Skype upgrade to get smart features ... Sun expands support for Ubuntu Linux

HIGHLIGHTS
News: Skype upgrade to get smart new features
News: Sun expands support for Ubuntu Linux
News: Dell puts four-core processors in servers, workstations
News: IDG plans computer games event to fill E3 void
Windows Tip: Outlook merge mail vs. DLs
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: Don't fall prey to "office-itis"


NEWS UPDATES

Skype upgrade to get smart new features
Skype Ltd. will begin testing an upgrade of its free communications software that can automatically detect phone numbers in Web pages and initiate calls.

Sun expands support for Ubuntu Linux
Sun Microsystems Inc. is making its Java Enterprise Edition 5 programming platform available on the open-source Ubuntu Linux distribution.

Dell puts four-core processors in servers, workstations
Dell Inc. will begin shipping its first servers and workstations running quad-core Intel processors in a two-socket configuration next week. Dell will feature the Quad-Core Xeon 5300 processor from Intel Corp. on its PowerEdge rack and blade style servers, and in Precision workstations.

IDG plans computer games event to fill E3 void
IDG World Expo will attempt to fill the void left by the scaling back of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) computer games show by starting a new event in 2007 aimed at gamers, it said Wednesday.

Novell deal to cost Microsoft hundreds of millions
Microsoft Corp will spend more than $440 million in licensing fees and sales and marketing costs over the next five years to keep up its end of the historic Linux agreement it made with Novell Inc., according to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission documents filed by Novell on Tuesday.

Samsung debuts combined mini-PC phone
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has taken a stab at what the next generation of wireless broadband devices will look like, unveiling a converged computer and mobile phone that uses 3G and mobile WiMax connections.

Seagate cans distributor for blocking third-party audit
Seagate Technology LLC has broken off its distributor relationship with Singapore's eSys Technologies Pte. Ltd., previously the company's largest distributor, after it denied access to its accounts for an audit, the hard-disk maker said in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing.

SAP invests in another NetWeaver partner
SAP AG has made an undisclosed investment in a Visiprise Inc., a company that develops integration software for manufacturing companies that use SAP's NetWeaver platform.

NY Times to expand citizen journalism features
The New York Times Co. plans to add capabilities to the Web site of its flagship newspaper so that readers can submit more content to it, like photos and reports from the field, the company's chairman said Tuesday.

Yahoo tests mobile banner ads
After U.S. mobile subscribers have paid their carriers for data plans, advertisers on Yahoo Inc. mobile services this week will start trying to sell them other things.


WINDOWS TIP

Outlook merge mail vs. DLs
By Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprises

Ever needed to send an email out to a lot of contacts in your organization or customer base in a hurry? Here's a tip that may help if your mail client is Outlook 2003.


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ITWHIRLED

Don't fall prey to "office-itis"
Just because you sit in front of a computer all day instead of digging ditches for a living doesn't mean that your body doesn't suffer for it. Office workers routinely experience fatigue, headaches, back and neck pain, and stomach and vision problems as a result of their jobs. Only one in three escape unscathed.