MS Hailstorm on the Horizon
Microsoft is in the works to dent AOL's long time grip on the instant messaging industry with its new strategy and software technologies dubbed Hailstorm. Mary Jo Foley has the scoop over at ZDNet once again, as the Redmon Giant hopes to take instant messaging to the next level, beyond basic chatting. According to her report, MS plans to use its 'Hailstorm' software to transform IM'ing into a multi-functional platform for Internet productivity, with access to e-mail, stock quotes, and calendar functions. The question remains though, as to what Microsoft will add to the picture that isn't already supported by AOL IM, and what will make it so much better. For more information read Mary Jo's article over at ZDNet.
AOL IM "Woodstock" Alpha 2 Surfaces
Thanks to a BetaNews reader who pointed us to his Web site where you will now find Alpha 2 of America Online Instant Messenger version 4.4.2286. This upgrade features all sorts of bugfixes and improvements to the general function of the software. MapQuest maps have now been incorporated, along with the ability to connect via an HTTPS proxy server, as well as an option to send an "American Greetings" IM. Also added to this release is topical chats and buddy comments. For more information on this release, visit here, or download it now from FileForum.
Microsoft Unleashes Mobile Manager
On the move, and tired of having to login on your laptop to check mail and other updates? If your mail services are hosted by a Microsoft Exchange Server, your answers may be solved. Microsoft has released mobile software which allows you to download updates from your home or office computer to a text-enabled mobile device.
Fully integrated with the Office 2000 suite, the package enables users to receive notifications on their cellular phone, pager, handheld PC, or other device whenever their desktop PC is running.
Commentary: Why Napster Isn't That Big of a Deal
Sure Napster did revolutionize the way users share files over the Internet, and give netizens and music lovers everywhere a vehicle to trade songs and the like. However, that certainly does not make the software the be all end all of file sharing. This summer, which is approaching quickly, will turn Napster from the free service it once was into a money making business model, and Napster users everywhere are freaking out about it.
Not too long ago Napster was a big deal. But then those guys over at Nullsoft, the ones that make that llama-whipping software Winamp, developed a new protocol they called Gnutella. This was, and still is, an unstoppable force. Because it is Peer-to-Peer rather than a central server system like Napster, no one thing can bring it down.
HP Rolls Out "Next-Gen Internet" Building Software
Hewlett-Packard today launched its own software to help make the Internet a better place for netizens around the world. All major corporations including MS, Sun, and Corel are all racing towards the Internet as a basis for all next-generation products and services. HP sites the growing market for Internet appliances and devices as reasons to jump into the market. HP will be one of the first to market with such products, and will be compatible with Java and Microsoft .Net technologies. For more information read the Reuters Report.
Sega Gives Up Dreamcast for Set-top Venture
Sega, in conjunction with PACE Micro Technology of Great Britain, has unveiled the first look at its new set-top box. The box, according to GameSpot UK, will be fully compatible with existing Dreamcast titles and build on Dreamcast architecture. It also features a high capacity hard drive and broadband capabilities. Sega just recently decided to halt production of the Dreamcast due to lagging sales and high costs. For more information, and to see a picture of the console, visit GameSpot UK.
'Anna' Author Comes Clean
The writer of the recent virus, come to be known as the 'Anna' worm for its usage of an Anna Kournikova image to spread its charm, has come clean to police. Reuters reports that apparently the man decided to turn himself in after consulting with his parents and realizing the virus had crippled e-mail servers worldwide. The man, known as OnTheFly, wrote the virus to show that Internet users have still not taken proper precautions to ward off viral attacks, even after the disastrous Love Letter and Melissa incidents. He could face as much as four years jail time for his crime.
AntiTrust Woes Continue for MS
Hot on the heels of its pending appeal for last years decision by Judge Jackson to break up the company, Microsoft is facing more anti-trust investigations. This round focuses on the Redmond giants purchase of Great Plains Software, and a $135 million investment in rival office suite maker Corel. Wall Street Journal reports thtt Microsoft is fully cooperating with the DOJ on the matter, and does not expect to have problems completing the deal.
