Intel unveils new logo in brand overhaul | CNET News.com

Intel unveils new logo in brand overhaul CNET News.com: "Intel said Thursday that it would scrap its 37-year-old logo as part of a major rebranding that will emphasize the chipmaker's shift away from its core PC business into consumer products.
The original Intel logo featuring a lowered 'e' will be replaced with one showing an oval swirl surrounding the company's name.
The phrase 'Leap ahead' will supplant 'Intel inside,' which helped bring the company into the public awareness during the PC boom of the 1990s.
Intel said CEO Paul Otellini is set to unveil details of the campaign during next week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. "

EETimes.com - Fate of high-def DVD may lie with Microsoft

EETimes.com - Fate of high-def DVD may lie with Microsoft: "After months of intense wrangling between the competing Blu-ray and HD-DVD groups, the battle lines in the war over a next-generation high-definition DVD format have moved to the doorstep of Microsoft Corp.
Several industry sources last week told EE Times that Microsoft is muscling into the optical-disk fray by leveraging its operating-system clout to bundle HD-DVD within Vista, the company's next-generation OS. There is also talk that the software giant may be planning to offer cash incentives - in the form 'coupons' - to system vendors or retailers if they agree to support HD-DVD. Such coupons would provide 'credits' or 'memos' for each PC that is sold with HD-DVD inside.
Many consumer electronics companies in the Blu-ray camp are scrambling to figure out, respond to and possibly preempt the next move by the world's largest - and richest - computer software maker.
Microsoft would neither confirm nor deny such reports. Asked about financial incentives the company might be dangling in front of PC OEMs to lure them into the HD-DVD camp, a spokesman said, 'Microsoft doesn't comment on the details of meetings we've had with our partners.'"

Apple: Both Winner and Loser in 2005 - Softpedia

Apple: Both Winner and Loser in 2005 - Softpedia: "PCWorld has published the "Winners and Losers 2005", an article written by Dan Tynan, in which "one observer's completely unscientific and highly opinionated picks for the biggest winners and losers of the year in technology" are revealed to the world.

Apple is mentioned three times through out the article:

"WINNER: Apple Computer: Apple started the year with the Mac Mini, a pint-size $499 Macintosh sans monitor, and ended it with the long-awaited video-enabled IPod. In between, Apple announced it would start using Intel chips in its new line of Macs. The first Intel-based Macs should debut at around the same time as Windows Vista, which could lead to the first serious OS competition since, oh, 1989. All in all, a very good year in Apple-achia."

Apple has stated that the new 'Intel Inside' Macs will be available by June 2006. If all the buzz that is going around the Internet is to be believed, they might even become available after the Macworld Expo in January. Amitabh Shrivastava, corporate vice president of the Windows core operating system development division, announced that the final release of Vista will be made available just in time for the 2006 holiday season and not sooner. Now, let's see... before June and just in time for the holiday season... a four month difference at the very least... hardly around the same time."

AMD Cannot Supply Enough Chips as the Market Demands - Softpedia

AMD Cannot Supply Enough Chips as the Market Demands - Softpedia: "Advanced Micro Devices admit they cannot supply with processors all its clients due to unexpected market demand, but hope to solve the supply issues by the first quarter of 2006.

Two system builder companies (which wanted to remain anonymous) claim that the Sunnyvale, California-based chip maker sent a letter to some of its partners stating that several of its desktop processor models were in high demand and would continue to be difficult to obtain. One of those systems builders said the note specified the Athlon 64 3500, 3800, the dual-core X2 3800 as well as the lower end Sempron 2600 and 2800 as being in tight supply."

Intel to Make More than Just Processors for Apple? - Softpedia

Intel to Make More than Just Processors for Apple? - Softpedia: "AppleInsider has been told by reliable sources that Apple has contracted its new processor partner, Intel, to design the new mother board for the next generation of Power Macs.

It would seem Intel's Oregon facilities have been working on this since late October after Apple turned to Intel to help with the deadlines imposed by the accelerated transition from Power PC processors to Intel chips. Intel is said to have discreetly formed an "Apple Group" consisting of both marketing and engineering personnel.

With Apple racing to be one of the first, if not the first to use the new Intel processors in the new Macs, human resources in the engineering labs in Cupertino have been worn thin, sources report. With Intel designing (which might actually turn out to be designing and manufacturing) the new Power Mac motherboards, Apple is likely to remain on track and start shipping the first Power Mac models during the third quarter of 2006."

More Mac Users, Internet Metrics Say - Softpedia

More Mac Users, Internet Metrics Say - Softpedia: "The number of people using Macs is on the rise, and the latest proof comes from Hitslink, an Internet metrics company. Hitslink reports that the number of people using the Mac OS on the Internet had topped 4 percent at the end of November.

Over the last year, the spread of the Mac platform for Internet usage has grown from 3.29 to 4.11. A huge growth in Mac users is very likely to continue for the duration of the next year as preliminary data for December shows that the numbers are growing rapidly."

BetaNews | XM to Offer High-Def Surround Sound

BetaNews | XM to Offer High-Def Surround Sound: "XM announced plans to broadcast two of its channels in high-definition surround sound in 2006, and extend the feature to select shows and live performances from the XM studios during the year. The technology that made the new feature possible comes from work done by digital sound processing company Neural Audio Corporation.
Beginning in March, XM's free form music channel Fine Tuning and classical pops channel XM Pops will broadcast in 'XM HD Surround' 24 hours a day. Six discrete audio channels will be provided in the signal."

