DesktopX 0.60 Nearing Release
For those of you users who raved about DesktopX a few weeks ago when it was initially released, you can get excited because Brad Wardell sent word that DesktopX version 0.60 is nearing release to the public. The other exciting news is that if you own Object Desktop, you can download version 0.55 of DesktopX right now. Key improvements in this version include COMPRESSION of graphics IN MEMORY, New GDI/System resource management system, a new graphics engine, a few usability modifications, and some bug fixes. Visit Stardock for more information.
Central Command Intros New Virus Detection Software
Central Command has announced the official release of AntiVirus eXpert, the company's antiviral solution for Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000, Linux, and the Palm operating systems. Along with the new software, Central Command launched AVX Enterprise, its network management console to administer the software from anywhere on your company's network.
Keith Peer, president and CEO of Central
Command Inc. told the press, "AVX Professional is our flagship desktop product offering complete and thorough virus protection by integrating deep into the operating system. Beyond the usual defenses such as scanning files for virus signatures, AVX uses several next generation technologies to close current security loopholes and provides automatic virus protection updates, ensuring that all AVX users are fully protected against new virus outbreaks."
Gateway and AOL Introduce the "Touch Pad"
America Online has given consumers yet another Web appliance. This one, dubbed the Touch Pad, features processing power from Transmeta, and falls into the "AOL Anywhere" strategy. Gateway also introduced a new home appliance called the Connected Music Player. This device looks and feels like a home stereo and plays MP3 files from a connected PC. The Touch Pad will retail for $599 USD and be used to connect to the Internet or check e-mail. Gateway is providing the hardware, and AOL is providing the software, called Instant AOL. Read more over at CNet if you'd like.
Visions of the Future
While the PocketPC may not be extremely popular in the handheld market, nor is it exactly dead in the water, Bill Gates and company aren't wasting any time moving into the future. Monday at Fall Comdex in Las Vegas Gates will debute a new product from Microsoft thus far simply named the Tablet PC.
The name practically details the device without any previous knowledge. It will hopefully provide the computing power of a notebook in the size of a legal pad, with voice-driven commands coming soon.
Adobe's .Net Challenger
Adobe Systems, well-known for their graphics and publishing programs such as Photoshop and PageMaker, has announced that they too are working on a "Net Publishing" strategy. According to the report on MSNBC, the company announced that it will begin bundling several softwares and technologies to create a simple solution to publishing on the net.
Dubbed Adobe Studio, the Web-based product will "provides workflow management for small companies that subscribe to its services", which will cost around $40 USD when it launches early next year.
PlayStation2 Woes Continue
Sony has confirmed that unfortunately 200,000 Brits will be without the extremely popular console this Christmas. Originally set to ship 365,000 units, Sony now says that they will only be able to deliver 165,000 units to the English due to teething problems during production and the extremely high demand in Japan and the United States for the console. ZDNet UK has the full story if you are interested.
Iomega Beta Testers Wanted
Thanks to one BetaNews reader who let us know that Iomega has begun looking for beta testers for some of their new products soon to be released. While the beta site does not detail what these products are just yet, you can fill out an application to become a tester if you are interested. Please visit Iomega.com for more information on how their beta program works and to apply.
Official Visual Studio.Net Beta Invites Sent
In more Microsoft beta news, the Redmond giant has officially sent out beta invitations for the upcoming Visual Studio .Net (Version 7.0). The beta program will begin in the coming months, with an official Beta 1 expected later this month or early next month. Developers are expected to receive Beta 2 of the software in April, followed by the final release in the latter half of 2001. For more information about Visual Studio .Net, read this BetaNews article from InternetWorld, or visit Microsoft.
DirectX 8.0 Gone Gold
UPDATE - Downloads have been added! Several DirectX beta testers wrote in to let us know that DirectX 8.0 has gone gold and is now available for download from Microsoft's beta testing site, betaplace.com. For those of you who may not be able to download it from there, as you have to be an official beta tester to do so, you can look for the final version of DirectX to be downloadable from Microsoft sometime before 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, November 11th. For more information about DirectX, visit Microsoft.
Here is the list of download locations for DirectX 8.0:
QuickTime 5 Preview Available for Download
Apple users across the globe can now get their hands on the first public preview of QuickTime version 5.0. BetaNews reported earlier last month about the preview, detailing new features which include streaming MPEG-1 video, improvements to 3D QuickTime VR, along with added support for Macromedia Flash 4 and Nullsoft's Shoutcast. It also comes with a new interface and "skip" protection for streaming video with QuickTime Streaming Server 3. For more information and to download the release, visit Apple, Inc..
Netscape 6 Not Ready?
According to Mary Jo Foley's article over at ZDNet, that's just what David Flanagan is saying. An author for the popular O'Reilly & Associates line of publishings, Flanagan petitioned Netscape last week demanding that they delay the release of the final version of the upcoming browser until some "major compliance bugs" were fixed. Some of these bugs would seriously hinder Netscapes compliance with the latest HTML, DOM, and CSS standards, according to Flanagan. Some cite the harsh public criticism of Netscape on the fact that it is open-source, making the code more openly scrutinized. Read the article on ZDNet for the full details.
ASUS Web Site Hacked
ASUS, makers of well-known and popular lines of motherboards for the PC, is the latest victim of a hack attack. The message on the index page reads as so: "defaced by l4m3 k1dd13 fuck hackphreak and that stupid dickhead rloxley ." You can still visit www.asus.com and see the message if you desire. Keep checking back as the story develops.
Pentium 4: Get Them While They're...Not Useful
If you are really that eager to get your hands on Intel's latest and greatest creation, the Pentium 4, you can certainly do so two weeks before the official release. Dallas Memory International has already begun selling the chips, but remarks that they have only sold 5 thus far due to the serious lack of motherboards supporting the new processor. The new processor boasts major improvements in areas like MP3 decoding, gaming, and overall performance. For more information visit News.com.
Another 'Minor Incident' at Microsoft
According to reports on eWeek, Microsoft has apparently fallen victim to another hacker attack. This one however, has been reduced to the hacking of a "retired server that was being used for redirection" according to officials at Microsoft. The Dutch hacker, going under the name Dimitri, claims he accessed several of Microsoft's servers using an exploit in the companies ISS software. Microsoft refutes that, claiming he only accessed one small server. Even worse, Dimitri then posted the news on the events.microsoft.com bulletin board on Friday. The message the hacker wanted to get across simply read "Hack the Planet!". Read the ZDNet story for more information.
Seagate to Provide Drives for X-Box
Seagate, one of the most well-known makers of hard drives for the PC, has reportedly been chosen to provide Microsoft with the drives to be used in the upcoming X-Box gaming console. Reuters is reporting that the company has won the contract to provide the storage hardware for the console until at least the middle of 2003. X-Box is set to be released sometime next year. Keep your eyes out as the X-Box comes on the scene.
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