Today's IT News Audio Update
Microsoft may issue patch to fix IE flaw ... Skype prepares to add enterprise support ... Oracle steps up with support for Itanium 2
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Lime Wire turns tables, sues record companies
News: IBM begins major revamp of its services business
News: Intel invests $40 million in Chinese software vendor
News: Oracle to support Itanium platform
News: Pressure mounts for Microsoft to patch IE flaw
Tip: A hardware approach to storage security
ITwhirled: A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Hurry! Only 5 days left.
NEWS UPDATES
Lime Wire turns tables, sues record companies
Peer-to-peer file-sharing software developer Lime Wire LLC has countersued the biggest record companies, charging them with anti-competitive behavior. The suit, filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, follows the closing of most of the popular file-sharing Web sites due to lawsuits initiated by record companies. It also comes on the heels of a suit filed by 13 record companies against Lime Wire, accusing the developer of music piracy and demanding damages that could amount to $476 million.
IBM begins major revamp of its services business
IBM is today rolling out the first two of what it terms "service products." The standardized offerings are designed to be used by any IBM customer anywhere, a very different approach from the company's previous focus on providing customized, one-off services to individual users.
Internet problems persist in Zimbabwe
Large-scale Internet connection problems in the African country of Zimbabwe have continued for about a month because of a late payment to a satellite-based telecom provider. Zimbabwe's ISPs still have only about 10% of usual bandwidth available to them after the government-owned TelOne telecommunications provider fell US$700,000 behind on its bill to Intelsat Ltd.
Intel invests $40 million in Chinese software vendor
Intel Corp. plans to invest $40 million in Neusoft Group Ltd. as part of a deal that will see the Chinese software vendor optimize its products for Intel microprocessors.
Wallop says its social network packs a punch
It may seem like tilting at windmills, but Wallop Technologies Inc. expects to shake up the social networking market, currently dominated by entrenched players like News Corp.'s MySpace, Facebook Inc. and Friendster Inc. Wallop is betting that a slick platform based on Adobe Systems Inc.'s Flash multimedia system, an absence of ads and a community of third-party developers will set it apart.
Oracle to support Itanium platform
Oracle joined with officials of the Itanium Solutions Alliance at the first ever Itanium Solutions Summit in San Francisco Monday to announce that Oracle will soon begin certification of its database software to run on Itanium 2 computing processor platforms.
Pressure mounts for Microsoft to patch IE flaw
Hackers are intensifying their attacks on Internet Explorer users, increasing the chances that Microsoft Corp. will patch a critical flaw in the software ahead of its regularly scheduled Oct. 10 security update.
AOL members sue over search data release
Three people have sued AOL LLC over the company's controversial release of member search-engine records, in what their lawyers are billing as the first such lawsuit seeking national class action status.
Add location to your digital camera's metadata
Ever been on a trip where you've visited a dozen places, taken hundreds of pictures but can't quite remember where you shot them? Sony Corp. has developed a pocket-size, GPS (Global Positioning System) device and software that helps you identify the location of every picture you've taken within a couple of meters.
TIP
A hardware approach to storage security
By David Hill, Mesabi Group
The Trusted Computing Group storage working group is working on specifications that manufacturers can use to create trusted platform module-like functionality on storage devices, notably hard disk drives, and high-end flash memory devices. A hard disk is a closed system. Disk drives are intelligent in that they have custom controllers, which have a processor and hidden system memory. Intelligent disk drives have firmware that is not alterable by unauthorized third parties, which means that the bad guys cannot get inside to do damage.
ITWHIRLED
"It's pretty awesome when it works"
Nothing's perfect, not even Steve Jobs' fabled Reality Distortion Field. This funny video collects some of the less-than-shining moments from Jobs' famous keynote speeches, including computer bugs and public speaking flubs.
A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Learn how!
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
Symantec: Browser bugs surging in 2006 ...New security group patches latest IE bug ... RApple legal 'pod' protection continues
HP EO announces resignation of Chairman Patricia Dunn ... Jailed Chinese journalist plans to sue Yahoo in the U.S. ... IBM likely to support China's Red Flag Linux
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Open-source firewall company ModSecurity gets acquired
News: Symantec: Browser bugs surging in 2006
News: SF claims progress in Wi-Fi negotiations
News: Symantec dismisses Vista security debate
News: Sony shuffles control of electronics group
News: Apple legal 'pod' protection continues
News: New security group patches latest IE bug
News: Google plans product search boost in Q4
Analysis: HP lawyer gives blow-by-blow of leak probe
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
NEWS UPDATES
Open-source firewall company ModSecurity gets acquired
Breach Security Inc. will acquire Thinking Stone Ltd., which develops and provides support for an open-source Web application firewall called ModSecurity, the companies announced Monday.
Symantec: Browser bugs surging in 2006
Hackers are hitting paydirt in their search for browser bugs. According to Symantec Corp.'s twice-yearly Internet Security Threat Report, hackers found 47 bugs in Mozilla Corp.'s open-source browsers and 38 bugs in Internet Explorer (IE) during the first six months of this year. That's up significantly from the 17 Mozilla and 25 IE bugs found in the previous six months.
SF claims progress in Wi-Fi negotiations
Google Inc. and EarthLink Inc.'s Wi-Fi contract with San Francisco would have a renewable four-year term and would require a proof-of-concept deployment before the full network is rolled out, if progress so far in negotiations holds firm, according to the city.
Symantec dismisses Vista security debate
Symantec Corp. Pacific region Vice President David Sykes has thrown cold water on the Windows Vista security debacle which emerged last week pointing out that it is pointless speculating about software that isn't released yet.
Sony shuffles control of electronics group
Sony Corp. is reshuffling responsibilities in its key electronics group, allowing the head of the division to play a bigger role in Sony's research and development actvities.
Apple legal 'pod' protection continues
Apple is becoming more aggressive in protecting its iPod trademark and is now attempting to establish control of the word 'pod' and, in one case, 'podcast.'
New security group patches latest IE bug
Microsoft Corp. may be waiting until next month to patch a nasty bug in Outlook and Internet Explorer, but security researchers are offering users a more immediate option.
Google plans product search boost in Q4
Google Inc. plans to extend the product search capabilities on its main Google.com Web search engine in the fourth quarter, in time for the holiday shopping season.
ANALYSIS
HP lawyer gives blow-by-blow of leak probe
An attorney hired by Hewlett-Packard Co. to investigate the conduct of HP and outside investigators has provided new details of his firm's investigation of news leaks from the HP board.
ITWHIRLED
"It's pretty awesome when it works"
Nothing's perfect, not even Steve Jobs' fabled Reality Distortion Field. This funny video collects some of the less-than-shining moments from Jobs' famous keynote speeches, including computer bugs and public speaking flubs.
HP EO announces resignation of Chairman Patricia Dunn ... Jailed Chinese journalist plans to sue Yahoo in the U.S. ... IBM likely to support China's Red Flag Linux
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Open-source firewall company ModSecurity gets acquired
News: Symantec: Browser bugs surging in 2006
News: SF claims progress in Wi-Fi negotiations
News: Symantec dismisses Vista security debate
News: Sony shuffles control of electronics group
News: Apple legal 'pod' protection continues
News: New security group patches latest IE bug
News: Google plans product search boost in Q4
Analysis: HP lawyer gives blow-by-blow of leak probe
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
NEWS UPDATES
Open-source firewall company ModSecurity gets acquired
Breach Security Inc. will acquire Thinking Stone Ltd., which develops and provides support for an open-source Web application firewall called ModSecurity, the companies announced Monday.
Symantec: Browser bugs surging in 2006
Hackers are hitting paydirt in their search for browser bugs. According to Symantec Corp.'s twice-yearly Internet Security Threat Report, hackers found 47 bugs in Mozilla Corp.'s open-source browsers and 38 bugs in Internet Explorer (IE) during the first six months of this year. That's up significantly from the 17 Mozilla and 25 IE bugs found in the previous six months.
SF claims progress in Wi-Fi negotiations
Google Inc. and EarthLink Inc.'s Wi-Fi contract with San Francisco would have a renewable four-year term and would require a proof-of-concept deployment before the full network is rolled out, if progress so far in negotiations holds firm, according to the city.
Symantec dismisses Vista security debate
Symantec Corp. Pacific region Vice President David Sykes has thrown cold water on the Windows Vista security debacle which emerged last week pointing out that it is pointless speculating about software that isn't released yet.
Sony shuffles control of electronics group
Sony Corp. is reshuffling responsibilities in its key electronics group, allowing the head of the division to play a bigger role in Sony's research and development actvities.
Apple legal 'pod' protection continues
Apple is becoming more aggressive in protecting its iPod trademark and is now attempting to establish control of the word 'pod' and, in one case, 'podcast.'
New security group patches latest IE bug
Microsoft Corp. may be waiting until next month to patch a nasty bug in Outlook and Internet Explorer, but security researchers are offering users a more immediate option.
Google plans product search boost in Q4
Google Inc. plans to extend the product search capabilities on its main Google.com Web search engine in the fourth quarter, in time for the holiday shopping season.
ANALYSIS
HP lawyer gives blow-by-blow of leak probe
An attorney hired by Hewlett-Packard Co. to investigate the conduct of HP and outside investigators has provided new details of his firm's investigation of news leaks from the HP board.
ITWHIRLED
"It's pretty awesome when it works"
Nothing's perfect, not even Steve Jobs' fabled Reality Distortion Field. This funny video collects some of the less-than-shining moments from Jobs' famous keynote speeches, including computer bugs and public speaking flubs.
Friday, September 22, 2006
US Commerce Department reports loss of 1,137 laptops... Outlook vulnerable to critical VML bug ... Red Flag Linux may be next on IBM's agenda
HP CEO Hurd to brief reporters on spying scandal ... Germany to make hacking a crime ... Samsung executive pleads guilty to fixing DRAM price
HIGHLIGHTS
News: US Commerce Department reports loss of 1,137 laptops
News: Outlook vulnerable to critical VML bug
News: Red Flag Linux may be next on IBM's agenda
News: Jailed Chinese journalist to sue Yahoo
News: AOL cuts deal to sell AOL France
News: Yahoo promotes Flash, Ruby mashups
News: Wall Street beat: Software looking good
Interview: As BI matures, companies should too
Opinion: Stay tuned. We will be right back after these.
NEWS UPDATES
US Commerce Department reports loss of 1,137 laptops
The U.S. Commerce Department reported that 1,137 laptops have been lost or stolen since 2001, with 249 of them containing some degree of personal data.
Outlook vulnerable to critical VML bug
A critical bug in the Internet Explorer (IE) browser also affects users of the Outlook 2003 e-mail client, making it much more serious than previously thought.
Red Flag Linux may be next on IBM's agenda
The next Linux distribution that IBM Corp. throws its weight behind is likely to be China's Red Flag Linux, suggesting that for businesses elsewhere in the world the Linux market will remain a two-horse race for the time being.
Jailed Chinese journalist to sue Yahoo
A Chinese journalist jailed in part due to e-mail evidence provided by a Yahoo Inc. subsidiary plans to file a lawsuit in the U.S. against the Internet company within the next few months.
AOL cuts deal to sell AOL France
AOL LLC continued its strategy of separating its Internet access and content businesses in Europe, with the sale of its France Internet access business to Neuf Cegetel SA. The deal, announced Thursday, is worth ?288 million (US$366 million) and includes an ongoing partnership between AOL and Neuf Cegetel, a broadband operator.
Yahoo promotes Flash, Ruby mashups
Yahoo Inc. has added sections for Flash and Ruby to its Web site for external developers. The goal is to promote the creation, using those two popular programming languages, of third-party applications that interact and integrate with Yahoo online services.
Wall Street beat: Software looking good
Despite financial and accounting problems at Dell Inc., Novell Inc. and Yahoo Inc., underlying faith in the software sector and a solid first-day performance on Riverbed Technology Inc.'s initial public offering indicate that the end of the year may yet reward IT investors.
INTERVIEW
As BI matures, companies should too
Business intelligence software is evolving into its older sibling, business performance management, a combination of planning, budgeting, reporting and benchmarking tools, according to the father of BI, Howard Dresner. At the same time, the main obstacle to BI or BPM adoption remains cultural rather than technological, he said.
OPINION
Stay tuned. We will be right back after these.
