Microsoft asks Linux users, "How can we get your business?'

"Microsoft has started distributing two online surveys to Linux User Groups and Linux users in general, one asking primarily about home computer use, the other about business use. They apparently don't plan to release the results of their surveys, so we and other people in the open source community are asking you to look at them and post your answers and comments here and on other appropriate sites where, in open source style, everyone can see them. Read on for more information and links, and please help spread the word about these surveys; as far as we know, this is the first time Microsoft has asked Linux users why we use Linux instead of their products, and the more results, the merrier."

NewsForge - Microsoft asks Linux users, "How can we get your business?'

Microsoft launches SPOT Watches at CES 2004

"Microsoft Corp. will use January's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas to announce availability of wrist watches and wireless services based on its Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT), a Microsoft spokeswoman confirmed Tuesday.

The software maker also plans to launch MSN Premium and MSN Plus at the show, which are updates to its MSN Internet Software for broadband Internet users, and is expected to outline planned improvements to the Media Center Edition of Windows XP."

Bink.nu - Microsoft launches SPOT Watches at CES 2004

Broadcom to Jump the Gun on 802.11n

"An emerging IEEE standard that promises Fast Ethernet speeds for wireless LANs won't likely be ratified before late 2005, but as with previous WLAN protocols, Broadcom Corp. is planning to jump the gun by releasing 'prestandard' products.

Still in the project authorization phase, 802.11n is designed to increase WLAN speeds to at least 100M bps for data and actual throughput rates."

WinBeta.org - Broadcom to Jump the Gun on 802.11n

Daemon Tools 3.43

"DAEMON Tools is an application for multiprotection emulation. It is further development of Generic Safedisc emulator and incorporates all its features. This program allows running backup copies of SafeDisc, Securom, or Laserlock protected games. Also included is a Virtual DVDROM drive enabling you to use your CD images as if they were already burned to CD. It works with all types of CD/DVDROM drives and supports nearly any CD protection."

MSFN - Daemon Tools 3.43

Real sues Microsoft, seeks $1bn damages

"Emboldened by its reception before the European Commission in Brussels last month, RealNetworks is to sue Microsoft for alleged anti-competitive behavior.

'We believe our business would be substantially larger today if Microsoft were playing by the rules,' said Real's founder and former Microsoft executive Rob Glaser in a statement.

Real will seek more than $1 billion in damages, and expects the litigation to cost $12 million and take three years to complete. However, since the company is seeking 'injunctive relief', an early decision could come sooner rather than later. Real's annual revenue is around $200 million, based on its most recent earnings."

MSFN - Real sues Microsoft, seeks $1bn damages

Quicktime 6.5 for Windows

"Welcome to QuickTime 6.5, featuring 3GPP and 3GPP2, worldwide standards for the creation, delivery, and playback of multimedia over new, high-speed wireless networks. Built on MPEG-4 and powered by QuickTime, 3GPP and 3GPP2 extend the reach of rich multimedia to a new generation of handheld wireless devices. As the first widely distributed, freely available multimedia technology to deliver both 3GPP and 3GPP2 capabilities, QuickTime enables users all over the world to share 3G content with others via both computers and mobile devices."

MSFN - Quicktime 6.5 for Windows

Adobe Reader 6.0.1

Adobe Reader 6.0 is free software that lets you view and print Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files on a variety of hardware and operating system platforms. This new version of the familiar Adobe Acrobat Reader provides a host of rich features that enable you to:

• Submit Adobe PDF forms that are created with fillable form fields in such applications as Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Professional and Adobe Form Designer
• Play back a variety of embedded multimedia content, such as QuickTime and MP3 files
• Read and organize high-fidelity eBooks
• Activate search and accessibility capabilities built into your PDF files
  
• Display Adobe Photoshop® Album slide shows and electronic cards and export images for online photo processing (online photo services vary regionally)

MSFN - Adobe Reader 6.0.1

Microsoft ISA Server 2004 Beta 2

Last month Microsoft started gearing up for the Internet Security & Acceleration Server 2004 beta release. Since then Beta 2 of Codename 'Stingray' has been sent to a few select groups.

What is Microsoft ISA Server 2004?
ISA Server 2004 is Microsoft Corp.'s next-generation enterprise firewall, virtual private network (VPN), and Web cache solution. ISA Server 2004 takes application-layer filtering, simplified management integration, and fast Web access to new levels, making it a “must consider” for any organization looking to augment its existing security infrastructure.

What’s new in Microsoft ISA Server 2004?
Microsoft ISA Server 2004 builds on an updated architecture that has been specifically designed to combat the latest types of Internet attacks and worms with features such as signature blocking. It also offers a new, simplified user interface that can help customers avoid firewall misconfiguration - a common cause of network security breaches. In addition, ISA Server 2004 includes a greatly expanded array of tools and other features for enabling and securing VPN access to corporate networks.

ieXbeta Board - Microsoft ISA Server 2004 Beta 2

Linux gets heart transplant with 2.6.0

"Top programmers on Wednesday released a major update to Linux, version 2.6.0, a change that's expected to help carry the open-source operating system into new markets.

