Australian IT rates Intel’s forthcoming processor: “So how fast is it? Very. But not nearly as fast as you’d want it to be, for the money.”

ZDNet News reports from Comdex: the second coming of USB is on the way, as developers raise the curtain on new products designed for the latest version of the protocol. USB 2.0 promises to deliver up to 480Mbits/sec for external peripherals.

Corel’s deal with Microsoft hardly spells the end of the company’s Linux products, chief executive Derek Burney claims. Corel is “refocusing” — not relinquishing — its Linux products and plans, the Canadian software vendor’s chief executive Derek Burney insisted Monday. From a ZDNet News report.

The Register reports that Palm is finally offering an upgrade to version 3.5 of its PalmOS. The download is available as part of an upgrade kit that brings cell phone Internet connectivity to older Palm devices for $39.95 or as a download for $14.95.

CNET News.com reports that not everyone is happy with VeriSign’s plans to introduce domain names that use Chinese, Japanese, and Korean characters. Although domain registrars have reported strong initial demand for the new names, some attendees have cautioned that the new system could lead to an increase of misdirected e-mail, disappearing Web sites, and other headaches.

The Duke of URL reviews Linux Mandrake 7.2: “MandrakeSoft has seamlessly transformed Linux to a once archaic ‘hacker OS’ to a viable alternative not only to Windows users, but Linux users frustrated with the time it takes to configure an operating system.”

From a CNET News.com report: “Compaq Computer is taking on those annoying wireless notebook modems by creating integrated modules that will let consumers more easily snap on connections for Bluetooth or cellular communications. In the second quarter of next year, Compaq will release notebooks with a feature called Multiport, which lets people slide integrated wireless modems or other devices onto the back of the screen, the company told CNET News.com on Tuesday.”

CNET reports that Tim Bray, the co-inventor of Extensible Markup Language (XML), has launched a new venture called Antarcti.ca that is creating new
technology aimed at rendering computer networks in the form of 2D and 3D maps.

The world’s first cybercrime treaty is being hastily redrafted after
Internet lobby groups assailed it as a threat to human rights that
could have “a chilling effect on the free flow of information and
ideas”. ZDCOUK reports.

Fairfax IT reports that a new high speed connection between the US, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia is going live tomorrow, and should help reduce the connection speed bottleneck suffered by Australia and its neighbours.