BetaNews | Nissan, Microsoft Create Xbox 360 Car

BetaNews | Nissan, Microsoft Create Xbox 360 Car: "Nissan and Microsoft have teamed up to create a concept car that includes a built-in Xbox 360 gaming console. While parked, the driver can play Project Gotham Racing using the car's actual steering wheel, gas and brake pedals. The game is displayed on a flip-down 7-inch LCD screen.
The car, named URGE, will be shown off at the Detroit auto show on January 9 as the first vehicle to fully integrate a gaming system. 'A Nissan URGE driver can, for example, maneuver through the streets of New York, park the car and fire up the Xbox 360, then virtually race through the same streets,' Microsoft said in the announcement."

How Does Memory Work? - Softpedia

How Does Memory Work? - Softpedia: "The Princeton's researchers have studied how does the brain function while we recall certain images.
They have discovered that when we remember something we �travel back in time� to the moment and into context when we have formed that memory. In other words, memory isn't like a file cabinet where we store our memories. The way memory functions can be described in the following way: When we are in a certain situation, certain things attract our attention and generate emotions, thoughts etc. When we are recalling something we revisit in our imagination that certain situation and the brain generates the same emotions, thoughts etc. once again (or maybe not exactly the same emotions and thoughts but some which resemble them fairly closely).

The study has been coordinated by Kenneth Norman, an assistant psychology professor and by Sean Polyn, who earned his Ph.D in psychology from Princeton in 2005 and is a now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania. They collaborated with Jonathan Cohen, director of Princeton's Center for the Study of Brain, Mind and Behavior, and Vaidehi Natu, a researcher in Norman's lab."

Is Microsoft About to Launch A Video Download Service? - Softpedia

Is Microsoft About to Launch A Video Download Service? - Softpedia: "There are several rumors making the rounds online which indicate the fact that Microsoft might be interested in launching its own online video service, which will offer users video content and will also help promote the proprietary WMV (Windows Media Video) format. This would also imply that the company will be offering a helping hand to all of the producers of media players compatible with the Windows Media Video format, and this, according to the software giant, would help in turning people's heads away from the winning system Apple has put together with the iPod Video and the iTunes online music and video marketplace."

Europe threatens Microsoft with daily fines | CNET News.com

Europe threatens Microsoft with daily fines | CNET News.com: "The European Commission issued Microsoft a warning on Thursday that it could face a retroactive fine of up to $2.37 million a day for failing to comply with its antitrust order, based on its preliminary review.
The European Union's executive arm noted that the clock started ticking Dec. 15 and will continue until it makes its final decision in the landmark case against the software giant.
Microsoft was ordered by the Commission in March 2004 to disclose complete and accurate interface documentation to work group server competitors, in order for them to have full interoperability with Windows PCs and servers. That order was part of the Commission's findings that the software giant allegedly abused its market dominance to increase its presence in the work group, server operating system and media player industries. "

Microsoft settles with Google over executive hire | CNET News.com

Microsoft settles with Google over executive hire | CNET News.com: "Microsoft has settled its case with rival Google over the hiring of Kai-Fu Lee, an expert in speech recognition technology and the man who founded Microsoft's China research lab in the late 1990s.
'The parties have entered into a private agreement that resolves all issues to their mutual satisfaction,' Microsoft said in a prepared statement released Thursday afternoon. 'The terms of the agreement are confidential and all parties have agreed to make no other statements to the media regarding it.'
Google announced in July its plans to hire Lee to head up its China research lab. Microsoft immediately filed suit in Washington against Lee and Google, arguing that Lee was violating a one-year noncompete agreement that was part of his Microsoft contract.
The tug-of-war over Lee was seen as Microsoft's latest attempt to thwart Google's growing influence. The two have increasingly crossed swords in areas such as search, and Mountain View, Calif.-based Google won an important round this week when AOL chose it over Microsoft as a partner. Google and Microsoft were pursuing AOL to help them expand advertising, instant messaging and video offerings."

LG Has the World�s Largest LCD Monitor - Softpedia

LG Has the World's Largest LCD Monitor - Softpedia: "LG Electronics introduced the world's largest LCD monitor, with a 55 inch diagonal. M5500C is a widescreen LCD monitor with a 1920 X 1080 pixels native resolution that through progressive scan gives true 1080P.
LG's new M5500C comes with a 3138 USD price tag.

1080p is the short name for a category of video modes. The number 1080 stands for 1080 lines of vertical resolution, while the letter p stands for progressive scan or non-interlaced. 1080p is considered to be an HDTV video mode.

The company claims that M5500C is the largest LCD in mass production and that the new monitor can be used in various environments. It has both DVI and VGA connectors, so that M5500C can be used for watching movies or delivering presentation or just as a PC monitor. Moreover, LG's new monitor features HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection), a technology that allows M5500C to be compatible with the actual operating systems and also with expected ones like Microsoft's Windows Vista. Also, M5500C can display from HDTV sources."

IBM Is Going To Promote Its Own Operating System - Softpedia

IBM Is Going To Promote Its Own Operating System - Softpedia: "IBM (International Business Machines Corp.) has announced funding of a $200 million project which involves building a development center with plans to support their own version of the Unix operating system, called AIX. The laboratory will be based in Austin, Texas and will provide IBM customers, partners, and academics the means to develop, test, and improve AIX applications.

The AIX operating system is a data center backbone solution which provides developing tools, but the centre also offers users access to technical specialists, training and remote testing capabilities. "

5 Million Gamers Subscribed to World of Warcraft - Softpedia

5 Million Gamers Subscribed to World of Warcraft - Softpedia: "Once the gaming blockbuster MMORPG World of Warcraft was released in Asia, even more fans joined what was already a pretty open club, and it didn't take Blizzard Entertainment too long before announcing it had reached 5 million gamers which subscribed to play the game.

