Signs point to imminent arrival of Windows XP SP3
Signs coming from Microsoft indicate that Windows XP Service Pack 3 is finally ready for public release. But is the company just playing an April fools joke?
The long-awaited update for the aging operating system (now over 6 and a half years old) was expected to arrive last month, but instead Microsoft released a "Refresh" of Release Candidate 2, asking testers to try out a new Windows Update mechanism for delivering the SP3 bits.
FCC chair plans to squash Skype's 'open wireless' petition
In a keynote speech at the CTIA wireless show, FCC Chairman Ken Martin said he wants to shoot down a petition from P2P-based Web phone service Skype to force the opening of all wireless networks in the US.
Martin told wireless industry insiders attending the show in Las Vegas that he plans to circulate a proposal among other FCC commissioners to dismiss a petition filed by Skype just over a year ago.
Microsoft's Surface to get test run in AT&T stores
Microsoft's Surface touch screen technology will be deployed in select AT&T Wireless stores beginning April 17, and expanded to other stores throughout the year, the Redmond company said Wednesday.
AT&T locations in New York City, Atlanta, San Antonio, and San Francisco will be the first to use Surface. The Surface technology will allow customers to learn more about devices, as well as get information on the phone, coverage area, and other aspects of AT&T service.
Nokia introduces 4 low-cost phones for emerging markets
During the Growing Together 2008 conference in Johannesburg, Nokia introduced four upcoming mobile handsets aimed specifically at users in emerging markets who may be ready to replace their first phone.
Mobile phones quickly are becoming the backbone of emerging markets, with many citizens of developing nations electing to use the devices rather than get a wired land line. Internet access is often expensive where available, meaning cell phones become the primary method of communication.
Adobe releases beta of Lightroom 2.0 photo editing tool
Adobe today released a beta version of Lightroom 2.0, the company's photo management and editing toolkit, which adds non-destructive localized editing and a slew of other new features.
Photographers have had a lot of updates to deal with in recent weeks, with Apple's Aperture receiving the ability to employ third-party plug-ins, Adobe releasing its Web-based version of Photoshop, after having to pull the Lightroom 1.4 update due to EXIF Timestamp Errors, DNG conversion errors in Windows, and Olympus JPEG conversion errors.
Toshiba goes stylish with revamped Satellite models
Following in the footsteps of Lenovo, Toshiba unveiled its upgraded Satellite line that seeks to appeal to the casual user with a heavy emphasis on style.
The Satellite U400, M300, A300, and P300 all received a chassis overhaul with a glossy "Fusion" finish. The touchpad is flush with the keypad surface, and multimedia command keys have been mounted under the finish, offering what Toshiba calls "feather touch" sensitive surface.
Voice access coming to Live Search for Windows Mobile, BlackBerry
It seemed analysts were the last to realize that Yahoo was out front and pulling away with its Go mobile service. So Google and Microsoft have been racing to catch up, and now Microsoft is preparing to leverage its investment in voice to attain an edge.
When Microsoft acquired Tellme Networks just over a year ago, it was with the intent of bringing a more intelligently behaving voice to automated answering systems, including the company's own communications servers. Now we're learning that Microsoft intends to get even more mileage out of the deal by integrating some aspects of voice recognition and response not just into services for Windows Mobile, but in a new Live Search system for BlackBerry as well.
Techs and execs collaborate on Linux apps
In more and more Linux deployments at banks and brokerages, the business side of the operation is getting heavily into the act. Collaboration is becoming the keyword, and suddenly Linux developers find they're being joined by executives.
NEW YORK CITY (BetaNews) - Collaboration between business executives and developers was the main theme emerging from a panel session at the Linux on Wall Street show today featuring speakers from the Bank of New York Mellon, Software Freedom Law Center, Alfresco Project, and the Collaborative Software Institute (CSI).
First word from CTIA on Windows Mobile 6.1
The kernel of Microsoft's mobile operating system may not have changed much, but a great deal of rethinking has been applied to making one of the world's more prevalent smartphone systems behave more sensibly, like a phone.