Gates Officially Announces WindowsXP
Microsoft's Bill Gates officially announced the WindowsXP operating system yesterday, bringing with it a slew of articles, Web site, and screen shots of the upcoming software. Beta 2 invitations were sent out this week to some testers not originally included in the beta test, much like Microsoft is doing with OfficeXP. Testers thus far are raving about the new interface, which is being revamped for Beta 2 to include the new Luna interface.
Several features of Luna have Windows lovers reved up to get their hands on a copy, which currently stands at Build 2428 released to testers this week also. Alpha-blending has been included to add new dimensions to the look and feel of the Windows desktop, along with a new skinning system to provide users with "themes" much like WindowBlinds from Stardock.
Review: You've Got AOL Mobile Communicator!
Looking for a way to stay in touch on the go? AOL Mobile Communicator might be the easiest, and most affordable solution for you. The Mobile Communicator is one of the newer additions to the AOL’s AOL Anywhere initiative. Based on the familiar BlackBerry design from Research in Motion (RIM), the AOL Mobile Communicator is a smartly designed pager-sized device for sending and receiving your AOL e-mail and instant messages. This thing will turn heads, even among the crowd that would normally say something like, "You still use AOL?" (you know who you are).
AOL users will have no problem learning how to use the Mobile Communicator. RIM has received kudos for making its BlackBerry amazingly easy to navigate, and this certainly continues with the Mobile Communicator. One of my favorite features is the thumb-wheel, used to scroll through e-mails and menus, and also pressed to make selections. I quickly adjusted to the small-but-manageable keyboard -- you can get typing fairly quickly with your thumbs. One feature you’ll really appreciate is that the buddy list on your Mobile Communicator is automatically synced with the one on your AOL account, so there’s no need to have to add everyone on to it when you first get the device.
Download Purchases from Amazon
Online retail giant Amazon today announced the beginning of a new program to help make the company profitable by the end of this year. According to the Reuters report, Amazon is now allowing consumers to purchase certain pieces of software from Amazon in the normal fashion, and then download the software instead of waiting for delivery.
Once the purchase is complete, the customer is sent an e-mail with details and links to download the product from secure servers at Preview Systems Inc.
Appeals Court Tells Napster To Stop the Music
The US Court of Appeals today said Napster
must put an end to the sharing of tunes from the world's biggest
record companies, unveiling a long-awaited decision that backs a
preliminary injunction ordered by a lower court in July.
The ruling from the Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit - a
California-centered jurisdiction under which many technology
oriented legal battles have been fought - calls for Napster to
prohibit its 50 million users from exchanging MP3 files containing
tracks produced by the record labels and music-publishing companies
now suing the company for copyright infringement.
Stardock Debuts WebBlinds
BetaNews and Stardock have teamed up to announce the first public release of WebBlinds, a new tool for skinning Internet Explorer 5.0 or later. Using WebBlinds you can change the look of IE's toolbar buttons, animations, progress bar, and of course the window itself without downloading a separate bloated browser.
WebBlinds project manager, Ian Hanschen, tells BetaNews: "It's funny. There are entire companies based around building third party applications that host an IE window. Very inefficient. We work from the inside of Internet Explorer rather than trying to reinvent the framework. This means WebBlinds can be truely non-invasive, and at the same time improve your Internet experience."
Sony Debuts Credit Card-Thin Television
Yesterday technology giant Sony showed off its latest creation, an organic electroluminescent (OEL) display just 1.4mm thin, or roughly the thickness of a credit card. According to the Reuters report, the new screen could bring an end to the much larger tv tubes currently being used, and strongly compete with LCD screens. The OEL display is not only thinner and lighter, but also produces a better picture than that of the LCD screen. Sony hopes to mass produce the displays by 2003, matching the cost and size of today's LCD displays. You can read the rest of the report over at MSNBC.
Netscape 6.01 Available
Netscape users everywhere can rejoice at the arrival of version 6.01 for their using pleasure. Though no official announcement has been made yet, users can download the update from the Netscape FTP. Highlights in this release include an improvement in many categories and overall performance. Some users have already said the newest version is a lot better than previous releases. Let us know what you think. You can download the Windows version here, or the Linux version here.
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