Vista Inches Closer to Release with RC1
Microsoft's long, strange trip with Windows Vista came closer to an end Friday as the company released the first release candidate of its next-generation operating system. Windows client vice president Jim Allchin, who plans to retire after Vista's release, made the announcement in an e-mail to TechNet subscribers.
"It's official -- RC1 is done," Allchin said. "We could not have achieved this milestone without your support. The quantity and quality of feedback and data we received from you has been essential to helping us progress."
Windows Media Player 11 Beta 2 Out
Microsoft on Thursday released a second beta of Windows Media Player 11, providing some performance enhancements, bug fixes and the integration of Windows Media Connect functionality into the player itself. The new feature would allow users to automatically share the contents of their WMP library with compatible devices around the home, the company said in its release notes.
WMP11 Beta 2 also shows continued progress with the player's integration with MTV's music service, URGE. The service is a joint initative between the music network and Microsoft. In addition to the functionality changes and bug fixes, Beta 2 also includes new online stores, including eMusic, VidZone and Music Giants for a total of 14. Microsoft said it expected additional stores to be added before the final release.
GSM Expands Lead in Americas
GSM has taken a majority share in North America, according to data released Thursday by industry group 3G Americas. As of the end of the second quarter of 2006, GSM had added 100 million new customers over the past year to end the period with a 51 percent share.
The technology's share grew 13 percent over the past year, further solidifying its lead as the top wireless technology. The group pointed to CDMA's loss of momentum in key countries like Brazil as a reason for GSM's growth, as well as increasing numbers of CDMA operators transitioning to what has become the de facto global standard.
Sony Plans Int'l Blu-Ray Launch for Oct
Sony plans to begin rolling out Blu-ray discs this Fall internationally to coincide with the launch of hardware in those regions, the company said Thursday. Sony says that pricing of discs would be similar to those of standard DVD discs in their respective territories at launch.
Among the countries that Sony plans to launch BD in include Australia, Japan, Korea, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Holland, the Nordic countries, Spain and the United Kingdom. Rollouts of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment titles would begin in October of this year.
US Gov't Looks to Extend MS Oversight
The U.S. government asked a federal judge Wednesday to extend its oversight of Microsoft by an additional two years, with the option to further extend it through 2012 if necessary. Both parties have come to an agreement that progress on portions of the deal has come too slowly, and government representatives have already expressed their desire to continue the deal.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly has said that she would agree to the changes. Under the new terms, set to expire in November 2009, oversight of the program that gives third-party developers access to Windows protocols would be extended, as well that covering technical documentation relating to those protocols.
Apple in Middle of China Labor Dispute
Apple, believing it had headed off a possible public relations nightmare regarding working conditions in one of the plants of the Chinese manufacturers it uses to produce the iconic iPod, found out it had a new headache this week. Its manufacturer Hongfujin Precision Industry has filed a lawsuit against two journalists in China accusing them of defamation.
Hongfujin is owned by Foxconn, which owned the plants Apple investigated earlier this summer. Although Apple found some instances of work code violations, it did not find any widespread occurrences of worker abuse. Reports in the state-owned China Business News, and in other sources worldwide, have indicated otherwise.
Microsoft Releases Family Safety Filter
Microsoft on Wednesday launched a beta of Windows Live OneCare Family Safety, an addition to its security suite aimed at protecting families online. The application includes content filtering technologies, as well as contact management, activity reports, and guidance on online safety issues.
"The Internet offers fantastic opportunities to explore and learn, and OneCare Family Safety aims to ensure that those opportunities aren't limited due to questionable content," the company said in a blog posting Wednesday. "Microsoft is focused on improving our new OneCare Family Safety service and we hope that you will try it out and offer your thoughts on its features and usability."
RyanAir to Offer In-Flight Mobile Use
OnAir said Wednesday that it had signed up its first customer to provide in-flight mobile phone use in Europe. RyanAir, a budget airline, would retrofit its entire fleet of Boeing 737's with the company's mobile solution. The company expects service to begin in mid-2007 on 50 of its aircraft.
