Halfbrain.com has introduced BrainMatter, a fully featured online spreadsheet that it says has the same basic features and functions as
Microsoft Excel. Users can create a spreadsheet, work on it and save it online without having to download or install anything. Check Halfbrain out at http://www.halfbrain.com.

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The Mozilla development team released much anticipated Milestone 12 binaries late last night. In this latest release, Cut, Copy and Paste are now hooked up in the browser window, platform specfic key bindings work on Mac and Unix, and scrolling on Unix is much improved. Current binary platforms include Mac, FreeBSD, Sparc Solaris 2.7, Windows, OpenVMS and Linux. Milestone 12 marks the first official Alpha release of Mozilla 5. Download the release from http://www.fileforum.com/.

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Internet/online services giant America Online Inc. [NYSE:AOL] has
put another notch in its acquisition belt, as it announced its intent
to buy interactive Net-based mapping concern Mapquest.com Inc.
[NASDAQ:MQST] in an all-stock deal valued at $1.1 billion.

In a press release this morning, AOL said it would use Mapquest.com
across all of its brands and platforms to "enhance the interactive
experience."

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Whether you create long, complex documents such as technical manuals and books or simple ones such as newsletters or brochures, FrameMaker delivers a powerful tool for efficiently managing the entire documentation process.

While this beta version does not include Acrobat Distiller, localized versions, support for Japanese, or text import filters, limited graphic import is supported. Adobe will not provide any technical support for this beta release. There will be a follow-up questionnaire submitted to you via e-mail asking for your feedback about the product.

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Be Incorporated (Nasdaq: BEOS) today announced that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) that allows Compaq to pre-install and distribute Stinger, the code name for Be's software platform for Internet appliances, on future Internet Appliance computing devices under development
in Compaq's Consumer Products Division. The parties are currently working
together on joint development and sales initiatives in connection with this
licensing agreement. The agreement is not exclusive for either party and it
does not contain any minimum purchase commitments on the part of Compaq.

Stinger is Be's software solution designed for the creation of appliances
that deliver information and entertainment over the web. Based on BeOS, Stinger is fully customizable, offers a complete browser and supports popular streaming audio and video standards.

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Trend Micro [NASDAQ:TMIX] has launched version 3.1 of its
InterScan eManager for Windows NT. The new version of the anti-virus
and security software, the firm said, tackles the growing problem of
e-mail script-based attacks that have become so prevalent in the last
few months.

Central to the new software is an enhanced content filtering
technology that Trend said will prevent Java and other script viruses
from hiding in user's e-mail.

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Friday, Nullsoft launched a beta of their new llama-kicking Web site, Winamp.Com. The new site aims to combine many aspects of the music scene: skins, plug-ins, streaming audio, song downloads and more, filling in the gaps where Winamp cannot.

While the bulk of the site is done, the team is continually improving small sections of the site. According to Nullsoft Web developer, Steve Gedikian, "the plug-ins and skins databases work great, but there will be some changes to site look in certain parts - places that I feel need some work like the skins/plug-ins browsing pages. I'm still not satisfied with their look yet."

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One of Japan's largest trading companies,
Sumitomo Corp. [TOKYO:8053], is to team up with streaming
media company RealNetworks Inc. [NASDAQ:RNWK] to develop
an online music portal for Japanese Internet users.

The two companies will jointly establish an affiliated company to
manage the site, which will be go live in February, at
http://www.jukebox.ne.jp/pm/ . It will contain music and artist
information like artist fan clubs, song lyrics, album art, music
rankings and concert dates.

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Microsoft has released the final driver development kit for Windows 2000. The Windows 2000 DDK is provided to assist IHV's in developing products that interact with the Windows 2000 operating system on i386 platforms. It provides the development environment for the creation of drivers for the Windows 2000 operating system. The DDK also provides additional driver-specific headers, libraries, sources, tools, and documentation. The final release of the Windows 2000 DDK includes clarifications, corrections, and new information about installing drivers and creating information (INF) files for Windows 2000. This release may be downloaded at http://microsoft.com/ddk/W2kDDK.htm

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So, you want some free stuff to play with once you get bored with your holiday gifts, huh? Now's your chance - no strings attached. The rules are simple, become a member, visit the contest page, and take the brief user survey if you did not do so during the sign-up process. Now, onto the good part...

Right about now your mouth is watering and you and dying to know what you can win, so here goes in no particular order:

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Today marks a huge milestone for Microsoft, as two and half years of development have finally come to and end and Windows 2000 Build 2195.3 has been sent out the door. Not only are beta testers around the world breathing a sigh of relief, but the many Windows 2000 beta coordinators are also taking the time to relax - and party. One tester noted to eFront, "I can't believe it's over. We've spent so much time working on this, and
now it's finished. It's truly amazing."

Beta testers were also in for a special treat today, after Microsoft officially announced they would receive a free retail copy of Windows 2000 Professional come February. This topic had been the subject of much controversy, because Microsoft initially told testers they would have to purchase the final release. A 120-day evaluation copy is currently available for all beta testers to download, and will also be sent on CD.

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Microsoft has sent word to invited testers that today is the last day to pre-register for the DirectX 8.0 beta program. Microsoft is expected to ship the first beta CD to participants shortly. DirectX 8.0 will ship in box with Windows Millennium, although runtime releases for Windows 9x and 2000 will occur in the summer of next year. New features will include more photo realism and smoother surfaces within Direct3D, a new graphical input device control panel in DirectInput, and voice communication with DirectPlay.

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Sources have reported today that Windows 2000 Build 2195 has hit Release To Manufacturing. Microsoft had encountered a few last minute bugs which led to the delay in release, initially slated for the 8th. Microsoft is set to begin shipping Windows 2000 on February 17th of next year. Although not clear on whether final CDs will ship to beta participants, Microsoft has posted the golden build to their beta FTP site and is expected to begin allowing downloads tomorrow morning. Full story to follow.

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QUALCOMM has posted a free preview beta release of Eudora 4.3. The preview beta will be available to the the first 250,000 people who apply. Version 4.3 combines both the "Light" and "Pro" versions into one client. This new vesion will be completely funded by sponsored ads within the client, although the ads will not appear for registered users. Final commercial release is slated for Q1 2000. To apply, visit http://eudora.qualcomm.com/survey/beta_survey.html

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The Recording Industry Association of America, Inc. has filed suit against Napster, makers of the MP3 sharing utility of the same name. Napster has formed an MP3 community where users of the software can share out and download MP3 files, legally created or not. The RIAA has alleged "...Napster is about facilitating piracy, and trying to build a business on the backs of artists and copyright owners." Seeking up to $100,000 USD per pirated song, the RIAA has once again pitted itself against millions of Internet users worldwide. With an end to digital music nowhere in sight, will lawsuits against Napster, CuteMX, Nullsoft, or others do more than make people turn on companies and artists not willing to work with the technology? Check back for full coverage on the lawsuit and industry reactions.

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