Xbox Live Reaches 1 Million Users
Microsoft has signed up more than 1 million users to its Xbox Live online gaming service - a feat the software giant boasts it has accomplished in less time than HBO, America Online and TiVo. Formerly known by the moniker Tsunami during its beta phases, the new Xbox Live service has inundated users with features like online storage, virtual tournaments, the ability to send in-game voice messages and organize into teams, as well as integration with MSN Messenger.
ISA 2004 Leaves the Gate
During its Worldwide Partner Conference on Tuesday, Microsoft announced general availability of Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004. After many months of development in the skunk works at Redmond, Microsoft has drastically overhauled the server's architecture to circumvent worms and other Internet attacks, which have plagued the company within the past several years.
ISA Server 2004, once known only by the code-name Stringray, is designed to augment existing security infrastructure and provides an extra layer of protection with an enterprise firewall, reworked virtual private networking and a Web cache solution. Microsoft's firewall includes packet filtering and stateful inspection with the option of application-layer security. In addition, the server also incorporates new tools to easily deploy and secure Virtual Private Networks.
McAfee VirusScan 9 Goes After Spyware
As the public continues to encounter unwanted programs, the words "spyware" and "adware" are entering into the vernacular. The question of how to deal with these nuisances is particularly challenging when programs users desire -- such as Kazaa -- require spyware components in order to operate.
In its upcoming release of VirusScan, McAfee is attempting to address that very question. In developing the next iteration of VirusScan, McAfee's software engineers have made it their number one priority to enhance the detection and removal of spyware, adware and other malware. However, detection is only one part of the equation.
Microsoft Grants Financial Aid for Upgrades
In order to whisk customers away from legacy software and onto its more recent offerings of Windows XP and Office 2003, Microsoft is establishing an account for financial aid. According to a statement made at Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference by Mark Hassall, a group product manager, the company will make $50 million available to primarily mid-sized businesses. In addition, 57 additional desktop deployment experts will be on call to assist customers worldwide.
Sony to Unveil PlayStation 3 at E3
Reuters UK is reporting that Sony will showcase a playable demo of its PlayStation 3 game console at next year's E3 trade show. Sony, the market leader of the gaming space, is cooperating with Toshiba and IBM to design a new microprocessor code-named Cell that is often referred to as a "supercomputer on a chip." Cell will be seated at the heart of the PlayStation 3 and is expected to significantly outperform conventional desktop processors.
Portal Media Centers Set for August Debut
By the end of this summer, Microsoft partners Creative and Samsung are expected to be among the first vendors to particiate in rolling out the first generation of Portable Media Center (PMC) devices. The PMC takes an evolutionary leap forward past music-only playback to include next generation features such as video and still imagery.
To clear the all important synchronization hurdle, Microsoft has developed what it calls Smart Sync technology which synchronizes PMC handhelds with Windows XP series desktops. The Smart Sync-enabled Windows Media Player 10 is the default application used to manage, transfer and sort media files.
Microsoft Advances Search to the Desktop
As the battle to challenge Google's number one position intensifies, the Web is not enough. In a statement on Thursday Microsoft group vice president Jeff Raikes revealed that the software giant is at work to improve customers' ability to find documents, e-mail and data.
However, there has been confusion in interpreting the nuance of Raike's remarks. Microsoft is not relying solely on the efforts of its MSN business unit to develop an algorithmic search engine. MSN's search engine is not the same as Windows or Office. In reality, the Office Information Worker unit already has its own search engine compliments of the SharePoint team.
Microsoft Plans Interim Service Pack 2 Release
Microsoft denies claims that it is going to release a third release candidate of Windows XP Service Pack 2. Instead of a large scale public distribution, a limited number of testers will receive an interim build prior to when the product is released to manufacturing.
A notice posted Windows Update v5 announcements newsgroup told beta testers to expect a post RC2 build. This led to speculation among Windows enthusiast sites who in turn entertained the notion of another public release candidate.
