iTunes Tops 1 Billion Song Downloads
Apple sold its 1 billionth song from the iTunes Music Store early Thursday morning, reaching what it calls a "massive milestone in digital music history." iTunes hit the 500 million download mark last July, and needed only seven additional months to double those sales.
On the road to 1 billion songs, Apple gave the customers who downloaded every 100,000th song a 4GB iPod nano and $100 iTunes gift card. The user who purchased the 1 billionth song will receive a 20-inch iMac, ten 60GB iPods, and a $10,000 iTunes gift card. The milestone will likely be highlighted at a special Apple event scheduled for next week.
Vista 'Enterprise CTP' Feature Complete
Microsoft has announced the arrival of the February Windows Vista CTP, which was renamed to "Enterprise CTP" as the company moves from monthly to audience specific naming. The release means Windows Vista is now "feature complete," offering the first glimpse at the Windows Sidebar.
In a conference call Wednesday, General Manager of Windows Client Product Management Brad Goldberg heralded the Enterprise CTP -- numbered build 5308 -- as a "call to action for businesses." Microsoft is encouraging enterprises to begin testing out new features starting today.
MPAA Rejoices Over eDonkey Shutdown
The Motion Picture Association of America is claiming a major victory in the battle against illicit file sharing with the shutdown of a key server used to index content on the eDonkey2000 network. Razorback2 was the largest centralized server and was used by over 1 million file swappers.
The server's operator was arrested in Switzerland while the computers were seized from a hosting facility near Brussels. The MPAA heralded the arrest in a statement, saying the man's home was also searched for more information on those keeping eDonkey's 3.5 million-user P2P network running.
IBM Subpoenas Microsoft, Sun and HP in SCO Case
The seemingly never-ending battle between IBM and SCO over Linux took an interesting turn Tuesday, as IBM issued subpoenas to Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems and BayStar Capital regarding their dealings with the SCO. The companies will also appear in court later next month.
SCO's legal crusade to protect its "trade secrets" began in 2003 when it claimed there had been a "misappropriation" of its code into Linux. Since that time, SCO has taken a large number of vendors to court including IBM, which it has sued for over $5 billion.
Microsoft Offers Up MacBooks, iPods
In a seemingly strange twist, Microsoft has announced a "Spring Cleaning" contest that is offering users the chance to win Apple's new MacBook Pro laptops, iPods, Cinema Displays and more. The contest is being held by Microsoft's Mac Business Unit to breathe some life into Office 2004 for Mac.
The Redmond company is also putting up some products of its own, including its Wireless Laser Desktop keyboard and mouse package and Xbox 360 consoles. Four grand prize winners will be chosen, along with $60,000 in runner-up prizes. Users can join the contest by filling out a short entry form by June 30, 2006.
AOL Rolls Out Video Search Upgrades
America Online this week is rolling out upgrades to its Video Search engine, expanding the index with 1.8 million videos from its recent acquisition of Truveo. The content joins 20,000 original and licensed videos, as well as 2.5 million videos indexed through AOL's Singingfish search product.
Truveo seeks out video content on the Web using a method called "Visual Crawling." AOL says it was interested in the way Truveo discovers a wider range of new videos and related information from dynamic Web pages, calling the company a "hidden gem."
Vista February CTP Due Wednesday
Microsoft on Wednesday is expected to make available the third CTP, or Community Technology Preview, of Windows Vista. The February release has been scheduled to be the first feature-complete build of Microsoft's next-generation operating system and will showcase for the first time the Windows Sidebar.
Redmond officials are hosting a conference call early Wednesday to discuss the status of Vista development. Microsoft has held two previous calls: one if November to announce that no public CTP would be release, and another before Christmas to herald the arrival of the December CTP. A broader Beta 2 release of Windows Vista is still expected in the first half of 2006.
AOL Joins WebEx to Launch 'AIM Pro'
AOL is linking up with WebEx Communications to develop a new instant messaging client that integrates collaborative business functionality such as online meetings and live demonstrations. Code-named "AIM Pro," the software will come in two versions: one for small to mid-sized businesses and one for enterprises.