By Sean McGrath
Some time ago I upgraded my satellite TV service to include the
ability to record programs very easily via an integrated hard disk. In
effect my satellite receiving box became a computer known as a Digital
Video Recorder (DVR).
In the intervening period between then and now I have become a
significantly less useful individual to TV advertisers. Here is why
this is so ...
HP CEO Hurd to brief reporters on spying scandal ... Germany to make hacking a crime ... Samsung executive pleads guilty to fixing DRAM price
HIGHLIGHTS
News: US Commerce Department reports loss of 1,137 laptops
News: Outlook vulnerable to critical VML bug
News: Red Flag Linux may be next on IBM's agenda
News: Jailed Chinese journalist to sue Yahoo
News: AOL cuts deal to sell AOL France
News: Yahoo promotes Flash, Ruby mashups
News: Wall Street beat: Software looking good
Interview: As BI matures, companies should too
Opinion: Stay tuned. We will be right back after these.
NEWS UPDATES
US Commerce Department reports loss of 1,137 laptops
The U.S. Commerce Department reported that 1,137 laptops have been lost or stolen since 2001, with 249 of them containing some degree of personal data.
Outlook vulnerable to critical VML bug
A critical bug in the Internet Explorer (IE) browser also affects users of the Outlook 2003 e-mail client, making it much more serious than previously thought.
Red Flag Linux may be next on IBM's agenda
The next Linux distribution that IBM Corp. throws its weight behind is likely to be China's Red Flag Linux, suggesting that for businesses elsewhere in the world the Linux market will remain a two-horse race for the time being.
Jailed Chinese journalist to sue Yahoo
A Chinese journalist jailed in part due to e-mail evidence provided by a Yahoo Inc. subsidiary plans to file a lawsuit in the U.S. against the Internet company within the next few months.
AOL cuts deal to sell AOL France
AOL LLC continued its strategy of separating its Internet access and content businesses in Europe, with the sale of its France Internet access business to Neuf Cegetel SA. The deal, announced Thursday, is worth ?288 million (US$366 million) and includes an ongoing partnership between AOL and Neuf Cegetel, a broadband operator.
Yahoo promotes Flash, Ruby mashups
Yahoo Inc. has added sections for Flash and Ruby to its Web site for external developers. The goal is to promote the creation, using those two popular programming languages, of third-party applications that interact and integrate with Yahoo online services.
Wall Street beat: Software looking good
Despite financial and accounting problems at Dell Inc., Novell Inc. and Yahoo Inc., underlying faith in the software sector and a solid first-day performance on Riverbed Technology Inc.'s initial public offering indicate that the end of the year may yet reward IT investors.
INTERVIEW
As BI matures, companies should too
Business intelligence software is evolving into its older sibling, business performance management, a combination of planning, budgeting, reporting and benchmarking tools, according to the father of BI, Howard Dresner. At the same time, the main obstacle to BI or BPM adoption remains cultural rather than technological, he said.
OPINION
Stay tuned. We will be right back after these.
By Sean McGrath
Some time ago I upgraded my satellite TV service to include the
ability to record programs very easily via an integrated hard disk. In
effect my satellite receiving box became a computer known as a Digital
Video Recorder (DVR).
In the intervening period between then and now I have become a
significantly less useful individual to TV advertisers. Here is why
this is so ...
Thursday, September 21, 2006
HP's Hurd knew of spying campaign ... Munich begins Linux migration
Today's IT News Audio Update
Hewlett-Packard's CEO could become implicated in the spying scandal at the company ... BenQ Mobile is closing down a handset facility in Taiwan ... AOL is inviting users to test a new version of its search engine
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Report: Hurd knew of planned deception campaign
News: Munich begins Linux replacement of Windows
News: IBM unveils new tape virtualization engine
News: Novell faces delisting from Nasdaq
Opinion: Stay tuned. We will be right back after these.
ITwhirled: Spice up your e-mail sig
NEWS UPDATES
Report: Hurd knew of planned deception campaign
Hewlett-Packard Co. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Hurd knew of plans for a disinformation campaign designed to find the source of leaks from boardroom discussions, The Washington Post reported Thursday.
Munich begins Linux replacement of Windows
Munich has begun its migration to Linux on the desktop, a year later than planned and nearly three years since the city announced its move to open source software.
IBM unveils new tape virtualization engine
IBM Corp. is unveiling Thursday a new virtual tape drive management system for mainframes that compares to similar technology introduced last spring by rival Sun Microsystems Inc.
Novell faces delisting from Nasdaq
Novell Inc. has confirmed the receipt of a notice from the Nasdaq stock market warning that its shares will be delisted from the exchange after the software company delayed filing its most recent quarterly report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Dunn to 'set the record straight' in HP case
Embattled Hewlett-Packard Co. chairman Patricia Dunn told an appreciative audience in San Francisco Wednesday night that she looks forward to the opportunity to "set the record straight" regarding allegations that she oversaw an internal investigation of the company which may have broken the law.
Symantec on the attack over Vista security features
When Windows Vista ships next year, customers might have a tougher time getting their security software to work properly, executives from Symantec Corp. said Wednesday.
Qualcomm sees wireless device boom
A perfect storm is brewing in wireless communications, which may soon boom like the PC business did in the 1990s as the Web took off, a Qualcomm Inc. executive said Wednesday.
Security vendors SecureWorks, LURHQ merge
Managed security services companies SecureWorks Inc. and LURHQ Corp. have merged. The combined company is known as SecureWorks and is based in Atlanta. SecureWorks chief executive Mike Cote remains as chief executive officer (CEO) and former LURHQ CEO Tony Prince will be executive vice president responsible for product development.
OPINION
Stay tuned. We will be right back after these.
By Sean McGrath
Some time ago I upgraded my satellite TV service to include the ability to record programs very easily via an integrated hard disk. In effect my satellite receiving box became a computer known as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR).
In the intervening period between then and now I have become a significantly less useful individual to TV advertisers. Here is why this is so ...
ITWHIRLED
Spice up your e-mail sig
Whether you're talking about specific programming languages or overall concepts, these epigrams are good for insight and for spicing up your e-mail sig. Probably the only collection of programming-related quotes to contain one from Flannery O'Connor.
Hewlett-Packard's CEO could become implicated in the spying scandal at the company ... BenQ Mobile is closing down a handset facility in Taiwan ... AOL is inviting users to test a new version of its search engine
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Report: Hurd knew of planned deception campaign
News: Munich begins Linux replacement of Windows
News: IBM unveils new tape virtualization engine
News: Novell faces delisting from Nasdaq
Opinion: Stay tuned. We will be right back after these.
ITwhirled: Spice up your e-mail sig
NEWS UPDATES
Report: Hurd knew of planned deception campaign
Hewlett-Packard Co. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Hurd knew of plans for a disinformation campaign designed to find the source of leaks from boardroom discussions, The Washington Post reported Thursday.
Munich begins Linux replacement of Windows
Munich has begun its migration to Linux on the desktop, a year later than planned and nearly three years since the city announced its move to open source software.
IBM unveils new tape virtualization engine
IBM Corp. is unveiling Thursday a new virtual tape drive management system for mainframes that compares to similar technology introduced last spring by rival Sun Microsystems Inc.
Novell faces delisting from Nasdaq
Novell Inc. has confirmed the receipt of a notice from the Nasdaq stock market warning that its shares will be delisted from the exchange after the software company delayed filing its most recent quarterly report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Dunn to 'set the record straight' in HP case
Embattled Hewlett-Packard Co. chairman Patricia Dunn told an appreciative audience in San Francisco Wednesday night that she looks forward to the opportunity to "set the record straight" regarding allegations that she oversaw an internal investigation of the company which may have broken the law.
Symantec on the attack over Vista security features
When Windows Vista ships next year, customers might have a tougher time getting their security software to work properly, executives from Symantec Corp. said Wednesday.
Qualcomm sees wireless device boom
A perfect storm is brewing in wireless communications, which may soon boom like the PC business did in the 1990s as the Web took off, a Qualcomm Inc. executive said Wednesday.
Security vendors SecureWorks, LURHQ merge
Managed security services companies SecureWorks Inc. and LURHQ Corp. have merged. The combined company is known as SecureWorks and is based in Atlanta. SecureWorks chief executive Mike Cote remains as chief executive officer (CEO) and former LURHQ CEO Tony Prince will be executive vice president responsible for product development.
OPINION
Stay tuned. We will be right back after these.
By Sean McGrath
Some time ago I upgraded my satellite TV service to include the ability to record programs very easily via an integrated hard disk. In effect my satellite receiving box became a computer known as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR).
In the intervening period between then and now I have become a significantly less useful individual to TV advertisers. Here is why this is so ...
ITWHIRLED
Spice up your e-mail sig
Whether you're talking about specific programming languages or overall concepts, these epigrams are good for insight and for spicing up your e-mail sig. Probably the only collection of programming-related quotes to contain one from Flannery O'Connor.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Yahoo warns on weakening Web ad sales ... Dunn to testify before House on spying scandal
Today's IT News Audio Update
Oracle has reported another strong quarter of financial results ... Patricia Dunn, the embattled chairman of HP, will answer questions on the spying scandal next week ... Amazon.com is offering to host online stores for small and medium-size businesses
HIGHLIGHTS
News: U.S. computer firm admits selling banned exports to Iran
News: Yahoo warns on weakening Web ad sales
News: Mambo Foundation releases Mambo 4.6
News: HP's Dunn to testify before House on spying scandal
Storage Tip: Rules for differentiating between operational and disaster recovery
ITwhirled: In Soviet Russia, mouse clicks YOU
NEWS UPDATES
Schneier: We are losing the security war
Companies are losing the battle to secure their IT systems from attacks by hackers and other threats, warned Bruce Schneier, the founder and chief technology officer of Counterpane Internet Security Inc.
U.S. computer firm admits selling banned exports to Iran
A California seller of servers and other computer components has pleaded guilty to selling products to Iran in violation of federal export controls, the U.S. Attorney's office in San Francisco reported Tuesday.
Yahoo warns on weakening Web ad sales
A slowing U.S. economy may already be impacting Yahoo Inc.'s Web advertising sales growth, the head of the company said Tuesday, a trend that does not bode well for other ad-supported Internet sites.
Mambo Foundation releases Mambo 4.6
The Mambo Foundation has released Mambo 4.6, the first major release of its open-source content management system (CMS) in almost two years, the group said Wednesday.
HP's Dunn to testify before House on spying scandal
Hewlett-Packard Co. Chairman Patricia Dunn will answer questions on the spying scandal that has embroiled her company during a House committee hearing on Capitol Hill next week.
iTunes nets $1 million in movie sales for Disney in a week
In only one week, Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes Store generated $1 million in movie sales for Walt Disney Co., and that's "just the beginning," the head of Disney said Tuesday.
Microsoft to ease Vista upgrades with one-DVD plan
In an effort to simplify the distribution of Windows Vista and make it easier for customers to upgrade, Microsoft Corp. will include the various retail versions of the OS on one DVD instead of having separate DVDs for each Vista edition.
Oracle celebrates strong Q1 with some SAP bashing
As Oracle Corp. executives patted themselves on the back for their company's reporting another strong financial quarter, they also couldn't resist having a go at prime applications rival SAP AG.
Microsoft to add HD DVD to Xbox 360
Microsoft Corp. will launch an HD DVD drive add-on for its Xbox 360 console in November, a company executive said Wednesday.
STORAGE TIP
Rules for differentiating between operational and disaster recovery
By David Hill, Mesabi Group
Differentiating between operational recovery and disaster recovery is not always clear-cut. Fortunately, most problems are operational problems not disaster recovery problems. Here are some guidelines for when a failover to a remote site is an operational recovery problem and not a disaster recovery problem.
ITWHIRLED
In Soviet Russia, mouse clicks YOU
Those Soviets sure did make some wonderfully clunky computer hardware. Here's the best of computer mouses from the USSR. Our favorite label: "The Manipulator For Graphical Information."
