Websites with a .xxx suffix are still being considered by the Global Internet Oversight Agency, new reports have shown. Talks are still taking place to discuss what the potential benefits of introducing the new domains could bring to the internet.

The introduction of .xxx addresses could help better police the internet, allowing parents to easily identify pornographic websites associated with the suffix. However, while it may seem an attractive option for parents and porn sties alike to have such any easily identifiable domain, any migration to the new addresses would be a voluntary act by the adult sites.

Also, some religious groups have slammed the potential move. They see the grouping of adult sites under the .xxx umbrella as legitimising porn sites rather than protecting the interests of vulnerable surfers.

The ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) have entered into a 70-day consultation process to discuss the proposals. However, ICANN CEO Rod Beckstorm said that there was "a lot of complex issues" surrounding the .xxx domains, with three previous attempts to introduce the domain in the past having been rejected.

Primary school children up and down the country are today battling it out in an online head-to-head quiz to find which will be crowned Britain's Brainiest School.

7,213 children aged 8 and 9 in 374 primary schools will take part in the pioneering competition, masterminded by Becta, the government's agency for technology in education, and the National Education Network (NEN).

The questions will cover curriculum areas including history, science, citizenship, numeracy and literacy. Each question has been written by high profile partners including organisations such as Historic Royal Palaces, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Guide Dogs for the Blind and Birdseye.

"We are delighted to see so many schools from across the country taking part in the first ever online National Schools Quiz and embracing the potential that technology offers," said Stephen Crowne, Chief Executive of Becta. "We believe that integrating technology across the entire curriculum is essential to making lessons and learning more enjoyable and rewarding and this quiz is a great example of how technology can be used to help inspire and excite learners up and down the UK."

It's not just the title up for grabs however. £3,000 worth of ICT equipment goes to the winning team.

Virgin Media are setting in motion plans to roll out a 100Mbps broadband service across the UK. Beginning with 50Mbps trails in the Berkshire village of Woolhampton, as many as one million homes could be set to benefit from the new service.

The six-month long Woolhampton trial will connect each resident's home to Virgin Media's 50Mbps fibre optic network using overhead telegraph poles. The village until now has relied upon BT's copper network for their internet connection, and could see villagers gaining a ten-fold increase in internet connection speeds.

Neil Berkett, chief executive officer of Virgin Media, said: "This unique trial will allow us to understand the possibilities of aerial deployment and may provide an exciting new way to extend next generation broadband services. With everything from BBC iPlayer to YouTube increasingly demanding reliable ultrafast broadband speeds, we're keen to ensure that all communities, in towns, cities and villages right across the UK, stand to benefit."

With the government currently considering altering planning guidelines to make large scale developments of overhead deployments possible, this could be the first major step towards a super-fast internet connection across the entirety of the UK.

For more info, visit www.virginmedia.com.

The Opera Mini 5 mobile browser has just been given a beta release for Android phones. Free, fast and efficient, other versions of the browser have already racked up over 50 million users worldwide.

Opera Mini speeds up the browsing experience by compressing data before it is sent to your phone. There is also a host of desktop features such as tabbed browsing, bookmarks and password managers.

"Android users should not have to compromise when it comes to surfing the Web on their phones. Opera Mini will give Android users a fast and cost-efficient access to their favourite Web sites and services," said Dag Olav Norem, Vice President of Products, Opera Software.

Click here to grab Opera Mini or visit m.opera.com/next to download it directly to your Android phone.

Dealing with online piracy has often been a bone of contention between operators and the government, but since the plans laid out in the Digital Economy Bill were announced, disagreements has stepped up a notch.

Now BT's chief executive Ian Livingstone has entered the fray, declaring that the government's plans to disconnect repeat offenders from their internet services will do more harm than good.

Livingstone instead wants to see a fine imposed for file sharers, or see them instead fight their cause in court, stating that disconnecting pirates goes against "natural justice".

The pooled fines could then be put towards a fund, with the British Telecoms boss stating thatit would "get some good, rather than getting some hurt out of people infringing copyright".

Of course, it's in the ISPs' best interests to keep file sharers connected. Cutting them off completely simply results in a loss for internet providers, so expect this sensitive argument to wax and wane for some time.

Via: BBC

Inventive Labs have just announced the launch of Monocle, a free browser-based e-reader that's just as impressive on a mobile browser as it is a desktop PC.

Open-sourced under the MIT licence, anyone with some basic HTML knowledge and access to a few EPUB files can embed a book on their website. The reading experience can then be customised to be as simple or fully featured as you want, with page turning swipe controls or fully-fleged bookmark and chapter search functions.

