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After telling US to mind its own business, Kroes slaps caps on Rambus royalties
The holder of many patents worldwide pertaining to DDR memory offered to reduce its royalty stake in that technology, and today the EU said yes.
Why Apple succeeds, and always will
The company consistently plays by different rules, literally like David did in his battle against Goliath.
EC's Kroes to US senators: Mind your own business on Oracle + Sun
UPDATED The EU's antitrust chief told the United States Senate Tuesday that any merger that takes place in the world is more her affair than theirs.
Betanews Podcast: Rupert Murdoch and the buying stuff online problem
We'll have a more difficult time paying for online news if the underlying protocol for online payment has a big gaping hole in it.
In a peace offering to newspapers, Google offers a new news format
It's probably not a solution to the woes of major news publishers, but Living Stories may gather a few of those publishers together in search of one.
Google Maps doesn't prevent car accidents, only search accidents
This week, Google updated Maps for Android 3.3.1, adding topography, nearby points of interest, and error reporting.
DOJ: Microsoft interop docs are now 'substantially complete'
A major milestone in the US Government's oversight of Microsoft is passed, as the Justice Dept. is now saying the company's protocol documents make sense.
The $1 DVD rental debate: LA group says Redbox will lose movie makers $1B
A report from the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation says cheap Redbox DVD rentals could seriously damage the movie business.
First impressions of Droid: Easy, breezy, friendly, if a little fat
Though it's not quite as well-polished as Apple's iPhone OS, the version of Android that Motorola's Droid phone sports is still a breeze to use.
Windows fix for TLS security bug still forthcoming, won't be Tuesday
Anyone looking for a fix for last month's discovery of a potentially serious security hole in TLS and SSL may have to wait until everyone is ready to act together.
Not the first, not the last, technology predictions for 2010
Carmi Levy | Wide Angle Zoom: The real truth is probably that what went around in 2009, will come around to haunt us next year.
Apple Boosts Xserve Speed, Unveils RAID Storage
By Eric Steil on February 10, 2003, 9:08 PM
6 Comments
Apple announced Monday a new Xserve RAID storage system, and increased the speed of its Xserve rack-mount servers to 1.33Ghz.
Xserve RAID features up to 14 hot-swappable ATA/100 drives totaling 2.5 terabytes of storage. Each drive is placed on its own ATA controller to eliminate bottlenecks. The hardware RAID controller supports RAID levels 0, 1, 0+1, 3, and 5. The unit can be connected to an Xserve or Power Mac G4 with the 2GB Apple Fibre Channel PCI Card.
Continue reading Apple Boosts Xserve Speed, Unveils RAID Storage...
Apple Introduces New Systems, Displays
By Eric Steil on January 28, 2003, 11:55 PM
11 Comments
Apple quietly updated its Power Mac G4 line of desktop computers Tuesday and introduced a new 20-inch Apple Cinema Display. Prices on existing displays, including Apple's 23-inch behemoth, were also cut.
The upgraded Power Mac G4 systems increase CPU speed and include additional built-in functionality. The high-end model includes dual G4 processors running at 1.42GHz with 512MB of DDR RAM and 2MB of DDR L3 Cache per processor. The mid-range model has dual G4 processors running at 1.25GHz, and the entry level model has a single 1GHz G4 processor. Both of the lower-end models include 1MB of L3 cache and 256MB of DDR RAM.
Apple Supersizes, Shrinks PowerBooks
By Eric Steil on January 7, 2003, 9:00 PM
10 Comments
Tuesday during his keynote speech at Macworld Expo in San Francisco, Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced 17-inch and 12-inch models of the company's stylish PowerBook notebook.
The new PowerBooks sport an aluminum alloy casing -- instead of the titanium found in previous models -- that is scratch and stain resistant, and are bundled with QuickBooks for Mac New User Edition.
Happy Holidays 2002
By Eric Steil, Nate Mook and Eddie Elmore on December 25, 2002, 1:01 AM
11 Comments
As this turbulent year winds down, we at BetaNews would like to express our deepest gratitude for all of the support we have received from our software authors, downloaders and avid readers. 2002 ushered in many changes and despite the ups and downs, BetaNews has continued to grow and evolve thanks to you.
Many great things are planned for 2003, with the new BetaNews expected to finally make an appearance in the coming months.
