Paul Thurrott is reporting that Micorosft has finally completed Service Pack 2 for Systems Management Server 2.0, configuration management tools for Windows desktops and servers. He notes a public release is expected sometime this week, although no official announcement has been made as of yet. Microsoft has posted a few instructional whitepapers on how to prepare for the upgrade, and special Windows 2000 information regarding SP2. For more information and to download the service pack when it becomes available, visit the Microsoft SMS Web site.

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Although still in the hush-hush stage of development, Winamp 3.0 is progressing nicely according to Nullsoft employees, excited to unveil their work when it's complete. An in-office demo was shown over the weekend without any major glitches and chances are a pre-beta release is not too far off. Codenamed 'Wasabi', Winamp 3.0 will mark a major change for the top digital audio player on the market. The team is also working on a true SDK to augment the player, promising to give developers a ton of features to work with. The Nullsoft crew will likely follow their tradition of keeping all specifics quiet until they blow the world away with a final release. Keep checking back for more information regarding development of Winamp 3.0.

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Currently in closed beta testing, OpenGL for the BeOS is undergoing a massive re-write. OpenGL 1.1 promises to offer faster and improved 3D graphics while increasing stability and hardware support. BeOS news site, BeNews, was granted special access to the beta and has written up a detailed report of how OpenGL performs in BeOS as compared to Linux and Windows. Complete with benchmarks and screenshots you will definitely want to check this out. The results are surprising and may make gamers and developers think twice about their future platform of choice. Visit BeNews for the full report.

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Version 6.6a Beta of Half-Life's popular mod, Counter-Strike is now available for download. A note by Cliffe warns, "Beta6.6 is not compatibile with beta6.5 (there is a new client.dll). Thus, you may want to have two separate installs. You must have 6.5 install before unzipping the 6.6a zip; extract it to your 'cstrike' directory." 6.6a adds a new sniper crosshair, 'timeleft' command, and fixes a few bugs. You die-hard gamers out there may download the beta at FileForum.

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Microsoft today announced the purchase of Bungie Software Products Corp., an independent developer of computer and video games. Bungie developers will become a division of Microsoft Games and release titles for Microsoft's upcoming Xbox video game platform. The team will also release the currently-in-development title, "Halo" for the Xbox. Although specifics surrounding the deal were not disclosed, Microsoft said it included buying 19.9% of Bungie Software from game distributor Take-Two Interactive. This acquisition follows last year's purchase of FASA Interactive Technologies Inc. and Access Software Inc. Visit Blue's News for an interview with Bungie. For more information on the deal, visit Microsoft PressPass.

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AMD today introduced its new 'Duron' processor for the low-end market, providing a fierce competitor to Intel's Celeron. Despite being marketed for sub-$1000 PCs, the Duron is already causing quite a stir around the Internet. Based on AMD's Athlon design, the Duron destroys the Celeron in benchmark tests and even goes head-to-head with equivalent Pentium IIIs. Touting 25% more performance than the Celeron, AMD will offer Duron-based systems with Compaq, Fujitsu-Siemens, Hewlett-Packard Company, IBM, NEC, Systemax and others. Duron processors will be avilable worldwide at speeds of 700, 650, and 600Mhz. For more information, read AMD's press release, or visit Tom's Hardware and AnandTech for some benchmarks.

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Reuters is reporting that Microsoft will launch version 3.5 of its mobile Internet platform, Internet Cellular Smart Access, on June 30th. In the release, Microsoft said ICSA "will enable operators to retain and increase their mobile subscriber base by offering tailored, easy to use, value added mobile internet services, with wireless application protocol (WAP) micro-browser access to e-mail, allowing their subscribers to stay connected any time, any place on any device." For more information on ICSA, visit Microsoft Mobile.

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Microsoft has announced the release of it's Windows CE 3.0 embedded operating system along with new development tools. Platform Builder 3.0 will allow developers to bring their devices to the CE platform much quicker than before. In addition, eMbedded Visual Tools 3.0 offers Visual Basic and Visual C++ tools for designing embedded applications. Coupled with a decrease in license fees, Microsoft is hoping to breathe life back into the embedded operating system.

According to Microsoft, "The inclusion of Internet Explorer 4.0 and the enhanced multimedia capabilities of the DirectX application programming interface and Windows Media format allow for richer Internet browsing. With the dial-up boot loader, software updates can be administered remotely, while the integrated HTTP Server makes it easy to send Web-based data." Interested developers can head on over to the Microsoft Developer Store for more information. For a list of what's new in version 3.0, click here.

