Microsoft Updates Suite for Students
Microsoft next month will make available Student 2008, its suite of utilities designed for education. The package includes the company's Encarta Premium 2008 encyclopedia, as well as Learning Essentials 2.0 and foreign language help.
Also included is Math 3.0, which offers a number of calculators, equation editors and other tools. Targeted at middle and high school students in addition to entry-level college students, Student 2008 will be priced at $49.99 USD, with Math 3.0 available on its own for $19.95 USD. Both products can be purchased over the Web and downloaded.
EarthLink Gives Free Wi-Fi to Nokia Tablet Users
Nokia said Tuesday it had reached a deal with Internet service provider EarthLink to allow users of the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet to connect to any EarthLink Wi-Fi municipal wireless network at no charge. Currently the ISP offers service in the Philadelphia, New Orleans, Milpitas and Anaheim, CA and Corpus Christi, TX, among others.
Connection to the municipal network is provided through a link within the connections menu on the device. "Nokia's participation in EarthLink's municipal Wi-Fi initiative is an important step in making the Internet truly mobile," remarked Nokia multimedia sales and channel management chief Bill Plummer.
Real Launches New Video Player Beta
RealNetworks on Tuesday released a new beta version of its RealPlayer software, which takes a completely new approach from previous versions. Instead of focusing on desktop audio and video playback, RealPlayer 11 lets users download video off the Web.
After installing the software, a "Download this Video" button will appear on Web sites such as YouTube, and Real has changed gears by supporting Flash, Windows Media and QuickTime formats in addition to RealVideo. Users can then burn the videos to CDs, or DVDs with the $29.99 "Plus" version of RealPlayer 11. A future update will enabling transferring video directly to an iPod. For now, only Windows is supported, although a Mac release will follow later this year.
Toshiba to Bundle Vongo with Laptops
Computer manufacturer Toshiba said Tuesday that it will begin bundling a free 30-day trial of Starz Vongo movie service with its Satellite or Qosmio laptop computers in the US beginning in July. The company will place an icon on the desktop of its computers as part of the agreement to allow consumers to register for their trials of the service. Starz typically charges $9.99 USD per month for access to Vongo.
In total, Vongo hosts about 2,500 videos and provides access to a live stream of one of the network's movie channels. In addition, it offers several pay-per-view selections. Content is viewable on any Windows Media-based device or Windows PC. Starz already has a prior standing relationship with Toshiba to bundle the service with other products.
Report: Gmail Germany May Shut Down
With a law that would force Google and other Internet service providers to disclose the identity of consumers using its services within Germany now moving through the German parliament, the Mountain View, Calif. company is threatening to shut down its Gmail service within the country, German magazine Spiegel reported on Monday.
If the law passes as is, starting next year, anonymous e-mail accounts would become illegal, as would anonymizing services like Tor. Additionally, information on connection data for Internet, phone calls, and SMS usage would also be saved for a period of six months. Google takes issue with the law, saying it cuts into user privacy and would also force the company to go against its own practice of allowing anonymous e-mail accounts.
Apple 4th in Retail Notebook Sales
Apple's share of the retail notebook marked jumped to 14.3 percent in May from 12.5 the month before, as the company placed fourth in a list compiled by NPD Group. Apple now trails only HP, Toshiba and Gateway, although Dell is not included in retail sales counts.
According to NPD, sales of Windows based laptops increased 37 percent, while Apple say growth of 65 percent when compared with a year ago. Aiding the company is Apple's growing exposure in the marketplace due to the iPod and upcoming iPhone, as well as positive reception of its new Intel based Macs, which are now in their third revision and offer a new LED backlit display that increases battery life.
Nokia's E-Series Now Available Across US
Nokia said Monday that its E-Series line of business smart phones is now broadly available in the US. Consumers could either purchase the phones online, through retail outlets such as the company's own stores, and through several wireless carriers. Among the phones available are the new E61i and E65 models, both to cost around $400 USD depending on the retailer.
The Finnish phone maker first introduced the E-Series line in November 2005, and the phones have been available in Europe for much of the last year. Analysts say the line is intended to compete with business devices from RIM and others: in fact, the device supports BlackBerry e-mail, although with GoodLink, Seven, and Visto Mobile.
eBay Ads Back on Google
eBay has resumed advertising on Google AdWords, a little over a week after it stopped advertising on the site in an apparent retaliatory move over Google's planned protest party at the eBay annual seller's conference in Boston. Its return is muted, however: the company says the pullback proved it did not need to spend as much on Google ads as it once thought.
