News Wrap: Ginger, Lineone, Emusic, mobile scare

The inventor of a new gadget, which is claimed to be more important than the world wide web, says the device won't be as earth shattering as people claim.

The mystery invention, codenamed Ginger, has generated much media speculation, with some reports suggesting the device could be some revolutionary new type of computer.

However, the inventor, Dean Kamen, president of DEKA Research, said in a statement: "We have a promising project, but nothing of the earth-shattering nature that people are conjuring up."

A patent application, thought to be for the invention, has been filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization at http://www.wipo.org. New reports suggest Ginger could be no more than a motorised mini-scooter.

Tiscali to buy Lineone

Italian internet service provider Tiscali is poised to buy Lineone, the UK internet company owned by BT and United News & Media, reports suggest.

Tiscali is planning to buy Lineone for £200m in a deal expected to be finalised next month. Lineone was put up for sale at the end of November last year.

Earlier this month, Tiscali purchased French ISP Liberty Surf while last year it acquired Dutch ISP, World Online.

Emusic makes job cuts

Online music retailer Emusic.com is to lay off more than a third of its staff as part of a corporate restructuring.

Emusic, which said it expects to save more than $16m over the next year following the job cuts, will also close two New York offices. Three executive vice presidents will also leave the company.

Mobile phones in eye cancer link

A scientific study from German researchers has linked mobile phone usage with the risk of eye cancer.

According to research from the University of Essen, there is a threefold increase in eye cancer among people who regularly use mobile phones.

Like this story? Spread the news by clicking below:

 del.icio.us     Digg this     reddit!