Homezone Launches in Ohio, Texas
AT&T launched its Homezone television service in two areas on Wednesday, combining Internet functionality and satellite television into a single package. The option will be made available to customers in Ohio and San Antonio, Texas, with a launch in 80 percent of its coverage area by the end of the year.
Television service would be provided by DISH Network, with AT&T providing Internet access to download video content, as well as using Yahoo online services to offer additional functionality. Homezone is also expected to allow the company to offer television services in places where its fiber-optic lines will not reach.
Intel Launches Next-Gen Itanium Chip
Intel launched the successor in its oft-maligned Itanium line of processors, announcing its Montecito chips on Tuesday. Six new processors including one single-core and five dual-core models were released, and the company hopes that the new models will fare better then Montecito's predecessor.
The original Itanium was plagued by a litany of problems, including slowness and software incompatibilities. As a result of these issues, as well as delays in the manufacturing process, both IBM and Dell cancelled their orders, leaving HP as the only major manufacturer building systems based on the chip.
Nortel, Microsoft Forge Comm Alliance
Nortel and Microsoft said Tuesday that they would work together to improve business communications, creating a shared vision for unified communications to drive growth. While part of the effort would focus on electronic communications, the two companies plan to roll out phone-based services as well.
The companies said they would look to transition traditional business phone systems into a software based model based on the Microsoft communications software platform, and using Nortel's line of products. The software model will allow developers to more easily create new applications for business communications.
Microsoft Sues 26 Software Pirates
Microsoft said late Monday that it had filed 26 lawsuits against dealers of pirated software in seven states, including one against a previously indicted vendor. The companies are accused of either offering pirated material or installing it on computers the defendants sold, Microsoft said.
The Redmond company says that pirated software puts consumers at risk, and hurts its partners that legally offer Microsoft software. Prosecuting software pirates has become an important part of the company's Genuine Software Initiative, an effort to protect its software assets.
China Threatens Wireless Services
In an attempt to reign in what is quickly becoming an issue in the country, China's Ministry of Information Industry has clamped down hard on the wireless services sector accusing 102 companies of illegal behavior. The ministry said those who didn't comply with government regulations would lose their operating license.
In a statement posted to the agency's Web site, the companies were told to "straighten up within a given time," which was not specified, or face penalties.
First Nike+iPod Devices Launches
Nike and Apple said Thursday that it would officially launch the first product as a result of their partnership on Friday. The Nike+iPod Sport Kit, retailing for $29 USD, allows Nike+ ready footwear to communicate with the iPod Nano.
The accessory will be available through Apple's online and offline locations, as well on Nike.com, in the company's 'Niketown' stores, and in select retail locations. With the device attached to the shoe, audible updates on speed, distance ran, and calories burned would be made available.
EU Cell Carriers Fight Roaming Fee Cap
The European Commission announced a plan Wednesday to deal with cellular roaming charges, saying it wanted to cut fees by up to 70 percent, but by giving the carriers a chance to make changes themselves. While consumer groups have applauded the move, carriers have rejected it saying the policy would cause an increase in prices.
A move by the EC would only come as a last resort. Regulators said they wanted to give carriers a chance to show that they could self-regulate, and cut fees themselves. However, if they refuse, the regulating agency would step in and press the EU and Parliament to act.
Windows Live Expo Comes Out of Beta
Microsoft brought its classified listings site out of beta on Wednesday, adding several new features as well as a refresh of the design. In addition, the Redmond company announced plans to launch a beta of Windows Live Expo in the United Kingdom beginning on Thursday.
Traffic has been impressive for a site that has received little, if any promotion from Microsoft since its launch in late February. Last month, Windows Live Expo handled 1.2 milllion unique users, the company told BetaNews.
Sony Brings PSP Movies to Memory Stick
With the company's UMD format faltering, Sony on Wednesday turned to its Memory Stick as a new way to deliver movies to its popular PSP portable game system. Starting in August, the company will ship 1GB and 2GB sticks that come with a DVD copying application that would be able to transfer select movies from DVD to the PSP.
To use the application, the installer would be loaded onto a PC. From there, the user would enter an unlock code that would permit them to transfer one movie from the DVD over to the device. Movies that would be permitted to be transferred will be "Hitch," "S.W.A.T.," "The Grudge" or "XXX: State of the Union."
Microsoft Slapped with 280.5m Euro Fine
As expected, the European Commission on Tuesday slapped Microsoft with a 280.5 million euro fine for continuing non-compliance with its March 2004 antitrust decision. While right now that figure comes to 1.5 million euros per day for the period between December 15 and June 20, the EU has threatened to increase the fine to 3 million per day if Microsoft is not compliant by the end of the month.
Microsoft's lack of progress and contempt for the Commission pushed regulators to take action against the company. Last year, the EU gave Microsoft until December 15 to come into compliance or face a 2 million euro per day fine. Instead of settling with the EC, the Redmond giant made a series of moves apparently aimed at embarrassing the Commission, including the release of confidential documents.
Excel Focus of July Patch Tuesday
Microsoft released a bevy of critical updates Tuesday, with a focus on the multitude of Excel vulnerabilities that have sprung up over recent months.
Eight different flaws within the popular spreadsheet program were fixed in a single update, along with two critical flaws in Windows, two other critical issues affecting Office and other Microsoft programs, and "important" issues with the .NET Framework and IIS.
MSN Adds Reality to Fantasy Baseball
MSN on Tuesday launched a new online interactive reality television show that would allow viewers to play a part in the real life fortunes of an actual baseball team. The Microsoft portal has partnered with LivePlanet to launch "Fan Club: Reality Baseball," featuring the minor-league team the Schaumburg Flyers.
The Flyers are a professional team based in a suburb of Chicago. Through the innovative partnership, fans would run the team through the second half of the season as it makes its playoff push. This includes selecting the team's roster, batting order, pitching decisions, and even playing a part in making off-the-field decisions.
Sony Debuts Tiny USB Drive
Sony on Tuesday introduced one of the smallest USB drives on the market Tuesday, launching the Micro Vault Tiny drive in capacities ranging from 256MB to 4GB. The drive measures about a half-inch wide and just over an inch long. The Micro Vault Tiny is color-coded to allow the user to easily identify its capacity.
The Tiny is no thicker than a quarter, Sony said. A clip-on case for the USB drive would be provided to enable the drive to attach to just about anything. It also comes with an application called Virtual Expander, which would automatically compress data and enable the device to store up to three times its size in data.
Eliot Spitzer 'Concerned' With AOL
Not even a year after the state settled a landmark decision with AOL over its cancellation policies, New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer expressed concern over the company's compliance with its terms. His office has sent a letter to AOL asking for more information on its policies, as well as requesting a meeting with executives.
Last August, AOL paid $1.25 million to 300 former subscribers in New York after it agreed to a settlement that accused its employees of ignoring requests to cancel and stop billing customers due to minimum requirements for "saved accounts."
Guba Pens Deal With Sony Pictures
Video sharing site Guba signed its second deal with a major movie studio, announcing Tuesday it had penned an agreement with Sony Pictures to offer downloadable movies from the site.
New releases will cost $19.99 USD, while older releases would be start at $9.99 USD. Some titles will be available on a pay-per-view basis.
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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