Whistler and Itanium Hardware Compatibility Lists Released
Microsoft has released a lenghty list of hardware that has been tested and certified as compatible with the Windows Whistler operating system, which is currently in its Beta 1 phase, and for the Itanium processor currently being developed at Intel. Itanium is the first 64-bit processor from the chip giant Intel. The list of hardware for the Itanium has been tested with the Whistler beta as well. The Redmond giant warns that the lists are "neither complete nor comprehensive" and "also, computers and devices on this
list have not been tested in all possible configurations." For more information visit Microsoft.
Toshiba Releases DVD-RAM Video Recorder With Hard Drive
Japanese electronics company Toshiba has unleashed its latest creation to the public, but only in Japan before Christmas. The new device, a DVD-RAM video recording unit, comes complete with a 30GB hard drive on top of the 4.7GB DVD-RAM drive. With the unit users will be able to record television programming and edit video footage directly from the hard disk and store it to a library in the DVD-RAM for later playback. Much like the TiVo or ReplayTV, users will also be able to playback certain parts of a video while the device is still recording. The new technology comes at a hefty price however, weighing in at 270,000 yen ($2,481 USD). For more information visit Toshiba.
Microsoft Home Now Up and Running!
In other Microsoft news, the latest in home technologies are now on display in New York and the recently unveiled Microsoft Home. The home features the latest and greatest in wireless and connectivity technologies, some of which are still in the works. The 8,000 square foot abode features 25 such technologies aimed at making homes more productive and efficient for the future. Microsoft is offering virtual tours of the wired home here.
MP3.com Gives Up 5 Percent to UMG
BetaNews reported yesterday that MP3.com and Universal Music had settled its long court battle over copyright infringements with restitution and stock warrants. Today MP3.com issued Universal warrants for some 3 million common shares, a potential 5% stake in the company, for just $250,000 USD. According to the Reuters report Universal can choose to purchase those shares over the next three years for prices ranging from #3.75 to $5.00 per share.
Warm Apples Anyone?
According to ZDNet, Apple officially admitted today that problems with some G4 computers are cropping up on certain systems. Apparently some systems are experiencing failing power switches and overheating issues. A spokeswoman for Apple told reporters the problems are isolated and rare.
The power switch problem lies with a defective panel behind the power switch that after failing prevents the computers from turning on.
AMD's Clawhammer - Its Got Teeth!
At COMDEX yesterday AMD once again turned up the heat on rival Intel by announcing in 2002 its new processor, the ClawHammer, will slam into the market at 2GHz...and that's just for starters. The ClawHammer is just the first in the new Hammer processor family which brings a newer, faster architecture and 64-bit processing to the table.
John Spooner over at ZDNet reports "the chip will include extensions to the X86 processor instruction set that will take it from 32-bit addressing to 64-bit addressing."
Voodoo 5 6000 Plans Halted
According to the latest news on the net, 3dfx has apparently dropped the Voodoo 5 6000 "project" as the petition so puts it. The purpose of the just mentioned petition is "to show Quantum3d that we as 3dfx fans support them if they would decide to release a retail version of an accelerator using 3dfx’s licensed technology." If you are interested in signing the petition visit http://smat.dyndns.org/petition.html or visit 3dfx for the latest information on their recent agreement with Quantum3d to license 3dfx technologies for use in Quantum3d simulators.
Palm Mobile Internet Kit Now Available
For those of you still looking for a viable solution to hooking your Palm Pilot into the Internet, Palm Inc. now has a solution for you. The new kit which is currently available in the United States and will be available elsewhere in the beginning of December allows users to connect to the Internet using any data-enabled mobile phone. The kit includes Palm OS 3.5, which is needed to have the added support, short messaging services support, and MultiMail software to check your POP3 or IMAP account. As a bonus the kit includes a WAP enabled browser. The kit retails for $39.95 USD and more information can be found by visiting www.palm.com.
3D Browser Launched!
Just like at Internet World a few weeks ago, COMDEX is playing host to one of the latest rages on the Internet, 3D browsing. A new company 2Ce Inc. today previewed its 3D browser at the convention today, which is expected to launch in the first quarter of next year. The yet to be named software will be free for netizens around the globe when it officially launches. The 3D environment allows a user to view multiple pages at once, not like a tabbed browser, but rather like posters on a wall. For more information visit 2Ce online at www.2ce.com.
MP3.com Settles With Universal
After a judge delayed a ruling in the copyright case filed against MP3.com by Universal Music Group, the two companies have apparently today come to an agreement. Under the agreement, MP3.com has agreed to pay UMG $53.4 million in exchange for licensing of the UMG catalog currently on My.MP3.com. UMG also locked rights to purchase warrants in the company if desired according to the Newsbytes release.
Navidad Virus Not Spreading Cheer
Navidad, the Spanish word for Christmas, is not spreading the holiday cheer this Christmas season. The new virus packs a lot of heat, and can render your computer system completely useless via blocking all .exe execution. McAfee sent out the word last week, and ZDNet reported more on it today as computer users around the globe need to be warned about this very malicious virus.
The McAfee virus warning is as follows:
Kaspersky Labs VIRUS WARNING
Kaspersky Labs sent out a notice concerning a new virus that is "in the wild" today. Dubbed Hybris, the new Outlook worm can cause serious damage to a users computer, and is very advanced for virus writing. To quote the notice "'What we have here is perhaps the most complex and refined malicious code in the history of virus writing," from Eugene Kaspersky, Head of Company Anti-Virus Research Center.
Hybris: The Story Continues
New dangerous versions of the virus have been detected "in the wild"
Pentium 4 Benchmarks
The site Ctrl-Alt-Del.com has posted benchmarks for the upcoming Pentium 4 processors. Here is a little taste of what they had to say: "As you will see, the results are really good for the memory Benchmark but for the rest of it, the Benchmarks results where not has impressive..." Also fair warning, the results were not made in their labs, so the accuracy of said benchmarks are not guaranteed. Still, for those of you interested who may trust them, you can check them out here.
Catch a Thief...Beating Them At Their Own Game
It seems that at least a few people other than those who use file-swapping programs realize that indeed, those who want, will get. If not via Napster, music lovers will always be able to get their hands on music illegally, whether through peer-to-peer networks such as Gnutella, or FTP, or IRC, they will always be there. So now the music industry is faced with a big decision, and that is whether to run with it, or use those technologies against the thieves they are working so hard to stop.
A new company named MediaDefender hopes to help the music industry, and related industries such as movies and such, to stop the mass pirating that is currently plaguing the Internet. How it can do so you may ask? What seems like a simple idea, spoofing involves exactly what it says, tricking a user into thinking it is what they are looking for, but when it is opened a message appears warning the user of the illegal activity they have just performed.
Unofficial Detonator Drivers Leaked Again
Last time it was version 6.47 that leaked onto the Web. Just two days ago version 7.17 of nVidia's Detonator drivers were leaked onto the Web again. No word on performance yet, but if they work out like the last versions, they should be pretty good. Thanks to ActiveWin for some more links, and you can download the latest drivers for Win 9x/Me and Windows 2000 from FileForum. Stay tuned as we try to better figure out what these drivers are all about.
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