World of Warcraft was launched a year ago in the United States and soon after, in February this year to be more precise, the game was available for Europeans as well. Six weeks ago, World of Warcraft was also released in Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong and ever since, flocks of gamers rushed to subscribe and compete with users all over the world. Before too long, Blizzard was entitled to say that their MMORPG was the most popular at this time."

New Vulnerability Discovered in Quicktime and iTunes - Softpedia

New Vulnerability Discovered in Quicktime and iTunes - Softpedia: "A new Quicktime and iTunes flaw has been discovered, which can potentially be exploited by malicious users to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) attack.

"The vulnerability is caused due to an error in handling malformed '.mov' files. This can be exploited to cause memory corruption, which causes the program to crash. It has been reported that arbitrary code execution may be possible. However, this has not been confirmed," reports security site Secunia.

The flaw, discovered by Tom Ferris, has been confirmed in Apple "

BetaNews | Critical Flaw Affects Symantec AntiVirus

BetaNews | Critical Flaw Affects Symantec AntiVirus: "A flaw within Symantec AntiVirus could open users' computers to the execution of arbitrary code when a specially crafted RAR file is scanned, independent security researcher Alex Wheeler said in an advisory on his Web site Tuesday.
Wheeler's work centers on looking for remote stack, heap and buffer overflows, mainly in antivirus products. In the case of this particular flaw, the problem is a result of unchecked 16bit length fields in RAR sub-block header types.
The flaw allows an attacker to assume complete control of the affected computer, without any user interaction in the default configuration of the antivirus software. Wheeler said that a hacker could exploit the vulnerability through common Internet protocols like SMTP."

BetaNews | Google Personal Search Gets Trendy

BetaNews | Google Personal Search Gets Trendy: "Google Zeitgeist is great for seeing global patterns in Web searches, but what about your own search history? Google has expanded its Personalized Search feature to track similar trends in the browsing habits of each of its users. You can find out what topics you're most interested in and what sources you value most.
'I'm pretty addicted to looking at my search history for interesting patterns,' said Google software engineer Yu Chen. 'So I decided to go a step further and write a script to pull together some stats about how I was searching. We thought other people might like to see this sort of thing too, so today we launched a Trends feature that gives you a look at a list of your top searches and clicks and other info about your search activity.'"

BetaNews | Google Cross-Site Scripting Flaw Fixed

BetaNews | Google Cross-Site Scripting Flaw Fixed: "Google has fixed a cross-site scripting vulnerability on its Web site, according to security firm Watchfire. The flaw allowed an attacker to impersonate legitimate Google services in order to launch a phishing attack. The search engine applauded the firm for withholding disclosure until it could fix the problem.
The XSS flaw existed in how Google redirected users in its error pages. An attacker could use UTF-7 characters to take advantage of the vulnerability and insert malicious JavaScript into the URL, the firm said. According to Watchfire, Google fixed the problem on December 1, just two weeks after it had been alerted to the problem."

BetaNews | AOL Previews Suite, Improves AIM Mail

BetaNews | AOL Previews Suite, Improves AIM Mail: "In a further indication that AOL is considering phasing out its all-in-one client and moving customers to its new suite of integrated applications, the company on Wednesday began offering a preview of AOL Suite to all members. The software is not yet final, but is being offered outside keyword Beta for the first time.
The AOL Suite Preview integrates an updated version of AOL Mail, the AOL Explorer browser and AIM Triton. A NavBar resides on the side of the screen to launch applications and provide instant access to AOL services such as travel and keywords."

Opera Lifts Curtain on Mini Browser

Opera Lifts Curtain on Mini Browser: "Browser maker Opera Software released a final preview of its latest mobile application, dubbed Mini, which promises to deliver improved Web viewing to wireless handsets.

The Norwegian company said Tuesday that it silently lifted a regional restriction it had placed on an advance version of the browser software, which had previously limited downloads to users in Nordic countries and Germany, ahead of Mini's expected January launch.
The application claims to deliver a more desktop-like Web experience to any handset capable of running Java-based mobile applications, which includes many popular phones already in the hands of consumers.

Opera spokesman Eskil Sivertsen said the restrictions were removed to help the company test its browser's capacity to prepare for the global launch. "

Wikipedia Asks for Donations from Users - Softpedia

Wikipedia Asks for Donations from Users - Softpedia: "The online encyclopedia which so far was based only on the users' input to provide articles and information from a wide selection of areas is now asking for help once again from the people who made this project one of the most reliable information sources online. This time, the Wikipedia Foundation is asking its users for money which will be used to optimize the systems that drive the encyclopedia, keep up with the increased demand and upgrade the software used in order to offer better services by displaying the information faster. All these efforts are meant to improve the way Wikipedia offers everybody interested the possibility to stay informed and learn new things.

In order to persuade all users that any financial contribution is needed, the Wikipedia Foundation started displaying the 'We can do it with your help' message, which should impress users and persuade them to donate money for the project. This strategy has already started to pay off, as only a few days after the initiative was announced to the public, Wikipedia has raised over $44,000 through the PayPal system."

Apple and Intel Spearheading New Unified Display Interface Standard - Softpedia

Apple and Intel Spearheading New Unified Display Interface Standard - Softpedia: "An article was published today on EE Times, which details the new Unified Display Interface (UDI); a new standard to get video from computers to HD television sets and PC monitors is being spearheaded by Apple and Intel.