"We're concerned that the current ebook landscape is dominated by large companies trying to lock publishers, authors and readers into their devices and distribution models", Monocle's Jospeh Perason said. "We suspect this might be good for those companies, but no good for everyone else. There's a need to open up these fields to smaller players, and to give the consumer -- the person who loves to read books and to 'have' books -- better choices."

Click here to find out more about Monocle, or here to try it out with a copy of James Joyce's "Dubliners" for yourself.

Sadly, it's not often Tech Digest find many positive stories to cover about Myspace any more. However, while the social network struggles to re-align itself in the wake of Facebook's massive successes, we were pleasantly surprised to find a cool new radio app available from developers We Are Hunted for those still using the site.

Hunted Radio is a crowd sourcing music app that collates the most listened to tracks on Myspace in the last minute. More a tool for finding new music than for prolonged listening sessions, it only gives you one minute previews of each song so as to quickly show you as many popular artists as possible. If you like what you hear, you can click an artist picture to be sent to their Myspace homepage for further info and full length tracks, or add them to a list of favourites for future reference.

Myspace users have pretty eclectic taste from the sounds of things, with not a big named artist in sight from our brief testing session with the app.

Hunted Radio is definitely worth a try, so click here to get started.

Also, anyone else thinking that Spotify, with it's massive user base and huge library of songs, could do with a similar function? It could be like the Twitter of music.

Following an EU mandate regarding Microsoft's web browser monopoly with thier Internet Explorer software, a new Windows update today will offer users a host of alternative web browser options.

European Windows XP, Vista and 7 users will be presented with the option of setting Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera or Internet Explorer as thier default web browser.

Scrolling through the list a little further presents a further seven browers; AOL, Maxthon, K-Meleon, Flock, Avant Browser, Sleipnir and Slim Browser.

Though Microsoft claim that the update's coding presents each browser in a random order, many believe that the updates coding suggests otherwise, with a bias towards certain browsers.

Will the now clearly marked alternatives encourage you to switch browsers? Will you be sticking with Internet Explorer, or do you already use one of the other options? Let us know.

WordPress, a massively popular blogging and hosting platform suffered severe problems yesterday, causing some 10.2 million blogs to go offline for almost two hours. It has been estimated that 5.5 million page views were wiped, the worst outage WordPress has encountered in over 4 years.

Matt Mullenweg, WordPress founder, apologised profusely on the WordPress blog, and gave an explanation as to the crash.

"An unscheduled change to a core router by one of our datacenter providers messed up our network in a way we haven't experienced before, and broke the site." He noted, stating that this problem also brought down backup procedures for the site.

"I hope it will be much longer than four years before we face a problem like this again." Mullenweg concluded.

Thankfully, no data was lost in the outage, and all blogs seem to have resumed a normal service. However, imagine if the problem had caused a data wipe? Over 10 million blogs worth of data could have been lost. It just goes to act as a reminder of how fragile the online world can sometimes be.

Feeling both saucy AND entrepreneurial? Then you'll be pleased to hear that the Sex.com URL is up for sale, with the bidding starting at a measly $1 million.

It's been a chequered history for Sex.com, the subject of both a decade long legal battle and numerous books. ESCOM currently hold the site (which has stagnated into a news, horoscopes and shops portal), but have been forced to a foreclosure "for default in the payment of debt and performance of obligations owed" following their reported $14 million acquisition of Sex.com in 2006.

To qualify to bid at the site's auction, buyers "must appear at the auction with a certified bank check in the amount of $1,000,000." No cheapskates allowed this time around it seems.

To the lucky auction winner: why not think about picking up a Panasonic 3D camera? A domain like that AND the extra dimension...just think of the possibilities!

It's been knocking about in Germany since October, but the Nokia Booklet 3G has finally hit the shores of old Blighty.

It Features an excellent 12 hour battery, a 720p display on a 10.1 inch screen and a Windows 7 starter pack. However, the Nokia Booklet 3G also has a few unique features all of its own.

Firstly, there's built-in mobile 3G internet on board, meaning you can be web-connected anywhere a 3G signal is present. It'll run off of any SIM card, but you'll likely want to pick one up with an unlimited data deal.

Also, further blurring the lines between smartphones and computers, the Nokia Booklet 3G has access to Nokia's Ovi Store, meaning you can run a wide range of mobile apps off of your desktop too.

It's got some interesting touches to make it stand out from the pack, but considering there's no dedicated graphics chip on-board here, it's not cheap; you can pick up the Nokia Booklet 3G from Nokia's UK store, priced at a pocket emptying £649.

Microsoft have launched a new, kid-friendly version of their Internet Explorer 8 browser. Internet Explorer 8 Click Clever, Click Safe will let youngsters report inappropriate sites, unwelcome attention from strangers and cyberbullying with a single click.