The new version of the core, or kernel, of Linux has several changes that make Linux better suited to powerful computers with numerous processors, a market dominated today by servers running versions of the Unix operating system on which Linux is based."

ieXbeta Board - Linux gets heart transplant with 2.6.0

AΠΑΓΟΡΕΥΤΗΚΑΝ ΟΛΑ ΤΑ ΠΑΙΧΝΙΔΙΑ ΣΤΑ INTERNET CAFE!!!

Κι εκεί που τα πράγματα είχαν ηρεμήσει... τσουπ! Ερχεται μια νέα υπουργική απόφαση που δημοσιεύθηκε στην Εφημερίδα της Κυβέρνησης και έχει πλέον ισχύ νόμου, με την οποία απαγορεύονται τα παιχνίδια στα Internet cafe! Ας δούμε μαζί όλες τις λεπτομέρειες...

Η συγκεκριμένη απόφαση, η οποία φέρει τον αριθμό 1107414/1491/Τ. & Ε. Φ. δημοσιεύθηκε στο φύλλο 1827 της Εφημερίδας της Κυβέρνησης με ημερομηνία 8 Δεκεμβρίου 2003 και ικανοποιεί εν μέρει τα αιτήματα των ιδιοκτητών των Internet cafe, ως προς το ότι καθορίζει το πλαίσιο λειτουργίας τους καθώς και τον τρόπο με τον οποίο θα χορηγείται άδεια λειτουργίας στα καταστήματά τους. Κάπου εκεί, όμως, τελειώνουν τα «καλά» και αρχίζουν τα... άσχημα νέα!

ADSLgr Independent Review Site For Broadband In Greece - AΠΑΓΟΡΕΥΤΗΚΑΝ ΟΛΑ ΤΑ ΠΑΙΧΝΙΔΙΑ ΣΤΑ INTERNET CAFE!!!

Microsoft .NET Compact Framework 1.0 SP2

Microsoft has let beta testers know in an e-mail that .NET Compact Framework 1.0 SP2 is now available for public download.

The Microsoft® .NET Compact Framework 1.0 SP2 Redistributable includes everything you need to run .NET Compact Framework applications, including the Common Language Runtime and the .NET Compact Framework class library.

Important: Visual Studio .NET 2003 is required to create .NET Compact Framework-based applications.

Note: A Developer Redistributable is also available here.

View: Microsoft .NET Compact Framework FAQ
Download: .NET Compact Framework 1.0 SP2 Redistributable (Re-release)

WinBeta.org - Microsoft .NET Compact Framework 1.0 SP2

Microsoft SPOT Watches Hit Stores

"Wristwatches and wireless services based on Microsoft's Smart Personal Objects Technology won't be on sale in time for the holidays, but they are coming soon. The devices will be available in January, the software giant confirms. Microsoft will use next month's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to announce the availability of the devices, which were announced there last year. The software maker also plans to launch updates to its MSN Internet Software, and is expected to outline planned improvements to the Media Center Edition of Windows XP at the show. Smart Personal Objects Technology, or SPOT, uses a portion of the FM broadcast radio networks to deliver snippets of information about weather, news, stock prices, and sports scores to wristwatches equipped with the technology."

Neowin.net - Microsoft SPOT Watches Hit Stores

Outlook 2003 Junk E-mail Filter Update: KB832333

Microsoft recommends that you use the Office Update site to determine if your computer requires this update before installing it. This update enhances the junk e-mail filter in Outlook to help provide a higher level of protection against junk e-mail. As part of Microsoft's ongoing commitment to reducing junk e-mail, periodic updates will be provided to Outlook users. This update is optional and simply provides a more up-to-date definition of messages that are considered to be junk or not junk.

For more information on this update, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article (832333) Overview of the Outlook 2003 Junk E-mail Filter Update: KB832333.

Neowin.net - Outlook 2003 Junk E-mail Filter Update: KB832333

Check Point to acquire Zone Labs

"On a day when EMC and BMC Software announced their own intended acquisitions, Check Point Software Technologies also got in the game with the $205 million acquisition of Zone Labs.

During a call to announce the deal, Gil Shwed, chairman and CEO of Check Point, explained that the Zone Lab product families, such as ZoneAlarm and Integrity, already cooperate well with and are greatly complimentary to Check Point's own portfolio."

MSFN - Check Point to acquire Zone Labs

EMC to Acquire VMware

"EMC published a news release today announcing their aquisition of VMware inc. in a cash transaction valued at approximately $635 million. Hopefully they will not kill this cool piece of technology as Microsoft is also working hard to enter the virtualization market with their virtual server program."

Bink.nu - EMC to Acquire VMware

Judge Tells SCO: No, *You* Have to Show the Code

"The big news from the hearing today is that Judge Wells told SCO that they have to go first. They have to show IBM what code they are alleging is infringing. All during discovery, SCO has been telling IBM they had to show all their code first, and then SCO would identify the alleged infringements. IBM kept telling SCO in reply that they had the burden, as plaintiffs, to at least tell IBM what code was involved. Today the judge told SCO that IBM was right. SCO has 30 days to comply. IBM doesn't have to turn over anything until they do it. The judge's order will be filed Wednesday, and SCO has a month to show the code. They can't force IBM to go first. That dance is over."

NewsForge - Judge Tells SCO: No, *You* Have to Show the Code

Kazaa-Lite Shut Down by Sharman Networks

"Speaking with RatFaced, one of the Kazaa Lite forum moderators today and contact at K-Lite, it has been uncovered that the Kazaa Lite K++ project has been shut down by Sharman Networks on grounds of copyright infringement.

