Google Testing New Indexing Approach
Since its inception, Google has tried to make sense of billions of Web documents and using advanced in-house technology. But now, Google is experimenting with a new concept to better its search crawlers: ask webmasters for help. The program, called Google Sitemaps, could revolutionize how the Web is indexed.
Specifically, Sitemaps will direct Google's Web crawlers to content that has been changed or added, removing the need for Google to spider an entire site. Sitemap files are based on XML and contain a number of parameters to aid in the search indexing process.
AOL Opens Up Audio, Video Technology
Despite helping to launch the Mozilla Foundation and releasing the code to its AOL Server software, America Online has never been synonymous with open source. But a number of new initiatives could change AOL's proprietary image, as the company strives to reach a broader audience on the open Web.
Faced with extending its core business strategy beyond its walled garden and rapidly falling subscriber numbers, AOL is looking outward -- rather than inward -- to bolster its arsenal of content and services. Specifically, AOL is enlisting the open source community to take over a number of projects.
HP to Sell Branded iPod Mini
Hewlett-Packard is bulking up its line of HP-branded versions of Apple's iPod, announcing Thursday it has begun to sell the iPod Mini. HP's Mini will be nearly identical to its original Apple counterpart, with an added logo and option for "Printable Tattoos," or stickers that allow users to personalize their player.
HP's agreement also gives the iPod added exposure at more retail stores, including Radio Shack, Sears and Wal-Mart. Last month, HP announced it had struck a deal with Apple to sell the iPod Photo, which sports a color screen and ability to display digital images. HP, however, has seen flat sales while the original iPod has catapulted into icon status.
MTV Goes Mobile with 'FLUX' Brand
Its TV networks may have transitioned to reality shows and "Jackass" spin-offs, but MTV is embracing the digital frontier to deliver music and entertainment to the connected generation. MTV Networks is launching a new brand called FLUX that aims to build a mobile community around music and digital media.
FLUX will initially launch in Japan through a partnership with KDDI Corporation's "AU" / "EZWEB," eventually making its way to other markets around the world. The service will provide subscribers who pay a monthly fee equivalent to $3 USD access to short videos and music through their mobile phones or computers.
Apple Fixes QuickTime 7 Vulnerability
Apple this week issued a minor update to the newly released QuickTime 7, which has yet to make its appearance on Windows. Version 7.0.1 resolves a security vulnerability in which a malformed Quartz Composer object can send personal data to an arbitrary location on the Web.
The update also improves compatibility with Final Cut Studio and provides several bug fixes. QuickTime 7.0.1 is recommended for all Mac OS X 10.4 users, as well as those running 10.3.9. Apple has not yet said when QuickTime 7 for Windows will become available for download.
Microsoft Submits Final EU Proposal
Just before a midnight deadline, Microsoft submitted its final proposal to the European Commission regarding its plan to comply with antitrust remedies imposed in March 2004. If the proposal does not appease EU regulators, which have grown increasingly tired of Microsoft's delays, the company could face daily fines of up to $5 million.
Last year, the EU fined Microsoft 497 million euro for anticompetitive practices, and demanded a version of Windows XP be released without its bundled media player. Microsoft paid the fine and has created a stripped down version of XP labeled with the letter "N." The Commission made 26 demands in total, of which 20 were agreed to by Microsoft.
Toyota: Household Robots by 2010
A report in Tokyo's Asahi daily newspaper says Toyota is endeavoring to start selling robots that can work in the home by 2010. The robots would primarily be designed to help the elderly, but could even serve tea to guests or take care of household chores.
Toyota joins a number of companies, including rival Honda, looking at a future in robotics. The automaker says a slowing birthrate and an aging population has led to a demand for robots that can handle child and nursing care, as well as other more basic tasks. Toyota plans to establish a committee that would develop technology for the robots.
AMD Delivers Dual-Core Athlon 64 X2
As expected, AMD has announced the immediate availability of its dual-core processors for desktop PCs. The Athlon 64 X2 was unveiled at the Computex conference in Taiwan and pits AMD against rival Intel's Pentium D, which launched late last week. Swapping their usual positions, however, Intel is taking the value-oriented approach with its dual-core offerings.