The main goal of the Unified Display Interface (UDI) is to provide a standard connection that will ultimately replace the hopelessly outdated VGA standard, while still providing backward compatibility with the DVI standard. The new standard will also be fully compatible with High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) technology 'with full content-use rights management and high-definition video compatibility', the report details.

The list of companies involved in this effort includes LG Electronics, National Semiconductor, Samsung, Silicon Image, nVidia, Thine Electronics, Foxconn and JAE Electronics."

Lenovo replaces Big Blue CEO with Dell man | Channel Register

Lenovo replaces Big Blue CEO with Dell man | Channel Register: "Lenovo has performed a CEO swap, bringing in Dell's Asia-Pacific chief and slotting old IBM hand and current CEO Stephen Ward into the role of consultant.
William Amelio, the former SVP of Dell, will take on both Lenovo's CEO and President roles. Ward moves to the consultant office, assisting 'in the transition.' The executive switch occurs close to a year after Lenovo revealed plans to buy IBM's PC business."

Seagate to buy Maxtor | Channel Register

Seagate to buy Maxtor | Channel Register: "Seagate its to acquire rival hard disk drive maker Maxtor the two companies announced today, in a stock-swap valued at $1.9bn.
If shareholders and regulators back the deal, Seagate will offer 0.37 of its own shares for every Maxtor share issued, splitting the merged business 84:16 between Seagate and Maxtor shareholders.
The deal is a classic attempt to cut costs and achieve better economies of scale by bringing two companies together - 'Maxgate' expects to achieve approximately $300m of annual operating expense savings 'after the first full year of integration'. It also eliminates a competitor.
The last couple of years have proved hard for hard disk makers, thanks to aggressive competition, falling margins and plunging prices. In October, Maxtor fell back into the red after a brief stint in profitability. It lost $7.1m on sales of $926m.
Seagate, the most successful of HDD companies of late, announced net income of $272m on sales of $2.09bn in what was effectively the same three-month period."

BBC NEWS | Business | Google confirms $1bn stake in AOL

BBC NEWS | Business | Google confirms $1bn stake in AOL: "Online search engine Google has confirmed it will invest $1bn to take a 5% stake in Time Warner's AOL unit as part of a major strategic alliance.
The deal, which follows intense negotiations between the two US internet giants, values the troubled AOL unit at $20bn.
The global online advertising partnership will make more of AOL's content available to Google users.
The agreement shuts out software giant Microsoft from a rumoured AOL tie-up.
'We're very pleased to build significantly on our special relationship with Google,' said Time Warner chief executive Dick Parsons. "

BBC NEWS | Technology | US 'winning war' on e-mail spam

BBC NEWS | Technology | US 'winning war' on e-mail spam: "The number of unsolicited e-mails received in the US appears to be falling thanks to new laws and better technology, a government report says.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said internet users still disliked spam - but most got less than two years ago.
Spam filters and a 2003 US law allowing people to opt out of future mailings were helping cut the problem, it said.
However, the report warned spammers were improving their technology and the number of e-mail scams had risen.
The US CAN-Spam legislation (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act) was introduced in the US in January 2004.
The FTC said a survey by e-mail filtering firm MX Logic found spam accounted for 67% of traffic through its system for the first eight months of 2005 - a 9% drop from a year earlier.
Time Warner's internet unit AOL reported a 75% fall in spam received by its members from 2003 to 2004, the report added."

BBC NEWS | Technology | Mobile games pay off for Ubisoft

BBC NEWS | Technology | Mobile games pay off for Ubisoft: "Ubisoft's venture into gaming on the go appears to be paying off.
Its mobile gaming subsidiary, Gameloft, has sold almost as many games as Ubisoft, said boss Yves Guillemot.
The French maker of titles such as Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell and King Kong is competing with other game giants for a slice of the mobile pie.
Mobile gaming is expected to explode, with analysts predicting that 220 million people will be playing games on mobile phones by 2009.
Small independent companies such as I-Play and In-Fusio, rather than the big publishers, have so far dominated the mobile gaming market.
But this is changing as the big games powerhouses start to push into mobile gaming. "

AOL Coaxes Google to Try Busier Ads - New York Times

AOL Coaxes Google to Try Busier Ads - New York Times: "Users of Google's search engine will soon see something they are not used to on the notoriously spare site: advertising with logos and graphics. And the advertisers will not be limited to America Online, whose talks with Google prompted the change in policy, according to two executives close to the companies' negotiations.
As part of their deal, which is expected to be announced this afternoon, Google is providing AOL with $300 million in advertising on Google's Web sites, intended to use to draw Google search users to related content on AOL's sites, the executives said. That sum is on top of the $1 billion in cash that Google is to invest to buy a 5 percent stake in AOL.
Representatives of Google and AOL said their companies would not comment on any aspect of the negotiations. Google, which has been providing search technology and placing search-based advertising on AOL since 2002, emerged Friday with a tentative deal to renew and expand that relationship, fending off a challenge from Microsoft. "

BetaNews | Janet, Katrina Most Googled in 2005

BetaNews | Janet, Katrina Most Googled in 2005: "With 2005 almost over, it's time for the yearly Google Zeitgeist, a look at what users of the popular search engine were most commonly searching for during the past 365 days. Heading this year's list were pop star Janet Jackson and Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in August.
'We chose a few key events and phenoms to study, and predictably found the patterns to be amusing or bemusing, challenging or heartening -- kind of like the year itself,' Google Zeitgeist team member Karen Wickre explained."

