Motorola Fixes RAZR Crash Problem
Motorola CEO Ed Zander told reporters at a press briefing Wednesday that it had resolved a technical problem in its popular RAZR phones, which caused the device to drop calls and restart itself automatically. The issue led to a halt in shipments and was quickly picked up by the media.
Zander said the bug resided in a component from a new Motorola supplier and only affected GSM versions of the RAZR in the United States. U.S. wireless carriers T-Mobile and Cingular pulled the phones from shelves last week, leading to a backlog of orders.
Google Debuts 'Quick Search Box'
Google on Wednesday released the final version of Google Desktop 3.0, adding a new feature the company calls the Quick Search Box. By pressing the control key twice, a search box will appear in the middle of the desktop to facilitate Web and local searches. Hitting control twice more makes the box disappear.
Other new additions to Google Desktop 3 include searches across multiple computers, the ability to send Sidebar items to friends, deeper customization of Sidebar features, and password-protected search. The software includes a Google-like search function and Sidebar, a movable palette of various mini-applications.
Symantec Announces pcAnywhere 12
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of pcAnywhere, Symantec on Tuesday announced version 12 of its remote control software. The update brings pcAnywhere back to basics with a simplified user interface, while expanding support for additional platforms including Linux and Mac OS X.
Users can take advantage of tabs for flipping through multiple open sessions within a single window. A new gateway feature, meanwhile, enables administrators to use a single server to access an entire internal network, reducing the potential for security attacks. pcAnywhere 12 will be available at the end of March for $199.95 USD.
Apple Fixes Security Patch Problems
Two weeks after issuing a security update to plug 17 potential vulnerabilities in Mac OS X, Apple has released a second patch to correct problems with the first and resolve newly discovered flaws. The fixes involve a new "download validation mechanism" designed to prevent malicious files from being run automatically.
The issue relates to the way Safari executes what it believes are "safe" files after downloading. A file could actually be a malicious script, which is executed using the operating system's Terminal application, rather than the movie or picture is masquerades as.
EU: No Public Hearing for Microsoft
The European Commission has rejected a call by Microsoft to open up an antitrust hearing scheduled for March 30 and 31. The hearing will decide whether the Redmond company has complied with a March 2004 ruling against it, and could lead to additional fines surpassing 200 million euros.
Microsoft says it wants a public hearing so other companies can understand the far-reaching implications of the lawsuit. The company has recently used the media to plead its case while alleging the EU is withholding critical documents, and an open hearing would aid this effort. But EU spokesperson Jonathan Todd says, "the procedural regulation explicitly prohibits this."
Microsoft Delays XP for Legacy PCs
Microsoft has delayed a special slimmed-down version of Windows XP for legacy PCs, which is based on the Windows Embedded code base. The Redmond company had expected to make the operating system available to Software Assurance customers this month, but now says Windows Fundamentals will ship "in late 2006."
Windows Fundamentals can run on older machines that do not support XP while providing the same level of security. The system could be utilized as a Remote Desktop or Citrix client, along with supporting management tools, terminal emulation software, and viewing of some documents. Microsoft did not give a specific reason for the delay, but the company has been focusing most of its efforts on finishing Windows Vista.
Microsoft Updates Vista Design Tools
Despite claims that it has "paused" development on the product, Microsoft delivered an updated CTP of Expression Graphic Designer -- formerly known as Acrylic -- over the weekend, along with a refreshed build of its Interactive Designer tool.
Expression Graphic Designer has been hyped as a rival to Adobe's Photoshop, but Microsoft has designed the product to specifically take advantage of the new display capabilities in Windows Vista. Graphic Designer outputs into the XAML file format that is natively supported by Vista's Presentation Foundation.
Google to Sell Digital Books Online
Google is inviting publishers in the United States and Britain to submit their books for sale online, and even set prices that the search engine would charge customers. The move is an expansion of Google's Book Search project, which has been the subject of much controversy.
