Windows Live Software Suite Due This Week
Microsoft is preparing to release a new suite of applications under the Windows Live umbrella, further upping the ante in its battle to fend up growing competition from the likes of Google and Yahoo. The effort is the next step in Microsoft's transition to software-plus-services.
While its rivals focus on Web-only applications, Microsoft sees a future where desktop programs simply interact with services on the Web. Windows Live will serve as the backbone upon which this shift relies. Desktop search will mesh with Web search, mail clients will link up with Webmail services, and photo applications will integrate online publishing and sharing.
Was China Behind Pentagon Cyber Attack?
In a move more reminiscent of the Cold War era, the US government believes the Chinese government hacked into Pentagon computers, a charge China denies.
Although publicly the Pentagon is not saying who it believed was behind the attack, officials told the Financial TImes Monday that the People's Liberation Army is most likely responsible.
Opera 9.5 Alpha Gets History Search, Speed
After over a year in development, Opera Software has release the first public Alpha build of Opera 9.5, the next version of its popular alternative Web browser. The main focus of Opera 9.5 seems to be performance and compatibility with sites, and users are already reporting a big speed boost from Opera 9.23.
New features in the browser include the ability to search the browser's full history, restore closed windows, better UI integration on Mac and Linux, support for Mac OS X's VoiceOver technology, new skins and a revamped Opera Mail client. Download Opera 9.5 Alpha 1 from FileForum and tell us what you think.
Microsoft Cuts Price of European HD DVD Drive
At the IFA consumer electronics conference in Berlin over the weekend, Microsoft said it would be cutting the price of the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on by 20 euros, bringing the cost down to 180 euros. This follows a similar price drop in the United States.
Blu-ray and HD DVD were a hot topic at IFA, with both sides unveiling new products and titles to help push their respective formats. But HD DVD has taken the more aggressive approach when it comes to pricing, and in the United States the cheaper Xbox 360 add-on has surged in sales at retailers such as Amazon.com. News of the European price cut was first reported by eFlux Media.
Philips Ready to Enter DVR Market
Philips is preparing a digital video recording system called Personal TV Channel, which could be seen as a competitor to TiVo.
While the device works much like a standard DVR, Philips hopes the way the product determines your preferences will attract consumers. Whereas TiVo Suggestion requires a good deal of input before it works correctly, setup in Philips' DVR is much easier.
House Could Take Up Patent Reform Measure This Week
The Rules Committee of the US House of Representatives is scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss how the latest sweeping patent reform legislation, H.R. 1908, is to be introduced to the floor of Congress. Pending the registration of proposed amendments, it could be introduced as soon as Friday.
The two most critical reforms the new legislation would make drastically reduce the often windfall amounts that victors in patent infringement suits may be awarded; and replace the post-patent review process to encourage individuals to file objections within a year of a patent's approval, rather than wait for that period to expire and file infringement suits in federal court.
iPhone Leading US Smartphone in July
Apple's iPhone led all other phones in its class during the month of July, a report from iSuppli indicates.
1.8 percent of all phones sold in the United States during the month were Apple's, which is the highest of any smartphone and equal to the sales of the LG Chocolate, the leading feature phone. iSuppli categorizes the iPhone as a "crossover" phone, because it has aspects of both categories.
Microsoft Reports Victory in Preliminary ISO Ballot for Office Open XML
3:15 pm ET September 4, 2007 - The International Organization for Standardization finally issued a statement this evening, Geneva time, saying a preliminary vote to publish Microsoft's Office Open XML as an international standard failed to meet the requisite two-thirds majority of support to attain fast-track status. The standard itself has not failed, contrary to many reports this morning.
But for OOXML to emerge beyond the draft status, Microsoft now has until February - not March, as was earlier reported here and elsewhere - to address the comments of members who voted both in the affirmative ("yes, with comments") and the negative ("no, with comments"). At that time, if members believe Microsoft has addressed those comments adequately, they may change their vote to outright approval.
EarthLink to Cities: Pay for Wi-Fi Setup
Plans for municipal Wi-Fi in a dozen cities currently in negotiations with EarthLink may be in jeopardy as the company is imposing new demands on how the networks are to be paid for. Until this point, the ISP was willing to pay for the setup costs: now it is asking the cities to foot that bill. This includes the proposed network in San Francisco.
The move is yet another cost cutting measure for EarthLink, which is struggling to get its financial house in order. Earlier in the week, it announced it is laying off approximately half its workforce and closing four offices.
Google News Strikes Deals with News Wires
Google News has signed a deal which it says is aimed at cutting down on multiple copies of the same story, and will give the original authors credit over those who redistribute it.
The deals are with the Press Association of Britain, Agence France-Presse, Canadian Press, and the Associated Press. Google News will host the stories on its own server and co-brand the pages that the stories appear on.
Three Cellular Carriers Fined Over 911
The US Government is losing patience with some wireless operators, and has said it plans to fine at least three carriers for not meeting its standards for locating customers in 911 emergencies. Fines that total $2.825 million have been proposed against Sprint, US Cellular and Alltel. These companies have not met the requirement of having 95 percent of their customers equipped with cell phones that allow first responders to locate them in the event of an emergency.
This requirement was supposed to be fulfilled by the end of 2005. The three companies "failed to meet this critical deadline by a significant margin, despite the clear requirements of the Commission and the needs of their consumers," FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said in a statement.
Thailand Lifts Ban on YouTube
A four-month ban on YouTube in Thailand was lifted on Friday, its government said. The prohibition on the Web site was lifted after the site's officials agreed to monitor and remove any videos that may be against the country's laws or found offensive by Thais. The issue started in April when YouTube refused to remove videos that were derogatory toward King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
A Thai spokesperson said that the video site had created a program that prevents offensive clips from being displayed to Thai users. Google said that it respected the King, and "likewise respect Thailand's law and tradition and hope that we will be able to reach a mutually acceptable resolution to the current controversy."
NBC Universal Pulls Out of iTunes
UPDATE - 3:00pm ET, August 31, 2007: After staying silent most of the day, Apple fired back against NBC Universal by deciding to pull the company's content at the beginning of the new television season. Additionally, it disclosed that Universal was attempting to get Apple to pay more than double the wholesale price for content. If Apple would have agreed, pricing of videos would have jumped to $4.99.
The Cupertino company also said that more than 50 networks had already agreed to sell their programs at $1.99 for the upcoming season, meaning NBC was essentially the lone holdout.
Swedish Standards Vote on OOXML Declared Invalid, SIS to Abstain
After considerable suspicion was cast on the reasons why, and the methods how, 23 extra members joined the Swedish international standards body SIS as recently as the day before it was to vote on recommending Microsoft's Office Open XML to the ISO, the SIS has decided to invalidate its "Yes, with comments" vote, and to cast an abstention in next week's ISO proceedings.
There are three conflicting accounts as to why. Two days ago, Microsoft's corporate standards director Jason Matusow responded to inquiries by BetaNews and others with a blog post that attempted to explain the problem as having been caused by a single Microsoft Sweden employee acting out of bounds.
Bertelsmann Settles Again Over Napster
German media conglomerate Bertlesman AG has settled yet another lawsuit surrounding its involvement in the original Napster, which brought music sharing into the mainstream. The National Music Publishers' Association alleged that Bertlesman encouraged copyright infringement.
Bertlesman previously settled with Warner Music for $110 million in April, along with EMI and Universal before that. In all cases, Bertlesman admitted no wrongdoing. The company invested in Napster when the service was struggling to stay afloat in 2000 amidst litigation and lack of a revenue model.
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