AIM Pro builds upon the same code base found in AOL's new Triton, but sports a streamlined user interface designed for business environments. A company spokesperson said that AIM Pro will become the recommended client for business users, while Triton remains consumer oriented.
Microsoft Hints at Six Vista Editions
A Windows Vista help page has provided some insight into Microsoft's packaging plans for the next-generation Windows release due out later this year. While the company has yet to make any official announcement, Microsoft is ostensibly preparing six different editions of Windows Vista.
At the bottom of the list is Windows Starter 2007, which will likely replace the current Windows XP Starter Edition SKU. This slimmed down version of Windows does not carry the Vista branding because it will not feature the new Aero Glass interface, and is designed purely as a low-cost option for emerging markets.
Beta Test Sunbelt Messaging Ninja
Sunbelt Software is seeking beta testers for a new antispam and antivirus solution that integrates with Microsoft Exchange. Called Sunbelt Messaging Ninja, the product uses a plug-in architecture to offer customized security polices, and will initially include two antivirus and antispam engines as well as e-mail attachment filtering.
According to Sunbelt, "Ninja provides a layered security approach for message inspection, cleansing and management. By using multiple scanning engines for spam and viruses, while integrating other messaging security rules, all treatment of messages occurs at the server, not at your end-user's workstation." Interested Exchange users can apply by e-mailing beta(at)Sunbelt-software.com with "Ninja Beta" in the subject.
Interview: Microsoft Exec Talks IE7, RSS
Following a decision to release a standalone version of IE7, browser development at Microsoft has come fast and furious. BetaNews this week sat down with Gary Schare, Director of IE Product Management, to discuss the changes coming in IE7, Firefox's growth, and how Microsoft will bring RSS to the mainstream.
When BetaNews last spoke to Schare in late 2004, he explained why Microsoft had no plans to add features like tabbed browsing directly into Internet Explorer or update its CSS support. After much feedback, things changed in early 2005. With a standalone IE7 now feature-complete, Schare delves into the reasoning and gives us a look at what to expect when the browser is released later this year.
Apple Ups Pressure on OS X Hackers
Almost immediately after Apple began distributing development systems with Mac OS X for Intel processors last year, hackers got to work on making the operating system run atop generic hardware. Now, the company has upped the ante in its battle to stop them.
In order to keep control of where its software can be run and prevent potential piracy, Apple employed security measures that included a TPM, or trust platform module, chip. Without the presence of this, and other hardware only available from Apple, Mac OS X would simply refuse to run.
First Mac OS X Virus? Apple Says No
Loyalists on both sides of the Mac versus Windows debate shot into action Thursday following news that the first virus had been spotted for Apple's operating system. The malware, dubbed Leap.A, spreads through iChat and infects local applications. But Apple downplayed the threat, saying malicious software is different from a virus.
According to security firm F-Secure, Leap.A is simply a standard executable compiled for Mac OS X. It is distributed as an archive called latestpics.tgz. "First it drops an icon resource and an external hook bundle which is used for spreading through iChat," the company said in an advisory.
Office 2007 Beta 1 'Refresh' in March
With Office 2007 -- formerly referenced as Office "12" -- Beta 2 not due until the second quarter, Microsoft is preparing to release a Technical Refresh Build of Office 2007 Beta 1. The interim build will be made available next month following the release of the Windows Vista February CTP.
Time is running out for Microsoft to ship the February CTP, which is expected to be the first "feature complete" build of Windows Vista. The much-anticipated Windows Sidebar is expected to make its first appearance in the release. Microsoft did not say what changes the Office 2007 Beta 1 Refresh will bring, but it is expected to be required for use with the new Vista CTP.
Apple Extends Deadline for Burst.com
Apple has given Burst.com another month to respond to a federal court filing that asked a judge to preemptively invalidate claims by Burst.com that Apple is infringing on patents owned by the company. At issue are certain technologies within Apple's iPod player and iTunes software.
Burst and Apple attempted to negotiate a license fee two years ago, but talks broke down and Burst threatened to sue last year. Apple, in turn, went on the offensive and filed a declaratory relief complaint. In January, Burst said it intended to file a countersuit accusing Apple of patent infringement. Burst now has until March 20, 2006 to respond to Apple's complaint.
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