Oracle has reported another strong quarter of financial results ... Patricia Dunn, the embattled chairman of HP, will answer questions on the spying scandal next week ... Amazon.com is offering to host online stores for small and medium-size businesses
HIGHLIGHTS
News: U.S. computer firm admits selling banned exports to Iran
News: Yahoo warns on weakening Web ad sales
News: Mambo Foundation releases Mambo 4.6
News: HP's Dunn to testify before House on spying scandal
Storage Tip: Rules for differentiating between operational and disaster recovery
ITwhirled: In Soviet Russia, mouse clicks YOU
NEWS UPDATES
Schneier: We are losing the security war
Companies are losing the battle to secure their IT systems from attacks by hackers and other threats, warned Bruce Schneier, the founder and chief technology officer of Counterpane Internet Security Inc.
U.S. computer firm admits selling banned exports to Iran
A California seller of servers and other computer components has pleaded guilty to selling products to Iran in violation of federal export controls, the U.S. Attorney's office in San Francisco reported Tuesday.
Yahoo warns on weakening Web ad sales
A slowing U.S. economy may already be impacting Yahoo Inc.'s Web advertising sales growth, the head of the company said Tuesday, a trend that does not bode well for other ad-supported Internet sites.
Mambo Foundation releases Mambo 4.6
The Mambo Foundation has released Mambo 4.6, the first major release of its open-source content management system (CMS) in almost two years, the group said Wednesday.
HP's Dunn to testify before House on spying scandal
Hewlett-Packard Co. Chairman Patricia Dunn will answer questions on the spying scandal that has embroiled her company during a House committee hearing on Capitol Hill next week.
iTunes nets $1 million in movie sales for Disney in a week
In only one week, Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes Store generated $1 million in movie sales for Walt Disney Co., and that's "just the beginning," the head of Disney said Tuesday.
Microsoft to ease Vista upgrades with one-DVD plan
In an effort to simplify the distribution of Windows Vista and make it easier for customers to upgrade, Microsoft Corp. will include the various retail versions of the OS on one DVD instead of having separate DVDs for each Vista edition.
Oracle celebrates strong Q1 with some SAP bashing
As Oracle Corp. executives patted themselves on the back for their company's reporting another strong financial quarter, they also couldn't resist having a go at prime applications rival SAP AG.
Microsoft to add HD DVD to Xbox 360
Microsoft Corp. will launch an HD DVD drive add-on for its Xbox 360 console in November, a company executive said Wednesday.
STORAGE TIP
Rules for differentiating between operational and disaster recovery
By David Hill, Mesabi Group
Differentiating between operational recovery and disaster recovery is not always clear-cut. Fortunately, most problems are operational problems not disaster recovery problems. Here are some guidelines for when a failover to a remote site is an operational recovery problem and not a disaster recovery problem.
ITWHIRLED
In Soviet Russia, mouse clicks YOU
Those Soviets sure did make some wonderfully clunky computer hardware. Here's the best of computer mouses from the USSR. Our favorite label: "The Manipulator For Graphical Information."
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Toshiba offers to replace 340,000 laptop batteries ... Microsoft launches YouTube rival
Today's IT News Audio Update
Toshiba is offering to replace 340,000 laptop batteries ... Microsoft has launched the beta version of a new video download service ... EMC will spend $175 million to acquire security equipment provider Network Intelligence
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Toshiba offers to exchange 340,000 notebook batteries
News: EMC buys Network Intelligence
News: Motorola to buy Symbol for $3.9 billion
News: Microsoft tests YouTube competitor
Opinion: Pray for tape; its demise would be disastrous for small businesses
ITwhirled: Next must-have iPod accessory: The iZod?
NEWS UPDATES
Toshiba offers to exchange 340,000 notebook batteries
Toshiba Corp. has offered to exchange 340,000 notebook computer batteries, but said they do not pose a fire hazard. Instead, defective batteries could unexpectedly cut power to the notebooks, causing users to lose unsaved work.
EMC buys Network Intelligence
EMC Corp. will spend $175 million to acquire security information provider Network Intelligence Corp. This latest acquisition, expected to close late Monday, underscores the growing importance of security technology to EMC. Also on Monday, EMC announced that it had completed its $2.1 billion purchase of RSA Security, which will form the basis of a new RSA-branded security division within the company.
Motorola to buy Symbol for $3.9 billion
Motorola Inc. plans to acquire wireless mobile device developer Symbol Technologies Inc. for $3.9 billion, the companies announced Tuesday.
Microsoft tests YouTube competitor
Microsoft Corp. hopes to bank on the popularity of online video-sharing services such as YouTube and Google Video with its own competitive service, which goes into beta on Tuesday.
Napster exploring sale, tie-up
Napster Inc., the remade version of the popular Internet music sharing service, is in talks over a sale or possible strategic partnership, the company said Monday.
DHS picks cybersecurity czar
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finally named a leader for its cybersecurity efforts on Monday, fulfilling a promise made last July by an agency that has drawn poor marks for digital security.
Microsoft files 20 more antipiracy lawsuits
Continuing its worldwide assault on software piracy, Microsoft Corp. has filed 20 lawsuits against resellers accused of distributing unauthorized copies of its software.
New AIM worm may prove difficult to fight
A sophisticated computer worm spreading via AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) is setting up a botnet that may be difficult to combat, security researchers said.
Motorola, Nokia, BenQ bid Cebit adieu
BenQ Corp., Motorola Inc. and Nokia Corp. will participate at next year's Cebit trade show, and rumors abound that other vendors, particularly in the consumer electronics segment, might also skip the annual event.
T-Mobile top bidder as 3G auction ends
T-Mobile USA Inc. came out the biggest spender in the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's Advanced Wireless Services spectrum auction, which ended Monday.
OPINION
Pray for tape; its demise would be disastrous for small businesses
By Joel Shore
Sitting just a few feet from me in my home office is 2 terabytes of RAID 5 storage, in a cabinet barely bigger than a one-gallon milk bottle. Lying on my desk are four 8-gigabyte Compact Flash cards, each no bigger than a fifty-cent piece. Is it any wonder that few people seem to talk about tape for the SMB market anymore?
ITWHIRLED
Next must-have iPod accessory: The iZod?
What with a new batch of iPods coming out, you're going to want to show that your MP3 player is classier than the rest. That's why you've got to get the latest in iPod-wear, better than iPod socks: The iZod. Look, it's even got it's little collar popped!
Toshiba is offering to replace 340,000 laptop batteries ... Microsoft has launched the beta version of a new video download service ... EMC will spend $175 million to acquire security equipment provider Network Intelligence
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Toshiba offers to exchange 340,000 notebook batteries
News: EMC buys Network Intelligence
News: Motorola to buy Symbol for $3.9 billion
News: Microsoft tests YouTube competitor
Opinion: Pray for tape; its demise would be disastrous for small businesses
ITwhirled: Next must-have iPod accessory: The iZod?
NEWS UPDATES
Toshiba offers to exchange 340,000 notebook batteries
Toshiba Corp. has offered to exchange 340,000 notebook computer batteries, but said they do not pose a fire hazard. Instead, defective batteries could unexpectedly cut power to the notebooks, causing users to lose unsaved work.
EMC buys Network Intelligence
EMC Corp. will spend $175 million to acquire security information provider Network Intelligence Corp. This latest acquisition, expected to close late Monday, underscores the growing importance of security technology to EMC. Also on Monday, EMC announced that it had completed its $2.1 billion purchase of RSA Security, which will form the basis of a new RSA-branded security division within the company.
Motorola to buy Symbol for $3.9 billion
Motorola Inc. plans to acquire wireless mobile device developer Symbol Technologies Inc. for $3.9 billion, the companies announced Tuesday.
Microsoft tests YouTube competitor
Microsoft Corp. hopes to bank on the popularity of online video-sharing services such as YouTube and Google Video with its own competitive service, which goes into beta on Tuesday.
Napster exploring sale, tie-up
Napster Inc., the remade version of the popular Internet music sharing service, is in talks over a sale or possible strategic partnership, the company said Monday.
DHS picks cybersecurity czar
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finally named a leader for its cybersecurity efforts on Monday, fulfilling a promise made last July by an agency that has drawn poor marks for digital security.
Microsoft files 20 more antipiracy lawsuits
Continuing its worldwide assault on software piracy, Microsoft Corp. has filed 20 lawsuits against resellers accused of distributing unauthorized copies of its software.
New AIM worm may prove difficult to fight
A sophisticated computer worm spreading via AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) is setting up a botnet that may be difficult to combat, security researchers said.
Motorola, Nokia, BenQ bid Cebit adieu
BenQ Corp., Motorola Inc. and Nokia Corp. will participate at next year's Cebit trade show, and rumors abound that other vendors, particularly in the consumer electronics segment, might also skip the annual event.
T-Mobile top bidder as 3G auction ends
T-Mobile USA Inc. came out the biggest spender in the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's Advanced Wireless Services spectrum auction, which ended Monday.
OPINION
Pray for tape; its demise would be disastrous for small businesses
By Joel Shore
Sitting just a few feet from me in my home office is 2 terabytes of RAID 5 storage, in a cabinet barely bigger than a one-gallon milk bottle. Lying on my desk are four 8-gigabyte Compact Flash cards, each no bigger than a fifty-cent piece. Is it any wonder that few people seem to talk about tape for the SMB market anymore?
ITWHIRLED
Next must-have iPod accessory: The iZod?
What with a new batch of iPods coming out, you're going to want to show that your MP3 player is classier than the rest. That's why you've got to get the latest in iPod-wear, better than iPod socks: The iZod. Look, it's even got it's little collar popped!
Monday, September 18, 2006
HP probe included physical, e-mail tracking ... New iPods priced for profits
Today's IT News Audio Update
Freescale accepts acquisition bid from investment firms ... Microsoft sued over use of Forefront name ... Unisys subcontractor arrested for stealing VA computer
HIGHLIGHTS
News: HP probe included physical, e-mail tracking
News: Apple's new iPods priced for profits, not market share
News: Security measures seen doing more harm than good
News: Gartner forecasts trouble with rootkits, ID theft
Windows Tip: Resolving IP address conflicts
ITwhirled: 12 startups to launch now ... Lucrative ventures in unlikely places
NEWS UPDATES
HP probe included physical, e-mail tracking
Hewlett-Packard Co. board members and journalists were under physical surveillance by investigators trying to find out who was providing information to reporters, and private investigators tried to put tracking software on a journalist's computer to keep tabs on e-mail, according to a New York Times report.
Apple's new iPods priced for profits, not market share
Apple Computer Inc.'s recent introduction of several new iPods shows the company is looking for better profit margins, not gaining market share, according to researcher Gartner Inc. And the move could boost its rivals.
Security measures seen doing more harm than good
Many of the security measures put in place after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York are doing more harm than good, said two speakers scheduled to present at the Hack In The Box Security Conference (HITB) this week.
Gartner forecasts trouble with rootkits, ID theft
Research analysts at Gartner Inc. are predicting a sticky web of security hazards for IT professionals over the next two years, ranging from targeted financial attacks to spyware to rootkits.
EMC launches new data management software
Network storage vendor EMC Corp. Monday introduced a new data storage management product that is the fruit of three software acquisitions the company has made in recent years.
Freescale accepts $17.6 billion equity buyout
Freescale Semiconductor Inc. has agreed to be acquired by a group of investment firms for US$17.6 billion.
Gartner: Security costs fall with good policies
Enterprises will increasingly face skilled IT criminals trying to infiltrate corporate networks for sensitive data stored in databases, but adopting new policies to evaluate risk should help drive the cost of defense down, computer security analysts said Monday.
Cross-site scripting the top security risk
Web administrators beware: cross-site scripting vulnerabilities are now far more attactive targets than more notorious bugs such as buffer overflows, according to new figures from Mitre, a U.S. government-funded research organization.
Caspian Networks may be acquired
Caspian Networks Inc., a one-time core router startup that today makes devices to improve network performance, is on the block.
WINDOWS TIP
Resolving IP address conflicts
By Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprises
A basic but often hard to troubleshoot issue that can arise on a TCP/IP network is an IP address conflict. This occurs when two computers on a network are assigned the same IP address, and this situation can arise in three different ways. First, you might misconfigure your network by manually assigning two computers the same static IP address. This is a common occurrence on smaller networks especially when computers are in a workgroup not a domain. Second, a DHCP server on your network might assign an address to a client computer that conflicts with a static IP address assigned to some other network device such as a router or printer. And third, if you have two DHCP servers on the same subnet that have overlapping scopes, you're likely to get client computers with duplicate addresses.
