Microsoft Will Support ODF If It Doesn't 'Restrict Choice Among Formats'
In a policy document specifically timed for release this afternoon, Microsoft's general managers for interoperability, Tom Robertson and Jean Paoli, make a play for ownership of the standards issue facing users of competing document formats, by saying the company would support ratification of its own Open XML format along with OpenDocument Format (ODF) as ISO standards, if and only if doing so would promote choice among the world's consumers.
"We should expect the creation of new formats in the future as technology evolves, and, as has always been the case, users should be able to choose the formats that work best for them," reads the team's open letter this afternoon. "Microsoft has consistently supported choice, so it took no steps to hinder ISO/IEC's ratification of ODF 1.0 and supported ODF 1.0's addition to the American National Standards list. Microsoft will continue to support recognition of ODF 1.0 and other formats on such lists around the world as long as doing so in no way restricts choice among formats."
Safari for Windows Tops 1 Million Downloads
Despite security concerns and Microsoft pundits like Paul Thurrott wondering "who would ever use" it, Safari 3 Beta for Windows was downloaded over 1 million times in the first 48 hours, Apple announced. The company continues to tout the speed and standards support of its browser, which was previously Mac-only.
Even with 1 million downloads, however, Apple has its work cut out for it in order to retain those users. The initial Safari 3 beta was noticeably buggy on Windows, and many reported slower performance than both IE7 and Firefox 2. In addition, Apple is now facing the same security issues that have long plagued its rivals on Windows, with upwards of 10 vulnerabilities already discovered in the beta. Some analysts speculate that Safari for Windows exists primarily to aid development of applications for Apple's upcoming iPhone, not to compete with IE or Firefox.
Evidence of 'Counterattack' Lacking as Linux Conference Convenes
You probably already know the secret to getting a headline broadcast louder through Google News: take the main subject lines and pair them with a verb that denotes violence or tragedy. I discovered this myself with headlines that contain mix "Microsoft" or "open source" with the verb "derail."
Yesterday, Reuters scored an aggregation coup by pairing "Linux" and "Microsoft" with the verb "counterattack," resulting in a story that rocketed to the top of the hit list without a beat or a melody to it, and whose inaccurate derivatives were snatched up even by local television.
FTC Will Investigate All Ad Deals
While much has been made of the Federal Trade Commission’s plans to investigate the Google-DoubleClick merger, the Wall Street Journal said late Thursday that it also plans to look into Microsoft’s acquistion of Aquantive and Yahoo’s proposed buyout of Right Media. A Microsoft representative confirmed it had been notified of the investigation, and Yahoo acknowledged its deal needed “regulatory clearance.”
The FTC is not the only group with concerns about the acquisitions. Both the American Association of Advertising Agencies and the Association of National Advertisers have asked regulators to carefully consider both deals, as they may be harmful to competition.
Europe Gets Unlimited Mobile Music Service
European customers can now download an unlimited amount of music to their phones thanks to a new service called MusicStation.
The service debuted in Sweden on Thursday, and will launch in markets across the rest of Europe, Asia, and Africa over the next several months, as the company has agreements with about 30 operators. It aims to serve about 100 million phones within one year.
FBI Campaign Combats Malicious Attacks with New 'G-man' Lexicon
If anything's been lacking in US government agencies' ongoing fight against malicious Internet use, it's a good, old-fashioned public awareness campaign. Yesterday, in an effort to turn up the volume and give local TV news writers a more tangible vocabulary for malicious users, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced interim results of its ongoing efforts to track down and arrest suspected "bot-herders."
It's a term that may have appeared only once before in BetaNews: Essentially, it refers to malicious users who deploy payloads on remote computers that can then unleash attacks - whether by programming or through accepted instructions from a central source - upon targeted systems.
Bush Admin: Don't Protect Bloggers
The Bush administration is none too happy with legislation that is making its way through Congress which could shield many news gatherers from revealing their confidential sources, calling it a security risk.
The Free Flow of Information Act protects many, including bloggers, from prosecution for refusing to reveal their sources. The Justice Department says the law could hamper criminal investigations and pose a risk to national security.
Kodak Makes New Plans to 'Redevelop' Consumer Photo Market
Throughout the entire consumer digital photography revolution that has reinvigorated even the market for PCs, the two biggest names in consumer photography during the 1980s - Kodak and Polaroid - have been largely out of the loop. Now Kodak has unveiled a new technology which could put it back in the fight, the old-fashioned way: by making better photographs, just like it used to do.
