'Blackcomb' Renamed to 'Vienna'
Microsoft has changed the code-name for the next version of Windows after Vista from "Blackcomb" to "Vienna," according to company evangelist and blogger Robert Scoble. Blackcomb was named back in 2000, when Windows XP was still known as Whistler. But Microsoft says it needed a name that fit the "Vista" theme.
"The codename for Blackcomb has changed to 'Vienna'. This does not reflect a big change for us; we have used city code names in the past," a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement. "These code names are derived from cities/locations in the world known for great 'vistas'. The kinds of places we all want to see, experience and that capture the imagination. Vienna fits with this concept."
Report: Disney in Talks to Buy Pixar
Walt Disney Co. and Pixar Animation Studios are in "serious" discussions about a potential acquisition, according to a report Thursday in the Wall Street Journal. Disney has offered a stock deal of over Pixar's current $6.7 billion market value, which would make CEO Steve Jobs the largest individual Disney shareholder.
Disney and Pixar have long been distribution partners since the debut of "Toy Story" in 1995. The two companies have since worked together in releasing a number of Pixar blockbusters, including "Finding Nemo," "Monsters, Inc." and "The Incredibles."
Windows Live Messenger Invite Winners
After almost 400 comments, we have chosen the winners of our second Windows Live Messenger beta invite giveaway. Many of you came up with excellent slogans for Windows Vista, and I'm sure a few Microsoft marketing folks were reading through the responses.
And the winners are..
Near-Final Vista Foundations Released
Microsoft has made available prerelease versions of the Windows Communication Foundation and Windows Workflow Foundation, which comprise two of the core building blocks within Windows Vista. The company has also issued a Go-Live license for each, signifying the products' state of readiness.
The idea of the releases is to enable developers to build applications and solutions on the new technology and be ready by the time Vista reaches store shelves. The two foundations are part of the new WinFX programming model, which Microsoft has backported to Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.
Google Talk Opens to Other IM Services
Google on Tuesday announced it was opening up Google Talk to all other instant messaging networks that utilize the XMPP protocol, developed for Jabber. The move to federate means Google users can communicate directly wtih users of Earthlink, Gizmo Project, Tiscali, Netease, Chikka, MediaRing and others.
Any IM provider is now free to connect to Google Talk without any sort of agreement, simply by following the specifications. Google eventually plans to add support for SIP, which would enable cross-network calling as well. "We think this is pretty exciting," said Google Talk product manager Mike Jazayeri, "and we hope it will bring us one step closer to making IM and Internet voice calling as ubiquitous as email."
Windows XP SP3 Not Until Late 2007
According to an update on Microsoft's support lifecycle Web site, the next service pack for Windows XP isn't due out until the second half of 2007 -- one full year after Windows Vista launches.
XP SP3 will likely serve as a cumulative update for what will soon become Microsoft's legacy operating system.
Corel Releases WordPerfect X3
Corel on Tuesday announced the availability of WordPerfect Office X3, the popular alternative desktop productivity suite. The newest version includes continued enhancements to its Microsoft Office compatibility, and the company claims the client is the first to natively import and export PDF files.
Notably missing from this release is any OpenDocument Format support, which Corel helped spearhead. However, the company told BetaNews that its target with this release was to focus on a open format that is already widely used: PDF.
600,000 Xbox 360s Sold Since Launch
Research firm NPD Group announced Friday that Microsoft has sold 600,000 Xbox 360 consoles in the U.S. since the device's launch in November. Despite holiday shipments falling below analyst expectations, Microsoft still expects to sell between 4.5 and 5.5 million Xbox 360s by the end of June.
NPD Group numbers include two-thirds of retail outlets in the United States. The figures do not include Xbox 360 sales in Japan, where initial launch figures were disappointing, and Europe, where Microsoft blew through its 300,000-console inventory within days. Sales in all regions could accelerate later this month when more game titles hit store shelves.
Win a Live Messenger Invite, Part II
The response to our previous post on Windows Live Messenger invitations was beyond what we could have imagined, so we've decided to offer another opportunity to join the beta. Many of you came up with excellent ideas for features in Windows Vista, but we could only choose 35.
And the winners are...
Coalition Finalizes Spyware Definitions
The Anti-Spyware Coalition has published a final draft of criteria to use in defining whether or not a software application is spyware. The document is designed to help anti-spyware vendors properly categorize malware and avoid legal attacks from companies who claim their software is unfairly targeted.
With 43 percent of Internet users reporting they have been infected with spyware, tools to detect and remove the malicious applications have become a prerequisite for PC users. But much confusion still exists on what constitutes spyware and adware, which has led to improper classification and even lawsuits.
Microsoft Confirms: WMP for Mac Dead
UPDATED Microsoft has confirmed to BetaNews that it will no longer develop Windows Media Player for Apple's Mac OS X operating system. Support will also no longer be offered to Mac users. The decision means Apple customers will have no chance to play DRM protected Windows Media content.
The death knell sounded for WMP for Mac yesterday, following the release of Windows Media Components for QuickTime by developer Flip4Mac. Microsoft began directing Web site visitors to download the third party software. Flip4Mac's components integrate into Apple's QuickTime and enable support for Windows Media Video and Audio.
Gates, O'Reilly to Headline MIX 06
Microsoft has tapped open source advocate and Web 2.0 evangelist Tim O'Reilly to join Bill Gates in kicking off its first MIX conference in March. As previously reported, MIX is designed to showcase the company's renewed investment in the Web through development of new technologies and programs.
Windows Live, Internet Explorer 7 and Windows Vista will all play a central role in the conference, which is targeted at both the entrepreneurs, or strategic thinkers, and the "implementers" -- a group that includes developers and designers.
Nikon to Move Away from Film Cameras
Following in the footsteps of rivals Kodak and Canon, Nikon said it will scale back production of film cameras and cease making five of the seven models currently available. The moves come as the camera industry shifts its focus on a growing digital photography market.
Nikon will also cease production of lenses and accessories for traditional cameras, the company said in a statement on its Web site. "This also applies to most of our film camera bodies, interchangeable manual focus lenses and related accessories." Nikon expects film-related products to sell out completely by this summer.
Symantec Found Using Rootkit Feature
Symantec is cleaning up a feature in Norton SystemWorks that uses a rootkit-like technique to hide a system folder from Windows. The technology works similar to Sony BMG's controversial rootkit DRM in the way it masks files and makes them invisible to the operating system.
The Norton Protected Recycle Bin feature adds a directory called NProtect, which stores temporary copies of files that users delete. The idea was to supplement the standard Windows Recycle Bin and enable users to recover files they removed accidentally.
FTC Opposes Netflix Settlement
The Federal Trade Commission has filed an amicus brief in opposition of the proposed Netflix class action settlement. The company was sued for advertising "unlimited" DVD rentals and "one day delivery" when it couldn't guarantee either. The FTC says the settlement is not beneficial to consumers.
As previously reported, Netflix agreed to provide customers with a one-month service level upgrade free of charge. This means that Netflix users subscribed to the 3 DVDs at-a-time program will be upgraded to 4 DVDs at-a-time for one month. After the free month, customers must remember to downgrade their service manually or face higher fees.