BetaNews | MS: Want Windows Live Messenger? Pay.

BetaNews | MS: Want Windows Live Messenger? Pay.: "The only thing hotter than the Xbox 360 this holiday season may be invites to join the Windows Live Messenger beta test. Thankfully, Microsoft has a recommendation for those who can't wait for access to the latest bits: pay for an invitation on eBay.
Microsoft's new instant messaging client is in private beta, but users are granted a limited number of invitations for friends and family -- similar to the approach Google took with Gmail. In response, eager Messenger fans have begun to leave their e-mail all over the Web hoping someone grants them an invite."

Google and AOL cement ad love | Channel Register

Google and AOL cement ad love | Channel Register: "The widely leaked alliance between Google and American Online has been confirmed with the two companies announcing a broad partnership on Tuesday.
As leaked, Google takes a 5 per cent stake in AOL, a subsidiary of Time Warner, in exchange for a $1bn investment. In addition, Google gains access to more of AOL's content and will ensure that users of Google's instant messaging software can communicate with AIM users. The two companies also plan to collaborate on an online video service."

Santa IM worm hits AOL, MSN and Yahoo | CNET News.com

Santa IM worm hits AOL, MSN and Yahoo | CNET News.com: " Santa Claus worm is attempting to trick America Online, Microsoft MSN and Yahoo instant-messaging users into clicking on a file that delivers unwanted software to a victim's computer.
The IM.GiftCom.All worm attempts to dupe IM users into thinking an acquaintance has sent them a link to a harmless Santa Claus file, according to a security advisory issued Tuesday by IMlogic.
People who click on the file will see an image of Santa, but what they are less likely to notice is a so-called rootkit being installed onto their system. A rootkit is a tool designed to go undetected by the security software used to lock down control of a computer after an initial hack. The malicious attacker can then distribute messages to the user's IM contacts, using a similar technique to lure the unsuspecting acquaintance to click on the link. "

HP No More Blu, But Also HD DVD - Softpedia

HP No More Blu, But Also HD DVD - Softpedia: "HP (Hewlett Packard), the world's second largest personal computers manufacturer, announced that it will change its next generation DVD format support politics, becoming neutral. Therefore, HP will sustain both HD DVD and Blu-ray. The company made this decision following Blu-ray's denial of embedding the iHD technology in its discs.

Aiming at the "enemy's camp", HP stated that the HD DVD format is more cost efficient than Blu-ray. Also, joining the HD DVD Promotions Group and continuing the collaboration with Blu-ray Disc Association will allow HP to be better positioned on the market, offering competent solutions for the consumers.

Because HP exclusively supported the Blu-ray format in the past, the company asked BDA (Blu-ray Disc Association) to adopt in the new format two new technologies, namely mandatory managed copy and iHD, which were already included in the HD DVD format.

BDA accepted to include in its format only the mandatory managed copy technology, which allows consumers to legally copy video content from the disc. The iHD technology allows content providers to offer a higher level of interactivity. Moreover, iHD enables users to record HDTV programs and to move the digital content over many devices in a house."

Xbox 360: With or Without HD DVD? - Softpedia

Xbox 360: With or Without HD DVD? - Softpedia: "After the successful launch of its new gaming console, Xbox 360, Microsoft is in a dilemma. Better said, the company doesn't know if the Xbox 360 console will get in 2006 an HD DVD optical unit upgrade. If Xbox would have a HD DVD unit, users would watch movies directly form the console in the new format, but the software giant is said no to launch games on the HD DVD support.

Various Internet publications claim that Microsoft will not launch games on HD DVD discs, although its next operating system, Windows Vista, will support this format. Other sources state that the Microsoft Japan officials suggested that HD DVD will be present in the next generation of Xbox 360, but only for movie playback. Moreover, it seems that Microsoft went to a final stage of negotiations with Toshiba for a HD DVD compatible gaming console. This new console is expected in the second half of 2006, according to rumors."

BetaNews | Icahn Warns Against AOL-Google Deal

BetaNews | Icahn Warns Against AOL-Google Deal: "Billionaire investor Carl Icahn inserted his two cents into the rumored exclusive negotiations between AOL and Google. Icahn warned that if the deal with the search engine would prevent a merger or deal with another online company, the board could be 'on the verge of making a disastrous decision.'
Icahn has already called for a shareholder vote to replace the Time Warner board, saying the company needs to streamline its business and begin setting up sales of assets that were holding the company's stock price down."

BBC NEWS | Technology | End nears for Mac version of IE

BBC NEWS | Technology | End nears for Mac version of IE: "Microsoft has advised Mac users of Internet Explorer (IE) to switch to rival browsers such as Apple's Safari.
The advice came as the software giant formally announced the end of IE for Apple Macs.
Microsoft initially said it had stopped work on the browser in June 2003.
No more security updates will be provided as from the New Year. The browser itself will be removed from Microsoft's Mactopia site and no longer be available for download. "

BBC NEWS | Business | Google 'in exclusive AOL talks'

BBC NEWS | Business | Google 'in exclusive AOL talks': "Google shares have hit record highs on reports it could take a stake in Time Warner's internet unit, AOL.
Under the deal, Google would pay $1bn (£565m) for a 5% stake in AOL, the Wall Street Journal website has reported. The two firms have declined to comment.
Time Warner has been seeking a partner to boost AOL's value, which would in turn lift the US media giant's shares.
Any deal between the two sides would freeze out Microsoft, once considered the front-runner for a deal with AOL.
Yahoo had also been in talks with Time Warner but dropped out in November, reportedly because the media giant wanted to retain a majority stake in AOL.
Shares in Google surged more than 7% to highs of $435.20 as reports of the talks emerged. "

