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Vivienne Westwood’s collection last night may have looked like it was designed by a bunch of over imaginative kids – and it was. Westwood had been sent some artwork by a school in Nottingham and impressed, she asked them to collaborate with her.

The result was an eco-hippy look emblazoned with hand-painted butterflies, snakes and monsters. The make-up looked like it had been done by a child too, and one with non-too-steady a hand. The audience were clearly baffled - some booed, some applauded. Quite what the market will make of it is another story.

Apple is rumoured to have delayed the launch of the software tools that will help third party developers produce independent applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

The Californian technology giant said last October that the software developer’s kit or SDK would be ready by the end of the month but bloggers in the US claim that it has been delayed while more work is carried out.

Apple is currently updating its US online store in advance of the release later on Tuesday of a range of new products, believed to be upgrades to its MacBook range of laptops. Further details of the SDK are also expected to be announced.

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Siemens, Germany’s biggest technology group, said today it will shed 6,800 jobs at its corporate telecoms business, SEN, and is seeking an industrial partner or financial investor to take over the loss-making unit.

Joe Kaeser, chief financial officer, said in Munich that the moves underline the dramatic shift from hardware to software in the telecoms market, especially the rapid change to internet-based telephony.

Siemens has been trying to offload SEN, which lost €602m (£455m) last year, for some time as part of its overall restructuring into a global business focused on industry, energy and healthcare.
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Japanese video games group Nintendo hopes to prise British couch potatoes off the sofa and help them get into shape with the launch of a new version of its bestselling Wii console in the spring.

Video game players are traditionally to be found hunched over their computers but Wii Fit, which will hit European stores on April 25, is designed to give them a proper workout.

With obesity reaching critical levels in the UK, the Wii Fit may provide some people with an enjoyable alternative to visiting the gym. As it is designed to be used in the comfort - and seclusion - of a person’s home, it allows the unfit to get back into shape without the embarrassment of attending exercise classes as a beginner.
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Miro (previously known as Democracy Player) is another application for watching TV on the internet. What makes it different is it’s ease of use and maximum compatibility. It is based on XULRunner, and is free software released under the GNU General Public License.

Features:

Compatible with all major video formats including Quicktime, Flash Video, Windows Media, H.264, Divx, AVI, MPEG and more, Miro is capable of displaying quality sharpness in larger displays and works well in full screen unlike the grungy Youtube and other online video services.
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