AOL Joins Movielink to Offer Flicks Over Broadband
A combination of the growing adoption of broadband and Apple's groundbreaking iTunes Music Store brought downloading music from the shadowy depths of the Internet to the mass market as a legitimate service.
Now, America Online is eying the next medium a high speed connection can offer its customers - movies. For a limited time, AOL has teamed up with Movielink to offer movie rental downloads for 99 cents USD or less.
Morpheus Touts P2P Interoperability in New Beta
StreamCast Networks is trying its hand at peer-to-peer interoperability. While interoperability long been cause celebre among operators of real time communication networks, StreamCast has embraced the ideal to become the first P2P file sharing client to scour all major networks simultaneously.
Morpheus 4.0 enters the fray following a recent U.S. Court of Appeals ruling making it more difficult for the recording industry to round up illegal sharers, and reports of an upswing in online music swapping.
RealPlayer 10 Beta Debuts with Music Store
RealNetworks has let loose what it considers to be "the best media player ever." A beta version of RealPlayer 10 sits front and center at Real.com, despite the fact that the software remains incomplete.
The beta player previews a new content guide, enables support for over 50 portable music devices, performance tweaks, an overhauled installation process, and an integrated music store. RealPlayer 10 stands to be the first major revision to RealNetwork's flagship software in nearly two years.
Bell Labs 'Vortex' Adds Privacy to Cell Phone Tracking
Researchers at Lucent's Bell Labs have invented a system that empowers users of mobile devices to decide exactly when "presence aware" is too aware.
Lucent's Privacy-Conscious Personalization (PCP) framework relies on user specified preferences that are filtered through a rules engine before location information is shared. Bell Labs believes that its approach differs from other blanket solutions offered by its competitors, and is marketing customized palettes of pre-loaded context aware preferences customized for different classes of users.
Microsoft to Test New 'Digital Media Experiences'
Microsoft has sent an e-mail soliciting prospective beta testers to fill out a questionnaire concerning their typical use of digital media on the PC, as well as television viewing habits.
Completing out the survey qualifies individuals to participate in testing out new digital media experiences for Windows-based consumer PCs. The beta test fits the timetable for the upcoming release of Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, code-named "Symphony."
Powergrid kiloWatt Whips Gamers into Shape
Powergrid Fitness is striving to whip couch potatoes into shape amidst the backdrop of a growing obesity epidemic in the United States. As pundits point their fingers, the electronic gaming industry is often criticized for aiding and abetting this trend by enabling inactive lifestyles, while simultaneously cashing on the popular demand for video games.
Instead of advising its customers to shun gaming, Powergrid developed the kiloWatt game controller - transforming a usually passive activity into an aggressive isometric workout.
Microsoft Frees Up Windows Services for UNIX
Microsoft is holding a carrot on a stick out to UNIX and Linux users. The company's Windows Services for UNIX 3.5 (SFU 3.5), formerly retailing for $99.95 US, is now a free download.
Version 3.5 of the software promises greatly improved cross-platform interoperability, as well as beefed up administrative and managerial functionality. On top of the cross-platform bells and whistles, SFU 3.5 also allows UNIX applications to be made accessible through .NET Web services.
Acronis Beta Tests Partition Expert Refresh
Acronis, the 2nd largest maker of disk imaging software following Symantec's purchase of PowerQuest, is preparing a new release of its Partition Expert utility.
Partition Expert is the last member of the Acronis product line scheduled to receive a refresh following the launch of Acronis True Image Server, Acronis True Image 7.0 and Acronis Privacy Expert Suite. External testers are needed to rake Partition Expert through the coals prior to its release.
Corel Preps Launch of Graphics Suite 12
Corel is putting the finishing touches on its upcoming CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 12. Next month, Corel will ship the suite of three integrated graphics applications combined with additional tools, tutorials and utilities licensed through its partners.
With this release, Corel intends to save designers time by reducing the amount of clicks and steps needed to accomplish assignments. The final shrink-wrapped product is expected to reach stores in mid February.
SnapStream Takes PVR Software 'Beyond TV'
SnapStream Media launched its newest personal video recording software dubbed "Beyond TV" to attendees of this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Formerly known as Personal Video Station, SnapStream's Beyond TV touts a redesigned user interface, compression to enable easier playback on portable media devices, and new electronic programming guides. To complement its Beyond TV solution, the Houston based developer intends to introduce two additional products within the next month.
Interview: MSN Present and Future
Bill Gates recently heralded in Microsoft's newest rendition of its MSN online service. Despite the fanfare and typical Redmond brouhaha surrounding most Microsoft product launches, a sense of urgency prevailed.
In the week's prior to the announcement, rival America Online had peppered headlines with word of its upcoming client updates, and basked in its continued success as the number one Internet provider in the United States.
Gates Extends Media Center, SPOT at CES
During his keynote address at the 2004 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Bill Gates shed light on Microsoft's "seamless computing" vision.
Windows Media Center Extender Technology will spark the evolution of Media Center Edition PCs into entertainment workhorses that broadcast digital media throughout the entire home. Gates also exploited the CES spotlight to announce Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) - wired gadgets that utilize Microsoft’s MSN services.
Microsoft Tests 64-Bit Windows Server 2003
Microsoft is seeking testers to evaluate a beta version of Windows Server 2003 for 64-bit extended systems. The server provides high performance for a mixed environment of 32-bit and 64-bit applications on a single system powered by processors such as Advanced Micro Device's Opteron.
An announcement on Microsoft's Web site reads, "Windows Server 2003 for 64-Bit Extended Systems is currently under development, with delivery scheduled for the second half of 2004. Pre-release versions of the operating system are available for evaluation from this Web site."
First Office 2003 Service Pack Prepped
Microsoft is in the early phases of developing the first service release for its Office 2003 cash cow. Published reports speculate that instead of merely being comprised of the traditional grab-bag of hot fixes, the update may widen the suite's belt by nurturing Office freshmen OneNote and InfoPath beyond the confines of their 1.0 framework.
CRN is reporting that Microsoft plans to release the Office 2003 update to the Web sometime in May.
Palm OS 6 Shipped to Licensees
PalmSource, the software spin-off of Palm Inc., has shipped the next major release of its operating system to licensees. According to an announcement made by the company, Palm OS 6 is poised to meet the emerging requirements anticipated for next generation wireless and telephony devices.
To offer licensees more comprehensive solutions, Palm OS 6 combines its baseline operating system interface with the ability to multitask, enhanced multimedia, better security, memory protection, and a modular design framework. This release, formerly code-named Sahara, marks the first significant overhaul since Palm OS 5 shipped in June, 2002.
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