In brief: Apple goes to Hollywood, 'Tubing', Finns freed by Iran

Apple is close to an agreement with several Hollywood film studios over plans to offer films to rent, reports this morning's FT.

The paper cites prices of $2.99 for a 30-day rental in what, to start with, is a US move pencilled in for the autumn, likely to pit the iPod-maker against cable operators and telcos. Apple had no comment.

Sticking with video, email and IM users could be at risk from a new approach to placing malware on their PC. A link which seemingly looks like it goes to a video on YouTube in fact takes users to a decoy site. When a video is playing, a Trojan horse is downloaded in the background.

This latest criminal technique is being called 'Tubing', say the security experts over at Websense.

All of which points to a greater need to safeguard end user devices. With use of IT in the home on the up, Parks Associates' latest research forecasts US households will spend almost $1bn on home technical support services by 2011.

In the UK, PC World has a tie-up with the TechGuys for such home and small business services.

It is also a better time to be an IT contractor. Figures out from SkillsMarket/ATSCo show a five per cent rise in median wages quarter-on-quarter and up 14 per cent between Q1 2006 and Q1 2007.

The staffing experts show no change in permanent rates since the last quarter and a rise of eight per cent - half as much - on the year-to-year numbers.

Nokia Siemens Networks on Saturday reported three of its staff, all Finns, are safely back in Dubai after being detained by Iranian authorities in the Persian Gulf. It is thought a fishing trip saw their boat stray into Iranian waters.

A statement from the telecoms infrastructure giant said the men - who have asked not to be named - claimed to have been "treated well" and thanked the Finnish and Iranian governments.

And finally a row between the Church of England and Sony looks set to intensify, with the C of E likely this week to seek an apology, among other things. A recent PS3 shoot 'em up sees some action take place against a backdrop which is very similar to the real life Manchester Cathedral.

Sony has said it received necessary permission but the Church has called the game irresponsible, especially with the cathedral in question being used for gun crime funerals in recent years.