The project, which had been set up to block spy and ad ware within the Kazaa Media Desktop Program has achieved notoriety within the P2p world through its simplistic approach and success in reverse engineering the Kazaa application."

ieXbeta Board - Kazaa-Lite Shut Down by Sharman Networks

Microsoft to Junk Flagship Products, Cites Java Settlement

"Microsoft will phase out a slew of products as of December 15, citing its 2001 legal settlement with Sun Microsystems over Java as the impetus.

Among the products that Microsoft will no longer make available to customers through any of the Microsoft's sales channels are Windows 98, SQL Server 7 and a number of versions of Office 2000, according to a note from a Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) program manager posted to a public Microsoft newsgroup. It also appears some versions of NT 4.0 are also due to be phased out, but as the note is ambiguous on this point, it's impossible to tell which ones."

eWeek - Microsoft to Junk Flagship Products, Cites Java Settlement

PHP-Nuke 7.0 FINAL Released

"Hello Nukers! Happy to announce that PHP-Nuke 7.0 FINAL has been released. You can read the changes.txt text file included in the distribution, but be sure that there are many bugs fixed that aren't documented. After 3 days testing this version on both Linux and Windows, it's ready for a production site. This version is only available for any Club member at this time. Will be released to the public in around 30 days, as usual. What are you waiting for?"

PHP-Nuke - PHP-Nuke 7.0 FINAL Released

HUGE Pocket PC deployment in Europe

"Microsoft and TNT Express just announced the largest deployment of Windows Mobile-based devices by a European customer to date--up to 24,000 Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs over the next 3 years!!

With this deployment, delivery drivers will use Windows Mobile-based devices to communicate with the company headquarters via a GPRS connection to the central office, allowing them to receive job specific information in real time. Drivers will use a standardized mobile application, designed specifically for them. More on why TNT Express chose Windows Mobile and the complete press release are below."

msmobiles.com - HUGE Pocket PC deployment in Europe

DirectX Next - Early Preview

"While the next major revision for DirectX is not expected until Longhorn’s launch, Microsoft’s DirectX group has been briefing developers on what’s in store for “DirectX Next” with presentations at Microsoft Meltdown and other developer conferences. Recently, this presentation was made available to the public via Microsoft’s Developer Network. The intent of this article is to give a more thorough treatment of the features listed for inclusion with DirectX Next and hence explore the types of capabilities that DirectX Next may be offering."

MSFN - DirectX Next - Early Preview

Web Virus Authors 'Winning Battle' says Microsoft

Creators of computer viruses are winning the battle with law enforcers and getting away with crimes that cost the global economy some $13 billion this year, a Microsoft official said Wednesday.

Counterfeit centers are shifting from California and Western Europe to countries including Paraguay, Colombia and Ukraine said David Finn, Microsoft's director of digital integrity for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

WinBeta.org - Web Virus Authors 'Winning Battle' says Microsoft

Microsoft To Announce Major Changes To IP Policy

Microsoft is expected to announce significant changes to its intellectual property policies during a conference call on Wednesday.

The changes, aimed at fending off increasing competition from Linux and open source competitors, include handing over more APIs and protocols on a royalty free-basis to corporate customers and modifying licensing restrictions on a 'broad array' of Microsoft technologies, including XML innovations and .NET technologies, sources familiar with the deal said.

WinBeta.org - Microsoft To Announce Major Changes To IP Policy

Comparing the Architectural Principles of Microsoft Longhorn and Mozilla

DevX has an article by Nigel McFarlane that draws parallels between the architecture of Microsoft Longhorn and the architecture of Mozilla. In addition to comparing XAML to XUL, McFarlane also notes the similarities between Avalon and Gecko as well as Indigo and Necko. Thanks to Ann O. and ummmmm for the news.

MozillaZine Talkback - Comparing the Architectural Principles of Microsoft Longhorn and Mozilla

Nero Burning Rom 6.0.0.28

Nero is a flexible, reliable, and easy-to-use application designed to write both data and CD audio to CD-R and CD-RW discs. It supports ISO 9660 images as well as ISO mode 1 and XA mode 2, and allows for on-the-fly disc recording in addition to overburning (if supported by hardware). Nero also supports multisession and mixed-mode recording, HFS, ISO/HFS hybrid, UDF, PSX, OFAS (optimal file access speed), track-at-once (TAO) and disc-at-once (DAO) writing, digital audio extraction, and more. In addition, Nero can dynamically disable automatic-insert notification, offers support for multiple languages, and works with all major models of CD-R and CD-RW drives. This download also contains Nero's standalone Cover Editor for designing and printing CD covers.

New versions of Ahead's other software, such as NeroVision and Media Player, are also available. For more information on those packages see this page.
View: Ahead Nero Home
Download: Nero Burning Rom 6.0.0.28

WinBeta.org - Nero Burning Rom 6.0.0.28

Microsoft Giving Away SFU 3.0

When Microsoft Services for Unix 3.0 came out, a highlight was its surprisingly low price tag. In a promotion running through the end of this month, the set of tools and services for interoperating between Windows, Unix and Linux is free.

