iTunes Music Store Could Reach Windows in October
Newsweek is reporting that Apple's iTunes Music Store will become Windows friendly as soon as next month. Although Apple has remained mum, the grand opening of its Windows store may come ahead of schedule, bringing to the PC legal music downloads that Mac users have thus far enthusiastically adopted.
Apple recently announced that the iTunes Music Store sold its ten millionth song on September 3. The company boasts that the music service is averaging sales of over 500,000 paid downloads per week.
Tablet PC Gets Multi-Lingual Boost
Microsoft on Monday released an update to the Tablet PC's core text recognition technology. The text recognizer pack, which enables a multi-lingual interface, is both available on all new Tablets and as an update to existing models. Along with support for a number of languages, it delivers long awaited support for Spanish.
As of today, the list of supported languages includes: UK English, U.S. English, French, German, Spanish (International Sort), Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. The Tablet Input Panel offers users the correct keyboard for the selected language.
Microsoft to Open Windows Media Video
In a surprise move, Microsoft will submit the video compression technology in Windows Media 9 to the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) for review.
The society will mull over the standard when its meet next week, initiating a month-long appraisal of the format's drawbacks and merits. If accepted, the WMV 9 codec will become an international standard.
Works Refreshed for 2004
Microsoft Works, the company's suite of productivity and consumer software often found on bargain PCs, has been refreshed for 2004. Billed as an outstanding value by Microsoft, Works lashes together several popular products for $100 USD.
Works Suite 2004 will ship with a combination of Microsoft Word 2002 and its custom database software, as well as Money Standard 2004 and Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2004. The suite compliments work with play; consumer software such as Picture It! Photo Premium 9 and Microsoft Streets & Trips 2004 will be thrown in to sweeten the deal.
Windows Media 9 to Reach Macs this Fall
Late last week, Mac users flocked to Microsoft's Windows Media Web site after rumors of an upcoming OS X port of Windows Media 9 surfaced.
Microsoft has since shed light on its game plan, telling BetaNews a fall release is in the works that will permit Mac users to create, edit and playback advanced multimedia.
Novell Readies Nterprise Linux Services Beta
Novell, who has placed its eggs in the Linux basket, has announced open beta availability of Nterprise Linux Services.
Consequent of its recent acquisition of the Ximian brand, Novell has married the management services of Ximian's Red Carpet with Nterprise. The final product is set for delivery later this year.
Sun Adds RealOne to Mad Hatter Docket
According to published reports, Sun Microsystems will bundle RealNetwork's RealOne software in its upcoming Mad Hatter operating system.
Mad Hatter is a Linux derived low-cost alternative directed towards aging Windows desktops. Rather than follow the upgrade path to a new version of Windows, Sun is hedging its bets that consumers will vote with their wallet for a thrifty, secure alternative.
Asian Nations Join to Fund Microsoft Alternatives
Taking a sidestep away from international economic integration and an open economic framework, a group of Asian nations -- led by Japan -- has agreed to cooperate on a project to subsidize alternatives to Microsoft Windows.
Japanese Trade Minister Takeo Hirauma proposed the plan at a conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Thus far, China and South Korea have signed on in cooperation.
Windows Rights Management Debut Draws Concern
The latest manifestation of Microsoft's unified DRM technology roadmap has been made available for download.
Windows Rights Management (RM) is designed to extend Windows functionality to permit "DRM friendly" applications such as the forthcoming Office 2003 suite to lock down sensitive documents from prying eyes. The RM client provides fine-grained content protection across all product lines.
Microsoft Patches Five Security Flaws
Microsoft on Wednesday let loose a slew of security bulletins, the worst of the bunch affecting Office users. Of the five flaws, only one was deemed "critical." It allows a buffer overflow in the Visual Basic for Applications Software Development Kit, leaving 29 products vulnerable including the software giant's aligned productivity solution Microsoft Works.
Two other flaws are labeled "important." The first deals with Microsoft's WordPerfect document converter built into all supported versions of FrontPage, Office, Publisher and Works, while the second allows a Macro to run automatically without user intervention.
Microsoft Refurbishes Xbox Sports Titles
Microsoft plans to muscle into the sports gaming industry by launching its own brand of sports games, christened "XSN Sports."
Taking a page out of the fantasy sports book, XSN game titles lasso together the Xbox console, Xbox Live service and personal computer to offer players broader competition and enriched management of leagues and stats. The label's Website, XSNsports.com, goes live today.
IBM Charges Forward with Power 5
IBM has previewed the designs for its upcoming 64-bit Power 5 processor, which the company states will augment total system performance by 40 percent over its predecessor.
At last week's Hot Chips Conference in Palo Alto, Calif., IBM disclosed that it was incorporating simultaneous multi-threading into Power 5; the process takes chip multiprocessing to a new level where each chip tackles two threads as opposed to one.
OpenOffice for Mac OS X Pushed Back
Delivery is not on schedule for a Mac OS X port of OpenOffice, the development team announced. Technical hurdles have postponed a native release until 2006, while the X11 release is on track for 2005, following the mainstream introduction of OpenOffice 2.0.
Most Mac users may have to wait a bit longer for a viable Microsoft Office alternative, as the X11 version of OpenOffice is not for novices. While able to run on the Darwin core found in Mac OS X, X11 is a UNIX standard windowing system that does not take advantage of the rich UI functionality available in Apple's operating system.
Office Live Communications Server Reaches RTM
Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2003, previously known as "RTC Server" and code-named "Greenwich," has been released to manufacturing.
The server is a new addition to the Office System, billed to deliver standards-based real-time communications capabilities such as presence awareness and instant messaging to enhance decision making and productivity in the workplace.
AOL Shakes Regulatory IM Shackles
UPDATED Government regulators have taken the reins off AOL Time Warner's license to fully develop its AIM instant messenger client.
Advanced real time communication capabilities such as video conferencing have given AOL competitors a distinct advantage while the company has faced FCC restrictions following its merger with Time Warner.
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