What I've discovered is that troubleshooting these situations not only requires clear thinking but sharp eyesight as well. For example...
Read the full article here
ITWHIRLED
12 startups to launch now ... Lucrative ventures in unlikely places
In 10 nations on four continents, the editors at CNNmoney.com have uncovered a dozen of the most intriguing new business opportunities in the world today. No 1: Build cheap Wi-Fi networks for Brazilian resorts.
Freescale accepts acquisition bid from investment firms ... Microsoft sued over use of Forefront name ... Unisys subcontractor arrested for stealing VA computer
HIGHLIGHTS
News: HP probe included physical, e-mail tracking
News: Apple's new iPods priced for profits, not market share
News: Security measures seen doing more harm than good
News: Gartner forecasts trouble with rootkits, ID theft
Windows Tip: Resolving IP address conflicts
ITwhirled: 12 startups to launch now ... Lucrative ventures in unlikely places
NEWS UPDATES
HP probe included physical, e-mail tracking
Hewlett-Packard Co. board members and journalists were under physical surveillance by investigators trying to find out who was providing information to reporters, and private investigators tried to put tracking software on a journalist's computer to keep tabs on e-mail, according to a New York Times report.
Apple's new iPods priced for profits, not market share
Apple Computer Inc.'s recent introduction of several new iPods shows the company is looking for better profit margins, not gaining market share, according to researcher Gartner Inc. And the move could boost its rivals.
Security measures seen doing more harm than good
Many of the security measures put in place after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York are doing more harm than good, said two speakers scheduled to present at the Hack In The Box Security Conference (HITB) this week.
Gartner forecasts trouble with rootkits, ID theft
Research analysts at Gartner Inc. are predicting a sticky web of security hazards for IT professionals over the next two years, ranging from targeted financial attacks to spyware to rootkits.
EMC launches new data management software
Network storage vendor EMC Corp. Monday introduced a new data storage management product that is the fruit of three software acquisitions the company has made in recent years.
Freescale accepts $17.6 billion equity buyout
Freescale Semiconductor Inc. has agreed to be acquired by a group of investment firms for US$17.6 billion.
Gartner: Security costs fall with good policies
Enterprises will increasingly face skilled IT criminals trying to infiltrate corporate networks for sensitive data stored in databases, but adopting new policies to evaluate risk should help drive the cost of defense down, computer security analysts said Monday.
Cross-site scripting the top security risk
Web administrators beware: cross-site scripting vulnerabilities are now far more attactive targets than more notorious bugs such as buffer overflows, according to new figures from Mitre, a U.S. government-funded research organization.
Caspian Networks may be acquired
Caspian Networks Inc., a one-time core router startup that today makes devices to improve network performance, is on the block.
WINDOWS TIP
Resolving IP address conflicts
By Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprises
A basic but often hard to troubleshoot issue that can arise on a TCP/IP network is an IP address conflict. This occurs when two computers on a network are assigned the same IP address, and this situation can arise in three different ways. First, you might misconfigure your network by manually assigning two computers the same static IP address. This is a common occurrence on smaller networks especially when computers are in a workgroup not a domain. Second, a DHCP server on your network might assign an address to a client computer that conflicts with a static IP address assigned to some other network device such as a router or printer. And third, if you have two DHCP servers on the same subnet that have overlapping scopes, you're likely to get client computers with duplicate addresses.
What I've discovered is that troubleshooting these situations not only requires clear thinking but sharp eyesight as well. For example...
Read the full article here
ITWHIRLED
12 startups to launch now ... Lucrative ventures in unlikely places
In 10 nations on four continents, the editors at CNNmoney.com have uncovered a dozen of the most intriguing new business opportunities in the world today. No 1: Build cheap Wi-Fi networks for Brazilian resorts.
Friday, September 15, 2006
HP extends deadline for Mercury acquisition ... Microsoft's Zune to ship before year-end
Today's IT News Audio Update
Microsoft to ship Zune player before year-end ... China's BLX to offer 1GHz Godson-2 processor ... Nintendo gets ready to ship Wii console
HIGHLIGHTS
News: HP extends deadline for Mercury acquisition
News: Code posted for new IE attack
News: Adobe Q3 income feels Macromedia hit
News: Microsoft Zune device to ship in time for Christmas
Opinion: If 80 gigs is enough, then...
ITwhirled: Geek comic of the week: Diesel Sweeties
NEWS UPDATES
HP extends deadline for Mercury acquisition
Hewlett-Packard Co. has extended the deadline for Mercury Interactive Corp. shareholders to tender their shares in favor of the companies' proposed US$4.5 billion merger.
Code posted for new IE attack
Hackers have discovered a new vulnerability in Internet Explorer, and they've released code that could be used to attack users of Microsoft Corp.'s popular browser.
Adobe Q3 income feels Macromedia hit
Adobe has reported its financial results for the third quarter ended Sept. 1, 2006, reflecting some financial impact following its December purchase of Macromedia.
Microsoft Zune device to ship in time for Christmas
The first Microsoft Corp. Zune products will hit U.S. retailers in time for the busy Christmas holiday season, with a 30G-byte digital media player and a Zune Marketplace online service the first to reach consumers, Microsoft said Thursday.
U.S. urges European regulators to lay off Apple DRM
A U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) official has joined the debate surrounding Apple Computer Inc.'s proprietary digital music technology by criticizing European antitrust activities, but groups attacking Apple are defending their actions.
Former Novell head Messman quits board early
Novell Inc.'s former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jack Messman, who was ousted from those positions in June, has quit the company's board of directors a month and a half earlier than had been previously announced.
OPINION
If 80 gigs is enough, then...
By Sean McGrath
I have an 80 gigabyte hard disk in my laptop and, for the first time in my career in computing, I am having difficulty filling it up with stuff that I need to do my job. Sure I can fill it with lots of audio and lots of video (given enough bandwidth and patience) but to be honest, the amount of multimedia stuff I need for my day job is limited to some podcasts and the occasional product demo video.
ITWHIRLED
Geek comic of the week: Diesel Sweeties
This very popular Web comic has a distinctive visual style, in which all characters are built out of very large pixels -- perhaps appropriate for a strip in which many characters are robots. Clango, the main character, has philosophical discussions and a surprising number of emotional exchanges with his mechanical and human friends. There's even robot-human romance in the air (leading Clango to coin the phrase "Irrational flesh-thing! Why must I love you?"). Diesel Sweeties will begin to appear in newspapers in early 2007 -- it will be interesting to see if it can make the transition.
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Thursday, September 14, 2006
Microsoft tries to dazzle E.U. with Vista benefits ... Intel, Siemens team on enterprise VOIP
Today's IT News Audio Update
Microsoft touts positive impact of Vista on European economy ... Vista peripherals launched ... Mobile phones to get better TV screens
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Microsoft tries to dazzle E.U. with Vista benefits
News: Intel, Siemens team on secure VOIP for enterprises
News: Yahoo, Acer ink home page, search engine pact
News: State says it has evidence to charge HP officials
Opinion: Outsourcing the middleware layer
ITwhirled: The greatest software ever
NEWS UPDATES
Microsoft tries to dazzle E.U. with Vista benefits
Microsoft Corp. tried to dazzle the antitrust regulators in Brussels on Thursday with new research that illustrates how immense the effect of Windows Vista will be next year on Europe's IT industry and the broader economy.
Intel, Siemens team on secure VOIP for enterprises
Intel Corp. and Siemens AG have agreed to collaborate in the development of new enterprise communication systems using VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) technology.
Yahoo, Acer ink home page, search engine pact
Yahoo Inc. reached a deal for prime real estate on all Acer Inc. PCs shipped globally, with a cobranded toolbar, home page and search engine, the companies said Wednesday.
State says it has evidence to charge HP officials
A day after Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) chairman Patricia Dunn promised to step down for her role in a spy scandal, the state of California is continuing to investigate the actions of HP officials and the private investigators they used.
Microsoft takes third shot at buggy security patch
Microsoft Corp. just can't seem to shake problems with its MS06-042 update for Internet Explorer. On Tuesday, Microsoft was forced to release its third version of the update because of a new security bug discovered in the update, according to Tony Chor, a group program manager with Microsoft.
Sun, Accenture back as best buddies after a lull
Sun Microsystems Inc. views global management consulting and outsourcing firm Accenture Ltd. as one of its most important and "indispensable" partners, according to Jonathan Schwartz, Sun's president and chief executive officer.
McData bundles three storage products into one
McData has bundled three separate SAN management products into one, called Enterprise Fabric Connection Manager (EFCM) 9.0, but previously known as EFCM, SANpilot and SANavigator.
OPINION
Outsourcing the middleware layer
By Sean McGrath
Apparently (I am too young to remember) photocopier machines were greeted with suspicion in some quarters when they were first introduced. How can you know that the machine has made a perfect copy of your vital document? I'm told by someone who remembers those days that he used to proof read the copies coming off the photocopier to check for accuracy.
This sounds silly now, which isn't to say that mechanical copying no longer needs to be done with care. Rather, we are now comfortable with the idea that all we need is a quick visual inspection of the photocopied page to see if it is all there. Once we have that, we do not need to inspect the individual letters to know we have a good copy. We trust the photocopier.
ITWHIRLED
She's a 10
10 best movie cars ... Greatest software ever ... The 10 best mars images ever ... The 10 most beautiful places in America ... The top ten OS X screensavers
Microsoft touts positive impact of Vista on European economy ... Vista peripherals launched ... Mobile phones to get better TV screens
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Microsoft tries to dazzle E.U. with Vista benefits
News: Intel, Siemens team on secure VOIP for enterprises
News: Yahoo, Acer ink home page, search engine pact
News: State says it has evidence to charge HP officials
Opinion: Outsourcing the middleware layer
ITwhirled: The greatest software ever
NEWS UPDATES
Microsoft tries to dazzle E.U. with Vista benefits
Microsoft Corp. tried to dazzle the antitrust regulators in Brussels on Thursday with new research that illustrates how immense the effect of Windows Vista will be next year on Europe's IT industry and the broader economy.
Intel, Siemens team on secure VOIP for enterprises
Intel Corp. and Siemens AG have agreed to collaborate in the development of new enterprise communication systems using VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) technology.
Yahoo, Acer ink home page, search engine pact
Yahoo Inc. reached a deal for prime real estate on all Acer Inc. PCs shipped globally, with a cobranded toolbar, home page and search engine, the companies said Wednesday.
State says it has evidence to charge HP officials
A day after Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) chairman Patricia Dunn promised to step down for her role in a spy scandal, the state of California is continuing to investigate the actions of HP officials and the private investigators they used.
Microsoft takes third shot at buggy security patch
Microsoft Corp. just can't seem to shake problems with its MS06-042 update for Internet Explorer. On Tuesday, Microsoft was forced to release its third version of the update because of a new security bug discovered in the update, according to Tony Chor, a group program manager with Microsoft.
Sun, Accenture back as best buddies after a lull
Sun Microsystems Inc. views global management consulting and outsourcing firm Accenture Ltd. as one of its most important and "indispensable" partners, according to Jonathan Schwartz, Sun's president and chief executive officer.
McData bundles three storage products into one
McData has bundled three separate SAN management products into one, called Enterprise Fabric Connection Manager (EFCM) 9.0, but previously known as EFCM, SANpilot and SANavigator.
OPINION
Outsourcing the middleware layer
By Sean McGrath
Apparently (I am too young to remember) photocopier machines were greeted with suspicion in some quarters when they were first introduced. How can you know that the machine has made a perfect copy of your vital document? I'm told by someone who remembers those days that he used to proof read the copies coming off the photocopier to check for accuracy.
This sounds silly now, which isn't to say that mechanical copying no longer needs to be done with care. Rather, we are now comfortable with the idea that all we need is a quick visual inspection of the photocopied page to see if it is all there. Once we have that, we do not need to inspect the individual letters to know we have a good copy. We trust the photocopier.