Apple Ships Updated 'Jaguar' Beta to Developers
By Eric Steil and Nate Mook on July 24, 2002, 1:00 AM
27 Comments
Apple on Tuesday released to members of its Apple Developer Connection program Mac OS X v10.2 build 6C106, a near-complete beta of the company's forthcoming operating system update code-named Jaguar. 6C106 is the first build available outside Apple since last week's Macworld, and includes further improvements and updates over previous releases shipped to testers and developers.
iTunes 3 makes its first appearance in the new beta, showcasing smart playlists and support for audio books. iCal and iSync are not likely to be bundled with Mac OS X v10.2 however, instead slated to debut in September.
Continue reading Apple Ships Updated 'Jaguar' Beta to Developers...
Jobs Unveils New OS X, iPods at Macworld
By Eric Steil on July 17, 2002, 6:49 PM
51 Comments
During his keynote address at Macworld New York, Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced several new and updated products. Along with Mac OS X 10.2, updated iPods and new iApps, Jobs revealed changes to the company's iTools online service and the anticipated 17-inch widescreen iMac.
Jobs demonstrated numerous features in the upcoming Mac OS X 10.2, previously code-named Jaguar. New in Jaguar is Rendezvous, a technology allowing computers and other devices on the same network to automatically find each other without configuration. Network printing without configuration was demoed, along with support for sharing music and playlists between computers running iTunes.
Continue reading Jobs Unveils New OS X, iPods at Macworld...
Apple to Debut LCD iMac Monday
By Eric Steil on January 6, 2002, 11:57 PM
38 Comments
Apple CEO Steve Jobs is expected to announce a new iMac in his two-hour Macworld keynote on Monday. Details of the machine were inadvertently revealed early by Time Canada.
While specifications of the new iMac are slim, it includes a 15-inch LCD display attached to a half-sphere base via movable arm. Also included is the higher-speed G4 processor that is used in Apple's professional machines, along with a DVD burner. Prices will range from $1,299 USD for the entry-level model to $1,799 USD for the high-end model.
Mac OS X 10.1, Word v.X Beta Released
By Eric Steil on September 25, 2001, 11:21 PM
38 Comments
Tuesday at the Seybold Seminars Apple Computer announced plans for the release of Mac OS X 10.1, the long awaited upgrade to the company's new operating system. This upgrade is designed to improve performance and add features missing from the original release.
As expected, the update will be available free for current Mac OS X owners starting Saturday. Apple's retail stores and other Apple dealers will offer the free upgrade until October 31. Also, the upgrade is available direct from Apple for $19.99 USD. A full boxed version will also be available Saturday for $129 USD. The Mac OS X Server 10.1 upgrade will be available as well.
Opera Releases Beta Browser for Mac OS X
By Eric Steil and Nate Mook on September 4, 2001, 8:51 PM
2 Comments
Opera Software has released the first beta of their Opera 5 for Mac OS X Carbon Web browser (Screenshot). This release brings Mac OS X users the ability to use the keychain -- used by the operating system when securing information -- for storing Web passwords, along with URL auto-complete, a feature introduced in July with the release of Opera for Mac Beta 2. An extra button set is also offered, which is meant to blend in with OS X.
"The development toward a final version for all systems for Mac users is important to us," said Opera Chief Technology Officer, Hakon W. Lie in a statement. "We are very happy to announce that we now can offer the same stability to all our Mac users."
Continue reading Opera Releases Beta Browser for Mac OS X...
Mac OS X 10.1 Betas Leaked
By Eric Steil on July 30, 2001, 6:13 PM
23 Comments
Recent development builds of Mac OS X 10.1, code-named Puma, have begun leaking onto the Internet. Thus far, three different builds, 5D15, 5F7 and 5F24, have appeared on IRC and various locations on the Web. Rumors about a fourth beta build are surfacing, just days after the latest leak.
Many of the new features announced during Steve Jobs' Macworld keynote are available in the recent betas. The most visible change is a speed increase throughout the entire OS, including application launch time and menu responses.
Microsoft Unveils Office for Mac OS X
By Eric Steil on July 20, 2001, 7:49 AM
16 Comments
Thursday at MacWorld in New York, Microsoft previewed the next Macintosh version of Office. Still without an official name, Office 10 for Mac OS X is expected to be released shortly after Apple's 10.1 update to the operating system this fall. Unlike its predecessor, Office 10 is being developed exclusively for Mac OS X. Kevin Browne of Microsoft's Macintosh Business Unit said the "trade-offs weren't worth it" to develop the suite for both OS X and OS 9.
Office 10 capitalizes on many advantages offered by Mac OS X. The interface has been updated to match Apple's Aqua, using features such as panels and dialog boxes attached to document windows. OS X's protected memory and multi-tasking provide Office with increased performance, while the Quartz graphics engine offers enhanced tools for creating graphic-rich documents.