Firefox 2.0 Gets Closer to Release
Mozilla Corporation on Tuesday released the first official release candidate of Firefox 2.0, signaling the second-generation browser is nearing completion. Previously slated for release in August, Mozilla pushed back version 2.0 until October due to last-minute bugs and security issues.
New features in Firefox 2.0 include enhancements in security, tabbed browsing, performance, and extensions. The browser update also includes a built-in spell checking and an anti-phishing feature, much like Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7. JavaScript 1.7 and improved subscribing of RSS feeds are also among the additions.
Google Relents to Belgian Court Ruling
After initially refusing to comply with a court order in Belgium to publish on its homepage the decision of a case that demanded it to stop linking to Belgian newspapers without their consent, Google has relented. The company's once-sparse .be homepage now contains the over 2000-word court order at the bottom.
The Belgian Court of First Instance ordered Google to publish the decision or face a daily fine of 500,000 euros. Google said the demand is unnecessary due to the publicity the case has already received, and appealed the request, which was denied Friday. The search engine plans to appeal the entire Google News ruling, with hearings slated to begin at the end of November.
Photos: Pepcom's Holiday Spectacular
Last night marked the annual Holiday Spectacular event held by Pepcom in New York City, a showcase of digital technology that featured companies ranging from TiVo to AOL and TomTom. BetaNews' Ed Oswald dropped by NYC and checked out a wide range of GPS devices and a new entrant in the game console market: Mattel.
Click the image for a slideshow from the show floor and details on the devices on display.
AOL Sells French Unit, AOL UK Next
The shedding of AOL's international operations continued Thursday as Time Warner announced it had sold its AOL France division to Internet service provider Neuf Cegetel in a 288 million euros ($365 million) cash transaction. The announcement follows the sale of its German unit to Telecom Italia on Monday, and leaves AOL UK as its only remaining European ISP. AOL France has approximately 500,000 broadband subscribers.
In related news, Orange, a division of French Telecom, confirmed that it had pulled out of the bidding for AOL UK. Negotiations are still continuing with two other prospective suitors - Satellite TV provider BSkyB and Carphone Warehouse, according to press reports.
Motorola Tests Phone Vending Machines
Motorola launched a pilot program in the United States in which it will sell phones and accessories via vending machines it calls "robotic stores." Dubbed Instantmoto, the machines will sell about 30 products, including unlocked phones like the RAZR and Motorola Q.
The technology is provided by San Francisco-based Zoom Systems, which manages the networked "stores" from a central location. Initially, 20 malls and airports will play host to the Instantmoto, although Motorola may expand the program depending on its results. Vending machines with electronics are commonplace in Japan, but new to the United States.
Dell Laptop Explodes at Yahoo
An employee who apparently did not heed the warning of Dell's laptop battery recall brought about a 45 minute recess for a couple hundred employees at Yahoo's Mission College campus after a notebook burst into flames. No injuries were reported in the incident, the aftermath of which was captured on camera.
The laptop fire at Yahoo is the latest in a series of high-profile cases that prompted both Dell and Apple to recall 5.9 million batteries, which were built by Sony and had a manufacturing problem that could lead them to overcharge and explode. Several airlines are now requiring customers to remove the batteries from their notebooks before flying.
Disney Sells 125,000 Movies on iTunes
With just 75 movies on the iTunes Music Store, Walt Disney disclosed Tuesday it had sold 125,000 videos in just the first week of operation, netting the company $1 million in revenue. Disney, which owns Walt Disney Pictures as well as Pixar, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films, said it expects to make $50 million off the venture in just the first year of operation.
Due to disagreements over pricing, other studios have passed over the ITunes movie store in favor of other services with more flexible pricing structures, such as temporary rentals. However, Disney's success could spur others to set aside their differences. Movies are available from iTunes for $9.99, except new releases, which are $12.99 in the first week and $14.99 thereafter.
Motorola Pays $3.9 Billion for Symbol
In its biggest acquisition since 2000, Motorola on Tuesday announced plans to acquire Symbol Technologies for $3.9 billion. The deal will bolster Motorola's sale of wireless handheld devices to enterprises, as well as its position in the RFID market.
Symbol is most known for its barcode scanners, which are used in supermarkets, and its rugged mobile computers. Motorola expects the deal to double its reach in retail, transportation and health-care markets, although some analysts are concerned it may distract the company in the process. Company CEO Ed Zander said Motorola was looking at Symbol "for some time."