The giveaway presumably is designed to generate some new users who will then want the latest features available in SFU 3.5, which entered beta testing in late July and should be released soon.

The widely acclaimed SFU 3.0 came out in the second quarter of 2002. It was a much expanded product over SFU 2.0, as Microsoft combined the SFU feature set -- for integrating Windows-based and Unix-based networks -- with the Microsoft Interix product. Interix, which Microsoft acquired from Softway Systems in 1999, allows developers and administrators to migrate and run Unix applications on Windows servers.

The SFU 3.0 giveaway started Oct. 16, and Microsoft is promoting it in the customer-focused e-mail newsletters it sends out. Microsoft also offers a three-hour test drive of SFU 3.0 running on a remote Windows Server 2003 box hosted by or for Microsoft.

The free SFU 3.0 and the test drive are available at Microsoft's 'Resources for Unix Professionals' site: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/sfu/unixproresources/

WinBeta.org - Microsoft Giving Away SFU 3.0

PS3 "concept image" hits the web

A picture purporting to be concept art of Sony's next-generation console, the PlayStation 3, has been circulated on the Internet, showing a sleek silver console with a slot-loading DVD drive.

So, is this an early glimpse of the future of console entertainment? We have our doubts, since although we've been unable to confirm where the image originated, it doesn't appear to have been officially released by Sony - unlike last month's PSP concept images, which appeared in a presentation given by SCE boss Ken Kutaragi.

Indeed, a highly placed source within Sony stated that he'd never seen the concept design shown in the image before - although he did concede that it 'could be something Japan cooked up and hasn't shown us,' he was adamant that he thought it highly unlikely that the image originated from Sony.

So what we're left with, perhaps unsurprisingly, is a very clever and well-implemented mock-up of the forthcoming console, which probably bears no resemblance to the final product. It does look nice though, doesn't it?


View: PS3 concept image

Tech-Critic - PS3 "concept image" hits the web

Symantec Fixes Norton AntiVirus 2004 Product Activation Bug

"Symantec fixed a bug late Monday in the product activation feature it debuted this fall in its latest line of security products, including Norton AntiVirus 2004.

The bug, which affects all English-language Symantec products tagged with the '2004' label sold at retail, forced some users to re-enter the activation code each time the computer was restarted. Product activation is an anti-piracy feature that essentially ties an application to a specific PC, and is used by other vendors as well as Symantec, most noticeably Microsoft."

MSFN - Symantec Fixes Norton AntiVirus 2004 Product Activation Bug

Siebel preps architecture shift

"Siebel is preparing to shift its architecture to its new Universal Application Network platform.

The concepts and methodology behind the development of the UAN align with wider architectural changes in software architecture, and are leading Siebel's efforts to adapt. UAN is even impacting on how the core Siebel application engine is built, bringing more structure to the way it is developed."

The Register - Siebel preps architecture shift

Developing Smartphone 2002 Applications with Embedded Visual Basic (eVB) is now possible - thanks to a hacker!

Developing applications for MS Smartphone 2002 with Embedded Visual C (eVC) is very difficult (due to the complicated Windows API -like programming model, not just due to the usage of C/C language) and according to Microsoft it is the only way to develop these applications! Microsoft clearly said that it does not support eVB in software development for MS Smartphone, and that eVB is only for Pocket PC. Developing applications with eVB however is extremely easy - even hobbyists and people, who don't have much in common with software programming can do it!

msmobiles.com - Developing Smartphone 2002 Applications with Embedded Visual Basic (eVB) is now possible - thanks to a hacker!

Combining XUL Documents With Overlays

"Nigel McFarlane, author of Rapid Application Development with Mozilla, has written an article about Mozilla's XUL overlays. This guide follows on from McFarlane's introduction to XUL, published last week."

MozillaZine Talkback - Combining XUL Documents With Overlays

Is That Microsoft Calling?

Software giant could change the way we communicate by telephone.

Microsoft is bound to play a growing role in enterprise telephony systems over the next few years, helping them to evolve beyond the simple features such as speed dial, conference call, and voice mail most companies know today. What's less clear is what that role will be.
 
The Redmond, Washington, software giant is likely to muscle in on the territory of traditional vendors of private branch exchanges (PBXs) and even threaten the desktop handset, through PC-based 'soft phones,' according to some industry analysts. However, Microsoft and some major vendors in that market say they don't see themselves on a collision course. Microsoft may increasingly provide the platform software for telephony, but more specialized vendors will write the applications on top, they said.

B i n k . n u - Is That Microsoft Calling?

Apply for the Macromedia Flex Beta Program

"Macromedia Flex, a presentation server and application framework that enables enterprise developers to deliver rich Internet applications using existing tools, design patterns, and infrastructure. Flex expands the Macromedia MX product family to address the requirements of enterprise IT departments seeking to deliver end user experiences that combine the responsiveness and richness of desktop software with the broad reach of the web."

ieXbeta Board - Apply for the Macromedia Flex Beta Program

Microsoft Retires NetMeeting

"Microsoft is retiring its six-year-old NetMeeting online conferencing application and instead will push Office Live Meeting, formerly known as PlaceWare, for online meetings.

NetMeeting helped pioneer online conferencing when it was released in May 1996, before the advent of instant messaging (IM) and other services for real-time online communication. The software still ships as part of Windows and some of its features, such as whiteboarding and application-sharing, are used by the MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger IM applications."