The program currently makes available a few sentences from digitized books, only allowing full text access to titles out of copyright. But soon consumers will be able to buy books for viewing within their Web browser; copying and printing will be prevented. Google has not said when it plans to launch the new feature.
Microsoft Launches Video Podcast
Looking to expand on the success of its Channel 9 developer site, Microsoft on Monday rolled out a new community called 10. Each day, On10.net will host a video highlighting new technologies and the people behind them. Unlike Channel 9, however, the site will not only cover Microsoft.
The first video features a tour of KEXP 90.3, an independent radio station that streams live over the Internet. Users of 10 can comment on the videos as they are watching them, and to reach the broadest visitor base the site supports multiple formats including QuickTime.
Microsoft Building New Free Mail Client
Internet Explorer isn't the only application to enjoy a resurgence in Windows Vista -- Microsoft is readying a new desktop e-mail client that will be integrated into Windows Live and eventually replace Outlook Express. Dubbed Windows Live Mail Desktop, the product is currently in beta testing.
As IE development stagnated following the release of Windows XP, Outlook Express -- Microsoft's free e-mail client -- suffered a similar fate. But the OE team returned to update the product for Vista under the name Windows Mail, and is now expanding that work with a completely separate application.
EU Again Warns Microsoft to Obey
The European Commission fired another shot over Microsoft's bow on Friday, warning the company that technical documentation provided to comply with a March 2004 antitrust ruling "as it stands is unusable." The EU sent a letter to Microsoft outlining its continued concerns.
A new report from monitoring trustee Neil Barrett, a computer science professor hired as an independent consultant by the EU, states that Microsoft has added nothing substantial to the documentation despite requests. The Commission says the changes required "are not merely refinements or improvements to the text."
Writely Buy Hints at Google Office
Google on Thursday confirmed what many have been speculating since Monday: the search giant has purchased yet another Web 2.0 darling by the name of Writely. Writely serves as a Web based word processor with sharing and collaboration features. But does this really mean Google Office is near?
Writely was launched into beta in August 2005 by start Upstartle. The service quickly gained attention for its ability to bring advanced editing features directly into the Web browser through the use of advanced scripting and AJAX.
Office 2007 Update Coming Next Week
As previously reported by BetaNews, Microsoft will issue a Technical Refresh Build of Office 2007 Beta 1 next week. The release includes minor fixes and modifications to the suite's user interface, along with bringing back support for Windows Vista. Office 2007 Beta 1 does not function on the Vista February CTP.
The beta refresh will only be available to Beta 1 testers; however, Microsoft may open the program up when Beta 2 arrives this spring. Microsoft promises the refresh will bring "a more stable, reliable experience overall." Office 2007 is a major departure from past releases, dropping toolbar buttons for "ribbons" offering features specific to the current task.
Microsoft Unfolds 'Origami' as UMPC
As expected, Microsoft revealed its much-anticipated Origami Project at CeBIT in Germany, showing off a new platform of devices it calls Ultra-Mobile PCs. The UMPC largely resembles a small Tablet PC with 7-inch touch screen, and runs the full version of Windows XP.
Microsoft calls the UMPC "a new category of device" -- larger than an iPod or PSP, but smaller than traditional laptops and tablets. While the UMPC won't fit into a pocket, the company feels that consumers are ready for a smaller, lighter form factor that retains the full functionality of a PC.
LG Philips Builds World's Largest LCD
When it comes to television, bigger is better -- at least according to Korean electronics giant LG and its Dutch partner Philips. LG Philips on Wednesday unveiled a 100-inch LCD screen, which is 1.5 times larger than an 82-inch model built by Samsung Electronics last year.
Although such a large display is likely never to reach consumers, companies in the LCD and plasma TV industry have used them to highlight their technological prowess. "Our development of the 100-inch LCD panel reaffirms that LG Philips LCD is the global leader in large-area LCD technology," said LG Philips executive vice president Yeo Sang-Deog.
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