ITWHIRLED
She's a 10
10 best movie cars ... Greatest software ever ... The 10 best mars images ever ... The 10 most beautiful places in America ... The top ten OS X screensavers
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
The hard disk drive turns 50 ... HP insiders could face charges
Today's IT News Audio Update
HP insiders could face charges, California's AG says ... Business Objects buys ALG ... EC warns Microsoft on bundling security tools
HIGHLIGHTS
News: The hard disk drive turns 50
News: IBM puts its first Cell computer on sale
News: Business Objects to buy ALG Software
News: Sun, IBM launch tape encryption technology
Opinion: Deploy on your schedule, not Microsoft's Auto-Update schedule
ITwhirled: Telephone psychics scientifically proven
NEWS UPDATES
The hard disk drive turns 50
Inside the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, sits an odd-looking, refrigerator-sized contraption that could have been created by an out-of-control set designer for "Lost in Space."
IBM puts its first Cell computer on sale
IBM Corp. has started selling the first computer based on its multicore Cell processor, targeting organizations that run compute-intensive tasks like medical imaging or oil exploration.
Business Objects to buy ALG Software
Business Objects SA is stepping up its efforts in the area of corporate performance management software with an acquisition and the integration of some existing applications with its business intelligence suite.
Sun, IBM launch tape encryption technology
Sun Microsystems Inc. and IBM Corp. are both introducing data tape encryption technology this week, protecting against a security breach that can endanger or embarrass an enterprise.
Salesforce.com highlights analytics in next release
Salesforce.com Inc. is drawing particular attention to the analytics customization capabilities it plans to offer in the next version of its hosted CRM (customer relationship management) software, known as Salesforce Winter '07.
Sun, Accenture team up on identity-enabled SOA
Sun Microsystems Inc. and global management consulting and outsourcing firm Accenture Ltd. are expanding their existing relationship to cover joint development work around identity-enabling, service-oriented architecture (SOA) and composite applications.
Skype launches video calling between Macs and PCs
With the latest beta of Skype for the Macintosh, released on Wednesday, Skype hopes to help bridge the barrier between Macs and PCs for video calling.
Apple offers cheaper, brighter, bigger iPods
Apple updated its iPod range Tuesday, introducing larger capacities, brighter screens and lower prices across the range.
OPINION
Deploy on your schedule, not Microsoft's Auto-Update schedule
By Joel Shore
There are probably as many holes in Windows' and Internet Explorer's security infrastructure than there once were in the poorly maintained roads of legend in Blackburn, Lancashire (4,000, according to a 1967 U.K. Daily Mail news story famously paraphrased by John Lennon).
One of the things I like about Windows XP is its ability to heal thyself, using Auto Update to download and apply patches to fill those holes as Microsoft deems necessary. Unfortunately, it needs to do that way too often. That is very likely to become a problem when Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 7.
ITWHIRLED
Telephone psychics scientifically proven
A researcher at the University of Cambridge (yes, that Cambridge) believes he has proven that people do, in fact, have the ability to guess who might be phoning them. And, yes, it works for e-mail too.
HP insiders could face charges, California's AG says ... Business Objects buys ALG ... EC warns Microsoft on bundling security tools
HIGHLIGHTS
News: The hard disk drive turns 50
News: IBM puts its first Cell computer on sale
News: Business Objects to buy ALG Software
News: Sun, IBM launch tape encryption technology
Opinion: Deploy on your schedule, not Microsoft's Auto-Update schedule
ITwhirled: Telephone psychics scientifically proven
NEWS UPDATES
The hard disk drive turns 50
Inside the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, sits an odd-looking, refrigerator-sized contraption that could have been created by an out-of-control set designer for "Lost in Space."
IBM puts its first Cell computer on sale
IBM Corp. has started selling the first computer based on its multicore Cell processor, targeting organizations that run compute-intensive tasks like medical imaging or oil exploration.
Business Objects to buy ALG Software
Business Objects SA is stepping up its efforts in the area of corporate performance management software with an acquisition and the integration of some existing applications with its business intelligence suite.
Sun, IBM launch tape encryption technology
Sun Microsystems Inc. and IBM Corp. are both introducing data tape encryption technology this week, protecting against a security breach that can endanger or embarrass an enterprise.
Salesforce.com highlights analytics in next release
Salesforce.com Inc. is drawing particular attention to the analytics customization capabilities it plans to offer in the next version of its hosted CRM (customer relationship management) software, known as Salesforce Winter '07.
Sun, Accenture team up on identity-enabled SOA
Sun Microsystems Inc. and global management consulting and outsourcing firm Accenture Ltd. are expanding their existing relationship to cover joint development work around identity-enabling, service-oriented architecture (SOA) and composite applications.
Skype launches video calling between Macs and PCs
With the latest beta of Skype for the Macintosh, released on Wednesday, Skype hopes to help bridge the barrier between Macs and PCs for video calling.
Apple offers cheaper, brighter, bigger iPods
Apple updated its iPod range Tuesday, introducing larger capacities, brighter screens and lower prices across the range.
OPINION
Deploy on your schedule, not Microsoft's Auto-Update schedule
By Joel Shore
There are probably as many holes in Windows' and Internet Explorer's security infrastructure than there once were in the poorly maintained roads of legend in Blackburn, Lancashire (4,000, according to a 1967 U.K. Daily Mail news story famously paraphrased by John Lennon).
One of the things I like about Windows XP is its ability to heal thyself, using Auto Update to download and apply patches to fill those holes as Microsoft deems necessary. Unfortunately, it needs to do that way too often. That is very likely to become a problem when Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 7.
ITWHIRLED
Telephone psychics scientifically proven
A researcher at the University of Cambridge (yes, that Cambridge) believes he has proven that people do, in fact, have the ability to guess who might be phoning them. And, yes, it works for e-mail too.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
HP's Dunn steps down amid spying scandal ... Microsoft's new search engine exits beta
Today's IT News Audio Update
HP's Dunn steps down amid spying scandal ... EC expands Intel investigation ... Red Hat offers beta of Linux server OS with Xen
HIGHLIGHTS
News: HP's Dunn to step down in January
News: HP's head of global operations to leave next month
News: Microsoft's new search engine exits beta
News: Juniper, Symantec partner on enterprise security
Tip: Accept no imitation when shopping for an information lifecycle management solution
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: eBay 101
NEWS UPDATES
HP's Dunn to step down in January
Patricia Dunn, Hewlett-Packard Co.'s embattled chairman, will be relieved of those duties after the board's Jan. 18, 2007, meeting, but will continue as a director.
HP's head of global operations to leave next month
Hewlett-Packard Co.'s executive vice president of global operations, Gilles Bouchard, will leave the company at the end of October. The news came Tuesday immediately before HP announced that Chairman Patricia Dunn will step down.
Microsoft's new search engine exits beta
Microsoft Corp. is removing the beta, or test, tag from Live Search, its next-generation search engine, and making it the underlying search tool at its MSN.com portal.
Juniper, Symantec partner on enterprise security
Juniper Networks Inc. and Symantec Corp. will jointly work on unified threat management (UTM) and intrusion detection and prevention (IDP) products, and in the long term will extend their partnership to antivirus and threat detection.
EMC plans new Web content management tool
Storage giant EMC Corp. plans another foray into Web content management with the upcoming launch of a tool to handle content layout as well as management.
Red Hat users invited to test RHEL 5
Red Hat Inc. has pushed out the first public beta of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5, an upgrade to its operating system that includes virtualization technologies intended to help companies get more use from their hardware.
U.S. defense department builds world's biggest SAN
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is creating the world's largest storage network by combining a number of separate networks into a gigantic 17,000-port Meta SAN monster.
Grids help eBay do big business
A massive computing grid helps eBay Inc. make changes to its auction Web site on the fly while maintaining a 99.94 percent up time, said Paul Strong, a distinguished research scientist there.
TIP
Accept no imitation when shopping for an information lifecycle management solution
By David Hill, Mesabi Group
Do not accept any simple substitutes or imitations that work only on blocks when searching for an information lifecycle management solution.
ITWHIRLED
eBay 101
Always wanted to learn how to become an eBay mogul? If you attend the UK's University of Northampton, you can take a class on it.
Monday, September 11, 2006
DOJ asks about HP spying allegations
HIGHLIGHTS
News: DOJ asking about HP spying allegations
News: McAfee apologizes for bugs in Falcon roll out
News: Dell may have to restate earnings
News: Next generation supercomputers face disk failure
Tip: Six sensible steps to keep disaster recovery real
NEWS UPDATES
DOJ asking about HP spying allegations
HP acknowledged in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing Monday that it is cooperating with an inquiry by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California into possibly illegal tactics used by investigators hired by HP to investigate news leaks from the company's board members.
McAfee apologizes for bugs in Falcon roll out
In an e-mail sent to some users last week, McAfee Executive Vice President Bill Kerrigan acknowledged that there had been glitches in the roll out of the company's new line of client protection software, released last month. "We would like to extend our sincere apologies to anyone who may have had problems with their computers due to the upgrade," he wrote.
Dell may have to restate earnings
Dell Inc. has delayed filing its quarterly earnings report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and may have to restate past earnings statements, the company said Monday.
Next generation supercomputers face disk failure
The next generation of supercomputers could be crippled by hard drive failures every few minutes, the U.S. Department of Energy has warned, and so it is funding a Petascale Data Storage Institute to solve the problem.
TIP
Six sensible steps to keep disaster recovery real
Most companies shouldn't have to replicate every piece of data to protect their business from the next cataclysmic event. Nor should they necessarily have to cough up millions for a mirror site that traces every network transaction. And let's face it, catastrophes are extremely rare. Be that as it may, enterprises are increasingly being held accountable for their data and prudence points to being prepared. Three experts weigh in on the most commonly overlooked elements in today's disaster recovery plans. Just in case.
News: DOJ asking about HP spying allegations
News: McAfee apologizes for bugs in Falcon roll out
News: Dell may have to restate earnings
News: Next generation supercomputers face disk failure
Tip: Six sensible steps to keep disaster recovery real
NEWS UPDATES
DOJ asking about HP spying allegations
HP acknowledged in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing Monday that it is cooperating with an inquiry by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California into possibly illegal tactics used by investigators hired by HP to investigate news leaks from the company's board members.
McAfee apologizes for bugs in Falcon roll out
In an e-mail sent to some users last week, McAfee Executive Vice President Bill Kerrigan acknowledged that there had been glitches in the roll out of the company's new line of client protection software, released last month. "We would like to extend our sincere apologies to anyone who may have had problems with their computers due to the upgrade," he wrote.
Dell may have to restate earnings
Dell Inc. has delayed filing its quarterly earnings report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and may have to restate past earnings statements, the company said Monday.
Next generation supercomputers face disk failure
The next generation of supercomputers could be crippled by hard drive failures every few minutes, the U.S. Department of Energy has warned, and so it is funding a Petascale Data Storage Institute to solve the problem.
TIP
Six sensible steps to keep disaster recovery real
Most companies shouldn't have to replicate every piece of data to protect their business from the next cataclysmic event. Nor should they necessarily have to cough up millions for a mirror site that traces every network transaction. And let's face it, catastrophes are extremely rare. Be that as it may, enterprises are increasingly being held accountable for their data and prudence points to being prepared. Three experts weigh in on the most commonly overlooked elements in today's disaster recovery plans. Just in case.
Toshiba, Memory-Tech develop 3-layer DVD, HD DVD disc ... No decision at Sunday HP board meeting
Today's IT News Audio Update
HP board doesn't reach decision at Sunday meeting ... Software pirate sentenced to 87 months in prison ... NEC in talks to sell Packard Bell PC division
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Prototype 3-layer DVD, HD DVD disc developed
News: Storage software market grows without EMC, says IDC
News: No decision at Sunday HP board meeting
News: E.U. expands Intel probe
Feature: Skype slips into business
Windows Tip: Remotely changing the default script host
ITwhirled: What hath Wiki wrought?
NEWS UPDATES
Prototype 3-layer DVD, HD DVD disc developed
A three-layer optical disc developed by Toshiba Corp. and Memory-Tech Corp. can be read by both DVD and HD DVD players, making it possible for movie companies to package both a standard definition and high-definition version of the same movie on a single disc.
Storage software market grows without EMC, says IDC
EMC Corp. and Symantec Corp. missed out on a boom in storage software sales in the second quarter, according to research by IDC. While the worldwide market for storage software grew 8.6 percent from a year earlier, to $2.5 billion, revenue from storage software dropped 3.2 percent at EMC and slipped 1.8 percent at Symantec Corp.
No decision at Sunday HP board meeting
Hewlett-Packard Co.'s board of directors took no action at a special Sunday meeting and will reconvene late Monday to continue discussions about the scandal that has occupied the company over the past week.
