Tech Swarm

♦ The USA based mobile operator, Cingular Wireless has managed to get a patent on the concept of using emoticons -- symbols like smiley faces -- on mobile phones!

♦ A bizarre photographic history of computer hard drives.

♦ The Google Cache feature does not violate copyright law.

♦ Now people are talking about charging for endtones, hang-up tones and drop tones -- bits of music to play when a mobile phone conversation ends via people hanging up or a call is dropped.