A computer able work even after the heat-death of the universe, using a "time crystal" to continue operating as the universe cools down and dies. Science fiction? Science fact, according to New Scientist...

Theoretical physicist Frank Wilczek was the first to suggest the idea of time crystals-- structures following that of ordinary crystals (where atoms are arranged in regular repeating patterns) in the 4th dimension, time.

Crystals adopt such a structure because it uses the least amount of energy possible to maintain... meaning the atoms inside Read more...

France Telecom pulls the plug on Minitel, the internet-before-the-internet that made France the most connected country in Europe (if not the world) in the early 80s. 

Launched in 1982, the telephone line-based service connected France to a number of pre-internet online services while the rest of the world looked in awe. The French, as they tend to do, beamed in pride as back in 1997 President Jacques Chirac gloated "today a baker in Aubervilliers knows perfectly how to check his bank account on the Minitel. Can the same be said of the baker in New Read more...

Avnet purchases pan-European distributor Magirus Group for an undisclosed sum in order to "significantly enchance" its position within EMEA. 

Founded in 1981, the Magirus vendor portfolio includes Cisco, Dell, EMC, VCE, Veeam and VMware. With 2011 revenues reaching $530m, it will be folded into Avnet TS once the purchase closes on October 2012.

Magirus is already familiar with Avnet-- back in 2007 Avnet bought the Magirus enterprise hardware business (one with IBM and HP worth $500m), a sale freeing Magirus to concentrate on high-margin market segments Read more...

Klaus Hellmich resigns as CEO of ALSO-Actebis following over 20 years of service in IT distribution, citing personal reasons "in order to pursue other interests outside of the Group."

Replacing him is former Prof. Gustavo Möller-Hergt, the man responsible for the integration project of ALSO and Actebis.

The appointment of Möller-Hergt also eliminates the dual management structure of CEO and COO-- resulting in the simplification and shortening of decision processes.

ALSO-Actebis management starts reporting directly to Möller-Hergt from July 2 Read more...