More4 debut

A satire about politician David Blunkett boosts ratings for digital channel More4's first night on air.

Game theory at work

Two academics have won the Nobel Prize in economics for their work using game theory to understand competition and conflict. These articles from the archive explain how executives can use similar techniques in strategic decision making and negotiations.

(Normally premium, these articles are now free to all registered members until October 17 only.)

Games managers should play
http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/links/19368

New tools for negotiators
http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/links/19369

Apple's Next Big Thing

Apple has scheduled a press event Wednesday where analysts expect CEO Steve Jobs to unveil a new, video-enabled iPod music player. The move would mark a significant evolution for the iPod, which has rapidly become one of Apple's most important products.

Web 2.0 the concept

While Web 2.0 the conference may have been a success, Web 2.0 the concept isn't sitting as well with some. Many of the people who have watched the Web develop over the years are vocalizing their concern that some of the idealism surrounding the next generation of the Internet is unrealistic and perhaps even irresponsible. The bottom line is: It's easy for any technophile to get swept up in the rush of new and undeniably cool tools and services that are coming to the Web platform. But nobody wants to see a repeat of the last Internet bubble and to ignore the lessons learned from that time would be doing the industry a disservice.

Britain is Nation of grimwits

If you didn't laugh, it is often said, you'd cry.

And from that philosophy of finding hilarity in hardship has come some of the best humour in history, according to a book of comedy from down the years.

The examples are all around us. The pain of marital break-up dissipates in the dour delivery of Les Dawson as he recounts the story of the husband whose wife has just run off with the man next door and responds: "I do miss him." Click here for more jokes.

"British humour is frequently melancholic, probably because of the weather, sexual repression, resentment at the class system, and those sorts of things,' he continues.

"Northern humour is particularly downbeat. After all, for years, the North generated the wealth on which London and the South grew rich so there's a kind of suspicion of optimism.

"There hasn't, usually, been enough discontent in British society to provoke real social upheaval. But there has been enough to create a very sophisticated humour."

The quotes in the book, published by Penguin, go back to the Bible and are credited to writers from all over the world, including many from the UK.

Contributors includes Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill, The Beatles, The Queen and Viz magazine.

Sony Ericsson P990 unveiled

Sony Ericsson has updated its flagship P-series smartphone line by announcing a model with 3G, 802.11b. The manufacturer has also beefed up the camera and display, and finally added BlackBerry Connect and VoIP support in the bundle.

The Man with 130 IDs

A conman who established 130 false identities to defraud UK banks out of £1.1m was jailed for five-and-a-half years on Monday. Kanagaratnam Ganan, 33, used 129 false Indian passports and one bogus Sri Lankan passport as well as forged utility bills to open up bank accounts. After establishing a history of paying bills he sought credit facilities before scarpering with the loot, leaving banks chasing a ghost......

PayPal buys VeriSign payment unit

Paypal is paying $370m for VeriSign's payment portal business.…

James Bond casting looms

Aptly enough for the world's most famous spy, the decision on who replaces Pierce Brosnan as the next James Bond remains a mystery just weeks, possibly days, ahead of an official announcement.

John Banville wins Booker prize

Irish writer John Banville pulled off a major surprise on Monday when landing the Booker Prize, one of the literary world's most prestigious awards, for 'The Sea,' his poignant and dark novel about childhood memories.