Virtual PC 2004 Released to Manufacturing
Microsoft's Virtual PC 2004 -- a product intended to ease the sometimes arduous migration to Windows XP -- has been released to manufacturing. Virtual PC allows customers to run multiple operating systems on a single, consolidated desktop machine, preserving access to legacy applications that remain in use.
Another function of Microsoft's virtualization software targets helpdesk and training personnel, allowing them to switch between operating systems and disparate configurations on the fly.
Longhorn to 'Sparkle' With New Developer Tool
According to reports, Microsoft is busy sculpting the form of a potential Flash competitor code-named "Sparkle." Word has it that Redmond's tool will serve as a developer's front-end to build applications upon Longhorn's next generation Avalon graphics subsystem.
Avalon, which forms the roots for Microsoft's new Aero user experience, serves as the engine for Longhorn's user interface including the display of documents and rich media. A new markup language that finds its foundation in XML -- dubbed XAML -- will be utilized to design Avalon interfaces.
Microsoft Offers Bounty on Virus Writers
In an allusion to the wild west, Microsoft will offer bounties to tipsters who hand over information leading to the arrest and conviction of cyber criminals.
The newly minted "Anti-Virus Reward Program," in partnership with law enforcement, has been funded by Redmond with an initial $5 million investment. Funds will be dispersed to anyone in any country, home law permitting.
AOL 'Tahiti' Dials Up Without Client
As previously reported by BetaNews, America Online is a beehive of activity these days, busy developing an upgrade to AOL 9.0 code-named "Tahiti."
BetaNews has learned that on top of the existing feature set, Tahiti will dramatically change the dial-up experience for users by removing the need to connect using AOL's embedded dialer.
Interview: Ex-Microsoft Employee Michael Hanscom
On October 23, Michael "Woody" Hanscom posted a picture to his Web log, intended to garner a chuckle or two from a few close friends and colleagues.
The reaction the picture drew from his employer can only be compared to a kind of Orwellian nightmare where anything an individual does online can come back to haunt them. That nightmare is the reality faced by an increasingly vulnerable corporate world where the Web can be used as a tool to disclose potentially sensitive and damaging trade secrets to the masses.
Microsoft to Issue Fourth MSN Plus Beta
Microsoft alerted a core group of beta testers that a new build of MSN Plus, formerly named MSN 9, will be available for download and evaluation early next week. The forth beta release throws in various improvements, and shines light on some new features MSN has up its sleeve since the open beta began in August.
MSN Plus is the low-cost alternative to MSN Premium, another iteration of the service catered toward broadband subscribers. According to sources familiar with the project, the upcoming release has improvements to its overall performance and stability, e-mail, MSN dashboard, and the calendar. Changes have also been made to parental controls and the address book.
Pesky Messenger Service Disabled in Windows XP SP2
Late last week, America Online acknowledged it taken the drastic and unprecedented step of programming its software to silently turn off a Windows service so that it could stem the tide of spam and security vulnerabilities facing its subscribers.
The Windows Messenger service, enabled by default, allegorically leaves the door wide open for pop-up ads to pester Windows XP and 2000 users, while leaving them at risk of security exploits. Now, Microsoft has weighed in and says it will turn off the service in Windows XP.
Apple Uncages Mac OS X 'Panther'
On Friday evening, Apple uncaged Panther, the next version of its flagship Mac OS X operating system. All in all, Panther introduces over 150 new and redesigned features to the world of Macs.
Stealing thunder from clouds over Redmond, the release arrived several days prior to Monday's public debut of Windows Longhorn at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference.
AOL Beta Testers Land on 'Tahiti'
Sony Tests EverQuest Spin Off
Sony is following up the smash success of its real time strategy game EverQuest with a spin off title called Lords of EverQuest. The media powerhouse is currently commencing an exclusive closed beta with enough room to accommodate 15,000 testers.
To reward the efforts of its testers, Sony is offering hands on experience with the next generation game, coupled with a free one-year subscription to Ziff Davis' Computer Gaming World magazine.
Symantec Conjures Up Ghost 8.0
Symantec is basking in the spirit of the Halloween season. The Cupertino, CA software group has conjured up version 8.0 of Ghost Corporate Edition, which is now available directly and through a network of partners and resellers.
Ghost 8 introduces new hardware and software inventory management tools, beefs up its support for Linux, adds support for removable storage, and attempts to exorcise the bandwidth demon that has plagued prior releases.
Microsoft Issues Monthly Security Rollup, Patches
Steve Ballmer wants Microsoft to become more predictable. Rather than suddenly spring word of product vulnerabilities on its customers, the software giant has released this month's batch of fixes inclusively. From this point forward, security advisories will bear news of exploits in a predictable monthly fashion.
Four of Wednesday's warnings revealed flaws in all supported editions of Windows that will allow a remote attacker to gain control over un-patched systems. Three affect Windows NT, 2000, XP and Server 2003, although one additional flaw only affects Windows 2000. These advisories, including others that were not deemed "critical," but important, are numbered MS03-041 – MS03-045.
Wireless Provisioning Services to Enhance Wi-Fi
At the Telecom World 2003 conference and exhibition in Geneva, Microsoft announced an enhancement to its wireless networking service, which the company boasts will make wireless broadband access faster, more secure and easier to access.
Wireless Provisioning Services (WPS) technology helps telecommunications providers using Windows 2003 servers provision and manage Wi-Fi hotspots. On the client side, WPS provides a streamlined sign up process for users seeking wireless access.
Microsoft Feeds MSN Video to Subscribers
A beta version of MSN Video has launched, offering a free streaming media service to MSN broadband subscribers. Currently, only NBC and MSNC news programming is available, while other content including sports and entertainment will be widely available this winter.
In an effort to be more competitive, Microsoft will not charge for its broadband video services, which will subsidized with advertising revenues.
AOL Brings Communicator to Mac
As part of AOL's sustained effort to shore up its Web properties, the company has delivered AOL Communicator to Mac users. Communicator is a unified client that assimilates e-mail, instant messaging and an address book into a single code base.
The release for OS X -- available at Keyword: AOL Communicator -- sports a Mac centric look and feel, while at the same time shedding some of the excess bells and whistles found in its Windows brethren.
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