AOL to Launch New Video Portal
AOL on Monday took the wraps off a new AOL Video portal, which offers visitors access to millions of videos across the Web. The service features 45 video channels with content licensed from A&E, MTV, Warner Bros. and other outlets.
The beta site, slated to go live on August 4, integrates AOL Video Search, powered by the company's Truveo and Singingfish technologies, with an interactive programming guide. Visitors can stream free content on-demand, as well as purchase and download full-length videos that can be transferred to other PCs and portable devices supporting Microsoft's Windows Media DRM.
Another Dell Laptop Catches Fire
It may be giving away 432 laptops as part of a back to school promotion, but Dell could have a hard time finding takers if it can't address battery problems that are plaguing the company in the media. Yet another Dell laptop spontaneously burst into flames this week.
"One of our IT guys put out the flames (yes, I said flames) and thusly covered the entire area with fire extinguisher ‘material’. The battery burned its way straight through the laptop," a user by the name of Henrik posted to the Tom's Hardware forums, appending pictures of the aftermath. A Dell laptop previously exploded on video during a conference, prompting the company to launch an investigation into the matter.
Office 2007 Downloads Top 3 Million
In the two months since its debut, Office 2007 Beta 2 has been downloaded by over three million people, Microsoft told BetaNews Friday. In fact, the demand has been so high that the company has decided to begin charging customers $1.50 USD for the download beginning August 2.
The beta bits, which weigh in at 550MB for the primary Office applications and 2GB for the full suite, have put a considerable strain on Microsoft's network. The company says demand has surpassed expectations by 500%, and it has decided to add the small fee as a "cost recovery measure" for future downloads.
EMI Joins Legal P2P Service Mashboxx
Legal P2P service Mashboxx, founded by former Grokster CEO Wayne Rosso, announced Friday it had signed an agreement with music label EMI to license its digital library. Mashboxx is preparing to launch in beta, and it previously inked deals with Sony BMG and Universal.
The concept behind Mashboxx is to enable customers to swap files just as they have on previous services such as Grokster, iMesh and Kazaa. The software even links into to existing P2P networking for locating artists, albums and tracks. The difference is that Mashboxx will filter the results based on its own database of licenses.
Yahoo! Messenger 8 Final Launches
Yahoo on Friday launched out of beta the next version of its instant messaging service, adding new plug-in functionality that allows for a customized chat experience. The company says more than 180 plug-ins have been created for the client by developers.
Yahoo! Messenger 8.0 with Voice also brings compatibility with Microsoft's Windows Live Messenger. Through a limited beta program, users from one service can communicate with individuals on the other. Yahoo says the interoperability deal has created the world's largest IM community comprised of 350 million accounts.
Will 'Streamliner' Usher In a Free AOL?
If the speculation is correct, AOL is on the verge of finally letting go of its subscriber revenues and embracing the openness of the Internet by offering its services free to all users. To aid this strategic shift, the company is developing a new software client it has code-named "Streamliner."
During its heyday as the world's largest Internet service provider counting close to 40 million users, AOL released new versions of its software for members like clockwork, ratcheting up the version number and appending new features each year.
Microsoft: Beating iPod Will Take Years
In its financial analysts meeting Thursday, Microsoft acknowledged that competing with Apple's ubiquitous iPod and iTunes combination will be no easy task, but said it was prepared for the long road ahead. The Redmond company plans to spend "hundreds of millions of dollars" on its new music efforts.
Microsoft will release one player under the "Zune" brand name this year, with another to follow in 2007. "This is not a six-month investment time horizon," said Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's entertainment division. "This is something that is going to be a three-, four-, five-year investment." Unlike past efforts, the company plans to control the entire ecosystem, from the music software to the hardware device.
Dell Giving Away 432 Notebooks
For a back to school promotion, Dell is giving away 12 notebook computers every day until August 31. The offer is part of a contest in which participants create a "skin" for their laptop of choice. Winners can add a college logo or other skin to their free computer.
