Sun to MS: Customers Can Leave You
Sun Microsystems Chief Executive Jonathan Schwartz has some advice for Microsoft following its claim that open source software violates 235 patents held by the Redmond company. "You would be wise to listen to the customers you're threatening to sue - they can leave you, especially if you give them motivation," he says.
"No amount of fear can stop the rise of free media, or free software (they are the same, after all). The community is vastly more innovative and powerful than a single company," Schwartz added. "Open standards and open source software are literally changing the face of the planet - creating opportunity wherever the network can reach. That's not a genie any litigator I know can put back in a bottle."
Microsoft Testing Screen Sharing Tool
Microsoft is beta testing a new tool called SharedView that enables colleagues to share documents or demonstrate an application over a network or the Internet. Up to 15 people can join a SharedView session, although only one application can be shared at a time - not a full desktop.
WebEx and other services don't need to be scared just yet, however, as the service does not offer true collaboration - individuals must request control from the person who initiated the session. Users can still participate without control as each has a special pointer that can be used to highlight and discuss areas of the screen. SharedView requires Internet Explorer and a Windows Live ID.
Wi-Fi Alliance Approves First 802.11n Products
The Wi-Fi Alliance said Wednesday that it had certified the first 802.11n Draft 2.0 products, along with releasing a redesigned logo that all certified products would be eligible to use. The certification program is set begin in late June, however the first products would act as reference designs for future products it said. The Alliance also said the program would end uncertainty as to whether current 802.11n products would be interoperable.
Included in the list of devices to serve as the basis for interoperability testing are three access points from Cisco, Marvell, and Ralink; routers from Atheros and Broadcom; cards from Atheros, Broadcom, and Marvell; and a chipset from Ralink. "This milestone means that consumers and business users alike can feel confident that the 802.11n products they buy will deliver the user experience they require," Wi-Fi Alliance managing director Frank Hanzlik said.
Microsoft to Expand Advanced Security Notices
Microsoft announced Wednesday that it would be changing the advanced notifications it sends out the Thursday before each Patch Tuesday, adding more details of the vulnerabilities that are scheduled to be patched. The company previously released limited information, saying it was protecting customers.
Now, instead of simply grouping security bulletins by product and listing the maximum severity rating, Microsoft will in advance publish the severity, impact of vulnerability, detection information and affected software for each bulletin. Because it's simply a subset of the full Tuesday bulletin, the advance notice will also be at the same URL. More detailed information is available from the Microsoft Security Response Center.
eBay Said to be Allowing Illegal Ivory Sales
eBay has been criticized for its participation in the "rampant trade" of ivory on its site, with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) saying 90 percent of the listings on the site for elephant ivory it found violate the site's own wildlife policies. The group is pushing the auction site to ban the trade of ivory on its pages entirely, as the elephant is facing extinction due to continuing trade of the valuable material.
A survey was conducted in eight countries, including the UK, Australia, China, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Canada and the USA, which found over 2,200 listings. IFAW argues that sellers are being permitted to list items without much oversight. Furthermore, few of the illegal items reported to eBay by the IFAW were removed, it claimed. "In general it is illegal to sell carved or uncarved ivory unless it is antique and accompanied by a proof of age certificate," the IFAW says.
Sling Media Tests Sharing of TV Clips
Sling Media, maker of the popular Slingbox device that lets users stream their television to laptops and cell phones while on the go, is testing a new service for sharing clips of shows. Called "Clip and Sling," the feature could raise the ire of TV networks, which is why the company is working closely with them.
CBS is currently testing Clip and Sling, and advertisements could be embedded to help offset piracy concerts. Sling Media is additionally looking to embed advertising in interactive content it delivers alongside programming such as sporting events. Moreover, the company is considering reselling broadband Internet service, as Slingbox requires a beefy connection to stream video.
Yahoo Overhauls Mapping Service
Faced with increasing competition from Google Maps and AOL's MapQuest, Yahoo is beefing up the driving directions offered on its Maps product, for the first time including directions in 34 European countries.
In addition, Yahoo has upgraded its Maps engine to provide more landmarks and visual cues to help with navigation. The new engine -- developed in house -- should help make the product more responsive as well. Yahoo has made sure the platform upgrade will not affect third parties using its APIs. Printing of maps has also received improvements.
Microsoft + Homework = Math 3.0
Microsoft on Tuesday introduced a new software solution designed for helping students complete their math homework. Math 3.0 targets middle and high school students, as well as entry-level college students, offering a number of calculators, equation editors and other tools.