The Athlon 64 X2 includes two CPU cores on a single processor, which enables the chip to better handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Although few applications are written to take advantage of dual-core chips, AMD says digital media tasks already show a 34 percent performance boost, with overall PC performance increased by 22 percent.
McAfee Seeks VirusScan 10 Testers
Security software maker McAfee is readying a slew of betas for the second half of 2005. Among the tests is the 10.0 release of McAfee's flagship VirusScan that improves instant messenger scanning, alerts for malicious scripts and worm-like activity, Windows Explorer integration, and Microsoft Outlook integration.
McAfee Personal Firewall Plus 7.0, McAfee SpamKiller 7.0 and McAfee AntiSpyware 2.0 are also currently in beta. McAfee Privacy Service 8.0 and McAfee QuickClean 6.0, meanwhile, are on the docket for mid-June. Testers may participate by visiting McAfee's Beta Program Web site. Some incentives to test the software include free licenses and an iPod Shuffle giveaway.
Microsoft: No IE7 for Windows 2000
With Internet Explorer 7 Beta 1 set to debut next month, Microsoft has quietly closed the door on Windows 2000 users planning to adopt the new Web browser. IE7 will require Windows XP Service Pack 2 due to internal security changes that rely on Microsoft's latest operating system release.
The decision to update Internet Explorer before Longhorn arrives in late 2006 was announced by Bill Gates at the RSA Conference in February. Although Microsoft had said it was focusing on Windows XP SP2 only, the company did leave open the possibility of IE7 supporting Windows 2000.
Symantec Recruiting Beta Testers
Symantec is recruiting interested testers for its next round of beta programs, due later this year. The betas will encompass the company's full range of products, including Norton AntiVirus, SystemWorks and Internet Security. Applications will be accepted via e-mail until June 13, 2005.
"We would like to invite you to apply to be part of our Symantec Beta Testing Team. Submit an e-mail to EnhancedTesting@Symantec.com before June 13th to apply to be a part of this great opportunity! This is an excellent chance to work with the Symantec team as we create our award winning security products. Submit an email today to apply for this elite team of testers," says Tony Weiss, Senior Beta Test Coordinator at Symantec.
Microsoft Treats Testers to XP Pro x64
Thanking testers for their hard work debugging Windows XP x64 Edition, Microsoft will be offering beta participants a full retail copy of the 64-bit operating system in downloadable form. Windows Beta Team officials said product keys and download links were being prepared, and would be sent to testers within a few weeks.
"As a small measure of our appreciation for your help in testing Windows Server SP1 and Windows x64 on the Technical Beta, we are offering active participants a complimentary full copy of Windows Professional x64 Edition," read an e-mail sent to testers." This will be done as a downloadable ISO file only, but will be a licensed copy of Windows Professional x64 Edition. (i.e. not an eval copy)"
RIAA Sues More Internet2 File Swappers
The Recording Industry Association of America announced Thursday it has filed a second wave of copyright infringement lawsuits against students swapping files on the Internet2 network. The group added 20 new universities to its list of targets, specifically suing 91 students across 33 college campuses.
Internet2 is the name given to the next-generation network that links colleges and universities, which is intended for research of new technologies.
Intel Debuts Longhorn-Ready Platforms
Intel on Thursday formally introduced two new chipsets designed for home and office PCs. Intel's Professional Business Platform, or the 945G Express Chipset, bundles networking and advanced management technology, while the 945P includes consumer-oriented features such as advanced audio and video capabilities.
The dual-core 64-bit Intel Pentium D processor powers the 945P platform, allowing customers to perform two CPU intensive tasks at once. Intel's Professional Business Platform includes the Pentium 4 670, a new 3.8-GHz 64-bit processor, although some system builders plan to offer the Pentium D as well.
IE Head: Netscape 8 Breaks XML in IE
In a Web log posting, Internet Explorer program manager Dave Massy has called out Netscape 8 for purportedly breaking XML rendering in IE6. The news comes as the second blow to the revived Netscape browser, which initially shipped with critical security flaws. But at least one user says the XML bug does not affect everyone.
"We've just confirmed an issue that has started to be reported on newsgroups and forums that after installing Netscape 8 the XML rendering capabilities of Internet Explorer no longer work," Massy wrote. "That means that if you navigate in IE to an XML file such as an RSS feed or an XML file with an XSLT transformation applied then rather than seeing the data you are presented with a blank page."
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