Software

It may conjure up images of The Matrix, but its creators say an intelligent robotic device being developed by a group of Canadian companies to inspect water pipe systems has the potential to generate significant cost savings for water system operators, and ensure safer water for Canadians.

Not surprisingly, the video iPod generated the most reaction last month when Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced a pile of new multimedia entertainment products. Apple turned the music business on its ear with the original iPod and iTunes music store, so perhaps the video iPod, and Apple

To keep up with competitors, enterprises increasingly are demanding operational business intelligence -- analytics embedded into processes to handle exceptions and make real-time decisions.

A worm that affects Linux systems and spreads by exploiting Web server-related vulnerabilities has been reported by antivirus companies, but so far Linux.Plupii, which is also known as Lupper, hasn't spread much and isn't seen as much of a threat.

Microsoft Corp. is acquiring a Swiss software company that specializes in voice-over-IP applications with a view to adding such a function to its Office products, it said Thursday.

Nokia Corp. on Wednesday said its open-source mobile Web browser is now available. It also launched a new portal to share information about its open-source activities. The browser, now available to licensees of S60 3rd Edition, is based on the WebCore and JavaScriptCore components of Apple Computer Inc.'s Safari Web kit. Safari, Apple's browser, is based on KHTML and KDE's JavaScript Engine, developed as part of KDE's Konquerer open-source project.

Stock and bond trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was scrapped Tuesday morning as a result of a system glitch. Problems came to light before the market's opening at 9 a.m. local time (midnight GMT) and caused the start of trading to be delayed until 1:30 p.m. local time.

Three organizations are teaming up to offer what they claim is the first open-source compliance insurance policy to provide coverage for companies around the world that are using open-source software in their businesses or within their own operations. The three organizations are risk mitigation consultancy Open Source Risk Management Inc. (OSRM), a Lloyd's of London underwriter Kiln PLC and a Lloyd's broker Miller Insurance Services Ltd.