Vista Gets New App Compatibility Tool
With any major new Windows release such as Vista, application compatibility becomes a critical concern for businesses and individuals considering an upgrade. No matter how much Microsoft promotes the new version, users aren't going to make the switch unless their applications continue to function seamlessly.
In turn, Microsoft has long offered an Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT), which checks what programs are installed on a system and detects any potential conflicts. The Redmond company is preparing version 5 of the software to be ready by the time Windows Vista ships later this year, and has included a number of new features.
Chinese President to Visit Gates Home
China's President Hu Jintao will be making a historic trip to the United States this week, but his host will not be U.S. President George Bush. Rather, Hu is traveling to Seattle, Washington to have dinner with Bill Gates in the Microsoft chairman's 66,000 square-foot house that overlooks Lake Washington.
President Hu will join a group of 100 dinner guests, including Washington state Governor Christine Gregoire and Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz. A key topic for the evening will be China's efforts to crackdown on software piracy, with three Chinese PC makers recently announcing plans to buy $400 million worth of Windows licenses over the next three years. Lenovo, China's largest computer manufacturer, will announce a similar deal on Monday.
Oracle Considering Own Linux Version
Oracle, most known for its database software, is considering whether to release its own Linux distribution, and has even discussed the possibility of buying Novell in the process. The news, revealed Monday by the Financial Times, follows the purchase of JBoss by Red Hat.
With JBoss providing software that competes in the business market with Oracle, Red Hat has become a potential rival. Red Hat is the largest distributor of the Linux operating system, which Oracle relies upon to sell its own products. "We have to re-look at the relationship; so does IBM," Oracle CEO Larry Ellison told the FT.
AMD Subpoenas Microsoft in Intel Case
AMD on Thursday issued a subpoena to Microsoft requesting information on its dealings with rival chipmaker Intel, including the Redmond company's decision to support 64-bit chips from both manufacturers. The subpoena stems from an antitrust case AMD filed last year accusing Intel of using illegal scare tactics and coercion.
AMD is seeking details on Intel's response to Microsoft collaborating with AMD on marketing initiatives, as well as discussions at Microsoft regarding AMD's financial viability. The chipmaker said the subpoena should come as no surprise, however, as Microsoft was included on an initial list. A key issue in the AMD case could be the rebates Intel offers computer makers who agree to use its chips exclusively.
Microsoft Sponsors Video Game Olympics
Citing recent growth in "cybersports." Microsoft this week announced it would become the premier sponsor of the World Cyber Games, the top competition in the video game industry. The Redmond company will provide its Xbox 360 console for WCG events, along with games and marketing.
Microsoft Windows and the Xbox will become the exclusive platforms for both PC and console games in the WCG. The company's sponsorship will also cover three championship events in South Korea, the United States and the the WCG Grand Finals in Monza, Italy.
Samsung to Unveil Origami PC May 1
Samsung will take the wraps off its first Ultra-Mobile PC on May 1, according to an invitation sent to journalists this week. The event, to be held in San Francisco, will mark the launch of the first device based on Microsoft's Origami concept that made waves at CeBIT in March.
Samsung's UMPC, known as Q1, will retail in South Korea for $1264 -- more expensive than Microsoft's target price range of $500 to $1000. Prices for the United States and Europe were not announced, nor were hardware specifications of the device. UMPCs largely resemble a small Tablet PC with 7-inch touch screen, and run a full version of Windows XP with special software.
Windows Defender Beta 2 Refreshed
Microsoft on Thursday released an updated version of Windows Defender Beta 2, the company's anti-spyware and malware application that will be integrated into Windows Vista. The release fixes bugs in signature updating, polishes the user interface and improves the software's SpyNet reporting capabilities.
Responding to feedback from users, Windows Defender can now remain active in the system tray at all times. The SpyNet feature enables users to send reports back to Microsoft and help the company keep ahead of malware authors. "With these upcoming changes to our reporting network and our core technology, we will improve our detection and removal capabilities even more in the upcoming months," said Microsoft's Anti-Malware Engineering Team.