E.U. expands Intel probe
The European Commission has expanded an ongoing antitrust probe of computer chip maker Intel Corp. to examine claims that the company has been pressuring the Continent's largest computer retail chain not to sell computers containing chips made by archrival Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD), Commission spokesman Jonathan Todd confirmed Monday.
WebMethods makes Infravio its second recent SOA buy
Business integration suite vendor WebMethods Inc. is on the acquisition trail again, this time looking to pick up expertise in SOA (service-oriented architecture) governance through the planned purchase of Infravio Inc.
E.U. and U.S. still haggling over passenger data sharing
European and U.S. security officials were locked in talks in Brussels Monday to replace a passenger data sharing agreement that was outlawed by a European court in May.
Record number of phishing sites seen for July
Cybercriminals created a record number of phishing Web sites in July and also hijacked a record number of brands to help them do their work, a consortium that monitors online fraud said Monday.
NEC selling off Packard Bell
NEC Corp. executives are negotiating the sale of the company's Packard Bell division, reportedly to eMachines founder Lap Shun "John" Hui. The move would leave NEC without a consumer PC brand, while it continues to supply the European professional market with NEC-branded computers.
FEATURE
Skype slips into business
Two years ago, Mark Ehr and a few co-workers began using Skype Ltd. to communicate between Proxima Technology's Denver headquarters and its offices in Sydney, Australia, and Windsor, England. Soon, top executives began using Skype for internal calls. "That set the tone for the rest of the company," Ehr says, and today Skype is the primary means of making intracompany calls at Proxima. Skype has also allowed Proxima to put off a planned migration to an internal VOIP telephony system.
TIP
Remotely changing the default script host
By Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprises
By default, Windows computers have Wscript.exe configured as their default script host instead of Cscript. The difference between these two script hosts is mainly evident when your script generates some kind of output. For example, if Wscript.exe is your default host, then your script output is windowed and is displayed as a series of popup dialog boxes. But if Cscript.exe is your default host, then your script output is displayed within the command prompt window in which your script is running.
Now if you are an enterprise admin who has started developing your logon scripts using VBScript (.vbs files) instead of the old batch language (.bat files) you must pay attention to this matter of which default script host is configured on your users' computers. For example, say you write the following simple logon script that maps a drive....
Read the full article here
ITWHIRLED
What hath Wiki wrought?
When Jimbo Wales founded Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit, he probably never imagined this: rival Milwaukee-based ferry services vandalizing each others Wikipedia entries in an attempt to woo customers.
Today's IT News Audio Update
HP board doesn't reach decision at Sunday meeting ... Software pirate sentenced to 87 months in prison ... NEC in talks to sell Packard Bell PC division
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Prototype 3-layer DVD, HD DVD disc developed
News: Storage software market grows without EMC, says IDC
News: No decision at Sunday HP board meeting
News: E.U. expands Intel probe
Feature: Skype slips into business
Windows Tip: Remotely changing the default script host
ITwhirled: What hath Wiki wrought?
NEWS UPDATES
Prototype 3-layer DVD, HD DVD disc developed
A three-layer optical disc developed by Toshiba Corp. and Memory-Tech Corp. can be read by both DVD and HD DVD players, making it possible for movie companies to package both a standard definition and high-definition version of the same movie on a single disc.
Storage software market grows without EMC, says IDC
EMC Corp. and Symantec Corp. missed out on a boom in storage software sales in the second quarter, according to research by IDC. While the worldwide market for storage software grew 8.6 percent from a year earlier, to $2.5 billion, revenue from storage software dropped 3.2 percent at EMC and slipped 1.8 percent at Symantec Corp.
No decision at Sunday HP board meeting
Hewlett-Packard Co.'s board of directors took no action at a special Sunday meeting and will reconvene late Monday to continue discussions about the scandal that has occupied the company over the past week.
E.U. expands Intel probe
The European Commission has expanded an ongoing antitrust probe of computer chip maker Intel Corp. to examine claims that the company has been pressuring the Continent's largest computer retail chain not to sell computers containing chips made by archrival Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD), Commission spokesman Jonathan Todd confirmed Monday.
WebMethods makes Infravio its second recent SOA buy
Business integration suite vendor WebMethods Inc. is on the acquisition trail again, this time looking to pick up expertise in SOA (service-oriented architecture) governance through the planned purchase of Infravio Inc.
E.U. and U.S. still haggling over passenger data sharing
European and U.S. security officials were locked in talks in Brussels Monday to replace a passenger data sharing agreement that was outlawed by a European court in May.
Record number of phishing sites seen for July
Cybercriminals created a record number of phishing Web sites in July and also hijacked a record number of brands to help them do their work, a consortium that monitors online fraud said Monday.
NEC selling off Packard Bell
NEC Corp. executives are negotiating the sale of the company's Packard Bell division, reportedly to eMachines founder Lap Shun "John" Hui. The move would leave NEC without a consumer PC brand, while it continues to supply the European professional market with NEC-branded computers.
FEATURE
Skype slips into business
Two years ago, Mark Ehr and a few co-workers began using Skype Ltd. to communicate between Proxima Technology's Denver headquarters and its offices in Sydney, Australia, and Windsor, England. Soon, top executives began using Skype for internal calls. "That set the tone for the rest of the company," Ehr says, and today Skype is the primary means of making intracompany calls at Proxima. Skype has also allowed Proxima to put off a planned migration to an internal VOIP telephony system.
TIP
Remotely changing the default script host
By Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprises
By default, Windows computers have Wscript.exe configured as their default script host instead of Cscript. The difference between these two script hosts is mainly evident when your script generates some kind of output. For example, if Wscript.exe is your default host, then your script output is windowed and is displayed as a series of popup dialog boxes. But if Cscript.exe is your default host, then your script output is displayed within the command prompt window in which your script is running.
Now if you are an enterprise admin who has started developing your logon scripts using VBScript (.vbs files) instead of the old batch language (.bat files) you must pay attention to this matter of which default script host is configured on your users' computers. For example, say you write the following simple logon script that maps a drive....
Read the full article here
ITWHIRLED
What hath Wiki wrought?
When Jimbo Wales founded Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit, he probably never imagined this: rival Milwaukee-based ferry services vandalizing each others Wikipedia entries in an attempt to woo customers.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Chase Card Services dumps customer details ... Samsung site hijacked as malware host
Today's IT News Audio Update
HP accessed reporters' phone records in leak search ... Intel launches vPro ... EU legislators warn Microsoft sanctions may hurt European businesses
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Chase Card Services dumps customer details in landfill
News: Samsung site hijacked as malware host
News: HTC unveils Windows smart phone line-up
News: Reporters' phone records accessed in HP probe
Opinion: Menu Option Judo
ITwhirled: Ten MySQL best practices
NEWS UPDATES
Samsung site hijacked as malware host
The U.S. corporate website of Samsung Telecom has been hijacked and used to host and distribute malware, security vendor Websense has revealed.
HTC unveils Windows smart phone line-up
High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC), the largest maker of handsets that use Microsoft Corp. software, has launched four new smart phones including one that's designed to rival the BlackBerry.
Amazon opens video download store
Amazon.com Inc. unveiled the Unbox Video Store on Thursday, a direct rival to Apple's iTunes 24-7 video store, which allows U.S. users to buy or rent TV shows, movies and other video content from the Internet.
Reporters' phone records accessed in HP probe
Hewlett-Packard Co. obtained the telephone records of nine reporters as part of its internal probe of information leaks, the company confirmed Thursday.
U.S. court halts alleged Web site billing scheme
A U.S. district court has ordered a halt to an operation that allegedly added unauthorized charges to the phone bills of small businesses and nonprofit groups for Web sites services that, in many cases, they didn't know they had and didn't request, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said.
Apple notes intermittent MacBook shutdowns
Apple has published a terse note effectively requesting feedback relating to reports of intermittent shutdowns affecting MacBooks. While not all users are affected by this, Apple's technical note urges users who are to "contact AppleCare for service."
OPINION
Menu Option Judo
By Sean McGrath
One of the distinguishing features of Judo as a martial art is that it emphasizes how you can use the weight of your opponent to your own advantage.
Hold that thought.
Now, close your eyes - no wait, that won't work - just imagine that you are a computer program skilled in the arts of Judo. Your 'opponent' is a user who is seeking to find errors in your coding. Bugs in the algorithms that make up your innermost being. The user's starting point every day is that you - the application - are always at fault. The user demands to be always right, even if, from your perspective as a logical computer program, the bugs lies within the user, not within your software. No amount of gently prodding the user to read the manual or take a training course appears to help. You seek to defend yourself against these never ending attacks. How to proceed?
Read the full article here
ITWHIRLED
She's a 10
10 worst blockbusters of all time ... 10 best practices for avoiding ID theft ... The 10 best Will Ferrell skits ... Ten MySQL best practices ... Top 10 wine lists in New York City
Thursday, September 07, 2006
SEC plans 'action' over corruption at Lucent China ... E.U. criticized for action against Microsoft
Today's IT News Audio Update
HP board member resigns over handling of investigation into media leaks... Sony reduces shipment forecast for PlayStation 3 ... SEC warnsLucent it plans to take action over corruption at Chinese operations
HIGHLIGHTS
News: E.U. criticized for action against Microsoft
News: IBM will build new Department of Energy supercomputer
News: SEC plans 'action' over corruption at Lucent China
News: HP offers Integrity servers with Montecito chips
Tip: Scripting multiple Outlook windows
ITwhirled: Betrayed by a cell phone
NEWS UPDATES
E.U. criticized for action against Microsoft
Four European Parliament members warned the European Commission that itsactions toward Microsoft Corp. could endanger the competitiveness ofEuropean businesses by delaying the release of Vista, Microsoft's nextoperating system.
IBM will build new Department of Energy supercomputer
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) chose IBM Corp. to build a newsupercomputer for its Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, IBMannounced Wednesday.
SEC plans 'action' over corruption at Lucent China
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) warned LucentTechnologies Inc. to expect an "enforcement action" over violations ofthe Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by executives at its Chineseoperations.
HP offers Integrity servers with Montecito chips
Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) is launching two servers using Intel Corp.'snew dual-core Itanium chip in a bid to gain market traction for thetroubled Itanium line.
Mobile phones to get PVR features next year
Watching TV on a mobile phone could get more interesting next year withnew technologies that promise to bring TiVo-like recording functionalityto portable devices.
SAP, Cisco ramp up their partnership
Enterprise applications vendor SAP AG and networking company CiscoSystems Inc. are touting their new marketing alliance on governance,risk and compliance (GRC) business processes as a major milestone intheir 18-month-old partnership.
Hutchison's 3G growth slows, customers top 13.5 million
Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. now serves over 13.5 million 3G(third-generation) mobile phone customers worldwide, but the rate atwhich it adds new users has slowed down substantially.
Microsoft aims to patent verb-conjugation technology
Any U.S. high school student who has struggled through verb conjugationsin Spanish class knows how hard it can be to keep all of the verb formsstraight when trying to learn a new language. Now Microsoft Corp. hasfiled a patent for a technology that may help by automaticallyconjugating verbs in various languages.
PC hard disk system warns of Tsunamis
Governments seeking inexpensive technology to warn of tsunamis could beinterested in a free software application that monitors vibrations inthe hard disks of computers in an attempt to detect the underseaearthquakes that cause tsunamis.
TIP
Scripting multiple Outlook windows
By Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprises
Most knowledge workers in enterprise environments live by MicrosoftOutlook. Email is so important for today's businesses that getting themost out of using Outlook is essential for job effectiveness.
One complaint I used to have about Outlook 2003 was that I could onlyopen one copy of the program at a time. Double-click on the Outlookshortcut on the desktop, and an Outlook window opens. Double-click onthe same shortcut again and nothing happens. This frustrates me becauseI could manage my email more efficiently if I could have multipleOutlook windows open, one displaying my general Inbox, another my Urgentfolder where I route mail that's flagged as important, another my folderwhere I route mail for a big project I'm working on, and so on. It'sgreat to be able to create rules in Outlook that will route incomingmessages to whatever folders they should be directed, but I'd like tohave these folders always visible on my desktop so I can easily see newmessages arriving in each folder.
