Web searches are one of the most effective ways to learn more about a topic, but finding the answer to a specific question is not as easy on the Web. To that end, Google has enabled its search engine to "fill in the blank," meaning a statement can be written with an asterisk substituting the missing fact.

"So instead of asking [who invented the parachute?], you can enter the query [the parachute was invented by *]," explains Google Research Scientist Hiyan Alshawi. "There is so much text on the web that this method often works well, but to make it more effective, we've improved the way results are found in response to queries containing such blanks."

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Not long after the United States Supreme Court found that file sharing networks could be held responsible for the actions of their users, StreamCast is launching a legitimate distribution platform for music, games and video through its Morpheus P2P client, which has long been under legal attack from the music industry.

Using a system it calls PeerResponse, StreamCast will enable users to search Morpheus and discover authorized content, which can be purchased through the software's built-in eWallet system. Content owners can choose how their download is distributed, through the pay system or freely to all users.

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The group backing Sony's Blu-ray disc format for the next-generation of DVDs has announced new security features that it hopes will encourage movie studios to choose Blu-ray over Toshiba's HD-DVD. The new technology will embed a watermark on all discs that requires authorization from the hardware to play.

However, such a move means that Blu-ray discs will not be backward compatible with current DVD players and could slow adoption rates among consumers. Movie studios could create hybrid discs that also contain original DVD content as well, but that won't encourage users to make the leap into high-definition.

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Rockstar has released a patch for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which removes the controversial sex scenes that were exposed by the "Hot Coffee" modification. The company even unveiled a special domain name, nomorehotcoffee.com to provide details on how gamers can make GTA "Hot Coffee proof."

The controversy over the modification began in July following the release of an add-on to Rockstar's flagship game that enabled the main character to engage in sexual acts. "Hot Coffee" was created by Patrick Wildenborg, who claimed his mod simply unlocked scenes already present in the game by disabling the "censor flag."

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Microsoft on Tuesday released the long-awaited version 5 of Messenger for Mac OS X, which introduces a tabbed client window for connecting to both a corporate and personal IM account. The interface of Messenger 5 has also been polished to better conform to Apple's "brushed metal" theme.

While the Messenger for Mac update largely brings the software up to date with its Windows counterpart, Microsoft's Macintosh Business Unit has designed some features of its own, including new user titles and the unified client approach for business users wishing to additionally connect to public networks.

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Intuit is seeking 5,000 QuickBooks users to check out the upcoming 2006 release of its business accounting package. The company isn't offering many details of the beta, code-named "Denali," and is asking testers simply to install the release and complete a short survey before uninstalling.

Those willing to spend 30 to 60 minutes trialing Denali will be given a chance to win either a 7-day trip to Hawaii for two, 42-inch plasma TV or $2,000 in cash. Only the first 5,000 applicants running QuickBooks for Windows will be accepted. A high-speed Internet connection is required to download the Denali bits.

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Microsoft on Monday signed off on the Windows Vista SDK, or software development kit, which will enable developers to create applications for the next-generation Windows release. The SDK, complete with code samples, tools and documentation will be available via MSDN and distributed at next month's PDC conference in LA.

The kit will simply be dubbed "Windows SDK" upon release, as it includes both WinFX and Vista-specific documentation. Microsoft will also post an online version of the docs, which can be browsed by any developer. It's not clear if the Windows SDK will replace the company's current Platform SDK.

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Yahoo on Monday unveiled a major expansion to its Web search index, which now scours more than 20 billion objects across the Internet. The number trumps search leader Google's 11.8 billion-item index, although Yahoo admits that when it comes to Web searches, size doesn't matter most.

"While we typically don't disclose size (since we've always said that size is only one dimension of the quality of a search engine), for those who are curious this update includes just over 19.2 billion web documents, 1.6 billion images, and over 50 million audio and video files," developer Tim Mayer wrote in the Yahoo! Search blog.

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Sony has made no secret of the fact that it is not happy with retailers selling its PlayStation Portable to consumers in markets where the device has yet to launch. And on Monday, the company filed suit against Hong Kong based Lik-Sang.com for shipping the PSP to customers in the United Kingdom.

Lik-Sang has proven a popular online store for impatient gamers. The PSP won't launch in the UK until September 1, but customers can order the Japanese version of the portable gaming console for less than the price set by Sony for the PSP's European launch.

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Microsoft is planning to reissue its Windows 2000 Update Rollup, which took the place of Service Pack 5 on the aging, but still widely used, operating system.

Following reports of customers experiencing a number of problems post-install, Microsoft says it will release a new version of the Rollup that integrates hotfixes for such issues. The package includes over 50 patches, both security and non-security related.

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Nokia shares jumped early Monday on a report that the number one mobile phone maker may be an acquisition target of communications giant Cisco. London's Business newspaper reported Sunday that Cisco CEO John Chambers was looking to merge with a wireless carrier and Nokia was on the top of a short list.

Analysts, however, remained skeptical of such a move and a Nokia spokesperson called the report "pure speculation." Cisco is valued at $123 billion while Nokia's market capitalization sits around $71 billion, and any acquisition price would likely be even higher. But Nokia and Cisco are currently collaborating on connecting mobile phones to Cisco's enterprise IP switches.

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As part of a program to supply every high school student with an individual computer for each class they visit, Indiana schools are testing Linux desktops. If the Indiana Access Program is successful, 300,000 Linux machines could potentially be deployed across the state - a big win for the open source movement.

"Indiana schools aren't just talking about desktop Linux – students and teachers are actually using it every day," said Kevin Carmony, CEO of Linspire, which is supplying the Linux OS and software. The initial rollout of Linux began in Indiana three years ago, and a new deployment is scheduled to begin this month.

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As one of the fastest growing companies in Silicon Valley, Google makes a big effort to keep its employees happy and working around the clock. Amenities offered by Google include dry cleaning, car wash, gym time and free meals. And with ever more mouths to feed, Google is seeking two new executive chefs to join its ranks.

"The executive chefs will oversee the development and continual refinement of an eclectic menu capable of suiting every Googler palate, from vegan entrees to pad thai, grilled burgers, and wood-fired pizza – all while using organic ingredients whenever possible," Google says.

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UPDATED In what turned out to be quite a short race, Apple has beat its competitors to the Japanese music market with the launch of a new iTunes Music Store. One million songs will be priced between 150 and 200 yen, and include tracks from the region's top local artists. The Japan store will also feature Japanese language podcasts.

"We are thrilled to be bringing the iTunes Music Store to Japan, and hope music fans here love it as much as others around the world do," said Apple CEO Steve Jobs in a statement. Apple on Thursday also announced that iTunes is now featuring the complete digital music catalog of the Rolling Stones - following in the footsteps of Real's Rhapsody, which has offered the collection since August 2003. The Stones' new album "A Bigger Bang" is available for pre-order on iTunes with included bonus video.

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Facing a second embarrassing security situation in as many weeks, Cisco on Wednesday began notifying customers that its Web site, Cisco.com, had been compromised and asked users to change their passwords. News of the breach followed a report that Cisco's routers were vulnerable to a serious exploit.

"It has been brought to our attention that there is an issue in a Cisco.com search tool that could expose passwords for registered users," the company wrote. "As a result, to protect our registered Cisco.com users, we're taking the proactive step of resetting Cisco.com passwords."

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