B i n k . n u - Microsoft Retires NetMeeting

WinFX: An All-Managed API [Nov. 24, 2003]

"In Longhorn, Win32 will no longer be the principal API. It will, of course, continue to be supported; 20-year-old DOS applications still run on the latest version of Windows, and likewise, Win32 applications will also continue to work for the foreseeable future. But just as DOS and 16-bit Windows applications were superseded by Win32 applications, so in Longhorn will Win32 become the 'old way' of doing things. In Win32's place is a new API called WinFX (pronounced 'Win Effects'). WinFX is a significant milestone in the history of the Windows API, as it puts .NET at the center of the platform. While Win32, the main API for previous versions of Windows, is a C-style API, WinFX is designed primarily to be used by .NET languages. In other words, it is a managed API. Moreover, it is a superset of the existing .NET Framework."

ONDotnet.com - WinFX: An All-Managed API

Mozilla 1.5 ActiveX Control Released

"Daniel Wang wrote in to tell us that Adam Lock of the Mozilla ActiveX Project has released version 1.5 of the Mozilla ActiveX Control, which allows developers to embed Gecko into applications in much the same way that they can embed Internet Explorer. The control supports most of the API of the IE control for easy porting. The Mozilla 1.5 ActiveX Control can be downloaded from www.iol.ie/~locka/mozilla/MozillaControl15.exe".

MozillaZine Talkback - Mozilla 1.5 ActiveX Control Released

SCO's Linux Case: Is Winning Everything?

As the SCO Group prepares to battle at least one Linux user in court, legal experts said that the company's strategy is less about the legal merits of its claims and more about compelling additional Linux users into paying its license fees.

Earlier this week, the SCO Group said it planned within 90 days to sue a Linux user over copyright infringement related to its Unix System V code that it alleges is included in Linux. The move marked an expansion of the Lindon, Utah-based company's legal wrangle over Linux, which began with its high profile lawsuit against IBM.

SCO's Linux Case: Is Winning Everything?

Prescott to Be the Fastest Ramping Processor in Intel's History?

"Although Intel Corporation is likely to miss its initial time-to-market by about three quarters with its new Pentium 4 processors code-named Prescott, the company is still quite optimistic about its next-generation chip. Sources close to the company said on Saturday that Intel is confident its Prescott processor will be the fastest ramping CPU in the company's history because of thinner 90nm manufacturing process as well as 300mm wafers."

MSFN - Prescott to Be the Fastest Ramping Processor in Intel's History?

DVD Jon Unlocks iTunes' Locked Music

"Jon Lech Johansen, better known as DVD Jon for his authorship of the DeCSS decryption software, has turned his attention to Apple's locked music format.

While he hasn't decrypted the DRM which Apple uses, he has produced a simple Windows command line utility which will install a DLL which dumps the output of a QuickTime stream to a file. The short C program is called 'QuickTime for Windows AAC memory dumper'. (To compile the program requires MinGW and MSYS from http://www.mingw.org/ .)"

MSFN - DVD Jon Unlocks iTunes' Locked Music

Macromedia: Tussling with Longhorn

"Macromedia's transition from being mainly known for Flash to a 'rich-Internet' applications company was given a shot in the arm with the acquisition of Allaire two years ago with its Coldfusion Web application server. The latest push in the direction of fusing Web design and development is a product due to ship in the first half of 2004 called Flex. The product, which has lived under the code name Royale up until it was formally announced at the beginning of this week, is a combination of server software and other tools to enable traditional Web application developers to create components in Macromedia's Flash format.

'Flex is about re-factoring how Flash applications are developed and deployed into a form factor that these professional developers will find intuitive,' says Macromedia product manager Rod Hodgman. 'It's a presentation server that provides a text-based programming model -- if you have coded in JSP, ASP or HTML you'll find pretty easy to pick up and understand.'"

B i n k . n u - Macromedia: Tussling with Longhorn

Microsoft Visual FoxPro "Europa" to Arrive in Late 2004

"Product Manager Ken Levy reveals more details on what you can expect in the database development tool.

Microsoft says it plans to release the 'Europa' version of its Visual FoxPro (VFP) development tool at Visual FoxPro DevCon 2004 September 29 - October 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A beta version should be available in early 2004.

Microsoft VS Data Product Manager Ken Levy has also offered more information on new capabilities it plans to include in the update (not all of these functions will make it to the final release)."

B i n k . n u - Microsoft Visual FoxPro "Europa" to Arrive in Late 2004

ReactOS 0.1.5 is released

"ReactOS is an Open Source effort to develop a quality operating system that is compatible with Windows NT applications and drivers'.

Home: ReactOS
Download: ReactOS 0.1.5
Changelog: Changelog
Source: OS News"

WinBeta.org - ReactOS 0.1.5 is released

Microsoft signs .Net deal in China

"Microsoft has signed two agreements intended to deepen the company's ties with the Chinese government, even as the country's officials embark on programs meant to entrench rival open-source systems within the state infrastructure.

Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's CEO, was in Bejing on Thursday to sign a deal that will partner the software giant with the state-owned China National Computer Software & Technology Service (CS&S), the country's largest domestic software development and systems integration firm. The two companies are set to co-develop products based on Microsoft's .Net and Office System platforms. Another focus of the agreement is IT training, with plans for the companies to jointly train 200 CS&S developers and 120 IT architects within one year, according to a press statement from Microsoft. 'CS&S will not only strive in its current position as the largest IT solutions and service provider in China, but to be one of the top IT outsourcing companies in the world,' said Tang Min, president of CS&S."

Neowin.net - Microsoft signs .Net deal in China

Opera 7.23

"Opera is a fast, user-friendly, and highly versatile Internet browser that includes a newsreader, integrated search, and an M2 e-mail client. The keyboard plays an integral role in surfing, making Web navigation easy with Fast Forward and Rewind buttons for expedited navigation. You can run multiple windows even at start-up, and special features are included for users with disabilities. The standards support in Opera 7 has been improved. It also handles nonstandard pages using DHTML and includes password and cookie managers, improved drag-and-drop support, a floating hot list, user profiles, and a host of other features such as an integrated pop-up stopper and skin support."

Neowin.net - Opera 7.23

Is Microsoft Linux in the Wind?

"Speculation that Microsoft might build a flavor of Linux into Windows Server 2003 has been rife since May, when the company said it was licensing the Unix source code and patent from the SCO Group. That action followed SCO's infamous US$1 billion lawsuit, filed in March, which accuses IBM of improperly lifting copyrighted Unix technology and building it into Linux."

MSFN - Is Microsoft Linux in the Wind?

Open XUL Alliance Launches Wiki Wiki - MozillaZine Talkback

Gerald Bauer writes in with news that the Open XUL Alliance now has a Wiki. The Open XUL Alliance is a site about XUL and related XML-based declarative user interface languages. A Wiki (sometimes called a Wiki Wiki) is a collection of pages that can be freely contributed to and edited by anybody. Read the full article for more details.

Full Article...

MozillaZine Talkback - Open XUL Alliance Launches Wiki Wiki

Zulu Layout Engine Combines XUL and Flash

"Daniel Glazman wrote in to tell us about Zulu, a tool for creating Flash user interfaces using a modified version of XUL. The Zulu site features some tutorials, which include working examples. An alpha version of Zulu Web Edition is available for download."

MozillaZine Talkback - Zulu Layout Engine Combines XUL and Flash

Antivirus Vendor Offers Free Software

"Computer Associates International will give away its consumer antivirus and firewall software product with a year's subscription to virus signature updates, the company announced here at Comdex.

The eTrust EZ Armor product carries a retail price of $49.95 but will be available as a free download from Computer Associates through June 30, 2004, company says in a statement.

The offer is part of Microsoft's Protect Your PC' campaign. It also comes two years after CA pulled a free antivirus product for consumers, saying it was too expensive to maintain."

WinBeta.org - Antivirus Vendor Offers Free Software

'Φθηνό και Γρήγορο Internet!' απαιτεί ο πρωθυπουργός Κ. Σημίτης

Την εντολή στους επιτελείς του να βρουν τρόπους διάθεσης στο ευρύ κοινό φθηνής και ταχείας πρόσβασης στο Internet έδωσε, σύμφωνα με πληροφορίες, ο πρωθυπουργός κ. K. Σημίτης. Τη μελέτη του εγχειρήματος ανέλαβε να διεκπεραιώσει ο οικονομικός σύμβουλος του Πρωθυπουργού κ. Γκ. Χαρδούβελης σε συνεργασία με στελέχη του υπουργείου Οικονομίας και των άλλων συναρμόδιων υπουργείων. Ο σκοπός είναι να αποκτήσει και η Ελλάδα πρόσβαση στο Διαδίκτυο με κόστος παραπλήσιο εκείνου των άλλων ευρωπαϊκών χωρών.

ADSLgr Independent Review Site For Broadband In Greece - 'Φθηνό και Γρήγορο Internet!' απαιτεί ο πρωθυπουργός Κ. Σημίτης

Nokia's N-Gage suffers blow as hackers crack games security code

"Nokia (news - web sites)'s foray onto the mobile entertainment market, the N-Gage gaming deck, was dealt a blow this week when hackers were able to crack the security codes protecting its games from being pirated, with illegal copies being posted on the Internet.

This means the games can now be downloaded by anybody and will work on any handset running Nokia's Series 60 software platform, used in N-Gage and its 3650 and 7650 camera phones, as well as some models made by Siemens and UK-based Sendo."

NewsForge - Nokia's N-Gage suffers blow as hackers crack games security code

Sun's StarOffice Still Can't Rival Microsoft

"It has been years since Microsoft had any real competition for its Office productivity suite the software package that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Once-popular competitors like WordPerfect and Lotus 1-2-3 have been reduced to tiny niche players.

But there is a competing office suite that is the darling of those companies, software developers and users who have made hating or battling Microsoft into a sort of religion. It's called StarOffice, and is sold by Sun Microsystems, a maker of high-end hardware and software that is one of Microsoft's biggest critics."

MSFN - Sun's StarOffice Still Can't Rival Microsoft

Microsoft prepares security assault on Linux

"In a sign that the inroads made by the Open Source community are starting to rattle the software giant, Microsoft has hired several analysts to review how fast holes are patched in the open source software and is expected to announce that Windows compares favorably.

