Adobe Acrobat 8 Adds Conferencing
Adobe on Monday introduced version 8 of its ubiquitous Acrobat PDF software as part of a minor update to its Creative Suite. The new release brings with it Web conferencing functionality incorporated from Macromedia Breeze.
In recent years, Adobe has endeavored to turn Acrobat from simple PDF creation software into a complete platform for digital publishing - even adding support for 3D imaging. Now, the company is looking to hook businesses with collaboration features.
Toshiba to Pay Micron $288 Million
Toshiba has agreed to pay $288 million to settle lawsuits between it and memory chipmaker Lexar Media, which was acquired by Micron Technology in June. Since 2002, Lexar has been engaged in a court battle with Toshiba regarding patent infringement of flash memory technology.
In exchange for the payment, Toshiba will receive licenses for all the patents held by Lexar. Lexar had filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission demanding that Toshiba stop importing flash memory chips into the United States, which could have proven disastrous for the number-two NAND memory maker. Samsung is currently the world's leading supplier of flash memory.
Yahoo Invites Users to Try Mail Beta
Yahoo on Thursday rolled out the beta version of its Mail product to all users, inviting them to switch to the new AJAX interface that acts more like a desktop e-mail client than Web site. The Yahoo! Mail revision adds technologies that the company gained from its purchase of Oddpost, such as drag and drop organization, an instant preview pane, and upgraded search capabilities.
A built-in RSS reader has also been added to the service, along with an integrated calendar. Yahoo, which is the top provider of web based e-mail in the United States, counts some 255 million users according to research firm comScore. The company did not say when it would fully replace its traditional Mail interface.
Windows Vista RC1 Open to Public
Those eager to try out the newest release of Windows Vista, which has received positive reviews from analysts and testers alike, can rest easy: RC1 is now available to the general public. Microsoft expects the latest beta code to reach 5 million people through the Customer Preview Program.
"RC1 represents a significant industry milestone on the road to delivering Windows Vista, and customer participation and feedback are integral parts of the development process," a company spokesperson told BetaNews. "The feedback received thus far from testers has been extremely valuable." Download Windows Vista RC1 now and tell us what you think!
Microsoft Officially Unveils Zune
As expected, Microsoft on Thursday took the wraps off its Zune portable media player, set to be available in time for the holidays. Zune features a 30GB hard drive, wireless connectivity and will come in three colors. But pricing has not been decided.
Microsoft confirmed a number of expected features about its new player, which is being manufactured by Toshiba and has become one of the worst kept secrets in the technology industry. Zune sports a three-inch LCD display that can be viewed in portrait or landscape mode, and includes a built-in FM tuner.
Zune Set to Make First Appearance
Microsoft's highly-anticipated "Zune" portable media device is set to make its first official appearance at an invite-only press event Thursday. The unveiling will follow the introduction of a completely revamped iPod lineup by Apple just two days earlier.
Although Microsoft itself has remained tight-lipped regarding the iPod competitor, little is not already known about Zune, which is being manufactured by Toshiba. The device will feature a 30GB hard drive, three-inch TFT LCD, an FM tuner, wireless 802.11 b/g, and USB 2.0 support. Zune will connect up with a new music service specially designed for the player.
Microsoft Re-Re-Releases IE Patch
Acknowledging that its patching process has "not been an example of our best work," Microsoft this week issued a second update to security bulletin MS06-042, which was released in August. The original patch included a security vulnerability - and it turns out the fix introduced even more.
MS06-042, which was intended to resolve a number of security vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer, shipped with a deployment issue. The patched caused IE6 to crash when a site that uses the HTTP 1.1 protocol and compression is visited.
Office 2007 Beta 2 Refresh Released
Microsoft on Thursday will release a Technical Refresh build of Office 2007 Beta 2, which originally debuted to the public in late May. The update brings to the table a number of performance and reliability improvements in all Office applications.
By any measure, the beta program for Office 2007 has been an astounding success for Microsoft. The company has counted 3.5 million people downloading the pre-release code, and has gathered a vast amount of feedback by tapping into the general public.
WebEx Delivers AIM Pro for Businesses
Collaboration software firm WebEx on Wednesday released the final version of AIM Pro Business Edition, which entered beta testing in June. The software, designed for large corporations, follows AOL's release of the standard AIM Pro beta that is targeted at small to mid-size businesses.
WebEx AIM Pro Business Edition enables corporations to deploy and manage a company-wide IM infrastructure based upon AOL's Triton platform. It supports the standard AIM communication features, while adding online meetings and live demonstrations with desktop sharing using technology from WebEx.
Google Earth Gets Featured Content
Google on Wednesday plans to deliver an update to its Google Earth application that includes content from a number of premium sources. The features are overlaid atop areas in a map so users can learn about their significance.
Perhaps the most notable addition is before and after imagery provided by the United Nations Environmental Program, which shows 100 areas of extreme environmental degradation around the world. Users can click to see how the Earth has changed in the past 30 years, primarily for the worse, and learn about crisis zones.
eDonkey Firm to Pay RIAA $30 Million
MetaMachine, the company behind the popular file sharing software eDonkey, has agreed to pay the Recording Industry Association of America $30 million to settle claims it facilitated mass copyright infringement.
"With this new settlement, another domino falls, and we have further strengthened the footing of the legal marketplace," said RIAA chairman and CEO Mitch Bainwol. The RIAA previously settled with the operators of BearShare, i2Hub, WinMX, and Grokster.
Palm Delivers Treo 750 for Europe
While the Treo 700 has yet to surface in the United States for GSM networks, European customers of Vodafone are getting first access to the Treo 750, a slightly sleeker smartphone running Windows Mobile 5.0 that has no outside antenna.
The Treo 750v, specifically customized for Vodafone, will reach users in Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and other regions by the end of the year. The device supports the wireless carrier's 3G UMTS network, and includes Microsoft's push e-mail technology out of the box.
Apple Previews iTV Media Center Device
At Macworld San Francisco in January, Apple plans to introduce a new device called "iTV" (not the final name) that lets users stream video from their PC to their television, similar in function to what the Airport Express did with audio.
The company was expected to launch the iTV Tuesday, but merely offered a preview of the device and said it would be available in Q1 2007. It features USB 2.0, Ethernet and Wi-Fi for network connectivity, as well as component video, optical audio and HDMI outputs. The $299 USD box will be about half the size of the Mac mini and include a next-generation Front Row interface.
Apple Adds Movies to iTunes Store
As expected, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced "one more thing" on Tuesday: movie downloads through iTunes. Customers will initially have access to 75 films, with more being added each week. For now, however, only movies from Disney will be offered.
Disney-owned studios, including Disney itself, Pixar, Touchstone and Miramax are among those offering the first movies on iTunes. New releases will cost $12.99 USD when pre-ordered and during the first week, later rising to $14.99 USD.
Apple Refreshes Entire iPod Lineup
At a special event in San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Performing Arts, Apple on Tuesday introduced two new iPods, which sport a 60% brighter screen, as well as a refreshed iPod nano and iPod shuffle.
Available in 30GB and 80GB models, the new iPod features increase battery life that ups video playback from 2 hours to 3.5 hours. The 80GB iPod can play video for 6.5 hours, Apple says. Other new features include gapless playback and instant searching by letter.
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