BBC NEWS | Technology | Xbox 360 mobile alerts imminent

BBC NEWS | Technology | Xbox 360 mobile alerts imminent: "Gamers could soon be able to receive alerts on their mobile phones when their friends are playing on Microsoft's Xbox 360 games console.
The software giant is working on a system which would let players on its online gaming service, Xbox Live, send instant messages to a friend's mobile.
Microsoft UK mobility business manager Jason Langridge told the BBC the system should be live within six months.
It is part of Microsoft's strategy to connect its various online services. "

Google Gets into the Widgets Business as Well - Softpedia

Google Gets into the Widgets Business as Well - Softpedia: "Widgets are little pieces of software, which Apple introduced as easy-to-load and use solutions which provide information from different online sources without having to load a browser application and search on different sites for updated information regarding weather, stock exchange quotations, news, movie times and quotes of the day. With just one click, all these are available, no wait, no fuss, and to make them go away, you just click once again and they're all gone.

Even before Apple, Konfabulator offered a similar technology, which was gaining in popularity at such a rapid pace that Yahoo gained interest in it as well and it made an offer to acquire Pixoria, which offered the Konfabulator widgets service. Since the acquisition, Yahoo has distributed more than 1.5 million copies of the Konfabulator platform, and users have downloaded more than 10 million widgets, according to the company. "

Microsoft Sweeps Sony Rootkits off the Map - Softpedia

Microsoft Sweeps Sony Rootkits off the Map - Softpedia: "There's no doubt about it, Sony really messed things up with its rootkit software and has also damaged the company's image more than any other competitor could have done.

Installing spyware software on users' computers made everybody angry, and for a very good reason. But while some stuck with just showing disappointment, others stepped in and offered solutions for cleaning the systems from Sony�s malware.

The company run by Bill Gates announced a few weeks ago that it was going to publish an application that cleans systems from rootkits as a part of its Microsoft Antispyware solution. Until yesterday, the suite was left untouched, but Microsoft announced an updated version of the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool, which detects and removes from the system �F4IRootkit�, which is what Microsoft called the infamous Sony rootkit, installed on 52 music albums and distributed in over 5 million copies."

Intel India earns chance at Xeon redemption | The Register

Intel India earns chance at Xeon redemption | The Register: "A botched attempt at creating a new Xeon processor won't slow Intel India down, according to a local report. Intel has its Indian designers creating a new multi-core Xeon chip.
Intel India has been blamed for the failed Whitefield project. The four-core chip promised to be Intel's most sophisticated Xeon product to date, boasting a high-speed interconnect called CSI capable of competing against AMD's Hypertransport technology found on Opteron. Whitefield was the first major Intel processor design project to take place in India and got its name from an IT-rich township on the edge of Bangalore. Despite the past failures, Intel is ready to give its Indian engineers a second chance."

3.5G: A Look into the Future - Softpedia

3.5G: A Look into the Future - Softpedia: "The 3G mobile phone platform is the most advanced form of mobile communication as it allows users to stream video, receive TV signal, send large files and even have voice calls, all that using just a mobile phone. But, what if all that suddenly got a lot better, let's say 7 times better...what would you think about 3G?

According to Ericsson, as of Q2 2006, we will get to know exactly what 3.5G can offer in terms of bandwidth and users and media will be offered a more impressive range of services which will leave 3G in the dust.

The 3.5G solution promises a data download speed of up to 14Mbps (megabits per second) and an upload speed of up to 1.8Mbps. Compared to that, the mere 384Kbps (kilobits per second) download, and uploads up to 64Kbps that a 3G network now offers are somewhat of a bad joke. Just to point out exactly the bandwidth difference between the two, let's take a 1MB MP3 file and send it over a 3G network. It would reach its destination in 22.4 seconds. The same file, sent over 3.5G would be received in 4.1 seconds. This will mean improvements in mobile voice telephony, video telephony, mobile TV, mobile broadband to laptops, and fixed-broadband services."

Barracuda HDD Wins 'Best Design of the Year' - Softpedia

Barracuda HDD Wins 'Best Design of the Year' - Softpedia: "Seagate Technology announced that its Barracuda 7200.9 500GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive has won the 'Best Design of the Year' award from Electronic Design Magazine, a leading publication for electronic design engineers and managers.

The magazine praised the Barracuda 7200.9 family as "the latest generation of the world's most popular desktop PC hard drive" for pushing the limits of longitudinal magnetic recording to 160GB per platter and the half-terabyte drive in particular for a 16MB cache, fast 3Gbit/second SATA throughput and other performance-enhancing capabilities that make it perfect for gamers and power users. Electronic Design also applauded Barracuda 7200.9 for 'an ultra-quiet 7200-rpm motor and a rugged g-force shock-protection system to keep data safe.'"

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 4 Is Now "Double Agent" - Softpedia

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 4 Is Now "Double Agent" - Softpedia: " Ubisoft announced today that "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 4", the fourth blockbuster in the franchise will officially be called "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent". The game will be available in spring 2006 for the Xbox 360, Xbox, PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube system and Windows PC.

Following the Tom Clancy Splinter Cell franchise tradition of innovation, "Double Agent" will completely revolutionize and reinvent the spy action genre by introducing an unprecedented double agent concept and an entirely new breed of gameplay that adds an exciting new dimension to the gaming experience."