ITWHIRLED
Betrayed by a cell phone
As the line between cell phones and PDAs blurs, a lot of people havesome pretty sensitive stuff on their phones: business deals, illicitlove notes, and so on. But just because you delete that informationbefore you throw the phone away doesn't mean it's all gone forever.
Today's IT News Audio Update
HP board member resigns over handling of investigation into media leaks... Sony reduces shipment forecast for PlayStation 3 ... SEC warnsLucent it plans to take action over corruption at Chinese operations
HIGHLIGHTS
News: E.U. criticized for action against Microsoft
News: IBM will build new Department of Energy supercomputer
News: SEC plans 'action' over corruption at Lucent China
News: HP offers Integrity servers with Montecito chips
Tip: Scripting multiple Outlook windows
ITwhirled: Betrayed by a cell phone
NEWS UPDATES
E.U. criticized for action against Microsoft
Four European Parliament members warned the European Commission that itsactions toward Microsoft Corp. could endanger the competitiveness ofEuropean businesses by delaying the release of Vista, Microsoft's nextoperating system.
IBM will build new Department of Energy supercomputer
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) chose IBM Corp. to build a newsupercomputer for its Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, IBMannounced Wednesday.
SEC plans 'action' over corruption at Lucent China
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) warned LucentTechnologies Inc. to expect an "enforcement action" over violations ofthe Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by executives at its Chineseoperations.
HP offers Integrity servers with Montecito chips
Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) is launching two servers using Intel Corp.'snew dual-core Itanium chip in a bid to gain market traction for thetroubled Itanium line.
Mobile phones to get PVR features next year
Watching TV on a mobile phone could get more interesting next year withnew technologies that promise to bring TiVo-like recording functionalityto portable devices.
SAP, Cisco ramp up their partnership
Enterprise applications vendor SAP AG and networking company CiscoSystems Inc. are touting their new marketing alliance on governance,risk and compliance (GRC) business processes as a major milestone intheir 18-month-old partnership.
Hutchison's 3G growth slows, customers top 13.5 million
Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. now serves over 13.5 million 3G(third-generation) mobile phone customers worldwide, but the rate atwhich it adds new users has slowed down substantially.
Microsoft aims to patent verb-conjugation technology
Any U.S. high school student who has struggled through verb conjugationsin Spanish class knows how hard it can be to keep all of the verb formsstraight when trying to learn a new language. Now Microsoft Corp. hasfiled a patent for a technology that may help by automaticallyconjugating verbs in various languages.
PC hard disk system warns of Tsunamis
Governments seeking inexpensive technology to warn of tsunamis could beinterested in a free software application that monitors vibrations inthe hard disks of computers in an attempt to detect the underseaearthquakes that cause tsunamis.
TIP
Scripting multiple Outlook windows
By Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprises
Most knowledge workers in enterprise environments live by MicrosoftOutlook. Email is so important for today's businesses that getting themost out of using Outlook is essential for job effectiveness.
One complaint I used to have about Outlook 2003 was that I could onlyopen one copy of the program at a time. Double-click on the Outlookshortcut on the desktop, and an Outlook window opens. Double-click onthe same shortcut again and nothing happens. This frustrates me becauseI could manage my email more efficiently if I could have multipleOutlook windows open, one displaying my general Inbox, another my Urgentfolder where I route mail that's flagged as important, another my folderwhere I route mail for a big project I'm working on, and so on. It'sgreat to be able to create rules in Outlook that will route incomingmessages to whatever folders they should be directed, but I'd like tohave these folders always visible on my desktop so I can easily see newmessages arriving in each folder.
ITWHIRLED
Betrayed by a cell phone
As the line between cell phones and PDAs blurs, a lot of people havesome pretty sensitive stuff on their phones: business deals, illicitlove notes, and so on. But just because you delete that informationbefore you throw the phone away doesn't mean it's all gone forever.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Cisco banks on 'quad play' for sustained growth ... Customization to drive next Salesforce release
HIGHLIGHTS
Cisco banks on 'quad play' for sustained growth
Customization to drive next Salesforce release
Advocacy groups organize to stop surveillance bills
Cisco, Microsoft demo network security cooperation
BT reveals plans for all-IP network
Apple ships 24" iMac and updates range
Intrado tests VOIP E911 fix
NEWS UPDATES
Cisco banks on 'quad play' for sustained growth
Cisco Systems Inc. Chief Executive Officer John Chambers Wednesday stoked the networking vendor's love affair with IT investors by pointing to the company's unified communications strategy and broad product portfolio as a way to sustain growth over the long term.
Customization to drive next Salesforce release
Salesforce.com Inc. is starting to provide some details about the next version of its hosted CRM (customer relationship management) software, including the product's primary focus, which will be customization.
Advocacy groups organize to stop surveillance bills
A group of civil liberties and other advocacy groups are urging supporters to contact the U.S. Congress as it moves ahead to approve an electronic surveillance program run through the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA).
Cisco, Microsoft demo network security cooperation
It has taken nearly two years, but Microsoft Corp. and Cisco Systems Inc. are finally ready to demonstrate how their network access security products will work together. The demonstration will be held at the Security Standard Conference in Boston this week, where the two companies also will announce plans to roll out an early beta program for certain customers who want to test the new products.
BT reveals plans for all-IP network
BT has revealed the first details of how it plans to roll out its 21st Century Network (21CN), the ambitious all-IP network announced in 2004, designed to replace BT's traditional switched public network.
Apple ships 24" iMac and updates range
Apple has updated its entire iMac line with new Intel Core 2 Duo processors in every model and also launched a 24-inch iMac. The company claims its new processor offers up to 50 percent faster performance than before. In the U.S., iMac prices now start at $999.
Intrado tests VOIP E911 fix
Intrado Inc., a vendor of emergency dialing technology, has conducted a successful trial of using E911 emergency dialing capabilities with mobile VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) phones, the company said.
HIGHLIGHTS
Cisco banks on 'quad play' for sustained growth
Customization to drive next Salesforce release
Advocacy groups organize to stop surveillance bills
Cisco, Microsoft demo network security cooperation
BT reveals plans for all-IP network
Apple ships 24" iMac and updates range
Intrado tests VOIP E911 fix
NEWS UPDATES
Cisco banks on 'quad play' for sustained growth
Cisco Systems Inc. Chief Executive Officer John Chambers Wednesday stoked the networking vendor's love affair with IT investors by pointing to the company's unified communications strategy and broad product portfolio as a way to sustain growth over the long term.
Customization to drive next Salesforce release
Salesforce.com Inc. is starting to provide some details about the next version of its hosted CRM (customer relationship management) software, including the product's primary focus, which will be customization.
Advocacy groups organize to stop surveillance bills
A group of civil liberties and other advocacy groups are urging supporters to contact the U.S. Congress as it moves ahead to approve an electronic surveillance program run through the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA).
Cisco, Microsoft demo network security cooperation
It has taken nearly two years, but Microsoft Corp. and Cisco Systems Inc. are finally ready to demonstrate how their network access security products will work together. The demonstration will be held at the Security Standard Conference in Boston this week, where the two companies also will announce plans to roll out an early beta program for certain customers who want to test the new products.
BT reveals plans for all-IP network
BT has revealed the first details of how it plans to roll out its 21st Century Network (21CN), the ambitious all-IP network announced in 2004, designed to replace BT's traditional switched public network.
Apple ships 24" iMac and updates range
Apple has updated its entire iMac line with new Intel Core 2 Duo processors in every model and also launched a 24-inch iMac. The company claims its new processor offers up to 50 percent faster performance than before. In the U.S., iMac prices now start at $999.
Intrado tests VOIP E911 fix
Intrado Inc., a vendor of emergency dialing technology, has conducted a successful trial of using E911 emergency dialing capabilities with mobile VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) phones, the company said.
HP filing reveals details of board in-fighting, leaks ... SAP unveils GRC products
Today's IT News Audio Update
Intel lays off thousands more workers ... Vista pricing revealed by Microsoft ... Analysts expect DRAM prices to stay high
HIGHLIGHTS
News: HP filing reveals details of board in-fighting, leaks
News: SAP unveils GRC products, announces Cisco collaboration
News: Google unveils historical research service
News: Sony slashes launch PS3 shipments, big shortages likely
Tip: Scripting multiple Outlook windows
ITwhirled: Securing your job the old-fashioned way
NEWS UPDATES
HP filing reveals details of board in-fighting, leaks
All's still not well in the higher echelons of Hewlett-Packard Co. as revealed in a filing the company made to the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). The brouhaha relates to the sudden and unexpected resignation of Silicon Valley venture capitalist Thomas Perkins from HP's board of directors in May.
SAP unveils GRC products, announces Cisco collaboration
Delivering on a promise made earlier this year, SAP AG has unveiled the first set of products to help businesses meet their compliance requirements, in addition to announcing a marketing agreement with Cisco Systems Inc.
Google unveils historical research service
Google Inc. plans to enhance its Google News service with a feature designed to let users find articles with historical information on events and people.
Sony slashes launch PS3 shipments, big shortages likely
In what could result in a Christmas disappointment for hundreds of thousands of children, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. has drastically decreased the number of PlayStation 3 consoles it expects to ship this year as it wrestles with shortages of key components.
Testers: Vista appears stable in RC1 release
Early feedback from testers already using Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1) report that the OS is more stable than expected, which bodes well for Microsoft Corp.'s plan to have Vista out according to its current schedule.
Intel announces layoffs, reorganization
Continuing his quest to stop a slide in profits, Intel Corp. Chief Executive Paul Otellini announced layoffs of about 7,500 more people Tuesday. Together with previously announced layoffs of middle-management executives and the sale of two business units in recent months, the actions will reduce Intel's workforce by a total of 10,500 people by 2008 -- about 10 percent of the entire company.
Sybase to buy messaging vendor Mobile 365
Sybase Inc. is adding to its mobile portfolio, grabbing messaging service provider Mobile 365 for about $425 million in cash.
HTC to launch BlackBerry rival by end of 2006
Taiwan's High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC), the largest maker of mobile handsets that run the Windows Mobile OS, plans to launch a smartphone that looks like a BlackBerry, complete with a QWERTY keypad, by the end of the year.
Cisco-IBM group wins Silicon Valley wireless deal
Silicon Valley will get a homegrown Wi-Fi network from Cisco Systems Inc. to provide Internet access in metropolitan areas spread across about 1,500 square miles.
Sony upgrades LocationFree platform
Sony Corp. is upgrading its LocationFree platform with more efficient video compression and a receiver add-on for televisions.
SAP is sued over patent infringement
I2 Technologies Inc. accused SAP AG of patent infringement in a lawsuit filed Tuesday. The alleged patent infringements relate to SCM models and tools in areas such as managing factory planning systems, negotiating and tracking the sale of goods and allocating manufactured product to sellers.
TIP
Scripting multiple Outlook windows
By Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprise
Most knowledge workers in enterprise environments live by Microsoft Outlook. Email is so important for today's businesses that getting the most out of using Outlook is essential for job effectiveness.
One complaint I used to have about Outlook 2003 was that I could only open one copy of the program at a time. Double-click on the Outlook shortcut on the desktop, and an Outlook window opens. Double-click on the same shortcut again and nothing happens. This frustrates me because I could manage my email more efficiently if I could have multiple Outlook windows open, one displaying my general Inbox, another my Urgent folder where I route mail that's flagged as important, another my folder where I route mail for a big project I'm working on, and so on. It's great to be able to create rules in Outlook that will route incoming messages to whatever folders they should be directed, but I'd like to have these folders always visible on my desktop so I can easily see new messages arriving in each folder.
ITWHIRLED
How to write unmaintainable code
Programmers take notice! Did you know that if you follow industry conventions in terms of variable names, comments, code indentation, and the like, that just anyone could maintain your code, and thus you'd be easily replaced? In order to ensure that only you can understand the code you write, thus making you indispensable, follow these simple tips.
Today's IT News Audio Update
Intel lays off thousands more workers ... Vista pricing revealed by Microsoft ... Analysts expect DRAM prices to stay high
HIGHLIGHTS
News: HP filing reveals details of board in-fighting, leaks
News: SAP unveils GRC products, announces Cisco collaboration
News: Google unveils historical research service
News: Sony slashes launch PS3 shipments, big shortages likely
Tip: Scripting multiple Outlook windows
ITwhirled: Securing your job the old-fashioned way
NEWS UPDATES
HP filing reveals details of board in-fighting, leaks
All's still not well in the higher echelons of Hewlett-Packard Co. as revealed in a filing the company made to the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). The brouhaha relates to the sudden and unexpected resignation of Silicon Valley venture capitalist Thomas Perkins from HP's board of directors in May.