"It allows people to get information on a whole range of issues," said Matthew Bishop, a business and marketing officer at Microsoft. "It is a one-stop shop for a family's online safety needs, and parents do need that reassurance and support."

Launched as part of Safer Internet Day, the browser has been developed with help from Ceop, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.

Jim Gamble, chief executive of Ceop, said: "Parents and children should not have to go searching through numerous web pages to find the help they need. This new tool will embed advice, help and report services directly in to the toolbar to provide a constant, reassuring presence for families, who will be one click away from the support they need."

According to Microsoft, 58% of children are not monitored while using the web by their parents, while 60% of those below the age of 18 have been contacted by strangers online.

You can pick download the browser enhancements here.

Via: The Daily Telegraph

Here's an interesting new feature from Guardian.co.uk. They've this week introduced their Zeitgeist page, a collage of popular content from their site organised by "social signals".

Each article to be featured on the Zeitgeist page is first judged by the websites linking to it, how often it has been posted on social networking sites, and the other pages that readers have visited before and after reaching the Guardian site. The stories that attract the most attention by midnight each day are then organised into colour-coded blocks as a visual guide to what the hottest trending stories are.

"This is an alternative way of exploring things on the Guardian site which are currently getting attention from our readers. Front pages and section fronts, curated by editors, are traditionally a great way of seeing what's important - in terms of news agenda, recency or big themes. Zeitgeist provides an alternative, emerging, community-curated view on what's currently interesting on our site," Meg Pickard and Dan Catt, who have been working on the project, told Journalism.co.uk.

The page is still in the early development stages, but it's looking promising already. Check it out here.

With pretty much every facet of our lives now web-connected, one of the last untapped regions is that of inside your car. But according to market analysis firm Strategy Analytics, almost 90 percent of vehicles produced in North America and Europe will have some form of wireless connectivity in 2016.

"The rapid market adoption of Bluetooth, 3G, GPS and smartphones will drive huge growth in the demand for connected infotainment in the vehicle", says Jo Blight, Director, Global Automotive Practice. "Our surveys show email, maps, navigation, music and radio are the top priorities for consumers, but it will be in HMI and software where the automotive competitive battles are set to be won and lost."

Opera and Ford are among the first companies partnered together to bring a web browsing experience inside the car.

There are certainly many helpful uses for having an in-dash web connection. Traffic, weather, news, e-mail and more could be delivered to drivers, but how can it be done safely without taking drivers attention away from the road?

"Using Opera Web technology, vehicle manufacturers can eliminate "button overload" on the dash and instead offer a familiar screen experience, one that can be customized and operated by voice input," said Christen Krogh, Chief Development Officer, Opera Software. "Opera believes that in-vehicle browsing comes down to convenience, staying competitive and customization. As the leading Web innovator, Opera has just the flexible, cross-platform solution that vehicle manufacturers need."

Certianly it's inevitable that the web will find its way inside cars. For more details on what Ford and Opera aim to achieve, click here.

What web functions would you find useful in car? Perhaps remote access to your work PC? Or even video conferencing, provided it could be delivered safely and not as a distraction?

Let us know.

Nokia's N900 handset has become the first phone to get Firefox Mobile.

Firefox Mobile uses Mozilla's Weave Sync function to sync your Maemo 5 OS with both the mobile browser and your desktop browser's tabs, history, passwords and bookmarks.

It makes it very simple for desktop Firefox users to get a comparable browsing experience on their handset, while also having the added benefits of having location-aware features such as maps.

Just as with the desktop version, there are a load of add-ons available to help customise the Firefox browsing experience to suit your specific needs.

It's a great browser that any N900 owners should snap up straight away. Download it for free here.

Name: Devolo dLAN 200 AVplus Starter Kit

Type: Powerline network adapter set

Price: £119.99 (Maplin)

The world has become pretty comfortable with the idea of wireless internet, sending data over the air from wireless routers to all sorts of internet connected devices. It's tidy and convenient, but can cause headaches when signal strength is poor and interference causes low connection speeds. And while a wired connection is stable and super-fast, running ugly-wiring from your router up walls around your house can be unsightly.

The alternative? Powerline networking. Put simply, plugging a powerline network adapter into your power sockets and connecting it to your router allows for data to be sent across your electrical wiring. Multiple adapters then let you access a connection comparable to a wired set-up via Ethernet without the need for lengthy cabling leading out of your router. It's secure and fast, and Devolo's dLAN 200 AVplus starter kit is one of the most simple powerline set-ups we've yet used.

