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Google Chrome 4: Yes, it's fast, but is it usable?
As Betanews readers have responded to our stories about Chrome's JavaScript superiority...Does that mean we'd actually use this browser? Well...
Verizon Wireless launches new Android, Chocolate, and ruggedized phones
The lower-priced Eris joins the Droid, while the Chocolate gets a touchscreen and more music playback.
Early sales figures for Windows 7 nicely high, but do we know why?
Fans of triple-digit surges in figures quoted by Betanews will love this one, as it appears Microsoft rediscovered how to pull off a software launch.
Myka announces its latest Linux-based 'net top box'
Myka's ION brings Boxee, XMBC, and much more to HDTVs.
What hath Mac wrought? A remembrance after a quarter-century
The reason there's a Macintosh today is not because of some brilliant flash of engineering genius, but because Apple had the audacity to learn from its mistakes.
Early build of Moblin 2.1 improves connectivity, but not device support
The Linux Foundation's Atom-centric OS yesterday received a major overhaul with the project release of Moblin 2.1 for netbooks and nettops.
The iPhone's China syndrome: Sales of 5,000 and climbing
There's actually a country where Apple's device is not a godsend, where sales can be measured in the dozens.
New European counterpart to FCC will ensure 'a more neutral net'
Late Thursday night, the ruling telecom administrators of the EU's member nations signed away their final authority to a new entity overseen by the EC.
Sophos study suggests Windows 7 UAC's default setting is self-defeating
Without any anti-virus installed, a Sophos test showed, User Account Control was only capable of thwarting just one malware package out of ten samples chosen.
Indiscreet tweet trips awareness of Web SSL vulnerability
A group of high-level security engineers had been making progress on thwarting a low-level threat to the Web, until somebody blurted it all out on Twitter.
Visa, Amex Cut Ties with CardSystems
By David Worthington on July 21, 2005, 9:13 AM
8 Comments
In a first of its kind move, Visa USA and American Express Co. have dropped the hammer on an affiliated payment processor several months after its was revealed that a massive security breach exposed the records of millions of its cardholders.
CardSystems Solutions put the account information of approximately 40 million credit card holders at risk for fraud by mishandling data stored in its database. Customers' names, credit card numbers and expiration dates were revealed in the breach.
Microsoft Issues Second 'Maestro' Beta
By David Worthington on July 20, 2005, 2:59 PM
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Microsoft has released a second beta of "Maestro," now formally known as Microsoft Office Business Scorecard Manager 2005.
Maestro is a server-based business performance management scorecard application that tightens integration between Office and backend software. It is branch off of Microsoft's Office Accelerator program, but dramatically increases Business Intelligence (BI) capabilities, the company says.
Blinkx Uses RSS to Stream Video, Audio
By David Worthington on July 19, 2005, 11:42 AM
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RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is already used to ferret out thousands of news sites and blogs everyday. Now, RSS has fanned out and is being used by blinkx to distribute multimedia from personalized feeds available at its TV Video Search.
Blinkx.TV is a rich media search engine that uses a series of proprietary technologies to locate, transcribe and index broadcasts. The user determines the content's topic and sources.
MS to Beta Communicator Web Access
By David Worthington on July 14, 2005, 1:55 PM
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Microsoft is in search of customers to evaluate its upcoming Microsoft Office Communicator Web Access add-on to Live Communications Server 2005 (LCS). A beta is expected within the next 30 days.
Communicator Web Access, code-named Budapest, extends the full capabilities and presence of LCS to the Web for users that cannot install or easily access the Office Communicator client. Microsoft says that Budapest will be cross platform and compatible with most commonly used Web browsers.
IBM Introduces New PC Cooling Tech
By David Worthington on July 13, 2005, 1:19 PM
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As the iron heats up, Big Blue is trying to keep it cool. IBM has introduced "Cool Blue," a datacenter cooling technology that it claims will reduce heat output in computer systems by up to 55 percent while driving energy costs down by as much as 15 percent.
