround how different the iPhone 5 will be to its predecessor though some do expect big changes.

The launch will be hosted by Tim Cook, now Apple's full time boss following Steve Jobs' retirement in August.

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