Report: Firefox Past 10 Percent Share
Web analytics firm Net Applications announced Monday that the open source Firefox browser has finally passed 10 percent market share, according to the firm's statistics for March. The 10.05 percent usage was up from 9.75 percent in February. Microsoft's Internet Explorer still holds a commanding lead with 84.7 percent of the market, Net Applications said.
However, according to another analytics firm, Firefox had already surpassed 10 percent market share last November. OneStat.com reported at the time that Mozilla browsers had reached 11.51 percent usage globally based on a sample of two million users from 100 companies.
New York Sues Pop-up Ad Company
New York attorney general Eliot Spitzer is on the offensive once again, this time targeting Internet pop-up advertising company Direct Revenue LLC. The firm is being accused of illegally installing spyware on consumers' machines, and then causing the infected computers to show pop-up advertising through the program.
Direct Revenue reportedly bundled adware downloads such as VX2, Aurora and OfferOptimizer with games, browsers and other free software through third party distributors. Spitzer said these "drive-by downloads" were installed simply by visiting a malicious Web site, and enabled the company to monitor a user's Web activity and make pop-up ads appear.
Apple Offers Tickets with Album Buy
Apple's iTunes Music Store entered a new era on Tuesday, making available for pre-order tickets to the Red Hot Chili Peppers' North American tour. The tickets will be sold alongside a new double album entitled "Stadium Arcadium," which goes on sale May 9. Users will receive a code with the album purchase that can be used to buy tickets before they go on sale to the general public.
Apple joined up with Ticketmaster for the offering, and has priced the album at $19.90 USD. Exclusive videos and an audio interview will be made available to customers alongside the music tracks. Last month, Warner Music released the entire Red Hot Chili Peppers archive -- complete with unreleased tracks -- exclusively on iTunes.
Microsoft VC-1 Codec Now a Standard
The VC-1 video codec proposed and developed by Microsoft was officially released by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers on Monday, paving the way for the technology to be used by next-generation DVDs. Microsoft submitted the Windows Media Video 9-based codec for standardization in September 2003.
Microsoft's rationale for embracing standards was to provide the industry with better access to high-quality video compression. This move would for allow easier adoption of Windows Media, as companies would no longer be forced to contact Microsoft directly. Devices such as home video cameras or set top boxes can natively support VC-1, without Redmond's direct approval.
Windows Live Prepped for Cell Phones
Microsoft is preparing to beta test a new software client for Windows Mobile 5.0, which will replace the Pocket MSN application with Windows Live based services formatted for smartphones. Pocket MSN features currently include one-click access to Hotmail and Messenger, along with viewing alerts.
With Windows Live services set to succeed their MSN counterparts throughout the year, Microsoft will update the mobile client as well. The company is seeking beta testers to trial the new software, which requires a Windows Mobile 5.0 device such as a Treo 700w. The test, only available in the United States, is open to join through Microsoft's Connect beta site -- users can find an application survey under the "Available Programs" link.
Borders to Sell Sony Reader Device
Sony inked a deal on Monday to sell its new Reader device in Borders bookstores across the United States, including some airport locations. The Sony Reader, demoed at this year's CES conference in January, offers a high-contrast, high-resolution (800x600) electronic paper display for viewing e-books and text documents.
Sporting a form factor much like a Tablet PC, the Sony Reader is roughly as thick as a paperback book and includes internal flash memory, along with optional Memory Stick or Secure Digital (SD) slots. Sony will sell books for the device through its CONNECT service, and offer prepaid cards at Borders. The company says prices will be competitive with brick-and-mortar bookstores.
EarthLink Resurrects MindSpring Brand
EarthLink said Monday it is bringing back MindSpring -- one of the most successful Internet brands of the 90s -- for a free voice over IP offering. Like Skype, MindSpring users can make free calls via the PC and receive voicemail to their e-mail address. Outbound calls to cell and landline phones can be made for a small fee.
Built on SIP, MindSpring is also interoperable with Google Talk and other instant messaging services using the protocol. A beta version of the MindSpring product was first launched last year as EarthLink Vling, and the final product runs on Windows XP and 2000. "Our MindSpring product is a key building block in EarthLink's suite of Internet voice offerings, so it's appropriate that we name the service after one of the pioneering Internet companies," said Tom Hsieh, director of voice products and engineering at EarthLink.
America Online Changes Name to AOL
Time Warner's America Online division has officially changed its name to AOL, LLC., a move that is intended to aid the company's efforts to shed its aging image as a dial-up service provider. AOL has been busy rolling out a new generation of Web services targeted at consumers outside its walled garden, including those not in the United States.
