Tribal Voice Demands AOL Opens Instant Messenger
In a complaint to the Federal Communications Commission, America Online rival Tribal Voice has demanded AOL be forced to open its Instant Messenger client before the AOL-Time Warner deal is complete. Many smaller companies have attempted to connect to AOL servers in the past, and have been repeatedly blocked from doing so, and just recently have begun to band together to fight for the use of AOL's client. While the communications giant does license its client to those companies who desire its use, such as Novell and their InstantMe software, there has been a push for a universal chat client in recent months. BetaNews will keep you posted as the FCC makes its decision.
Dr. Dre Files Suit Against Napster
Dr. Dre has made good on his threats, as he and his label Aftermath Entertainment filed suit against Napster, Inc. for copyright infringement. Just last week Dr. Dre sent a letter to Napster threatening a lawsuit if the company did not remove his music from the indexing system. The suit seeks the maximum $100,000 per infringed work, reports say, along with the dismantling of everything Napster uses to run the servers and business. Keep checking back for further details.
Linux Mandrake Hydrogen Beta Testing Begins
Linux Mandrake has released version 7.1 Beta of their Linux operating system. Dubbed Hydrogen, this beta features USB support for printers, ZIP drives and modems, as well as tools for users who run Windows and Mandrake Linux on the same computer that allow them to access Windows fonts and an easy-to-use boot manager. This release also features XFree86 4.0 and ReiserFS, a journalized file system. You can download the ISO or download the non-ISO and test Mandrake Hydrogen 7.1 now.
Ellison Surpasses Gates as Richest Man
According to BetaNews calculations Larry Ellison, Oracle's CEO, is now the richest man in the world. Surpassing Microsoft's Bill Gates earlier today due to the recent stock market plunge, Ellison's Oracle stock is worth an estimated $52.1 billion, while Gates' Microsoft stock is worth a close $51.4 billion. Due in part to the recent anti-trust ruling against Microsoft and the 500 percent jump in Oracle stock in less than a year, Ellison has done what many never thought possible. Of course, both have other investments not factored in, but for simplicity sakes, Ellison appears to be the winner.
DeepLeap Officially Launches
As previewed on BetaNews last week, a new service available for Internet surfers entitled DeepLeap has officially launched. This service allows users to search for and find related information by simply highlighting words on the Web page they are currently surfing. An array of other features makes DeepLeap a good tool for Internet research and e-commerce shopping. Visit DeepLeap to take the online tour and begin using it.
IPro Sparrow Final Release Available
WebWare Solutions has launched the final release of its flagship program IPro Sparrow, available for purchase from its Web site. This innovative product allows developers to easily integrate remote database access via the Internet. Stating, "Developers who use this technology will have an incredible competitive advantage over their peers too slow or unwilling to grow and adopt the Internet Enabling paradigm," Michael McDonald, President of the Works Division, touted that IPro Sparrow is "a must have" for developers. Visit the WebWare Solutions Web site for more information.
Backdoor Found in Red Hat Linux
It appears that Microsoft Windows is not the only operating system on the market that has a backdoor for those users who know the magic words. While Red Hat officials downplayed its seriousness, a team at Internet Security Systems, Inc. reports the security hole allows an intruder to access and modify files on systems running the most recent version of Red Hat Linux.
According to the reports, the first hole is associated with the set of Web administration utilities called "Piranha," and allows a malicious user to run the utilities on any Red Hat-run Web site from any Web browser.
Microsoft Ships Beta 2 of SQL Server
Microsoft has released the second test version of its new database software, SQL Server 2000, expected to reach final this summer. This next-generation software is one of the keys to Microsofts new e-commerce strategy, and is expected to directly compete with the likes of Oracle and IBM. Features include partitioning for large business networks, and XML support, amongst various other capabilities. This version is said to improve Web support and "data mining" abilities. For more information visit Microsoft PressPass.
US, States Favor Plan To Split Up Microsoft
The Justice Department and 19 states are leaning toward asking a court to split Microsoft Corp. into two or three separate companies in a plan designed to end the software giant's monopoly in the US computer industry, people familiar with the discussions said over the weekend.
The drafting of a breakup plan marks a dramatic moment in the two-year lawsuit and only the first time since the 1974 antitrust lawsuit against AT&T Corp. that the federal government has considered such a drastic proposal for a corporate lawbreaker.
USC Says No Way To Napster Blocking
The University of Southern California (USC) has reportedly refused to join some other universities in blocking MP3 music downloads via the controversial Napster program.
An Associated Press report today said the university made the announcement on Friday in response to a lawsuit filed by the heavy metal godfathers of Metallica, which named USC, Yale University and Indiana University as defendants in charges alleging the schools allowed students to pirate copyrighted music.
Message Firms Threaten DoJ Action In AOL-IM Debate
The merger of America Online Inc. and Time Warner Inc. should not receive Federal Communications Commission approval until the FCC examines AOL's policy of making its Instant Messenger service incompatible with other companies' similar services, according to two companies experiencing the freeze-out.
Tribal Voice CEO Ross Bagully today told Newsbytes that instant messaging is a communications wave of the future, and that one company's attempts to make itself the dominant brand raises concerns similar to Microsoft Corp.'s dominance of the Windows operating system.
Indiana University Follows Suit, Blocks Napster
UPDATED - Indiana University has made the choice to block Napster once again, after Metallica filed suit against the university last week on charges of facilitating the illegal distribution of the band's music. This comes as no surprise, as Technology Policy Officer Mark Bruhn told students last week that if necessary, there would be no hesitation on the part of Indiana to block the program again.
In an apparent effort to protect the students at the university, IU Vice President for Public Affairs and Government Relations Christopher Simpson stated "We believe Indiana University has no liability by allowing access to sites such as Napster. We now believe, however, that our faculty, staff and students could incur legal exposure if they use this technology. Until those unresolved legal issues are clarified, it seems prudent to block the site."
Netscape Security Vulnerability Discovered
Stating that it is not a bug, Bennett Haselton, Webmaster of Peacefire.org who discovered the bug, claims that a vulnerability in Netscape 4.x allows a malicious webmaster to view bookmarks and cache file. Via frames opened by the HTML and a little snipet of JavaScript, a webmaster can view the file by redirecting one frame to point to the file desired, the other frame pointed to the cookie file. Using this, Haselton was able to have a users bookmarks e-mailed to him as a demonstration of the exploit. To combat the vulnerability, users need simply to change their profile, in Netscapes preferences. Only if the profile is set to default does the problem exist.
Judge Blocks Mitnick's Appearance At Conference
An information technology conference in Salt Lake City this week had to go on without convicted hacker Kevin Mitnick after a judge ruled his participation in a panel discussion on computer security would violate terms of his probation.
The Utah Information Technology Association (UITA) learned shortly before the two-day conference began Tuesday that a federal judge in California barred Mitnick from sitting on the panel. UITA President Richard Nelson said he was "disappointed" that Mitnick would not be allowed to share his expertise with those in the business of fighting hackers.
Riffshare - Turn Your Computer Into a Jukebox
Riffshare, a new program available from its Web site at Riffshare.com, allows users to turn a network of home computers into a network of jukeboxes. With Riffshare, users have access to playlists and songs on every computer via the network and software. It can be used on any local area network, and automatically detects other computers on the network that are running Riffshare.
The software can automatically build and index your library, and others on the network, based on the ID3 tags on the MP3s. It can also organize them into Artist lists, Album lists, Genre lists, and custom Playlists.
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