Microsoft patents Pause | The Register

Microsoft patents Pause | The Register: "Microsoft has been granted an interactive TV patent that pauses the show while the viewer follows an embedded hyperlink, such as a URL.
And so ends a 12-year battle. Incredibly, Microsoft originally filed for the patent in March 1993, and the language reflects its age: 'The Internet has recently exploded in popularity,' we learn, and that, 'a computer user with a modem can get on-line.'
In its current form, this archaic patent appears not be of immediate use to Microsoft. Patent #6,973,669 describes an invention which uses the vertical blanking interval (VBI) of analog broadcasts, a technology for which Intel once had high hopes. Intercasting delivered data at around 10kbit/s. As modern digital TV streams at 19Mbit/s per channel, there's little shortage of bandwidth."

IBM to be 2005's fastest-growing chip maker | The Register

IBM to be 2005's fastest-growing chip maker | The Register: "AMD may be eating into Intel's x86 processor market share, but its arch-rival will remain the world's biggest chip maker by a long margin when 2005 comes to a close.
According to the latest forecast from market watcher iSuppli, Intel will sell $35.849bn worth of chips this year, including x86 processors, ARM-based CPUs, chipsets, wireless semiconductors, Flash memory and the odd Itanic or two. It sales will be 14.4 per cent up on 2004's total, $31.346bn, and it will take 15.1 per cent of the global chip market.
Its nearest rival, with 7.2 per cent of the market, is Samsung, iSuppli said. The South Korean giant's sales rose 8.5 per cent year on year, from $15.759bn to $17.096bn. Texas Instruments took the number three slot. Its 2005 sales of $11.105bn - up 8.6 per cent - yield a market share of 4.7 per cent."

Open Source in the Mainstream | The Register

Open Source in the Mainstream | The Register: "A few things have appeared from various sources lately resurrecting the old discussion of whether Open Source software is "safe" or "right" for mainstream adoption. Whilst many of us consider this issue to have been dealt with long ago, there still seem to be some out there who want the debate to continue.
The problem is, however, that such debates often get muddled, confusing discussion of the Open Source approach with the pros and cons of specific Open Source solutions. It is relatively common, for example, for people to use the terms Open Source and Linux interchangeably."

Study: Wikipedia as accurate as Britannica | CNET News.com

Study: Wikipedia as accurate as Britannica | CNET News.com: "Wikipedia is about as good a source of accurate information as Britannica, the venerable standard-bearer of facts about the world around us, according to a study published this week in the journal Nature.
Over the last couple of weeks, Wikipedia, the free, open-access encyclopedia, has taken a great deal of flak in the press for problems related to the credibility of its authors and its general accountability."

Adobe profit up, CFO resigns | CNET News.com

Adobe profit up, CFO resigns | CNET News.com: "Design software maker Adobe Systems on Thursday said that its quarterly profit jumped 38 percent, topping expectations, thanks to higher sales of products including Acrobat and Creative Suite.
The company also said Chief Financial Officer Murray Demo had resigned to spend more time with his family and that a search for his replacement had begun.
Also, in the wake of its recent acquisition of Macromedia, Adobe is cutting about 10 percent of workers in the combined company, or between 650 to 700 jobs, distributed roughly equally around the world, Adobe Chief Executive Bruce Chizen told Reuters in a telephone interview."

BetaNews | MS Shakes Up Entertainment Division

BetaNews | MS Shakes Up Entertainment Division: "More changes are in store for Redmond as Microsoft plans to reorganize its entertainment division into four smaller groups to make it more competitive. Details of the split leaked out via an internal memo sent this week by Robbie Bach, head of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division.
Bach would control MSN Music after the split, and the group that handles relations with the entertainment industry -- previously under the Windows group -- would now be under his jurisdiction."

BetaNews | Microsoft Sues 10 for Software Piracy

BetaNews | Microsoft Sues 10 for Software Piracy: "Microsoft wants you to know that 'Not For Resale' isn't just a recommendation. The Redmond company on Thursday announced that it had filed seven lawsuits against individuals who violated its Action Pack subscription agreement and three others against companies for pirating software.
The Microsoft Action Pack Subscriptions, or MAPS, offers a way for partners to obtain heavily discounted software from Microsoft. However, the software must only be used for internal testing and development, and may not be deployed on production systems or resold."

BetaNews | Windows XP Gets Security Certification

BetaNews | Windows XP Gets Security Certification: "Touting the success of it's new Security Development Lifecycle (SDL) process, Microsoft late Wednesday said Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP SP2 Professional and Embedded have secured the highest Common Criteria security certification from the United States government's National Information Assurance Partnership.
Four versions of Windows Server 2003 were certified, including Standard Edition, Enterprise Edition, Datacenter Edition and Windows Server 2003 Certificate Server. Both Windows 2000 Professional and Server editions previously achieved the same security rating, dubbed Evaluation Assurance Level (EAL) 4."

BetaNews | Adobe to Implement Scheduled Patches

BetaNews | Adobe to Implement Scheduled Patches: "Following in the footsteps of Microsoft, Adobe said this week that it plans to adopt a monthly schedule for releasing patches to its products, including the newly-acquired Macromedia line. Adrian Ludwig, manager of Adobe's security software engineering said customers don't want to be surprised.
The moves come after a spate of security holes in Flash prompted Macromedia to urge customers to install version 8. The patch schedule will cover all of Adobe's products, including the popular Adobe Reader, and begin within the next six months. Also like Microsoft, Adobe will provide advanced notification of each month's fixes."