"Our company long ago accomplished the mission implied by our old name. We literally got America online," said AOL's chairman and CEO Jonathan Miller in a statement. "Our new corporate identity better reflects our expanded mission -- to make everyone's online experience better. Plus, consumers in the U.S. and around the world already know us by our initials."
Microsoft: Some Progress in EU Case
Microsoft ended its two-day hearing with the European Commission on Friday with an upbeat tone, saying it had made progress in coming to an understanding with the EU's antitrust watchdog. The hearing was scheduled to determine whether Microsoft had adequately complied with a March 2004 ruling against it.
Professor Neil Barrett, an independent monitor hired to evaluate Microsoft's compliance, outlined on Friday what the Redmond company must do to avoid 2 million euro fines dating back to December 15. That date is when the Commission filed its statement of objections accusing Microsoft of not following through on opening up Windows Server protocols to third parties.
EFF to Appeal Apple Trade Secret Case
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is heading back into the courtroom on April 20 to appeal a ruling last year that could have far reaching consequences for bloggers and journalists. In that decision, Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge James Kleinberg's said that journalists and their ISPs can be obligated to identify confidential sources.
The case stemmed from a "John Doe" lawsuit filed by Apple against Web sites, including Jason O'Grady's PowerPage, which provoked Apple after it disclosed the company's designs for a FireWire-based interface for GarageBand code-named "Asteroid." Apple was given permission to subpoena both O'Grady and other rumor site AppleInsider.
Study: Tumor Risk from Cell Phones
Researchers at the Swedish National Institute for Working Life issued a report this week disputing two earlier studies that claimed cell phone use has no correlation to increased brain tumor risk. The Swedish study found that long-term mobile phone exposure could raise the chance of developing cancer.
In January, a four-year study performed by the London-based Institute of Cancer Research and three British universities found that talking on a cell phone had no effect on tumor rates. That research included 966 people with glioma brain tumors and 1,716 healthy respondents. Individuals were questioned on first use, lifetime years of use, cumulative hours of use, and number of calls they made.
First HD DVD Player Goes on Sale
Toshiba kicked off the next-generation of DVD technology on Friday with the launch of its first HD DVD player in Japan. The HD-XA1 is priced at 110,000 yen, or $940 USD -- slightly higher than it will cost in the United States. No movies in the format will be available until April, however the Toshiba player can play current DVD discs as well.
Toshiba delayed the introduction of the $799 HD-XA1 in the United States last week due to movie studios needing more time to prepare films. The electronics maker also plans to introduce a cheaper $499 player to help push adoption among consumers who may balk at the cost of upgrading to high definition. Sony is expected to launch its first Blu-ray player in July for $1,000.
High Bids for WWII Enigma Machine
eBay has long been a purveyor of the unusual and the unique, but it's not often an authentic piece of tech history captures as much attention as the Enigma 3 portable cipher machine that has racked up bids of almost 16,000 euros. The Enigma device was used extensively by Nazi Germany during World War II.
Specifically, the Enigma machine was capable of encrypting and decrypting secret messages using mechanical rotors. Its use entered the history books when Allied forces successfully broke the Enigma cipher with the help of early computer technology, and used the intercepted communications to help defeat the Germans.
Microsoft Launches Hosted Exchange
Microsoft on Thursday rebranded its FrontBridge offering as Exchange Hosted Services, which provides e-mail and instant messaging solutions to businesses who want to avoid setting up the technology in house. EHS focuses on security and centers around four areas: filtering, archiving, backup and encryption.
Microsoft also said it plans to roll out version 5.3 of EHS in April, improving searches, language support and accessibility features. The new release will also enable administrators to force users to choose strong passwords. Version 6 of EHS is slated to debut alongside Exchange "12" in 2007 with support for hosted calendar and contacts.
TiVo Blames EchoStar for Problems
TiVo faced off against EchoStar Communications in court on Wednesday, telling a jury that the satellite TV operator's Dish Network is infringing on TiVo's patent regarding the pausing of live television. Dish claims it invented its own digital video recorder and says it did not steal any technology from TiVo.
TiVo received its patent in 2001, but until now it has been largely unenforced. Industry watchers say the case could have a big impact on the company's bottom line if it is able to extract royalties from makers of TiVo-like devices. EchoStar, however, asserts that the patent is not enforcaeble and plans to detail how its own technology differs from TiVo.
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