Google Debuts Scholarly Research
Google has publicly unveiled Scholar, a free beta service for academic research. Scholar pulls up relevant information from a combination of sources such as peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, preprints, abstracts, and technical reports.
When aggregating results, the Scholar search engine takes into account the full text of articles, author, publication, and frequency of citation in academic research.
Microsoft Denies Piracy Accusations
As a founding member of the Business Software Alliance (BSA), Microsoft is a strong proponent of anti-piracy regulation, software copyright protection and consumer education. Despite all of its anti-piracy bravado, Microsoft found itself on the receiving end of accusations that it used an illegal copy of Sound Forge to edit WAV sound files that shipped as part of the Windows Media Player Tour in Windows XP.
In response a report published by the German technology magazine PC-WELT alleging malfeasance, Microsoft told BetaNews that shipping content in the released version of the tour was developed using licensed software.
AOL to Release 9.0 Security Edition
The message coming from America Online could not be any clearer: "We will keep our customers safe online." Even though the market is awash with security software, AOL has stepped in for its members and delivered a fortified version of AOL 9.0, dubbed "Security Edition," that secures the perimeter around its flagship client software.
Customers who download AOL 9.0 Security Edition will receive antivirus software and a firewall from McAfee, spyware detection, a pop-up blocker and a host of other amenities at no additional charge. AOL has also worked under the hood on an assortment of improvements that advance the quality of its service.
Two New IE Vulnerabilities Surface
While this week's headlines have thus far been dominated by news of renewed Web browser development, bug hunters at Secunia have shifted attention back toward the browser's darker side: A seemingly endless stream of security vulnerabilities. Secunia has issued a "moderately critical" advisory for Microsoft Internet Explorer.
The exploit bypasses a security feature in the Windows XP SP2 edition of the software that notifies users when they are opening certain file types, making way for malicious downloads. "Hide extension for known file types" must be enabled in order for the exploit to occur, and is the default setting.
AOL Books Kayak for Travel Search
America Online has partnered with industry veterans to establish a paid Web-based travel search property.
Kayak Software Corporation, founded by the entrepreneurs who were behind Orbitz, Expedia and Travelocity, has penned a multiyear marketing and technology agreement with AOL and will provide the search technology that produces listings for customers.
Adobe Pushes New Acrobat 7 Line
Adobe has announced version 7.0 of its Acrobat family of products. New capabilities permit workgroups to use Acrobat 7 and Adobe's PDF format to manage business activities including form building, assembling documents from multiple sources and secure collaboration on projects outside of firewalls. In addition, the free Acrobat Reader will now have integrated commenting tools. Adobe has also introduced a new content type for PDF: 3D computer-aided design (CAD). Acrobat 7 will ship before the end of the year with retail pricing starting at $299 USD.
GameXStream Seeks Testers
GameXStream is looking for volunteers to fill 1,000 slots in a beta test for its upcoming "Gaming on Demand" system for graphic intensive games. Gaming on Demand uses patent-pending distribution and streaming methodologies to improve the costs, performance and security of online game play for a high volume of end-users, as well as for game publishers and content providers. For more information visit the GameXStream Web site; to sign up, fill out the consumer survey.
America Online Debuts AIM Video
America Online has begun beta testing a streaming media video service through its AOL Instant Messenger software. Dubbed AIM Video, the service will feature music videos, movie trailers, entertainment news, celebrity interviews and sports highlights.
Other digital content originates from a horizontal expansion of AOL's members-only AOL Television channel that extends AIM's 36 million active users an all-access pass to proprietary comedy, news and other features.
Novell Sues Microsoft Over WordPerfect
Just days after Microsoft settled outstanding claims regarding Novell Netware with a $536 million cash payout, Novell has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Utah seeking unspecified damages for what it says is unfair competition in the productivity applications market.
The suit alleges that Microsoft withheld critical technical information from Novell when the company owned the WordPerfect word processing application immediately following a 1994 merger with WordPerfect Corporation. Furthermore, Novell's complaint makes the accusation that Microsoft strong-armed partner OEMs into not carrying the software.
AOL 'Toolbox' Consolidates Searches
Later this week, AOL will issue to subscribers a wide array of new tools for Internet searches. AOL Search Toolbox consolidates AOL's portfolio of search tools including a streamlined overview of AOL Search and a searching guide, as well as links to hot search topics and Snapshots.
As first reported by BetaNews, Snapshots offer highlights that are sorted by categories such as local businesses and local weather conditions; quick tools such as a Calculator; flight searches from AOL Travel and restaurants from AOL CityGuide; and more.
AOL Adds 'Snapshot' Content to Search
America Online is convinced that its core competency of empowering its users to "Do more. Faster" will be the steady hand that guides it through the search wars.
AOL will soon introduce over 2.2 million "Snapshot" packages spanning over 30 categories that present subscribers with structured editorial content on top the customary listing of aggregated search results traditionally associated with search engines. The result, claims AOL, is a higher quality service than standard Web crawlers that delivers clear and relevant answers to customers.
Testers Receive 64-Bit Beta Invites
Microsoft has sent out new invitations for the Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 and Windows XP Professional 64-bit Edition beta tests. The new XP iteration is designed to operate with the AMD Athlon 64 and Opteron processors, as well as the Intel processors with EM64T.
The service pack fortifies Microsoft's flagship Windows Server line with a plethora of new security and bug fixes, while providing the underpinnings for the company's upcoming 64-bit Windows Server product series. The final version of SP1 is expected to be released in early 2005.
McAfee Unveils 2005 Security Products
McAfee's 2005 product line has hit the store shelves. According to McAfee, its security solutions have been tweaked to hone in on identity theft, phishing scams, spyware and other malicious threats. The line includes: McAfee VirusScan, McAfee Personal Firewall Plus, McAfee SpamKiller, McAfee AntiSpyware, McAfee QuickClean, McAfee Internet Security Suite and McAfee VirusScan Pro. Products may be purchased online at McAfee.com. Boxed copies are available at participating retail outlets.
Halo 2 Arrives in Stores
The countdown to midnight madness is over and Halo enthusiasts have begun a mad rush to be among the first to get their copies of Halo 2. Halo 2 is the widely anticipated sequel to Halo, the top selling Xbox title of all time. In Halo 2, the Covenant, the plot thickens when an invasive alien race bent on the destruction of mankind sets its sights on Earth. All that stands between Earthlings and total annihilation is a genetically altered "super solider" called Master Chief. Halo 2 is available from most retail outlets.
Microsoft and Comcast Go Digital
Microsoft's is laying the bedrock for its route into the living room. In a first of its kind pilot, Comcast is set to deploy Microsoft's TV Foundation Edition 1.7 software in a production environment in conjunction with its new dual-tuner digital video recording (DVR) service. The partnership heightens Microsoft's involvement with cable operators, which is an element of Redmond's multi-product, multi-technology strategy for home entertainment.
On November 15, 2004, clusters of Comcast digital subscribers will take possession of set top boxes powered by Microsoft software. Digital video recording (DVR) functions will make it possible for customers to pause, rewind and record their favorite television programs – including high definition programming. The final aggregation will include over 1 million subscribers.
Subscribers who are not equipped with the latest set top boxes can still download the upgrades during a period of phased distribution.
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