Officially called the IBM eServer Rear Door Heat eXchanger, Cool Blue is filled with sealed tubes that circulate chilled water, removing what IBM claims is up to 50,000 BTU of heat from a full server rack on any brand server. There are no moving or electrical parts and units are mounted with standard fittings and couplings.
Suit: Intel Sabotaged Compiler for AMD
By David Worthington on July 13, 2005, 1:10 PM
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Advanced Micro Devices is alleging that Intel sabotaged the performance of its CPUs by crafting a routine for its compiler to build programs along un-optimized -- and perhaps even dangerous -- code paths for AMD processors, all while optimizing performance for its own "Genuine Intel" chips.
The accusation was made within a brief filed in the United States District Court for The District Of Delaware as part of AMD's ongoing antitrust case against Intel.
Nintendo to Game with Wireless Router
By David Worthington on July 13, 2005, 12:59 PM
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The Nintendo fanboys Nwizard.com have good news for DS and would-be Revolution owners that are bounded in the fact that they are not tech savvy: Nintendo is releasing an easy-to-use wireless router as an accessory to its gaming products.
Online gaming is set to play a big role in Nintendo's future. During the 2005 E3 trade show, it was announced that Nintendo would introduce free Wi-Fi Internet connectivity to jumpstart its online gaming initiative.
Microsoft Testing New Hotmail Interface
By David Worthington on July 11, 2005, 12:26 PM
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Microsoft's MSN business unit is trying to hook customers onto "Kahuna." Kahuna is codename for an upcoming version of Hotmail that will sport a new style of interface, automatic inbox refreshing and a preview pane that will enable Hotmail users to read and respond to e-mail without ever leaving their inbox.
Microsoft has reason to be testing such additions: Many of these features are already out of testing and in production among its competitors.
Yahoo Refreshes Firefox Toolbar
By David Worthington on July 8, 2005, 4:20 PM
32 Comments
Just one day after Google launched its toolbar software for Firefox, Yahoo has brought rain to Google's parade, releasing a refreshed build of its own Firefox toolbar.
Yahoo's Firefox toolbar replicates many of the features it already offers customers using Microsoft's Internet Explorer Web browser such as an integrated search box, content discovery, a RSS subscription manager, protection against spyware and server-side preferences that can be recalled from any PC connected to the Internet.
Microsoft Demos InfoPath Server
By David Worthington on July 8, 2005, 2:40 PM
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For a moment, Microsoft lifted the tarp that shrouds Office 12 in secrecy at its Worldwide Partner Conference on Friday. Microsoft information worker vice president Chris Capossela demonstrated what Microsoft Watch believes to be the upcoming InfoPath Forms Server.
During the demonstration, Capossela showed attendees how Office users can use the software to deliver server-based forms using a Web browser -- without a client being installed.
Spyware Changing Web Surfers' Habits
By David Worthington on July 7, 2005, 11:14 AM
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With reports whirling about how unprotected PCs can be hijacked within minutes of coming online, it would be no wonder if computer users have modified their behavior. A study conducted by Pew Internet & American Life Project (PIP) found that nearly 91 percent of those surveyed have done just that.
The report revealed that approximately 93 million Internet users in the U.S., or 68 percent, have experienced computer problems within the past year that are consistent with malware.
Microsoft Rings Up Money 2006
By David Worthington on July 6, 2005, 4:29 PM
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Microsoft's Money 2006 has hit the shelves, offering customers a comprehensive financial management suite that can do everything from balance their checkbook to paying their bills online.
This year's release takes into account tightening budgets with improved online banking, as well as better tracking so that users can keep tabs on their spending. At the same time, tools to decipher budgets, understand spending, and manage debt were improved over the previous release.
Microsoft to Battle Oracle with CRM 3.0
By David Worthington on July 6, 2005, 1:37 PM
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After a nearly two year hiatus, Microsoft has leapt ahead to version 3.0 of its customer relationship management (CRM) software. Once work is completed, CRM 3.0 will replace the 1.6 release as Microsoft's front line solution to battle with more established vendors including Oracle, PeopleSoft, Siebel Systems and SAP for a more sizeable share of the market.