BetaNews | Forgent Licenses JPEG Patent to Yahoo

BetaNews | Forgent Licenses JPEG Patent to Yahoo: "Scheduling software maker turned patent enforcer Forgent has announced an agreement with Yahoo in which the search engine will license the technology behind JPEG image compression. In exchange, Yahoo will be removed from litigation against companies Forgent claims are infringing on what it calls the '672 Patent.
Forgent obtained the patent through its 1997 purchase of Compression Labs. After unsuccessfully trying to sell its JPEG patent to Compaq, Forgent has switched its strategy to litigation -- a tactic that has proven successful. Forgent has sued 47 companies thus far and raked in more than $105 million in licensing fees from 50 others."

Microsoft sells 326,000 Xbox 360s in November - Dec. 14, 2005

Microsoft sells 326,000 Xbox 360s in November - Dec. 14, 2005: "While Microsoft's Xbox 360 is one of the hottest gadgets of the holiday season, the rest of the video game industry isn't faring well.
The Xbox 360, which is largely sold out across the country, sold 325,902 units in November. Some major retailers, including Best Buy, have confirmed they will begin selling additional units Dec. 18. Suffering from the success of the Xbox 360 were the PlayStation 2 (which saw a 23 percent year-over-year sales decline) and the original Microsoft (Research) Xbox, whose sales plummeted 75 percent from the 2004 numbers. (Xbox sales were boosted last November, though, due to the launch of 'Halo 2.')
Total software sales in November were down 18 percent over the 2004 figures, coming in at $696 million, according to analysts quoting data from The NPD Group. While discouraging to investors, the drop was better than predicted. Sales for all of 2005 remain 3 percent below last year's pace. "

BetaNews | Google Shrinks Gmail for Cell Phones

BetaNews | Google Shrinks Gmail for Cell Phones: "Google late Thursday rolled out Gmail Mobile, a miniaturized version of its popular Web mail service for cell phones and mobile devices. It automatically adjusts the interface depending on the size of the screen, and can even open attachments including Word documents, PDF files and pictures.
If a contact's phone number is in the Gmail address book, users can also reply to a message with a call. Gmail Mobile can be accessed free of charge by visiting m.gmail.com, but carrier data fees may apply. Google on Thursday also added two other features to Gmail: a vacation auto-responder and the ability to create contact groups."

Microsoft's New Lawsuit from Visto - Softpedia

Microsoft's New Lawsuit from Visto - Softpedia: "Microsoft has had a new patent infringement lawsuit coming its way from Visto. Visto is suing the software giant and claiming that Microsoft violates the patented technology that provides access by mobile users to e-mail stored on behind-the-firewall servers. They filed the lawsuit against Microsoft in U.S. District Court in Texas."

New Evidence Prooves That Humans Appeared 200,000 Years Earlier - Softpedia

New Evidence Prooves That Humans Appeared 200,000 Years Earlier - Softpedia: "Scientists have found evidence that humans in northern Europe appeared 200,000 years earlier than previously thought.

'The discovery that early humans could have existed this far north this long ago was startling,' said Chris Stringer, a paleontologist at the Natural History Museum and one of the four British scientists who took part in the study.

Manmade stone tools have been discovered in Suffolk, in the UK, and indicate humans were living there at least 680,000 years ago."

BBC NEWS | Technology | Xbox 360 copy protection cracks

BBC NEWS | Technology | Xbox 360 copy protection cracks: "Hackers have taken the first step towards breaking the anti-piracy system on Microsoft's Xbox 360 game console.
A group of crackers called Team PI Coder says it has discovered the basic workings of the console's file system.
The information has helped the group dig out the raw data from the console for 13 Xbox 360 games.
In response Microsoft said its console had several security systems in place that would prevent pirated games being played on it. "

Google whistles a new tune | CNET News.com

Google whistles a new tune | CNET News.com: "Google Music will allow a person to type in the name of a band, artist, album or song in the main Google search bar special, and results will appear at the top, accompanied by icons of music notes, said Marissa Mayer, vice president of search products and user experience at Google.

Items that can be purchased will have links to merchants for online ordering or downloading, she said. Initial merchant partners include Apple Computer's iTunes service, RealNetworks Rhapsody, eMusic and Amazon.com."

Microsoft & Google Working Together? - Softpedia

Microsoft & Google Working Together? - Softpedia: "This is a definitive change from what we are accustomed to, Microsoft and Google are actually playing together. In a push to back entrepreneurs who want to introduce more groundbreaking ideas, Microsoft and Google have forged a tentative alliance by funding a new RAD Internet lab. Along with Sun Microsystems Inc., the $7.5 mil project is happening at University of California, Berkeley.

Scheduled to open Thursday, it will be staffed by six UC Berkeley faculty members and ten computer science graduates. The idea is for the lab to develop an array of Web-based software services that will be given to anyone. Ideally, the RAD lab�s goal is to think up of revolutionary ideas to create company the likes of online auctioneer eBay Inc. or even Google."

MS says 'no' to Xbox 360 HD DVD plan | The Register

MS says 'no' to Xbox 360 HD DVD plan | The Register: "Microsoft has said it has 'no plans' to add HD DVD optical disc technology to its Xbox 360 console.
'Microsoft, in both America and Japan, has not announced anything regarding the possibility of a next-generation DVD drive being placed in the Xbox 360,' a company spokesman told gaming-oriented website IGN.
'There are currently no plans to release an Xbox 360 equipped with a next generation DVD player.'
The comment followed a report by the Japanese news agency Jiji that Microsoft would ship an HD DVD-equipped 360 some time in 2006."