Are Microsoft's newest webcams the last of a dying breed?
Microsoft today has announced the pricing and upcoming availability of its LifeCam VX-5000 Windows Live-optimized webcam.
Expected to reach the market in June, the VX-5000 features a dedicated Windows Live Call button, which allows Windows Live Messenger users one-touch access to their "Contact Picker" (i.e. buddy list.) The included LifeCam Dashboard acts within Windows Live Messenger, allowing pan, tilt, 3x digital zoom, face tracking, and video effects to be used in-call.
Friendlier version of Fedora Linux desktop now available
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A new and easier-to-use edition of Fedora -- the Red Hat-sponsored open source Linux desktop OS -- is available for free download starting today from the Fedora Project's Web site.
AMD announces lower-power quad-cores
On its path back into the black, AMD is going green. The company is putting a lot of weight on the new Opteron line in hopes of it revitalizing AMD's server business, and these new quad-cores promise 43% lower energy consumption.
Called the Opteron HE (for High Efficiency), these x86 Quad Core server processors have an integrated memory controller and a 55-watt ACP thermal envelope instead of the standard 95-watt profile.
'Orphaned Works' legislation faces pushback from artists
While two bills introduced in Congress last week have support from several groups representing the recording and Internet broadcasting industries, artists themselves are among its most vocal critics.
Two bills now making their way through the Senate and House, proposed by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D - Vt.) and Rep. Howard Berman (D - Calif.) aim to change copyright law to address the issue of whether individuals or companies have the right to use unclaimed art -- including musical backgrounds and visual or graphic art -- after a reasonable search for their originators turns up nothing.
MIT students show off array of Android apps
Professor Hal Abelson gave his students one assignment in his class this past semester: design an application for Google's new mobile platform.
The students came up with a broad range of ideas, all of which show the overwhelming power the operating system has to change the way mobile phone applications are regarded.
Microsoft sets higher prices for SBS, Essential server packages
There will be quite a bit more added to Microsoft's upcoming mostly-preconfigured packages of Windows Server 2008 for small and medium businesses; but it will expect those firms to pay quite a bit more as well.
Last February, we learned Microsoft would be devoting more humanpower and resources to the task of marketing specially configured Windows Server 2008 packages for small and medium business. Today, we know what it expects those SMBs to pay, releasing details on suggested prices for four configurations for two to four servers and five clients apiece minimum, ranging from just over a thousand dollars to over $7,000.
Social photo albums come to Photobucket with Group share
Perhaps in anticipation of MySpace's Data Availability, where users will be able to seamlessly share their MySpace information with partner sites, Photobucket has announced its own "open" feature: community albums.
Called Group Albums, Photobucket will allow multiple users (from two to "thousands") equal access to a single album's photo and video content, which can be password protected. Each of these free albums comes with 1 GB of storage and has the option to be centrally moderated by an administrator who approves or denies submitted content. Users are otherwise left in charge of posting, editing, and deleting their own photos and videos.
$13.9 B buyout will create 'EDS: An HP Company'
Hewlett-Packard plans to buy technology services giant EDS for $13.9 billion, officials confirmed today, potentially bolstering its position versus IBM in the business services arena, particularly with government and health care.
During a Webcast for reporters this morning, HP CEO Mark Hurd estimated that the resulting HP business unit -- to be known as "EDS: An HP Company" -- will double the size of HP's current services business to $38 billion. "Today's announcement is compelling financially," according to the HP CEO.
Google debuts new Reader for iPhone
The search company released a new version of its mobile Google Reader product, aiming to take advantage of the unique capabilities of the iPhone.
Google Reader has been available to mobile surfers for quite a while: the first release debuted in May of 2006, but was written in XHTML -- the language of choice for mobile Web development.
Adobe updates DNG photo format, adds Vista support
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Adobe's Digital Negative specification, also known as the DNG format, was updated Tuesday, as the company pushes it to become a unified standard for working with raw photographic images taken by digital cameras.
Gates gives first hints 'Windows 7' beta cycle could begin soon
If what the Microsoft chairman said last week in Tokyo is to be taken seriously, then the beta cycle for the next version of Windows must begin in a matter of weeks. If no such announcement happens, then the Gates era is truly over.
What will likely be Bill Gates' last Asian tour as Chairman of Microsoft has already generated plenty of news, especially with his public display of walking away from the Yahoo deal. But now that Microsoft has released its transcript of Gates' speech in Tokyo last Wednesday, prior to his press conference where the focus was on his Yahoo comments, we realize that he had intended to make news on a different front.
Apple signs on HBO for iTunes Store, giving in to variable pricing
As rumored, Apple has forged a deal with HBO to make available for download the channel's content, including episodes of "Sex and the City," "The Sopranos" and critically acclaimed crime drama "The Wire."
The new offering is a big step forward for the video portion of Apple's iTunes Store, which has been growing but has seen fairly slow adoption for sales of TV shows and movies. HBO holds the rights to some of television's biggest series', and its customers are already accustomed to paying extra for its programming.
Microsoft's 'Telescope' to compete with Google 'Sky'
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Not wasting any time in rebounding from its failed attempt to buy Yahoo, Microsoft is now readying its own response to Google Sky -- a tool known as Worldwide Telescope, which is set to launch at the end of the month.
Toshiba expected to sell laptop powered by Cell processor
Computer manufacturer Toshiba is expected to release at least one notebook this year that uses the Cell Broadband Engine, a chip architecture that helps power the Sony PlayStation 3 game console.
Industry analysts indicate the Toshiba Qosmio G40 laptop will use the SpursEngine SE1000 chip, after a working prototype was introduced to the consumer market in January. Working samples of the SE1000 chip were made available at the beginning of last month.
Broad opposition meeting Yahoo-Google ad deal
While the company may be free of Microsoft, Yahoo is now facing pushback over its planned advertising deal with Google.
Even though no deal has been officially reached, the mention of discussions has some calling for government intervention over antitrust issues. Several interest groups across a wide variety of industries are asking the Justice Department to step in.
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