Since its debut earlier this month, Answers.com has garnered rave reviews across the Web and, apparently, Google agrees. The search giant has begun redirecting its "definition" link that appears atop search results to the reference service, which offers quick answers to questions without requiring users to sort through a myriad of Web pages.

Built by GuruNet, Answers.com is a Web offshoot of the company's desktop application that has been retired after an unsuccessful attempt at targeting corporate users. GuruNet's new strategy is to ride the growing search wave by offering a complementary reference tool - an approach that's already beginning to work.

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Less than a week after iLife '05 made its retail debut, Apple has released a minor update to iMovie HD. Users discovered problems with audio and video synchronization for DV projects, and version 5.0.1 has been posted to address the issue. The latest update to iMovie adds high-definition video support and MPEG4 video editing.

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UPDATED Now that Google has become a common verb in the English lexicon, Amazon's A9.com apparently wants its place in pop-culture as well.

On this week's episode of Fox's wildly popular "The O.C.," which has become a primetime showcase for up-and-coming bands and current trends, A9 makes its debut among teens with three words: "I A9.com'd him." (View the clip on Google Video)

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Microsoft is preparing to beta test the next revision of Windows Update dubbed v6, or version 6 of the technology. Testing of Windows Update v5 ended late last year and is now operational for all Windows users. Newsgroups for v6 are expected to open within the coming weeks.

In an e-mail to Windows Update v5 testers, Microsoft beta coordinator Roger Holland introduced himself and said, "I am delighted at the opportunity to work with you on the continuation of improvements to our update processes. Shortly, you will receive the formal announcement about the WU v6 Beta Program."

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Microsoft has released Service Pack 1 for BizTalk Server 2004, which contains hotfixes, security updates, as well as performance improvements. Part of Microsoft's Server System, BizTalk enables businesses to integrate systems, employees, and trading partners. A BizTalk migration tool has also been released.

"I strongly recommend that everybody trys (sic) this in your test environments and then puts it into production," wrote BizTalk developer Scott Woodgate in his MSDN blog. "Along with the usual bug fixes provided in service packs you can expect up to a 10% performance increase in some scenarios."

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According to sources close to the negotiations, SBC Communications is in talks to acquire AT&T in a deal valued at over $15 billion. With AT&T in its pocket, SBC would leapfrog over Verizon to become the largest telephone company in the United States.

The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that executives from both companies were holding talks in person and over the phone. However, no final decisions have been made, and the discussions could end without a deal.

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Following news that lead Firefox engineer Ben Goodger has been hired by Google, fellow Mozilla developer Darin Fisher has announced that he, too, has joined the search giant. With at least two high-profile browser developers under its belt, rumors have begun swirling about Google's future plans with the Mozilla platform.

Darin, a former IBM and Netscape employee, is a "module owner" for the Mozilla project and is in charge of cookies and permissions, as well as Mozilla's networking library. As did Goodger, Darin promises to remain devoted to his current work, despite monetary backing from Google. "Like Ben, I will still be very much involved with the Mozilla project and community," Darin wrote in his Web log.

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Microsoft has released to testers a pre-beta copy of Update Rollup 1 for Windows 2000 SP4. The update rollup encompasses all security-related fixes made to Windows 2000 from SP4 to the time the package ships.

In November, Microsoft said it would ship a collection of critical updates for Windows 2000, rather than issue Service Pack 5.

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Apple has fixed a number of minor security flaws in Mac OS X 10.3.7, which include a patch for improper pop-up handling in Safari. The other six vulnerabilities corrected with the security update involve Apple Mail, ColorSync, as well as four open source applications bundled with the OS.

Apple has also changed how it will name its future security updates, using sequentially numbered bulletins rather than dates. Microsoft uses a similar naming scheme for its Windows advisories. Security Update 2005-001 can be downloaded via Software Update or Apple Downloads.

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The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted software maker McAfee a patent for tracking network events on a computer using a firewall. The patent filing involves tracing the location of an incoming connection and displaying a map showing where the remote system geographically resides.

Specifically, McAfee's patent covers a firewall recording what it calls a "traffic event" into a log file. The log records the time and IP address of the remote system, which is then traced to its origin.

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Centercode is seeking beta testers for a secure mail add-in for Outlook, which helps stem the flow of viruses and spam. This is the second phase of the test, and the beta can be used with any POP3 mail account. Centercode needs beta testers in large businesses or corporations of 500 or more people with a firewall. More information and instructions for applying are available in the beta call out.

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PERSPECTIVE The world's largest ISP is cutting off direct access to one of the oldest, coolest -- and strangest -- parts of the Internet.

America Online has quietly announced that it will discontinue providing member access to Usenet newsgroups next month. In recent days, AOL subscribers who access keyword "Newsgroups" are greeted with a pop-up message informing them of the change: "Please Note: The AOL Newsgroup service will be discontinued in early 2005."

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Google has officially unveiled a prototype video search that scours the closed captioning text of television shows. Results are displayed with a still image of the video, along with snippets of text that contain the search terms. Yahoo, meanwhile, has ramped up video search efforts of its own in response to Google's move.

Still in early beta testing, Google Video has been indexing since December television programming from PBS, Fox News, CSPAN, as well as local San Francisco channels including ABC and NBC. Until licensing is ironed out, users will not able to view the full video clip nor read a transcript of the program.

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Lending more credibility to rumors that it may be considering a Web browser of its own, Google has hired lead Firefox engineer Ben Goodger. Goodger made the announcement in his Web log Monday, but says his role with the Mozilla project will "remain largely unchanged" despite a different paycheck.

With Google now paying the bills for Goodger, questions have arisen about Google's relationship with the Mozilla Foundation. The search giant previously sponsored a Mozilla programmers meeting, and the default Web site for Firefox is a custom version of Google.com.

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Microsoft is on track to ship a version of Windows without its bundled media player within weeks, opting not to appeal an interim ruling by a European court. As reported by BetaNews, the WMP-free packages were tentatively dubbed "Reduced Media Edition," but Microsoft has not yet announced pricing or marketing plans.

European OEMs have already received the new Windows with retail versions expected to hit store shelves soon. It is not likely the new slimmer Windows will be available outside Europe.

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