Instead of just providing an answer, Microsoft Math steps the student through the process much like a tutor would. Subjects it supports include pre-algebra, algebra, trigonometry, calculus, physics and chemistry. Those students who can afford Tablet PCs or UMPCs can also write the problem by hand, and Math 3.0 will offer assistance. The product will be available for download this month at a cost of $19.95 USD.
Windows Server 2008 Hits 100,000 Downloads
Along with officially naming the product to little surprise, Microsoft said at WinHEC in Los Angeles Tuesday that Windows Server "Longhorn" Beta 3 had been downloaded over 100,000 times in just three weeks. Now known as Windows Server 2008, the release will drive the next-generation of hardware innovation, said Bill Gates.
New in Windows Server 2008 will be built-in virtualization technology (although its feature set was cut last week), the Server Core installation option that removes the graphical user interface, Server Manager, Internet Information Services (IIS 7.0) and Windows PowerShell. Microsoft is already working with manufacturers to ensure hardware will be available to help drive adoption of the new server operating system.
Panasonic Ships $600 Blu-ray Player
Although HD DVD may still have the lead when it comes to price, Blu-ray continues to add more manufacturers, with Panasonic today releasing its DMP- BD10A Blu-ray player, priced at $600. The player offers 7.1 channel sound with support for Dobly True HD and dts-HD audio.
The DMP- BD10A features full 1080p resolution and upconverts older DVDs to the high-definition signal. Although Panasonic's player is double the price of Toshiba's entry-level HD DVD offering, the company is bundling five Blu-ray movies for free. Consumers will receive copies of "Pirates of the Caribbean, Curse of the Black Pearl" and "Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man's Chest" from Disney, "Transporter" and "Fantastic 4" from Fox and "Crash" from Lionsgate.
Microsoft Updates HD DVD Player
In conjunction with the recent Spring 2007 update for the Xbox 360 and the new "Elite" version of Microsoft's console that adds HDMI output, the Redmond company has issued a firmware update for its HD DVD player add-on. New is full 1080p high-definition support.
Microsoft has added the option to select audio output, improved parental controls, as well as bolstering HD DVD network support and compatibility with HD DVD titles. The update will be delivered automatically when a user is logged into Xbox Live and plays a movie, or it can be downloaded manually from Xbox.com later this week.
AOL Buys Mobile Advertising Startup
Continuing a recent trend of consolidation in the advertising industry, AOL announced Tuesday it has acquired mobile ad provider Third Screen Media. AOL says the purchase, which was rumored in February, will enable it to offer marketers additional reach beyond the desktop Web browser.
While the market for mobile advertising is currently small, it is expected to grow over the next several years. AOL's move follows Google's acquisition of DoubleClick and Yahoo's purchase of Right Media. Terms of the Third Screen deal were not disclosed, although the company will become a subsidiary of AOL's Advertising.com division.
US DOJ Gets 50th Warez Conviction
The United States Department of Justice has announced the 50th felony conviction as part of its Operation FastLink crackdown on warez groups operating on the Internet to illegally share music, movies, games and software. Christopher Eaves, 31, of Iowa Park, Texas, faces up to five years in prison, a fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release.
Eaves was part of a group known as "Apocalypse Crew," and was responsible for providing copyrighted music online before its official release. “Digital piracy is a serious and growing global problem, and this 50th conviction represents a milestone never before achieved in any online piracy prosecution,” commented Assistant Attorney General Fisher. The DOJ's Operation FastLink has thus far resulted in more than 120 search warrants executed in 12 countries.
Microsoft: Vista UI Uses Little Battery Life
Responding to a number of recent articles claiming that Vista's new "Aero" user interface causes laptops running the new operating system to drain their battery faster, Microsoft has published its own results. The company says Aero consumes only 1% to 4% more battery life than when the feature is disabled.
Vista is designed to turn off transparency effects when put into a power-saving profile, but Microsoft product manager Nick White says, "We don't turn off Aero wholesale because in the end, doing so is not going to save you much more power." White notes that a laptop display is the big culprit, consuming between 15% and 25% of the battery, while the graphics processor (GPU) uses only a small percent, even when being pushed to its limits with Aero.
Google Agrees to Remove Thai Videos
On the same day Google rejected an anti-censorship petition from shareholders that could have prevented the company from operating in China, the search giant's YouTube property agreed to take down video clips deemed offensive to Thailand's king Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Adulyadej is revered as near-divine in Thailand and criticizing or offending royalty is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The country blocked access to YouTube in April following the posting of two video clips mocking the king, and threatened to sue the company for making them available. Google now says it will remove 12 clips, and Thailand has agreed to not to file suit.
© 1998-2026 BetaNews, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy.