PDF is now ISO 32000-1, an international standard
The next version of Microsoft Office, still called "Office 14," will support by user-chosen defaults at least two published international standard document formats. But at least for now, neither of them was Microsoft's to begin with.
This morning, the International Organization for Standardization announced its completed publication of ISO 32000-1, rendering the Portable Document Format effectively the property of the people at large. It is no longer Adobe's PDF.
Windows XP will be sold to some OEMs after all, says Microsoft
BetaNews has confirmed that, although most of Microsoft's shipments of Windows XP did end on June 30 as scheduled, it is still making XP available to both makers of low-end Netbooks and 'systems builders,' large and small.
Monday of this week didn't exactly spell the end of Windows XP, after all. In line with its "end of life" plans, Microsoft did stop selling XP to OEMs and retailers on Monday -- but with some notable "exceptions" which Microsoft acknowledged to BetaNews Tuesday evening.
Microsoft embraces subscription model in Office + Windows Live bundle
For years, customers have asked for an affordable subscription-based service for what has typically been perceived as Microsoft's steeply-priced software. If seventy bucks a year seems affordable enough, it's finally coming.
It could be one of Microsoft's most significant moves in the home applications market in years -- long overdue, many will say, but finally arriving. Beginning later this month, the company will offer an annual subscription package that bundles together its Office Home and Student 2007 suite with Windows Live Services, Office Live Workspace, and Windows Live OneCare, for $69.99 annually.
EU proposal would task ISPs with blocking infected addresses
A paper will be published later this year with far-ranging recommendations for reducing cybercrime in Europe, including a statutory scale of damages against ISPs that do not respond promptly to requests to shut out compromised machines.
A subset of the paper, entitled "Security Economics and European Policy," was presented by one of its four authors, Tyler Moore, a researcher and Ph.D student at the University of Cambridge. Other authors included Ross Anderson and Richard Clayton, also of the University of Cambridge; and Rainer Bohme, TU Dresden.
TiVo cleverly converts commercial skipping into a commercial feature
While you're watching your TiVo, your TiVo is watching you -- not only what you watch, but what you skip.
Approximately everyone who has ever used one of TiVo Inc.'s digital video recorders has skipped over commercials. However, the devices also report, anonymously, every click of a remote back to the main offices, and track that aggregated information for clients of the company's Stop||Watch service, which it has offered since 2006. This from Todd Juenger, Vice President & General Manager, TiVo Audience Research & Measurement, in an interview with BetaNews.
New alliance aims for Mac manageability in heterogenous systems
Can the "Mac experience" be made to co-exist better with mainly Windows environments? Members of a new alliance say so. The EDA wants to spur greater adoption of Macs in enterprises.
With various studies pointing to a boom in popularity for Apple's venerable Macs, five software companies banded together this week to form the Enterprise Desktop Alliance (EDA), a group aimed at making Macs more manageable in mostly Windows environments.
Microsoft confirms it's buying semantic search provider Powerset
A few weeks ago, Microsoft denied it would be making any big purchases in the wake of its failed "hybrid" bid for Yahoo's search business. That's assuming that Powerset isn't a big purchase...and it very well might be.
Confirming rumors traded among the major blogs last week, as well as information Microsoft refused to comment about for BetaNews on Thursday, the company said today it is indeed purchasing San Francisco-based semantic search tools provider Powerset for an undisclosed sum.
A real-world security keychain to protect WoW characters' identity
Blizzard introduces a physical security token to help give gamers added peace of mind when playing World of Warcraft online.
To help keep gamers safe from possible account hijackings in World of Warcraft, Blizzard Entertainment has introduced a small electronic authenticator that will produce a six-digit security code that can be entered before a WoW player logs on.
PC Tools launches beta of iAntivirus for Leopard
Despite its x86-sounding name, PC Tools has launched the free beta of iAntivirus, a piece of protective software designed for identifying and stopping Mac-exclusive malware.
Macs and their users are subject to a number misconceptions and stigmas. Thanks in part to a particular advertising campaign, there is an ill-bred notion that Macs are impervious to malware. Critics of the company condemn Mac users for being technologically ignorant in believing their hardware is insusceptible to compromise.
AT&T: 3G iPhones will be available unsubsidized, without contracts
AT&T today unveiled its prices for the 3G iPhone when it is made available at 8am on July 11th. Buried in today's announcement was the news that customers can opt to purchase their new iPhones outright, without a contract.
New customers or those eligible for an upgrade discount will be able to snag the 3G iPhone at AT&T's lowest price: $199 for the 8 GB model, and $299 for the 16 GB. All customers at that price will be required to sign a two-year contract.
Adobe helps search engines to index Flash-based content
Adobe Systems Inc. announced today that it is working with both Google and Yahoo to improve the search engine indexing of Flash (.SWF) files -- a capability search engines have had for years, but haven't used.
Search engine giants Google and Yahoo are utilizing Adobe's recently-updated Flash Player standard to help make Flash-based content searchable. Google has already launched its indexing mechanism, with Yahoo reportedly next in line to do the same.
Microsoft may be preparing an Xbox 360 price cut
This afternoon, Microsoft is saying very little about a report in the Hollywood Reporter last Friday that it's planning to cut Xbox 360 prices this month, other than to say, "Stay tuned."
The Reporter's...uh, report is that Microsoft plans to cut the price of the 20 GB Xbox 360 Pro by $50, to $299, before the E3 video game trade show, which runs July 15-17 in Los Angeles.
Fake Vuittons cost eBay real money
Online auction service eBay has been ordered by a French court to pay $63 million to French fashion company Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), the company responsible for making Louis Vuitton and Dior branded handbags and perfume.
A two-pronged legal attack saw LVMH accuse eBay of "guilty negligence" claiming it didn't do enough to stop fake LVMH merchandise from being sold through the site. And any sale whatsoever of LVMH-branded perfume, fake or not, was considered illicit by LVMH since only approved distribution networks are allowed to sell the perfume to customers.
T-Mobile is the last of the big four to hike SMS to 20 cents
Deutsche Telekom division T-Mobile has joined its main competitors in the United States with a bump in text messaging fees from $0.15 up to $0.20, more than a year after a price hike from $0.10 to $0.15.
Customers looking to opt out of their subscriber contract with T-Mobile will likely be able to use this SMS increase as a legitimate excuse. Although T-Mobile representatives over the phone may tell you it's not allowed, some reports including this from independent service BerryReview.com suggest a price increase could be perceived as a material breach of contract. As a result, subscribers may be able to opt out without paying an early termination fee.
Analysts: Americans prefer cell phone, PC customer service to cable TV
Twenty percent of cable customers now say phone calls to companies don't solve their problems, according to a new survey. Meanwhile, cell phone providers are coming up with answers faster, and PC users are finding useful info on the Web.
Although not exactly entirely delighted, US cell phone and PC customers are growing happier with the customer service they receive. But consumer satisfaction with cable and satellite providers is taking a further nosedive, say new survey results released this week by industry analyst firm CFI Group.
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