Aaron Dobbins

The popular e-mail service ApexMail has launched version 3.0 of their services, revamping the Web site and updating the features which include an address book, and an autoresponse system for when you are gone for extended periods of time without the ability to check your e-mail. Other internal improvements to the software will allow ApexMail to "make future improvements more frequent and seamless," according to the ApexMail team. Visit the beta site for more information and to sign up to test the system. You must create a new account to gain access to the beta site.

Continue reading →

For those users who have CD recorders and a thurst for new music, visit Net-Burner.com and burn a new CD directly from the Internet, without downloading any songs. Via new applet technology, users simply download a small executable, run it, and the CD is automatically burned in less than 5 minutes. Included with the download is a CD cover and line notes for the three song set. Their other products include Applets that make Game
CDs and other data CDs. Visit Net-Burner.com for more information.

Continue reading →

Microsoft Corp. and three partners took center stage at New York's Grand Central Station Wednesday morning where the software giant's president and CEO, Steve Ballmer, delivered not only an address to the assembled crowd of commuters, but also the goods. The gala happening was staged to launch Microsoft's new Pocket PC handheld device, with which the company hopes to knock dominant handheld builder, Palm Inc., out of the top spot in the market share derby.

The event was simultaneously Webcast along with satellite feeds to journalists worldwide, and marked the opening salvo in Microsoft's bid to strong-arm its way into the handheld arena with a product it claims is better then any similar gizmo now on the market.

Continue reading →

SightSound.com, a privately held renter and distributor of music and video content online, will be adding 12 films produced by Miramax Films, a division of the Walt Disney Company, to its rental offerings.

In an interview with Newsbytes, Jennifer Pefci, marketing director for the privately held Mt. Lebanon, Pa.-based company said that while Sightsound.com will be renting some Miramax-produced motion pictures, she does not know when they will begin renting the films, what films will be available for rental nor, what the rental price will be.

Continue reading →

XL Digital Software has released the next beta in of its flagship program Alliance, which offers users a secure Internet browsing environment unlike any other on the market. This security-based Web browser gives users the option to use multiple profiles, monitor browser activities, encryption tools, and scheduling.

This newest version introduces users to new TrueWeb technology, which uses a single Meta tag in HTML files to detect what resolution the author intended the page to be viewed in. Then, the browser dynamically sizes itself or the monitor resolution to display the page best, returning all settings to their previous values as soon as the user leaves the TrueWeb enabled site."

Continue reading →

PowerQuest, maker of the popular hard drive partitioning software Partion Magic, has released a long awaited update to that software, which adds compatibility with Windows 2000 amongst other upgraded features. The company stated that "Due to the size and nature of the PartitionMagic 5.01 update, the update is only available on CD. There is not a downloadable patch. PowerQuest apologizes for any inconvenience that this may cause." Visit the PowerQuest Web site to learn how to get your copy of Partition Magic 5.01.

Continue reading →

In order to "make CorelDRAW 10 the most intuitive, stable and user-friendly version yet," the company announced that beta testing of its popular suite of graphics programs has begun. Testers are needed for CorelDRAW, CorelPHOTO-PAINT, CorelTRACE, and CorelCAPTURE; and focuses on experienced users of the Corel, Macromedia, and Adobe graphics applications. Visit the sign-up page to apply for a beta testing position, and visit the Corel Beta News site for more information.

Continue reading →

Well, it appears that Napster has "forgot about Dre." The artist has quickly reminded the San Francisco-based company by giving them until Friday to take his songs out of their index, claiming copyright infringement. This follows the recent lashing out on Napster of many artists including Metallica, who filed suit last week against the company and three universities, making the same copyright infringement claims. While Dr. Dre has reportedly not committed to suing the company, past experiences lend everyone to believe that is the next step in the process.

Continue reading →

Fresh from announcing a variety of new public and private financial commitments to helping poor children leap across the "digital divide," President Clinton today will bring that same message to the venerable yet cutting-edge Comdex trade show.

In a speech to be delivered here in Chicago, Clinton will reiterate his previously announced efforts to bring the Internet to children and adults who have little access to a telephone line, much less the Internet.

Continue reading →

Entitled MyCQ, this new program allows you to chat with your ICQ and AOL Instant Messenger buddies via one interface, instead of the usual two. Using new plug-in technology, MyCQ allows users to connect to each server and see their buddies from the different programs. It offers the normal features of ICQ and AOL, and includes a tool to directly import your buddy lists, thus avoiding the hastle of adding everyone again. IT is also fully freeform skinnable, allowing you to change the entire shape of the interface. Download MyCQ from FileForum, and visit the MyCQ homepage for more information.

Continue reading →

A new program entitled Evolution Interface, created by Codename: MANA LLC., has entered the market to compete with the likes of Litestep and Darkstep to lead the industry in custom desktops. Boasting that "Evolution is so easy to learn and use, you can be up and running in 15 minutes," Codename: MANA has created this program with a myriad of features to make it easy to use and easy to set up.

Evolution Interface allows users to have as many desktops as they want, thus reducing clutter and giving users more space to work with. Desktop icons can be any picture you chose, including scanned photographs.

Continue reading →

DeepLeap, a new Web application intended to help you find related information while you browse the Internet, has just opened for beta testing. This service requires one small install that is placed on your toolbar, which allows you to access DeepLeap services and get information about whatever you are interested in. Tools included in the program let users perform various tasks with the information that is accessed through the program.

With the "Get-It" feature, you can comparison shop and find the cheapest prices on items you are looking for. You can also find related information on a certain subject just by highlighting the word and activating DeepLeap.

Continue reading →

In a move sure to ease the burden of law students and constitutional scholars everywhere, the Supreme Court launched its own Web site on Monday that features the high courts decisions, argument calendars and other information.

At http://www.supremecourtus.gov, visitors may read the court's decisions the same day they are released and study the High Court's argument calendar, schedules, rules, visitors' guides and bar admission forms.

Continue reading →

Net2Phone, the Internet telephony carrier, has taken the wraps off a new technology called Your Alternative Phone, or YAP for short. The service, which centers on a new range of Internet telephony hardware, is designed to bring the benefits of discount Net telephony to non-PC users.

Plans call for the new range of Net telephony devices to be sold worldwide this summer, with prices on the initial range of eight YAP systems starting from $40.00.

Continue reading →

In response to news of the Metallica lawsuit, University of Indiana's Technology Policy officer Mark Bruhn told students today that if university council advised the banning of Napster, they would do so - no questions asked. While he refused to comment on the RIAA and the Napster lawsuit, as well as the recent conviction of AOL in a German court of fascilitating the piracy of music, he did say that Indiana had not yet received any legal documents concerning the matter, and that the university would continue to monitor the situation. His main focus this morning was to warn students of the dangers of downloading MP3s, saying "I hope those of you who do not know the seriousness of the situation leave here worried." Keep checking back as the story develops.

Continue reading →