Apple Shines as Earnings Quadruple
Apple has added further reason to be jubilant during this year's Macworld exposition, because it's not just the gala's festive atmosphere that has caused Apple's stock shares to jump: First quarter financial results have revealed a net profit of $295 million.
Apple credits the sale of 1,046,000 Macintosh units and 4,580,000 iPods, as well as thriving international sales for its vastly improved margins that are more than quadruple last year's same-quarter results.
Index Engines to Test Search Appliance
Index Engines is seeking beta testers to evaluate a plug-and-play hardware device that is designed to perform network file indexing during the data backup process. Network file indexing is synonymous with enterprise desktop search and it has become common knowledge that many applications exist for that purpose.
But Index Engines takes an uncommon approach in its implementation: Instead of a centralized server deployment, data passes through the appliance and is indexed.
SightSound Asks Court to Close Napster
SightSound Technologies has filed a request for a preliminary injunction against Napster, asking the court to temporarily close the door on the song-swapping pioneer's music download business until it has reached a verdict. SightSound filed suit against Napster in October over an alleged patent violation.
Despite its previous reputation as being the bad boy of the music industry, Napster went legitimate when Roxio resurrected the brand name, fast becoming one of the world's largest online music stores. Although it may have changed its whimsical ways, even the reformed Napster cannot seem to shake controversy.
Microsoft Issues Malware Removal Tool
As expected, Microsoft has begun to provide customers with a malicious software removal tool. The tool is available to users of Windows XP, 2000 and Windows Server 2003, and will be updated on the second Tuesday of every month.
Customers may manually download the tool to run local scans, or they may run scans directly from the tool's Web page. Scans detect and remove infections by many prevalent viruses including the Blaster, Sasser and Mydoom worms.
Oracle Lightens Up 10g Database
Oracle has made available a version of its 10g database software that extends enterprise grid computing functionality to mobile workers. Oracle Database Lite 10g is billed as a solution that will make access to critical business information persistent and available in real-time to employees who work remotely.
As it does not require a permanent connection to backend systems, Oracle Database Lite 10g is geared toward developers who will be charged with building mission-critical database applications for mobile and embedded devices. Additionally, Oracle claims that its "Lite" release is consistent with the Overall 10g technology stack.
McAfee Digs Google to Protect Customers
McAfee business subsidiary Foundstone Professional Services has unveiled a new version of its SiteDigger software that will draw on index data from Google to trace human-error information vulnerabilities that can inadvertently make personally identifiable data public on the Web.
Enhancements that have been made to the software since the previous edition -- released prior to McAfee's acquisitions of Foundstone -- include increased reporting capabilities and more scanning options.
Apple Fans Eagerly Await Jobs' Keynote
Apple's celebrity CEO Steve Jobs will deliver his annual Macworld keynote address at 9AM PST tomorrow from the Moscone Center in San Francisco. While the exact content of Jobs' keynote has not been disclosed, it is rumored that Jobs will unveil a sub-$500 iMac targeted toward Windows users who own iPods.
Other items to be announced this week may include a line new of low-cost Flash based iPods and a productivity suite called "iWork."
New IE, Mozilla Flaws Exposed
New Years celebrations may be over, but Secunia is displaying some post-holiday fireworks by firing off a steady succession of browser-related security advisories. Secunia announced a trio of Internet Explorer vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malicious users to bypass "Local Computer" zone restrictions and execute code on PCs running affected versions of Microsoft Windows.
The advisories come just days after the firm released a critical bulletin for Mozilla based browsers, including Firefox.
blinkx Shines Spotlight on Mac Search
Next week, blinkx will publicly unveil a version of its blinkx 2.0 search tool for Mac OS X. The tool brings desktop search capabilities to the Mac platform ahead of Apple's upcoming "Tiger" operating system, which will have desktop search properties of its own called "Spotlight."
Instead of relying on traditional boolean keyword searches, the company claims that blinkx monitors and assesses the information that a user is actively viewing for context. The tool uses a technology dubbed Context Clustering Technology (CCT).
ICQ, Others Back New U3 USB Standard
Flash storage manufacturers SanDisk and M-Systems are slated to announce Friday at CES a new USB standard called U3, which enables users to carry, store and launch applications directly from a USB flash drive without installation. ICQ will be one of the first adopters of the platform, and the instant messaging software will come enbedded on devices from participating vendors.
America Online's ICQ U3 edition software will offer core messaging functionality and presence awareness, as well as additional communications tools and customization options - instantly accessible by simply connecting a USB drive.
Cingular Calls on Customers to Assist Tsunami Victims
Cingular is giving its customers a chance to do their part to assist the victims of the tsunami tragedy in Asia. Customers will receive a free text message asking them for a donation of either $.99 or $1.99 to The International Fund of the American Red Cross, UNICEF or the Save the Children Fund. Customers can reply to the message -- also free -- with their choice of organization and dollar amount, which is added to their next bill.
With the United Nations projecting that the number of dead may double as a result of disease and starvation, donations are just as important now than ever before. In addition to immediate human needs, governments and aid workers are also working around the clock to protect displaced children from kidnapping.
Nvidia Soups Up Mobile Graphics Tech
Computer graphics giant Nvidia has ported its GeForce Go 6 series technology to thin and light notebooks, which it vows will deliver a "home theater" quality experience. Sony is the first vendor to integrate the GeForce Go 6200 into its line of Vaio S Series and Sony Vaio FS Series notebooks.
The graphics processing units (GPU) support Nvidia's patented PureVideo technology, as well as 2D and 3D features that are compatible with Microsoft's DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0 visual effects.
eBay, Intel: 'Rethink' PC Recycling
Online auction magnate eBay has launched a PC reuse and recycling initiative called "Rethink." eBay has partnered with industry leaders including Intel, Apple, Gateway, HP, IBM, and Ingram Micro as well as several environmental groups to kick start the program, which it hopes will reduce the growing problem of "e-waste" that occurs when users discard obsolete computers.
When e-waste is disposed of in landfills, it poses significant environmental risk as toxic components used in PC components degrade, releasing toxins such as lead, oxides, arsenic, mercury, and over 30 other toxins into the environment. Decades have passed were this trend has gone largely unnoticed as technology take-up continued to steadily increase.
AOL to Offer Home Networking Solution
America Online will soon provide a home networking solution to its members. Currently available in beta form, AOL Network Magic monitors network status, shares files and printers throughout the home and enables remote access to digital assets through the Web. AOL Network Magic lays down the brick and mortar to construct AOL's vision of the "digital home."
Although the final code will not be widely available until later this year, AOL is offering attendees of the Consumer Electronics Show a sneak peak. AOL told BetaNews that Network Magic is a customized version of Pure Networks' home network software solution.
Age of Empires 3 to Ship This Year
Microsoft Game Studios and Ensemble Studios have issued a joint press release for the ages: Age of Empires 3 is scheduled to ship some time in the second half of 2005.
Age of Empire 3 is the third installation of a popular real-time strategy (RTS) game series that takes place in the ancient world. This time around, the time tables have advanced to when European powers duked it out to conquer the "New World" and impose colonialism - all in the name of exploration.
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