The most significant aspect of the release en route toward achieving that goal may be Microsoft's adoption of more on-demand services. Rather than rely solely on its partners to provide hosted CRM software as it had previously, Microsoft will roll out a subscription-style pricing model and provide its CRM tools to customers over the Web.
Mainsoft Brings Visual Studio to Linux
By David Worthington on July 5, 2005, 8:08 PM
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Mainsoft has made it possible for Linux developers to use Microsoft's Visual Studio software to create Web applications for Linux.
Visual MainWin for J2EE Developer Edition, or Grasshopper, is a free .NET plug-in developed following a two-year collaboration with the Mono development community. Mono is an open source alternative to Microsoft's .NET platform. Mainsoft's Visual MainWin enterprise product suite also exposes Visual Studio to developers that use FormScape, Infogate Online and IBM Rational.
AOL Pictures Goes Mobile
By David Worthington on July 5, 2005, 7:11 PM
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America Online is preparing mobile access to its AOL Pictures Web service. AOL Pictures stores photos remotely on AOL's servers, making them accessible from any device with access to AOL's services. The mobile service provides thumbnails of pictures stored online in addition to individual image downloads.
A beta version of the service provides SprintVision and Cingular MediaNet subscribers with mobile access to their AOL Pictures account via Web-enabled phones. Photos will be compressed for more efficient transport. An AOL spokesperson told BetaNews that it will make the service available to all major carriers upon its release.
Philly Preps Tech for Live 8 Onslaught
By David Worthington on July 1, 2005, 8:50 PM
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Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway will soon play host to an estimated one million spectators attending this weekend's Live 8 concert, setting the stage for a possible logistical nightmare for cellular providers. To avert a potential overload of its system, Verizon Wireless has upgraded its network capacity by nearly 40 percent.
Verizon has worked around the clock to shore up its permanent cell sites and is deploying a mobile transmission site called a "COLT" (Cell on Light Truck) near the main stage. The COLT weighs in at nearly 25,000 pounds, carries two mobile 50-foot cellular antennas and is backed up by an emergency generator. For comparison, Philadelphia's population within the city limits was estimated to be just over 1.5 million in 2000.
VoIP Faces Major Test at Live 8 London
By David Worthington on July 1, 2005, 8:50 PM
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Voice over IP communications is about to face trial by fire. Avaya Business Partner Siptel has been chosen to provide mission critical communications for attendees at London's high profile Live 8 music event. In preparation for the event, Avaya has laid 10 kilometers of cable, 250 communications extensions and a bevy of wireless access points across Hyde Park's 12 acres.
The system will handle an estimated 25,000 telephone calls and will offer advanced services such as conferencing, voice mail, Interactive Response and Automated Attendant Services. Avaya Extension to Cellular will allow bridged calls from landlines to the cellular phones of Live 8 VIPS.
Microsoft Issues IE Security Advisory
By David Worthington on July 1, 2005, 4:12 PM
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Microsoft has issued a security advisory in anticipation of investigating a bulletin published by security firm SEC Consult, which overviews a flaw that may instantaneously crash Internet Explorer.
The advisory has been issued by Microsoft as part of a new program that alerts customers about emerging security threats that have been disclosed by third parties.
AOL Prepares Standalone E-mail Client
By David Worthington on July 1, 2005, 2:25 PM
11 Comments
America Online is developing a standalone e-mail application that can be accessed independently of its client software. AOL has designed the software to provide its members with more open e-mail access and a customized way to access their AOL e-mail on their PC.
The "AOL Mail Client" sports a new look and feel from the classic AOL e-mail component found in its client software with a three-paned tabbed interface, better handling of attachments and more management options to sort and group e-mail. AOL Mail is based on entirely new code; however, AOL's existing spam filters do carry over.
AOL Releases Third AIM 'Triton' Beta
By David Worthington on June 30, 2005, 6:25 PM
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America Online has released a third beta of its next-generation "Triton" instant messaging client. The build is an incremental improvement that fixes bugs and adds new functionality.
As first reported by BetaNews, Triton has been rewritten from the ground up as a replacement for the existing AIM 5.9 series client and a platform for AOL's next generation broadband communication services.