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In a striking blow to the software giant, Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson today ordered that Microsoft Corporation be split into two companies, operating systems and applications. In a 17-page ruling, Jackson slammed Microsoft for refusing to accept they had violated the Sherman Act, and called the company untrustworthy and unrepentant. The ruling gives Microsoft one year to arrange the split, and forces current shareholders to choose which company to be a part of. Jackson also ordered Microsoft to open portions of Windows source code. Microsoft will appeal the decision and take the case to the Supreme Court if necessary. Chairman Bill Gates released a videotaped response to the press, stating the appeals process has already begun. More details to follow.

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UPDATE - The high-tech world is getting ready to clear its previously scheduled activities for 4:30 p.m. EST today, when US District Court Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson is scheduled to issue his final judgment in the Microsoft antitrust lawsuit. A court statement released this morning said that Jackson will issue his final order after Microsoft Corp. attorneys filed their last briefing in the case a day ahead of schedule.

Followers of the Microsoft case are anticipating that Jackson
will order that the company be broken up, possibly into two or more
separate companies focusing on operating system production, software
development and other businesses.

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Nullsoft Streamer Extraordinaire, Tommy Pepper, has unleashed 'The Beast', a new version of SHOUTcast server for you DJs out there. SHOUTcast allows anyone to start their own MP3 streaming radio station in a matter of seconds. Version 1.666.0 comes packed with new features such as an updated admin section, a ListenTimer option, and added relay configuration options. Many bugs have also been corrected, so while you are sipping your morning coffee, take a gander at this new release, available for Windows, Linux, and FreeBSD. You will also need Winamp to get up and running.

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Microsoft has released a patch which corrects two securituy vulnerabilities in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000. According to Microsoft, "Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 implement the CIFS Computer Browser protocol. Two vulnerabilities exist because of the inability of administrators to limit whether Master Browsers respond to certain frames." Microsoft will not issue patches for Windows 9x or NT 4.0 Terminal Server, because they are rarely used as Master Browsers. For more information and patch download locations, visit Microsoft TechNet Security.

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According to a report published this morning,
Napster, Inc. announced Tuesday evening that it has blocked more than 317,000 names used by its subscribers, which have been identified by
the hard rock band, Metallica, as allegedly infringing on the copyrights of the group's music. The move by Napster to remove the names comes during a lawsuit brought against it by Metallica and the group's music publishing
companies. The lawsuit alleges that the service provided by Napster facilitates copyright infringement because users of Napster software
can replicate and trade Metallica music with others without paying a license fee to the band.

Similar separate lawsuits, brought by the Recording Industry
Association of America (RIAA) and rap music artist, Dr. Dre, are also
currently pending against Napster in federal court.

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The first Release Candidate, RC0 Build 2525, of Windows Me (Millennium Edition) was released to beta testers a short bit ago. In a message to testers, Microsoft wrote, "Many sources have commented that this is already the highest quality 9x release there has ever been. Thank you for helping us reach this goal through your cooperation, dedication, and quality of feedback. We could not do this without you." BetaNews has received mixed feedback on the subject, with some Windows Me RC0 users touting perfection and others still finding it buggy. Nonetheless, Microsoft is ready to complete testing, stating "we believe we are extremely close to being finished - functionally speaking, what you see today is what we plan to go out to the world in a released product, and we are very interested in hearing your feedback on it." Windows Me is expected to hit RTM the week of June 12th. Testers, what do you think - is Windows Me ready for public scrutiny?

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Microsoft is reportedly drafing a counterproposal to the DOJ's breakup plan which may entail giving software developers access to Windows source code. Sources close to the discussions told MSNBC yesterday that Microsoft will also allow computer manufacturers to modify the desktop or "the area of the computer screen that is seen when programs are not running," and ship versions of Windows that "hide" the Internet browser. The proposal also bars Microsoft from making certain deals with other computer makers to promote Microsoft products. The final document is expected Wednesday and will offer alternatives to each point where Judge Jackson found Microsoft at fault. Without any specific details it is impossible to know how willing Microsoft will be to compromise, however analysts already say this deal falls short of Microsoft's initial out-of-court settlement. Keep checking back for more on this story as it develops.

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