SAP unveils GRC products, announces Cisco collaboration
Delivering on a promise made earlier this year, SAP AG has unveiled the first set of products to help businesses meet their compliance requirements, in addition to announcing a marketing agreement with Cisco Systems Inc.
Google unveils historical research service
Google Inc. plans to enhance its Google News service with a feature designed to let users find articles with historical information on events and people.
Sony slashes launch PS3 shipments, big shortages likely
In what could result in a Christmas disappointment for hundreds of thousands of children, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. has drastically decreased the number of PlayStation 3 consoles it expects to ship this year as it wrestles with shortages of key components.
Testers: Vista appears stable in RC1 release
Early feedback from testers already using Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1) report that the OS is more stable than expected, which bodes well for Microsoft Corp.'s plan to have Vista out according to its current schedule.
Intel announces layoffs, reorganization
Continuing his quest to stop a slide in profits, Intel Corp. Chief Executive Paul Otellini announced layoffs of about 7,500 more people Tuesday. Together with previously announced layoffs of middle-management executives and the sale of two business units in recent months, the actions will reduce Intel's workforce by a total of 10,500 people by 2008 -- about 10 percent of the entire company.
Sybase to buy messaging vendor Mobile 365
Sybase Inc. is adding to its mobile portfolio, grabbing messaging service provider Mobile 365 for about $425 million in cash.
HTC to launch BlackBerry rival by end of 2006
Taiwan's High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC), the largest maker of mobile handsets that run the Windows Mobile OS, plans to launch a smartphone that looks like a BlackBerry, complete with a QWERTY keypad, by the end of the year.
Cisco-IBM group wins Silicon Valley wireless deal
Silicon Valley will get a homegrown Wi-Fi network from Cisco Systems Inc. to provide Internet access in metropolitan areas spread across about 1,500 square miles.
Sony upgrades LocationFree platform
Sony Corp. is upgrading its LocationFree platform with more efficient video compression and a receiver add-on for televisions.
SAP is sued over patent infringement
I2 Technologies Inc. accused SAP AG of patent infringement in a lawsuit filed Tuesday. The alleged patent infringements relate to SCM models and tools in areas such as managing factory planning systems, negotiating and tracking the sale of goods and allocating manufactured product to sellers.
TIP
Scripting multiple Outlook windows
By Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprise
Most knowledge workers in enterprise environments live by Microsoft Outlook. Email is so important for today's businesses that getting the most out of using Outlook is essential for job effectiveness.
One complaint I used to have about Outlook 2003 was that I could only open one copy of the program at a time. Double-click on the Outlook shortcut on the desktop, and an Outlook window opens. Double-click on the same shortcut again and nothing happens. This frustrates me because I could manage my email more efficiently if I could have multiple Outlook windows open, one displaying my general Inbox, another my Urgent folder where I route mail that's flagged as important, another my folder where I route mail for a big project I'm working on, and so on. It's great to be able to create rules in Outlook that will route incoming messages to whatever folders they should be directed, but I'd like to have these folders always visible on my desktop so I can easily see new messages arriving in each folder.
ITWHIRLED
How to write unmaintainable code
Programmers take notice! Did you know that if you follow industry conventions in terms of variable names, comments, code indentation, and the like, that just anyone could maintain your code, and thus you'd be easily replaced? In order to ensure that only you can understand the code you write, thus making you indispensable, follow these simple tips.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
New Word flaw being used in attacks ... Microsoft sets Vista pricing
HIGHLIGHTS
News: New Word flaw being used in attacks
News: Microsoft sets Vista pricing, expands tester base
News: Lucent settles suits against Alcatel deal
News: IBM opens latest specialized 'Hipod' lab in Brazil
Research: Mobile Banking
NEWS UPDATES
New Word flaw being used in attacks
Symantec Corp. warns that an unpatched flaw in the Windows 2000 version of Microsoft Office 2000 is being used by attackers to run unauthorized software on a victim's computer.
Microsoft sets Vista pricing, expands tester base
Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday released the pricing for Windows Vista, about a week after online retailer Amazon.com disclosed the OS's pricing on its Web site. The company also expanded the tester base of Vista to about 5 million users as it begins gearing up for Windows Vista's widespread release, which is scheduled for early next year.
Lucent settles suits against Alcatel deal
Lucent Technologies Inc. has averted a potentially embarrassing delay of its shareholder vote on a merger with Alcatel SA, settling two suits by shareholders who said the deal doesn't maximize shareholder value.
IBM opens latest specialized 'Hipod' lab in Brazil
IBM Corp. has chosen Sao Paulo as the sixth global location for its specialized software and services laboratories known as "Hipods" or high-performance on-demand solutions facilities, which focus on resolving large-scale computing issues for IBM customers, including eBay Inc. and Google Inc.
Wi-Fi phones arrive, but still expensive
The trickle of Wi-Fi phones is becoming a flood, with two new products coming from Panasonic and Linksys, but they still look expensive.
Belkin to ship 802.11n WiFi products this month
Belkin has unveiled its range of new wireless devices based on the draft standard for next-generation wireless networking, 802.11n.
RESEARCH
Mobile Banking
By Dan Blacharski
The technology to make payments using your mobile phone is here.
Read the full article here
HIGHLIGHTS
News: New Word flaw being used in attacks
News: Microsoft sets Vista pricing, expands tester base
News: Lucent settles suits against Alcatel deal
News: IBM opens latest specialized 'Hipod' lab in Brazil
Research: Mobile Banking
NEWS UPDATES
New Word flaw being used in attacks
Symantec Corp. warns that an unpatched flaw in the Windows 2000 version of Microsoft Office 2000 is being used by attackers to run unauthorized software on a victim's computer.
Microsoft sets Vista pricing, expands tester base
Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday released the pricing for Windows Vista, about a week after online retailer Amazon.com disclosed the OS's pricing on its Web site. The company also expanded the tester base of Vista to about 5 million users as it begins gearing up for Windows Vista's widespread release, which is scheduled for early next year.
Lucent settles suits against Alcatel deal
Lucent Technologies Inc. has averted a potentially embarrassing delay of its shareholder vote on a merger with Alcatel SA, settling two suits by shareholders who said the deal doesn't maximize shareholder value.
IBM opens latest specialized 'Hipod' lab in Brazil
IBM Corp. has chosen Sao Paulo as the sixth global location for its specialized software and services laboratories known as "Hipods" or high-performance on-demand solutions facilities, which focus on resolving large-scale computing issues for IBM customers, including eBay Inc. and Google Inc.
Wi-Fi phones arrive, but still expensive
The trickle of Wi-Fi phones is becoming a flood, with two new products coming from Panasonic and Linksys, but they still look expensive.
Belkin to ship 802.11n WiFi products this month
Belkin has unveiled its range of new wireless devices based on the draft standard for next-generation wireless networking, 802.11n.
RESEARCH
Mobile Banking
By Dan Blacharski
The technology to make payments using your mobile phone is here.
Read the full article here
Panasonic recalls laptop batteries ... Microsoft nets phishing filter technology
Today's IT News Audio Update
IPod maker drops lawsuit against Chinese journalists ... MySpace tests music download service ... China's broadband market to overtake the U.S. next year
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Panasonic recalls laptop batteries in Japan
News: Microsoft nets phishing filter technology
News: No show for SanDisk MP3 players
News: Record sales highlight DRAM price rise
News: Google, sex keys to blogging success
ITwhirled: The Office Values
NEWS UPDATES
Panasonic recalls laptop batteries in Japan
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (Panasonic) is recalling several thousand laptop computer battery packs because mechanical problems with the pack's latch could lead to overheating of the battery.
Microsoft nets phishing filter technology
Microsoft Corp. is using data-mining techniques from a third party in its Internet browsers to guard against "phishing" attacks, where dubious Web sites try to harvest personal information from unknowing victims.
No show for SanDisk MP3 players
Music lovers hoping to see the latest MP3 music players from SanDisk Corp. at the IFA consumer electronics show in Germany will have to find an alternative venue outside the country. SanDisk was forced to remove the MP3 music players after an Italian patents company won a legal ruling in a local court.
Record sales highlight DRAM price rise
Some of Taiwan's DRAM makers have reported record monthly sales for August, highlighting an increase in DRAM prices that could continue in the months ahead.
Google, sex keys to blogging success in China
Two China-based bloggers have found the secret to generating more page views: sex sells, and Google helps readers find it.
Study: Apple iPod mobile may be sales challenge
Apple may be unwise to assume consumers want an iPod that is also a mobile phone, new research warns.
Symbian-to-PC worm on the loose
A worm that can move from a Symbian phone to a PC has been reported by security experts F-Secure.
DOS lives! Open source reinvents past
Twelve years after Microsoft announced it would stop development of DOS, an open source replacement -- FreeDOS -- has hit its 1.0 release.
Browzar no more than advertising platform
A new, free browser that claims it can safeguard privacy has been hit with accusations that it is really a platform for advertising and -- worse still -- is insecure.
ITWHIRLED
The Office Values
Microsoft is apparently pretty peeved that these internal spoof "training" videos, made by the team behind the original UK version of The Office, have found their way onto Google Video, but we don't know why. Doesn't the world's largest corporation, which has a somewhat sinister reputation, want to show its human side? At any rate, the videos, as fans of Ricky Gervais will guess, are hilarious.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Microsoft looks set to ship Vista on time ... Singapore tests free Wi-Fi service ... Trial of Livedoor chief starts with plea of not guilty
Today's IT news audio update
Sandisk device records live TV to flash cards ... iPod subcontractor dismisses Chinese libel suit ... Google seeks surfers' help to label images
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Sandisk device records live TV to flash cards
News: iPod subcontractor dismisses Chinese libel suit
News: Crikey! Crocodile Hunter news devours bandwidth
News: Google seeks surfers' help to label images
News: MySpace enters crowded music download market
NEWS UPDATES
Sandisk device records live TV to flash cards
Sandisk Corp. now offers a small, lightweight portable device that allows consumers to record all types of video input, including live TV, to a range of flash memory cards.
iPod subcontractor dismisses Chinese libel suit
The subcontractor accused of mistreating workers at an iPod factory in China dropped its libel suit against two reporters and the news organization they work for in Shanghai.
Crikey! Crocodile Hunter news devours bandwidth
News that Australia's own crocodile hunter Steve Irwin has died had Web site traffic in overdrive today with many news sites operating on low bandwidth mode due to high traffic.
Google seeks surfers' help to label images
Google Inc. is asking surfers with time on their hands to help it categorize and label the images indexed by its search engine, building a database of knowledge about the contents of the images.
MySpace enters crowded music download market
MySpace.com is launching a new music download service that emphasizes music from independent artists, the latest in a string of services announced in recent weeks that hope to topple iTunes from its crown.
Today's IT news audio update
Sandisk device records live TV to flash cards ... iPod subcontractor dismisses Chinese libel suit ... Google seeks surfers' help to label images
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Sandisk device records live TV to flash cards
News: iPod subcontractor dismisses Chinese libel suit
News: Crikey! Crocodile Hunter news devours bandwidth
News: Google seeks surfers' help to label images
News: MySpace enters crowded music download market
NEWS UPDATES
Sandisk device records live TV to flash cards
Sandisk Corp. now offers a small, lightweight portable device that allows consumers to record all types of video input, including live TV, to a range of flash memory cards.
iPod subcontractor dismisses Chinese libel suit
The subcontractor accused of mistreating workers at an iPod factory in China dropped its libel suit against two reporters and the news organization they work for in Shanghai.
Crikey! Crocodile Hunter news devours bandwidth
News that Australia's own crocodile hunter Steve Irwin has died had Web site traffic in overdrive today with many news sites operating on low bandwidth mode due to high traffic.
Google seeks surfers' help to label images
Google Inc. is asking surfers with time on their hands to help it categorize and label the images indexed by its search engine, building a database of knowledge about the contents of the images.
MySpace enters crowded music download market
MySpace.com is launching a new music download service that emphasizes music from independent artists, the latest in a string of services announced in recent weeks that hope to topple iTunes from its crown.
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