At a keynote address this morning at the CTIA Wireless convention in Las Vegas, Microsoft lifted the covers off of Windows Mobile 6.1, a widely anticipated refresh -- and in some cases, perhaps a correction -- to its mobile operating environment. Touch-screen operation is being added to a significant number of features beyond its home screen, which premiered in WM6 to mixed reviews and which for WM6.1 will get a highly anticipated overhaul.
Newest Moto Q 9c available from three more carriers
Motorola helped set the tone for this year's CTIA Wireless convention, announcing a day early that its Q 9c and Q 9c Lime smartphones will be available for Verizon Wireless, US Cellular and Alltel Wireless, in addition to Sprint Nextel subscribers.
The Microsoft Windows Mobile 6-powered device gives users the ability to use Microsoft Office programs, such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, while also offering a variety of different physical features appealing to business users. The Motorola Q 9c has a 2.4-inch color display, EVDO and Bluetooth support, 128 MB onboard memory, a 1.3 megapixel camera, full QWERTY keyboard, and supports up to 32 GB of external memory.
AT&T answers Verizon with its own mobile maps service
From 2006 up to now, AT&T Wireless has relied on TeleNav technology for mapping and location services. But with Verizon Wireless making serious waves with its VZ Navigator service, AT&T has finally branched out and launched its own competitor.
Unveiled today at the CTIA Wireless 2008 convention in Las Vegas, AT&T Navigator is now available on a small number of its mobile phones with GPS functionality. The new service offers users full-color moving maps with turn-by-turn driving directions, and access to Yellowpages.com. Users also can receive estimated time of arrival for proposed routes, along with traffic updates and the flow of traffic along designated routes.
Wall Street still likes Linux, but for new reasons
Of all of the industies deploying Linux and open source software, financial services have been among the earliest adopters. But what do banks and brokerages see in these emerging alternatives besides possibly lower up-front costs?
NEW YORK CITY (BetaNews) - A few years ago, financial services firms tended to point to low cost and customizability of components as their major reasons for turning to Linux and open source. But at the Linux/Open Source on Wall Street show today, panelists devoted more of their remarks to topics such as multi-OS server consolidation on mainframes and creating realtime Linux applications for PC servers, aptly reflecting the growing complexity of software environments in financial firms and elsewhere.
Security suite coming soon for the iPhone
Apple's iPhone is becoming a bigger target for malicious users, with several security holes found since the product's launch last year. Secure Mobile Systems' Security Shield seeks to add an additional layer of protection against spamming and possible data theft.
Security Shield is a three-part contraption, containing: VirusGuard, which promises not to negatively impact phone performance while ensuring viruses and malware do not damage the phone; PointGuard, a phone call and text messaging filtering technology that allows users to block or limit messages and calls from certain callers or strangers; and SMobile Firewall, which monitors and possibly filters inbound traffic through the phone. Security Shield users have the ability to control what is filtered and all data is saved to a log so users are able to go back and see what traffic the firewall has blocked.
Dell looks to answer mobile connectivity problems
The Texas PC manufacturer will include new Qualcomm chips that are mobile technology agnostic, allowing multiple options for connection..
Called Gobi, the technology was introduced last October. It allows for connection to both HSDPA and EV-DO, as well as legacy networks across both technologies from a single chip.
Local TV news comes to Verizon V CAST
Verizon Wireless has partnered with News Over Wireless to deliver local news content over V CAST Video.
News Over Wireless is a division of the Capitol Broadcasting Company out of North Carolina which encodes local TV content in small packages suitable for mobile consumption. The company already works with Sprint, supplying local content to its Power Vision mobile video service.
Most Commented Stories
BetaNews, your source for breaking tech news, reviews, and in-depth reporting since 1998.
Regional iGaming Content
© 1998-2025 BetaNews, Inc. All Rights Reserved. About Us - Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy - Sitemap.