Google's party has since been cancelled, although it successfully brought attention to eBay's attempts to shut out other payment systems. The Mountain View, Calif. company is attempting to pressure eBay into permitting Google Checkout as a form of payment. The company claims a quarter of the top 500 online retailers use the service.
NPD: iTunes Now #3 Music Retailer
iTunes' dominance in the music industry continues to grow, data from the NPD Group showed Friday. Apple surpassed Amazon as the third largest retailer for music sales in the first quarter of the year, with 9.8 percent of the overall market. Apple is also gaining on leaders Wal-Mart and Best Buy, who finished the quarter with 15.8 and 13.8 of the market, respectively.
Analysts at NPD say Apple's strength is surprised considering sales are down by a fifth over last year. However, they also pointed out that both Wal-Mart and Best Buy are behemoths in the music industry, and will be hard to catch.
Apple Posts 20-Minute iPhone Tour
Apple on Friday provided the most in-depth look at the iPhone, one week before the device debuts at AT&T and Apple stores across the United States. A 20-minute guided tour posted to the company's Web site showcases the various features of the iPhone and explains how to use the touch screen.
While the tour doesn't disclose anything major that hasn't been announced, it does provide the first look at the iPhone's usability and innovative features like visual voicemail and SMS text messaging that works like an iChat session. The built-in iPod functionality is also demonstrated, and the included headphones include a microphone as well. According to the video, the iPhone's built in mail client will support Microsoft Office Word and Excel documents.
Report: eBay Back in China By Summer
eBay said Friday that it planned to re-enter the Chinese market this summer, just seven months after it announced its plans to close its own site and hand the reigns over to Beijing-based Tom Online. The site, which is co-operated by the two companies, will be called "TOM eBay." This time, tighter restrictions will be placed on sellers, something that caused serious trouble with the first site.
In addition, payments will be held in escrow until buyers indicate they are satisfied with their purchases in an attempt to curry favor with consumers. eBay has not had much success in Asia: it also closed its Japanese site after it failed to gain any traction against Yahoo, which already had a successful auction offering in the country.
Dell Removes Junk from New PCs
Responding to customer requests for less preinstalled software on its machines, Dell will now offer its customers an option to select "no software preinstalled" when purchasing Inspiron notebooks or Dimension desktops. While the option would eliminate much of the software commonly stuffed onto new computers, some would still remain.
Adobe's Reader and a set of Google tools will still be included, as well as antivirus software. In addition, for those who may have not had the option or did not select it at the time of build, Dill will offer those customers an untinstall program to clear off unwanted software.
Nuance Buys AOL Mobile Unit Tegic
Nuance Communications has agreed to purchase Tegic Communications from AOL for $265 million, the companies reported Friday. Tegic, a little-known subsidiary of AOL, makes the T9 text input software common on mobile phones, as well as a touch input solution.
With the acquisition, Nuance will expand its portfolio of mobile offerings, which currently includes voice-enabled applications for mobile search, e-mail and text messaging. Tegic will also help Nuance improve its reach, as the company has struggled to gain traction in the marketplace. AOL acquired Tegic in 1999 as part of its "AOL Anywhere" strategy.
Fon Extends Range of Routers with 'Fontenna'
Fon said Friday it had begun offering 'La Fontenna,' a directional antenna that could be attached to the routers the company offers along with its service. A coverage gain of about 3 to 5 times the typical range of the router is realized, the company said. As an example of the new functionality, the company has outfitted the Chueca neighborhood of Madrid with the routers and antennas.
Made up of about 400,000 registered users, Fon is a network of individuals who have agreed to share their Internet connections freely. In exchange, those who share are allowed to roam on the network free of charge. Non-members can access Fon Wi-Fi access points for a small fee.
Pentagon Target of Cyber Attack
A cyber attack on the Pentagon Wednesday forced the Defense Department to shut down about 1,500 computers after its systems detected a possible compromise, it said Thursday. The Pentagon deals with hundreds of attacks a day, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said. This attack had no adverse effect, and he expected to have the systems back online as soon as possible.
Employees who may have a compromised system were instructed to conduct business using their Blackberries. Gates talked down the event, saying there would only be "some administrative disruptions and personal inconveniences." As for Gates' personal computer, he said he doesn't use e-mail and is a "very low-tech person."
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