Netflix DRM Cracked with FairUse4WM
FairUse4WM, a program that strips the copyright protection from Windows Media audio and video files, continues to be a thorn in Microsoft's side. An individual has now posted detailed instructions on how to bypass the DRM in Netflix's movie streams, making it so customers can download and share the films.
With the latest update to FairUse4WM, which came in mid-July, it was only a matter of time before new targets were discovered. Last month, users of the application confirmed that it was possible to remove the latest copy protection from songs available on MTV's URGE and Yahoo! Music Unlimited.
Microsoft Delays New Office for Mac
Citing a desire to "deliver a high-quality product," Microsoft's Macintosh Business Unit said Thursday that Office 2008 for Mac will not be ready before the end of the year as previously planned. Instead, the long-awaited product will reach customers in mid-January 2008.
The last major release of Office for Mac OS X came in 2004, and customers have been clamoring for an update since the 2006 switch to Intel-based Macs, as Office still requires use of the Rosetta emulation layer that slows the software down. For a brief while, there was a question whether Microsoft would even continue development of Office for Mac.
Illegal Music Downloads Up in UK, Down in US
A survey in the United Kingdom has shown a 7 percent increase in the number of people downloading music illegally online, while the legal music download market is slowing. In the United States, however, data from earlier this year has indicated otherwise.
According to the 2007 Digital Media Survey, which was published in the UK by Entertainment Media Research and law firm Olswang, unauthorized downloading of music is at its highest level - reversing the slight decline of last year.
New EU Mobile Roaming Rates Active
The European Union on Monday put into effect new roaming rates for mobile phone users, which could save customers up to 70 percent. However, the new rates won't be automatically applied to customers until September; before then, they are opt-in.
After months of disagreements over what the roaming rates should be capped out, the EU finally passed legislation at the end of May and the measure was approved by the 27-nation bloc in early June. Customers will now be charged no more than 49 cents for making a call while roaming in the EU, and no more than 24 cents to receive a call while roaming.
AOL Heads in New Direction with 'Helix'
AOL has released the first beta of a new software application code-named "Helix," which pulls together e-mail, IM, Web browsing into a single user interface designed to ease multitasking. Helix succeeds "OpenRide," the software AOL pitched as an upgrade to its aging client.
Although it won't say so openly, Helix is essentially an upgrade of OpenRide; installing the former overwrites the latter. AOL's almost schizophrenic approach to application development -- Communicator, "Fanfare" and AOL Suite were all developed for a similar purpose over the last six years, but eventually fell by the wayside -- highlights the struggle the company faces in its ongoing transition from ISP to Web services provider.
Microsoft Signs Ad Deal with Digg
Following a deal last August in which Microsoft agreed to handle all ad sales for popular social networking site Facebook, the Redmond company has signed a similar agreement with social news site Digg. Microsoft is working hard to establish itself in the ad industry, but faces stiff competition from Google.
Few details are known at this point, although Digg creator Kevin Rose says it's "similar to the one Facebook signed with Microsoft last year." This means that Digg will turn over control the site's advertising exclusively to Microsoft and its adCenter platform.
146,000 iPhones Activated in First Two Days
Although Apple won't announce its quarterly earnings that will include the first two days of iPhone sales until Wednesday, AT&T said Tuesday that it had activated 146,000 iPhones on the 29th and 30th of June, far below analyst expectations.
Initial figures estimated weekend iPhone sales to range from 300,000 to upwards of 700,000 - with the majority falling around 500,000. Unless most activations came Sunday July 1 or Monday July 2, which is unlikely, those lofty expectations were not met. Apple's stock fell 5% in early trading Tuesday due to the news.
$300 TiVo HD Officially Announced
TiVo on Tuesday confirmed the speculation: it is launching a $299 version of its high-definition digital video recorder that includes much of the same feature set found in its $799 predecessor. The new set-top box, dubbed "TiVo HD," goes on sale in August.