As it's not recommended to use extension plugs with powerline kit, one shortcoming can be a lack of plug sockets. The problem is nicely addressed with this Devolo two-pack, with both adapters including a pass-through socket on their backs. They also cleverly shut themselves down when your network is idle. It's a green and money-saving feature that gets two-thumbs up.

Compared to our regular 802.11g wireless network connection, the Devolo gear gave our connection a significant boost. There are integrated mains filters in the adapters, which are compatible with transfer rates up to 200Mbit/s. If your wireless connection is divided by lots of walls, you'll certainly get a significant speed increase using the Devolo powerline adapters. However, it's worth noting that the gear can slow down if spread over large distances, but unless you live in an MTV Cribs style mansion, that's not likely to really be an issue.

If it all sounds a bit technical, fear not. This is simple, plug-in-and play gear. Run an Ethernet cable from your router to an adapter, then another cable from an adapter plugged in elsewhere in your house to the device you want to get online with, hit the encryption button on each adapter, and you're away. There's some how-to guides and monitoring software packed in, but its all relatively straightforward. Keep in mind that there are only two adapters packed in here though; you'll need to purchase additional ones for each separate device you want connected simultaneously.

Our only real concern with Devolo's dLAN 200 AVplus starter kit is the actual size of the adapters themselves. They're a bit clunky, and may not fit into a tight fitting gap or wall with high skirting boards.

Devolo's dLAN 200 AVplus starter kit though remains a great way to get your home network simply and tidily up to speed. The average price of around £120 is a little steep perhaps, and the adapters themselves a little too bulky for our liking, but other than that it's hard to argue with the gear's many plus points.

5/5

Does anyone remember the ill-fated Project Kangaroo? Well out of it's ashes rises SeeSaw, a new video-on-demand service which include shows such as "Doctor Who", "That Mitchell and Webb Look" and "Cranford".

The service, which aims to combine the best free British content with the best of paid-for international programming will begin beta testing tomorrow, with an aim to launch fully by the end of February.

Want to get a sneak-peek at the service? Head over to Seesaw.com and see if you can grab yourself a beta-key.

Via: Brand Republic

As many as 70 million homes will be paying for IPTV by 2014, according to research analysts Informa. That figure doubles the amount of users currently paying for shows over the internet.

"The global total of pay IPTV homes will more than double to 70 million by end-2014; up from 26 million at end-2009," said Informa's report. "Revenues will also climb steeply, from $4.6 billion (£2.85bn) in 2009 to $12.2 (£7.6bn) billion in 2014

"However, only 5% of the world's TV households are forecast to subscribe to IPTV platforms by 2014. In fact, only 13 countries will have more than 1 million IPTV subs.

Informa believe that this relatively low figure is due in part to a reluctance to abandon the established TV hardware. However, the BBC, a recognisable and trusted institution, are paving the way for such services with their iPlayer and the provisional Project Canvas.

"Informa Telecoms & Media forecasts 26 million IPTV households by end-2009, up 8 million in the year. Asia Pacific and Western Europe are responsible for 2.6 million and 2.4 million of the additions respectively, with North America adding 1.1 million. However, the global figure represents just 2% of TV households."

Via: Informa

Microsoft are about to roll out a security update that should see users of Internet Explorer 6 protected from the attacks that have caused the French and German governments to condemn the browser.

The vulnerability highlighted by the recent phishing attack on Google is the priority fix, but the update will also address other weak spots in the browser.

Microsoft assure that the update will keep users safe while browsing the web, but also encourage users to upgrade to the IE 8 browser for maximum protection.

Are you a dyed-in-the-wool Internet Explorer user, sticking with Microsoft on this one? Or are you going to try web-pastures new and have a go with maybe the Chrome, Firefox or Opera browsers?

Let us know.

After months of planning, the UK government have today launched their Data.gov.uk website, making reams of non-personal information available to developers in order to help create apps.

3,000 data sets have been made available, ranging from broad topics such as agricultural stats, right down to as specific a subject as "Suicide and Open Verdict Deaths in the U.K. Regular Armed Forces".

Spearheaded by web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee, apps already developed during the beta stage include Planning Alerts, telling users if someone plans to build nearby their house, and Fill That Hole, informing users of pot holes and other road hazards across the UK.

"We're very aware that there are more people like you outside of government who have the skills and abilities to make wonderful things out of public data", a message on the site reads. "These are our first steps in building a collaborative relationship with you."

If used wisely (and not abused by those looking to further veil phishing scams) then the data could have some great apps made with it. For instance, an app to quickly find an NHS dentist when a sudden toothache kicks in, or to track Ofsted reports on local schools when moving house.

Maybe even an app that tracks cabinet members personal expenses! ...What? It's been done already? Oh...

Any more ideas, Tech Digest readers? Tweet them here, or leave a comment below.