The strategy, called 'Days of Risk,' measures the number of days it takes programmers to release a public patch after a vulnerability is revealed. While high-profile holes in Linux and associated software tend to be swiftly dealt with, less prominent problems -- which could be just as potentially damaging -- can take weeks or even months to appear."

InfoWorld: Microsoft prepares security assault on Linux

Επιτέλους, φθηνό ADSL στην Ελλάδα. Πολύ σύντομα!

Μέτρα για να διαδοθεί το «γρήγορο Internet» στην Ελλάδα προετοιμάζουν τα υπουργεία Οικονομίας και Μεταφορών σε συνεργασία με τον ΟΤΕ και τις εταιρείες παροχής υπηρεσιών Internet.

Η συντονισμένη προσπάθεια να καλλιεργηθεί κλίμα... ομοψυχίας αναμένεται να κορυφωθεί μέσα στο Δεκέμβριο, προκειμένου να μην χαθεί η ευκαιρία υλοποίησης μεγάλων έργων με κοινοτική χρηματοδότηση, προϋπολογισμού άνω των 250 εκατομμυρίων ευρώ.

ADSLgr Independent Review Site For Broadband In Greece - Επιτέλους, φθηνό ADSL στην Ελλάδα. Πολύ σύντομα!

Virtual PC 2004 To RTM Next Week!

"The software giant Monday plans to announce the release to manufacturing of its newly branded and enhanced Microsoft Virtual PC 2004, formerly known as Connectix Virtual PC.

The desktop software, expected to be available within the next 90 days, will allow customers to run multiple versions of Windows on the same desktop, as well as Mac and Linux on virtual machines."

ieXbeta Board - Virtual PC 2004 To RTM Next Week!

No MORE RedHat Linux in the Product LINE!

"Red Hat yesterday unveiled its answer to the vexed question of what it should do about its consumer line - dump it. This is not quite how CEO Matthew Szulik put it to The Register over lunch yesterday, nor indeed did he say flat out 'oh, by the way, we're shooting the Red Hat Linux distribution when North Carolina wakes up, bye now,' but that is indeed what the company did."

ieXbeta Board - No MORE RedHat Linux in the Product LINE!

Mono Roadmap

"The Mono project started in 2001 as an effort to implement the .NET Framework to Unix. To bring both the new programming model based on the Common Language Infrastructure and C# as well as helping people migrate their existing knowledge and applications to Unix. Mono today supports a wide variety of operating systems, CPUs and a large chunk of the functionality available in the .NET Framework."

go-Mono - Mono Roadmap

Windows Rights Managment Released

"Today at RSA Conference 2003, Europe here in Amsterdam, Mike Nash, corporate vice president of the Security Business Unit at Microsoft Corp., detailed a series of new products and programs designed to help customers in Europe and around the globe enhance the security of their computers and networks. Among other topics, Nash discussed the release of Windows® Rights Management Services (RMS) for Windows Server^TM 2003, progress on patch management and new innovations such as the Next-Generation Secure Computing Base (NGSCB)."

B i n k - Windows Rights Managment Released

Intel ships $925 Pentium 4 Extreme Edition

"Intel today released its Pentium 4 Extreme Edition - the exceptionally expensive gamer-oriented version of the chip giant's desktop processor - as we reported last week.

As anticipated, the chip will cost $925 a throw.

The chip is clocked to 3.2GHz and features 2MB of on-die L3 cache alongside its 512KB L2 cache. Like other P4s, it supports HyperThreading, a frontside bus with an effective bit rate of 800MHz and is fabbed at 130nm. The P4EE is compatible with the existing i865 and i875 chipset families, said Intel."

The Register - Intel ships $925 Pentium 4 Extreme Edition

8.5GB DVD+R discs, drives to ship April '04

"Expect double-layer, almost double-capacity DVD+R drives and media to hit the stores next April, members of the DVD+RW alliance say. The technology, co-developed by drive maker Philips, and media specialists Verbatim and Mitsubishi Kagaku, adds a second recording layer to a standard-thickness DVD+R disc, taking the medium's capacity from 4.7GB to 8.5GB.

That's enough for four hours of DVD-quality material, 16 hours of VHS-quality content or two hours' archive footage. The discs are playback-compatible with existing DVD players and DVD-ROM drives. Initial products will offer a write speed of 2.4x.

DVD+R DL, as the technology is known, was demo'd last month in Japan and shown to the press in London last week. Alliance members said the next step is to publish the format's specifications, a process which should be complete this year. Officially, the Alliance says DVD+R DL hardware and media will ship during 'the course of 2004', but privately a number of member companies said they are 'hoping' for an April 2004 introduction."

Neowin.net - 8.5GB DVD+R discs, drives to ship April '04

SQL Server on a non MS platform? Never!

"The analyst community has long been saying that it's only a matter of time before Microsoft starts porting its applications, especially its server-based business applications, to Linux. But one Microsoft notable, in the form of Gordon Mangione, corporate vice president, SQL Server Team, made a strong and clear statement that SQL Server would never be ported to other environments, when he addressed developers last week at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference (PDC) in Los Angeles."

Neowin.net - SQL Server on a non MS platform? Never!

Nestlé to buy Google

"Friday, reports surfaced that Microsoft was interested in buying Google. Instead, food giant Nestlé announced that its sweetened offer to buy the Internet search engine company has been accepted.