Orb Adds Support for TiVo Streaming
Orb Networks, maker of software that enables Windows XP users to stream digital media from their home PCs to anywhere with a network connection, announced
Survey: 47% Interested in Hi-Def DVD
Calling it "the old beta versus VHS dilemma," Blockbuster Online said Thursday it will carry both HD DVD and Blu-ray high-definition movies when they begin to ship next month. Subscribers can begin adding HD DVD films to their rental queues on April 18, and Blu-ray titles are set to be available on May 23.
Blockbuster also held a survey among its members and found that 55 percent had an HD-capable television and 47 percent were "very interested" in the new technology. Still, only one-third of subscribers said they planned to purchase HD-capable DVD hardware due to high pricing and the lack of a unified standard.
Apple Updates Aperture Photo Tool
Apple on Thursday released Aperture 1.1, a major update to the company's new post production tool for photographers that brings support for Intel-based Macs and improved RAW image rendering. The company says MacBook Pro users will find image editing and searching is now up to four times faster.
Apple has also added new RAW Fine Tuning controls, a built-in color meter that displays pixel values in RGB, Lab or CMYK, as well as enhanced export functionality. In addition, version 1.1 now supports the Nikon 200D and Canon 30D. The price of Aperture has dropped to $299, and buyers of version 1.0 will receive a $200 coupon for use at the Apple Online Store along with a free upgrade.
Google Opens Calendar Beta
Google late Wednesday opened up its much-anticipated Calendar service to the public in beta form, complete with Gmail integration and SMS notifications. Code-named CL2, the free service enables users to quickly add events and reminders, send invitations and share their calendar with others.
Google Calendar can import events directly from Microsoft Outlook and Yahoo! Calendar, in addition to supporting calendar standards to view schedules on any device supporting iCal or XML files. Gmail will also recognize events mentioned in an e-mail to quickly add them to Google Calendar.
Yahoo Adds Satellite Imagery to Maps
Following in the footsteps of Google and Microsoft, Yahoo on Wednesday rolled out a new Yahoo! Maps beta complete with satellite and ariel imagery. The company says the service now offers the "best medium-resolution global map data" of any of its competitors.
Yahoo has attempted to improve on the standard satellite images by blending away seam lines and matching colors so the viewing experience is smooth. The leading Internet site has also attempted to one-up its rivals by providing complete coverage of the United States at a 1-meter per pixel solution.
Microsoft Launches Academic Search
Microsoft has given its answer to Google Scholar with a beta version of Windows Live Academic Search designed for students and researchers. The service has indexed a spectrum of academic journals and peer-reviewed content, and is intended to aid with research.
While the beta release focuses on the topics of computer science, electrical engineering and physics, Microsoft plans to bring new subjects online in the near future. The company has partnered with the IEEE, the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and publishers Elsevier and John Wiley & Sons, along with a number of other groups.
Windows 98, Me Support to End in July
Microsoft has officially begun requesting that users running Windows 98, 98 SE and Millennium Edition (Me) upgrade their operating system as soon as possible. The Redmond company will cease all public and technical support for the products on July 11, 2006, including all security updates.
Customers are being notified of the impending deadline, which was moved from January 16, 2004 to provide extra time for those still running legacy systems. No-charge incident support and extended hotfix support for Windows 98 and Me previously ended on June 30, 2003 and December 31, 2003, respectively.
MSN Messenger Most Used IM Client
Analytics firm comScore Networks announced Monday the results of its February measurement of instant messenger usage around the world, with Europe surpassing the United States in IM users for the first time. MSN Messenger was also ranked as the most used client, garnering 61 percent of the worldwide market.
According to the survey, 82 million people in Europe use instant messaging software, amounting to 49 percent of the online population. In the United States only 69 million of people use IM, or 37 percent of the online population. Latin America had the highest IM penetration covering 64 percent of Web users.
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