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KEVIN Rudd's tender to build the national broadband network will be scrutinised by the auditor general.

With the launch of the Windows 7 release candidate, anticipation is growing over Microsoft's new OS. So is the upgrade really worth waiting for?The new Windows is edging closer to release. This week, Microsoft has made the release candidate (RC) available to anyone who wants to try it; and although the company has not announced the final release date, Acer's UK managing director, Bobby Watkins, recently told the press that machines with Windows 7 installed will be on sale from 23 October.Despite its name, there is no chance that the release candidate version will be the final one. Rather, it is the last round of testing before completing the software and issuing it to PC vendors. Acer's date looks plausible, allowing two or three months for Microsoft to finalise the software, and the same again for vendors to prepare and distribute Windows 7 PCs.Feeling positiveEarly adopters are mainly positive. 'Much better than Vista and just as stable as XP,' writes a user on the unofficial Windows

Hannah Montana is bringing her tour to the PSP and you've got a backstage pass.

TV Reviews: It's perhaps time for a sober, streamlined look at what 'Frontline' calls 'The Madoff Affair.'

Fuel, Pokemon, rock 'n' roll and beyond

US Airways Group Inc. is looking to raise $150 million from an offering of common stock and notes. (LCC)

PLSQL Guy writes 'Duke Nukem Forever developer 3D Realms is shutting down, according to Shacknews. They cite 'a reliable source close to the company,' who said the developer is finished and employees have already been let go. It looks like all of the Duke Nukem Forever jokes are turning into reality; DNF might turn out to be the ultimate vaporware after all.' 3D Realms' webmaster, Joe Siegler, confirmed the closing, saying that he didn't know about it even a day beforehand. Apogee and Deep Silver, who are working on a different set of Duke Nukem games (referred to as the Duke Nukem Trilogy) say they are not affected by the problems at 3D Realms. of this story at Slashdot.

A new study looks at the cost to cut emissions and protect industry under cap and trade.

Special controllers for Beatles Rock Band have been unveiled. Fans will be happy to know that Rickenbacker 325 and Gretsch Duo Jet guitar controllers have been announced, alongside the Höfner Bass and a Ludwig drum kit. The controllers will be available for the Wii, PS3, and xBox360. For those looking to really try to be [...]

One week after Us Weekly first broke the news that Jon & Kate Plus 8 dad Jon Gosselin was caught with another woman, his wife, Kate Gosselin, opens up for the first time. 'It's one of those things that we're just handling privately,' Kate said on Wednesday's taping of The Rachael Ray Show. 'We're just taking it one step at a time and I'm trying to walk through it.' Look back at Jon and Kate through... Join Us on Facebook and Twitter for even more up to the minute celebrity news and photos!