Microsoft Cooks Up Small Business Services
Microsoft Watch is reporting that the MSN, Windows and Office teams are working in unison to establish integrated Web services positioned toward small businesses. These IT services will offer additional security, better collaboration and communication, lower costs and improve desktop management. Services are expected to be included in MSN Premium services and as standalone subscriptions.
These services, outlined in Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's recent memo to employees is similar to the shelved HailStorm project. HailStorm was the codename for XML-based .NET Web services that were heavily entwined with the Passport user authentication system.
Norton Secures the Perimeter
With Microsoft quietly slipping into their backyard, security vendors may be caught in a prisoner's dilemma: making rational decisions in anticipation of Microsoft's next move. Symantec has released a beta of its upcoming consumer antivirus solution, Norton AntiVirus 2005 (NAV), that incorporates what Symantec has dubbed "Internet Worm Protection". While worms are a growing menace, there is a catch; Norton's Internet Worm Protection component suggests that users disable Windows XP's Windows Firewall.
A Symantec spokesperson told BetaNews that the feature (Internet Worm Protection) is not a firewall, and that it has added this functionality to provide users with an extra layer of protection against what it deems, "one of the most prevalent threats on the Internet."
Internet Explorer Still Vulnerable
A self-appointed security sleuth has uncovered a new vulnerability in Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser that bears a close resemblance to the Download.Ject exploit. Although Microsoft patched Download.Ject last week, Dutch security expert Jelmer Kuperus found that Microsoft's efforts to fix the problem did not go far enough.
By making slight modifications to the Download.Ject source code Jelmer has successfully bypassed the browser's latest security update. Jelmer's technique draws on a hole in the Shell.Application ActiveX object - similar to ADODB.Stream - to gain unrestricted access to Windows machines.
EU Freezes Microsoft Remedies
Microsoft is off the hook with the European Union Commission - at least temporarily. The Commission has frozen the implantation of its remedies through the length of Microsoft's appeal. Had it gone into effect today, the EU order would have required Microsoft to distribute a version of Windows that did not bundle Windows Media Player.
"We believe that suspension is in order and is necessary as the remedies will not only hurt Microsoft, they will hurt many other software development companies and web site developers who have built products for the Windows platform. Most importantly, they will also harm consumers by limiting choice and degrading the usability of personal computers," Microsoft spokesperson Jim Desler told BetaNews.
WeatherBug Upgrades with Search Tool
WeatherBug has begun to roll out WeatherBug 6.0 which includes the new WeatherBug Browser Companion. In addition to displaying the current temperature, the Browser Companion docks on top of Internet Explorer windows and features a search function powered by Ask Jeeves. Initially, only 20,000 select users will be given the opportunity to upgrade before the upgrade process is gradually completed before the end of the summer. WeatherBug 6 zeros in on providing users with highly precise local weather conditions in real-time. WeatherBug may be downloaded from FileForum.
New Malware Causes Concern
NetSec Inc. has detected a new vulnerability that is infecting users of Microsoft Windows with malware. By visiting a malicious website with the Internet Explorer web browser, users can become silently infected with arbitrary code that is embedded in images on web pages. Once installed, the code begins to log keystrokes and then calls home to servers which then upload even more payload onto infected systems.
The attack, called Download.Ject, exploits previously known flaws in Internet Information Services (IIS) and Internet Explorer. Preview versions of Windows XP Service Pack 2 are not affected by the Download.Ject. Microsoft recommends that all customers download the latest security updates, keep virus definitions up to date and configure a firewall.
Sun to Highlight Java Studio Creator
Sun is expected to use the spotlight of this summer's JavaOne Conference to formally announce Java Studio Creator, formerly known as "Rave". Rave is Sun's answer to requests from developers who are seeking an alternative to Microsoft's .NET Framework. The suite provides developers who create Java and J2EE-based web applications with a user friendly drag-and-drop programming interface similar to Microsoft's Visual Studio. Application editors are synchronized to ensure consistency.
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