Google Updates Search Appliance
Google on Tuesday updated its Search Appliance hardware for businesses, expanding capacity to up to 30 million documents and adding a number of new features. Users can now specify date ranges in their searches, as well as set price and number ranges.
The device doesn't come cheap, however; the base price for indexing 500,000 documents is $30,000, with larger models reaching six figures. Google has also added 10 more languages to the Search Appliance, which now supports 16 in total. Current customers with the GB-5005 and GB-8008 can download the update from Google's support site.
Cingular Sued Over 'Ringback' Tech
Ringback technology company Ring Plus sued U.S. wireless carrier Cingular in federal court Tuesday, although it wasn't immediately clear what patents the carrier was accused of infringing. The Beverly Hills, Calif. based Ring Plus said it was also planning litigation against the music industry as well, as the company would like to develop ringback technology as a marketing platform.
"The music industry, also possible targets for infringement litigation, already recognize ring tones and ringback tones as an effective means of promoting new and existing artists," the company said in a statement. "This ability to reach a widespread audience quickly is the appeal that advertisers everywhere are looking to capture." According to Ring Plus, if the so-called "ringback" tones are also used for advertising, as much as $14 billion stands to be made by 2011, far above the $2 billion currently projected.
Telecom Italia Buys AOL Germany
As part of an ongoing effort to distance itself from the ISP business both domestically and in Europe, AOL parent Time Warner said Monday it is selling AOL Germany to Telecom Italia for about $870 million in cash.
AOL Germany counts 1.1 million broadband subscribers and another 1.3 million on dial-up. AOL will continue to have a presence in the country, however, providing its Web based services and content to Telecom Italia's 3.2 million customers. AOL is additionally looking to sell its ISP businesses in France and the United Kingdom.
Mozilla Patches Firefox, Thunderbird
Mozilla has pushed to users a minor upgrade to Firefox Thursday which included seven security fixes, four of which the company considered "critical." In addition to the patches, the update also included improvements to the product's stability. Of the critical updates, a RSA signature forgery flaw, a memory corruption vulnerability, and two JavaScript issues were remedied.
Firefox 1.5.0.7 included far less critical patches than previous versions; version 1.5.0.5, released in July, included seven critical fixes and 12 altogether. In addition to Firefox, Mozilla on Friday released Thunderbird 1.5.0.7, which also fixed seven security issues as well as providing improvements to product stability. Both updates will be delivered automatically to users through the company's upgrade system, it said.
Security Breach Affects Nikon Magazine
A security breach on the Web site of Nikon World magazine exposed the identities of 3,235 of its subscribers on Tuesday, the company said. For approximately nine hours, subscribers' addresses, contact details and credit card information were viewable by nine new subscribers to the magazine. According to the company, the issue occurred as a result of a system failure by a third-party vendor that has since been repaired.
Nikon World said it had contacted all those which had been affected by the breach, as well as the nine subscribers who were able to view the information. "The company is taking this incident very seriously as the privacy and protection of its subscribers is of utmost importance to Nikon, as is full disclosure," it said in a statement. Nikon said customers with questions on the breach should contact the company.
The Buzz: Zune's Colors a Hot Topic
Microsoft's official unveiling of the Zune Thursday received mixed reviews from the tech faithful. While many seemed to generally give a positive nod to Zune's feature set, the Redmond company's odd choice of brown as a launch color seemed to grab the most attention -- and obviously the snarkiest comments.
While we've left those to be read in the story on Zune's launch, we have selected a handful of comments representing a variety of opinions on the new device. Later, we'll have more in-depth analysis of the product from several high-profile analysts who have studied Microsoft's entrant into the music player space.
Red Cross Asks Texters '2HELP'
The American Red Cross said Thursday it had partnered with the major wireless carriers in the United States and The Wireless Foundation, an industry charity organization, to launch "2HELP." The initiative would activate the text messaging number during natural disasters as a way for the charity to easily collect donations from wireless subscribers. When a consumer texts "2HELP," a $5 charge would be added to their wireless bill or deducted from their prepay account balance.
All of the proceeds from these texts would then be donated to the American Red Cross, and the donation would be tax-deductible. "Americans have a tremendous desire and willingness to pitch in whenever someone needs a helping hand, whether it's supplying their time or financial support," CTIA president Steve Largent said. "This initiative combines advanced wireless technology with the nation's premier relief organization."
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