"This is a win-win for Ryanair, OnAir and most importantly our customers," the airline's CEO Michael O'Leary said in a statement. "The revenues generated by onboard mobile telephony will reduce our costs and help us to keep offering the lowest fares in Europe."
Calif. Aims to End Wi-Fi 'Piggybacking'
Warning labels may soon appear on wireless Internet hardware if the California legislature has its way. Both houses passed a law known as the "Wi-Fi User Protection Bill," which would require makers of Wi-Fi cards and routers to warn users of the dangers of unsecured wireless networks.
Its backers applauded the law as a way to both end unauthorized sharing of wireless networks, and to secure computer users from outside threats. However, its detractors say such a law is unnecessary, with one analyst arguing that the problem is largely caused by "consumer idiocy."
AT&T Breach Exposes 19,000 Identities
A security breach at AT&T has exposed personal information on over 19,000 people who shopped at the company's online store, the company confirmed Tuesday. According to a statement from AT&T, the leaked data included credit card numbers and occurred over the weekend, causing the company to shut down the store.
The break-in affected individuals who purchased DSL equipment online through AT&T. As a service to its customers, the company has both notified the credit card companies and would provide credit monitoring to those affected. The company is also in the process of notifying those who had their data accessed.
Group: AOL 9.0 Uses Malware Tactics
AOL is being accused of using malware-like tactics to install software unbeknownst to users when they install AOL 9.0, the company's latest version of its online service software. The charge was made by StopBadware.org, a coalition between Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School and the Oxford Internet Institute of Oxford University.
"AOL plainly does not belong in the same category as the all-too-prevalent, garden variety badware providers. But the free version of AOL 9.0 that we tested, in our view, does not live up to the company's rich legacy," Berkman Center executive director John Palfrey said.
Verizon to Promote Windows Live
Verizon said Tuesday that it has agreed to provide co-branded versions of Windows Live products to its DSL and FiOS high-speed customers. The agreement is an expansion of a prior one between the two companies that has existed since April 2002. Over the past year, the service had primarily been promoting its Yahoo partnership more extensively.
The deal would mean customers would have access to co-branded versions of Live.com, Windows Live Toolbar, Verizon e-mail powered by Windows Live Mail, a co branded Windows Live Messenger, and a free version of the Windows Live OneCare safety scanner.
Universal: Watch Ads, Get Free Music
Music label Universal has taken steps to allow consumers to listen to its artists legally for free by signing an agreement with new music store entrant SpiralFrog. The service, which plans to launch later this year, would allow users to download songs for free in exchange for viewing or acting upon advertising shown to that user.
The label's catalog includes popular artists such as U2, Gwen Stefani and the Roots. The agreement would cover SpiralFrog's planned services in both the US and Canada. The Web-based service uses digital rights management technology to protect the audio and video content from being shared.
High-End Vista Comes at a High Price
A glitch on the Microsoft Canada Web site has apparently let slip Microsoft's planned prices for Windows Vista, indicating the Redmond company intends to charge as much as $299 CDN for its top-of-the-line upgrade to Ultimate Edition, and $499 CDN if users wish to purchase the full version.
Canadian prices are typically higher than their American equivalents. Thus, it can be expected that Windows Vista pricing in the United States would be lower. However, it does show that Microsoft stands to make considerably more money if it can convince computer users that upgrading to higher-end versions is worthwhile.
Intel Ships Mobile Core 2 Duo Chips
Intel said it had begun shipping its Core 2 Duo mobile chips on Monday, clearing the way for the faster and more powerful processor to begin making its way into laptop computers in time for the holiday season.
The company announced that nearly 200 laptop models worldwide would incorporate the new chip -- code-named "Merom" -- into their designs. The processor is a mobile version of the "Conroe" desktop based Core 2 Duo.
Ed's Bio
Ed Oswald is a freelance journalist from the Reading, PA area. Although he has written across a variety of subjects, Ed’s passion and focus has been on technology and gadgets. His work regularly appears on tech news sites BetaNews, PCWorld, and Technologizer, and has been syndicated to eWeek, Time’s Techland blog, VentureBeat and the New York Times.
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