The individual with the best skin design chosen from 10 finalists based on public appeal, originality and creativity will receive a $10,000 check along with a notebook produced with their winning design. The 12 daily winners will be selected at random instantly, with the pre-configured laptops valued at between $948 and $1,418 USD.
Microsoft Opens New Mail Client Beta
Microsoft has opened up the beta program for its new advertising supported e-mail client that integrates with the company's Windows Live initiative. All users can now sign up to test Windows Live Mail Desktop without needing an invitation.
As previously reported, Windows Live Mail Desktop is expected to be released later this year and will eventually serve to replace Outlook Express, which has updated for Vista and renamed Windows Mail. Because it will not ship with Microsoft's new operating system, Live Mail Desktop will be available as a free download.
Motorola to Launch CRZR, RIZR Phones
Motorola this week unveiled two new additions to its RAZR-inspired mobile phone lineup, along with introducing a new low-cost handset for emerging markets called the MOTOFONE that is a mere 9mm thick.
The KRZR, pronounced "Crazer," is a narrower version of the RAZR with a sleek polished chrome exterior. It sports a 2.0-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth audio and new messaging applications. Responding to years of customer complaints, Motorola says it has also updated the phone's contacts directory.
AOL Fixes Netscape.com XSS Hack
AOL's newly launched user-driven Netscape.com fell victim to a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack early Wednesday, the result of the site not properly sanitizing submitted news stories. Visitors to Netscape.com encountered crude pop-up messages and redirects to rival site Digg.
The problem stemmed from inadequate filtering of stories, which did not strip out JavaScript code that exploited an XSS issue. "The site was never compromised," an AOL spokesperson told BetaNews. "The issue lasted a couple hours before it was fixed." The company says it does not believe any malicious code was submitted during that timeframe.
Microsoft Revenue Up, Profit Down 24%
Microsoft on Thursday reported record fiscal fourth quarter revenue of $11.80 billion, a 16 percent increase over last year. However, the Redmond company's net income was only $2.83 billion for the quarter, a 24 percent decrease largely attributable to mounting legal expenses.
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, Microsoft reported annual revenue of $44.28 billion -- 11 percent higher than the previous year. Annual profit was $12.60 billion, up from $12.12 billion. Legal costs of $1.11 billion were lower than the previous year's $2.06 billion.
Microsoft Releases New Money Lineup
Microsoft on Thursday launched its 2007 versions of Money, including an "Essentials" package priced at just $19.99 USD. The simple application links up to thousands of banks and enables customers to more easily manage their money and bills.
Money 2007 Deluxe, Premium and Home & Business add to the Essentials features with a "Savings & Spending Budget" tool, as well as credit reporting and tax features. Those editions run from $49.99 to $89.99 USD before a $20 or $30 mail-in rebate. Microsoft is making its entire Money lineup available for purchase on its Web site, enabling customers to immediately download the products.
Gizmo Project Offers Free Calling
In an effort to one-up market leader Skype, Gizmo Project has announced a new "All Calls Free" plan that makes calling landline and mobile phones in 60 countries free of charge. The catch: both individuals must be active Gizmo users.
Skype currently offers free calling to traditional phone numbers within the United States only. Gizmo's new offering covers landline and mobile phones in 17 countries and landline-only calls in another 43. No fees will be charged for calls to these numbers, the Gizmo Project says.
Microsoft Unveils Windows Honor Code
Microsoft on Wednesday announced a set of principles that it promises to voluntarily follow during the operation of its Windows business. The 12 tenets are both designed to appease regulators following the expiration of a U.S. antitrust ruling in November 2007, and enable Microsoft to be more transparent.
The principles will apply starting with Windows Vista and continue with future releases. Microsoft says it will review them and make updates as necessary at least once every three years. They will be published publicly on the Redmond company's Web site.
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