Instead of a 250GB drive, TiVo HD will include 160GB of space, which amounts to 20 hours of HD recording instead of 30 hours, and 180 hours of standard-definition recording as opposed to 280 hours. It also loses the original Series3's OLED display, THX certification, and glossy, backlit remote.
Ooma Launches $400 Free Phone Service
As one VoIP provider is laid to rest, another is born. Ooma today launched its long-awaited Internet-based telephone offering for consumers. While the company is entering into a crowded market, Ooma is hoping to entice customers with a promising offer: free domestic calls for life.
Compared to Vonage and other providers, Ooma's offer may seem too good to be true - and there is a small catch. In order to join the service, you must cough up $399 USD for the Ooma hardware, which requires a broadband connection. The device plugs into a standard phone and includes answering machine functionality.
Microsoft Reminds: No Vista SP1 This Year
Following reports that Microsoft would deliver a beta of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 this week, well before the originally-stated November date, the company has taken the unusual step of issuing a statement to quell any expectation, saying no changes have been made to the release timeframe.
The first news of a Vista SP1 beta arriving this week came from Microsoft watcher Mary Jo Foley, who cited sources that said a release would be made to a group of select testers. Although Foley never specified how widespread the beta would be, and never characterized it as a public release, the news quickly circled the Web.
Cheaper TiVo Series 3 Coming Soon
TiVo's Series 3 digital video recorder has become an almost required device for any high-definition aficionado, and it's far and away the best DVR on the market. But a $799 USD price tag has kept the S3 confined to a relative small number of homes. TiVo hopes to change that with the Series 3 "Lite," priced at $299 USD.
According to product specifications leaked to the TiVo Community Forums, the slimmed down Series 3 will pack nearly as many features as its predecessor. Instead of a 250GB drive, the new version will include 160GB of space, which amounts to 20 hours of HD recording instead of 30 hours, and 180 hours of standard-definition recording as opposed to 280 hours.
Microsoft Search Share Up Thanks to 'Chicktionary'
After months of diminishing market share in the search industry, Microsoft may have found the answer to competing against Google and Yahoo: Chicktionary. The addictive game, which is available on the Live Search Club site, rewards users with prizes such as software.
Microsoft's troubles in the search market date back many years. The company previously utilized Google and Yahoo to handle its search results, not launching its own engine until late 2004. At the time, Microsoft said it would put forth considerable effort and resources to regain ground on its competitors and boost its search share above 9.5%.
Xbox Chief Peter Moore Leaves Microsoft
UPDATED Less than a day after he chastised Sony for failing to be successful in Japan with the PlayStation 3, Microsoft's Xbox chief Peter Moore has abruptly resigned from Microsoft. Moore will become president of EA's Sports division.
Succeeding Moore at Microsoft will be Don Mattrick, who was formerly president of game development Electronic Arts. Mattrick will become senior vice president of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business, which includes the Xbox and Games for Windows groups.
Microsoft's Open XML Format Hits Standardization Speed Bump
Microsoft's Office Open XML format, which were introduced in Office 2007 and already certified by European standards body Ecma International, hit a speed bump Friday on its "Fast Track" process to become a worldwide ISO standard.
A technical committee called V1 established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to submit a recommendation on the format to the INCITS Executive Board, which decides the official United States position on proposed standards, failed to reach a consensus before its July 17 deadline.
Google Debuts New Hosted Search for Businesses
Building on the Custom Search Engine it introduced last October, Google on Tuesday took the wraps off a new hosted search site designed for businesses, which offers greater flexibility for a small, yearly fee. The service targets small to medium-sized businesses and will surely ruffle the feathers at Microsoft.
The basic premise is pretty simple: Google is able to provide the best search results for the vastness of the Web, so it could do the same for a company's own Web site. The Mountain View, Calif. company has long offered hardware solutions including the pricey Enterprise Search Appliance and more-affordable Google Mini, but the setup cost involved was still too high for many.
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