This morning, Kodak confirmed the readiness of a technology with multiple patents apparently attached, that will add a panchromatic element to the single image sensors mass-produced for digital cameras. Such cameras typically use charge-coupled detectors (CCDs) that feature a trio of sensors for red, green, and blue channels.
Download Windows Home Server RC1
As we detailed earlier this week, Windows Home Server -- Microsoft's latest iteration of Windows designed for linking together multiple computers in a home network and sharing media -- has reached Release Candidate 1 status. A 30-day trial download is now available.
Essentially, WHS is a retooled Windows Server 2003, with new services including one that pools multiple hard drive spaces together as an easier-to-manage partition, and browser-based management software whose ambitious goal is to be easy enough to be understood by the same guy who loses his remote under the couch every week. A final release is expected soon, with public availability set for "later this year."
Cox Joins Comcast in Bumping Cable Speeds
Cox Communications has begun rolling out faster versions of its cable Internet service to compete with increased speeds from Comcast and Verizon's FiOS, as well as a cheaper plan to fend off low-cost DSL. Cox customers will now see up to 15Mbps download speeds.
The higher throughput is due to the addition of PowerBoost technology, as well as Cox utilizing its "local hybrid fiber network," the company said. Preferred plan customers will see 9Mbps speeds, while the Premier plan tops out at 15Mbps. A new "Economy" plan offers 768kbps downstream speeds and 256kbps upstream, which is on par with many DSL offerings. Cox did not disclose pricing, as it will vary depending on the market.
Linksys Seeking Beta Testers
Network and multimedia hardware company Linksys is seeking beta testers to trial a new product for high-definition TVs, which enables displaying pictures, music or videos on the TV over a wireless network. Those not selected will have the opportunity to beta test future products from Linksys.
Testers for the Apple TV-like device must speak fluent English but live in the United Kingdom, France or Germany, as well as owning an LCD or plasma HDTV and at least two computers running Windows. Those in the United States and Canada can still go through the application process, but not complete the specific test survey to be considered first for future betas. For more information and to apply, visit the beta callout page.
Cost of Vista Business License Offset by Savings, Says Microsoft
For a great many large businesses, "the move to the next Windows" has been an ongoing, daily affair for at least well over a decade. And up until recently, the reasons why this migration tends to proceed so slowly have been, to Microsoft, a complete mystery.
If the company can just get Vista pushed out to the corporate desktop, its foot will be in the door just enough, it believes, to make enough of a clearance to push through its more profitable business services: SharePoint, BizTalk, Office Communications, Exchange, audio and video.
Apple Plugs Windows Safari Security Holes
Just days after its beta release of Safari 3 for Windows became a zero-day nightmare with a number of exploitable vulnerabilities, Apple has rushed out version 3.01 to fix three security flaws. The problems only affect Windows, not the Mac OS X release.
The 3.01 update patches a bug that could lead to Safari running arbitrary commands via CMD.EXE, a denial of service crash due to memory corruption, and a flaw that could lead to a cross-site scripting attack. Windows XP and Vista users can download Safari 3.01 from FileForum.
Satellite TV Companies Sign Net Deal
Clearwire said Thursday that it had penned deals with both DirecTV and EchoStar, the parent of DISH Network, to allow them to offer the company's high-speed internet services as part of their packages in any current or future market Clearwire serves. The company uses WiMAX-like technology to provide wireless access to towns in 11 states, with towns in three others to be added shortly.
Through the deal, each of the satellite providers can offer Clearwire's service to its customers, while Clearwire can bundle DISH or DirecTV service with its own plans. Plans on both sides will be offered later this year. The company is also rumored to be in discussions with Sprint over its WiMAX offering, to launch later this year and nationwide in 2008.
Sprint Looking for Funding for WiMAX
With shareholder concern mounting over the cost of building out its fourth generation WiMAX network, Sprint is reportedly looking for other options to fund the project, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. One option would be a joint venture with high speed provider Clearwire, while the other would be to look for funding from its cable company partners.
The cost of construction would set the wireless provider back some $3 billion next year, however some of its largest investors have called the strategy questionable. Both options reduce the final cost, and may help to quell those fears. For example, under the Clearwire plan, the unit would be spun off. If Sprint's cable partners join in, they could benefit by being able to offer broadband services from the network.
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