Google will complement Nestlé's long list of well-known brands, including Perrier water, Stouffer's, LifeSavers, and Nesquick. Nestlé says Google will be renamed NesGoogle and have a recipe section added to its main page."

MSFN - Nestlé to buy Google

Messenger Plus! 2.51.68

"Messenger Plus! is an add-on for MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger, the two popular Instant Messaging softwares from Microsoft. Messenger Plus! adds different features to Messenger to make it more enjoyable for a regular usage. Messenger Plus! is not a chat program, it only adds functionalities to Messenger, it can't be used as a standalone application."

MSFN - Messenger Plus! 2.51.68

Emulation is Free Game

"The Library of Congress has recently granted copyright exemptions in the Digital Millenium Act to obsolete games. The exemption applies to games that require the original hardware as a condition of access, and if the game is “no longer manufactured or reasonably available in the commercial marketplace.” This means that old, unsupported PC, console and arcade games will now be legal to own (so your illegal copy of Mame roms are now legit). The only muddy side is if publishers consider their old games to be “reasonably available” and plan to release classic games as bundles or bonuses, then the copyright protection still stands."

Neowin.net - Emulation is Free Game

Israelis ship eight tera-ops optical processor

"Israeli technology Lenslet has begun shipping what it claims is the world's first optical microprocessor.

We should point out that we're not talking a Pentium or G5 here. Instead, the EnLight 256 is a DSP chip designed to perform a series of simple operations rather than provide a basis for general purpose processing.

However, its use of light rather than electronics enables it to perform up to eight trillion calculations per second - roughly a thousand times faster than semiconductor DSPs, the company claims."

The Register - Israelis ship eight tera-ops optical processor

Windows XP SP2 News

It seems this week Microsoft have opened up and let the world know about what exactly SP2 will include and when it will be ready. According to Paul Thurrott, 'Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) is still due in the first half of 2004' and will ship with all XP security features enabled including:

- Network protection
- Memory protection
- Safer email
- Safer browsing

Neowin.net - Windows XP SP2 News

Microsoft to release internal threat-modeling tool

"Microsoft plans to publicly release a threat modeling tool it uses internally to help software developers create more secure software, the company said Thursday.

The tool can display threats in a diagram after information such as usage scenarios and the environment in which the application will run is entered, Michael Howard, senior program manager for security engineering and communications at Microsoft, said in a presentation at the vendor's Professional Developers Conference (PDC) in Los Angeles."

MSFN - Microsoft to release internal threat-modeling tool

We've Heard This One Before: MS Wants Google

"Folks are talking about the New York Times report that alleges Microsoft is interested in buying Google. The Times story says that Microsoft approached Google within the past couple of months. But this is hardly the first time that Microsoft and Google have talked take-over. Back in June, sounds like similar discussions between the two occurred. None of this is too surprising, given Microsoft's focus on search with Longhorn - as well as its lackluster search efforts to date."

Microsoft Watch - We've Heard This One Before: MS Wants Google

First Look: Microsoft's Windows Longhorn

"Longhorn is the codename for the next-generation version of Microsoft's flagship Windows operating system. It's also the company's most ambitious project since the first Windows NT release. An impressive array of new technologies will be built into the new OS -- a few of which were included in the pre-release version we checked out.

Recently, Jason Brooks wrote about his first impressions of Longhorn for eWeek. Now it's our turn to dig a little deeper and try to understand a bit more about Microsoft's next generation of Windows."

ExtremeTech - First Look: Microsoft's Windows Longhorn

Microsoft Copy shop employee loses job after posting Mac photo

"Michael Hanscom admits it probably wasn't the best idea. He thought the photo on his personal blog of Apple computers being offloaded at a Microsoft loading dock might get a couple of smirks from friends. He never imagined it would cost him his job."

B i n k - Microsoft Copy shop employee loses job after posting Mac photo

First Windows Media 9 DVD Recorder DiVA 489

"The DiVA 489 which is the first DVD recorder to record using Microsoft's innovative Windows Media 9 Series video compression (WMV9) for digital video recording to DVD and CD disc, as well as playback of streamed and downloaded video.

DVD R/RW can hold more than 6 hours of DVD quality content using the built in Microsoft(R) Windows Media 9 encoding, and more than 15 hours of recording on a recordable DVD using a lower bit rate.

Aeon Digital is also building the network that comes with the DiVA to deliver content from the Internet into the consumer's living room TV using simple plug and play technology, direct to the Internet of the future."

B i n k - First Windows Media 9 DVD Recorder DiVA 489

Blindwrite Suite 5.0.0.110 Released

"The cd backup utility, Blindwrite suite has been updated to version 5.0.0.110
Key features of BlindWrite 5:

- Completely new interface, easier to use than ever before, one-click style.
- Supports graphical themes, allowing you to customize the look and feel.
- New reading and writing engine, now supports both CD and DVD
- Works with most hardware, hightly optimized for finest CD/DVD writers.
- Supports a large number of formats: BlindWrite 4.x (.BWT), CloneCD (.CCD), Iso images (.ISO), Cuesheet/Binary (.CUE/.BIN), Alcohol (.MDS)
- Multi-language support
- Voice notification for events
- Extended log information for easy technical support.

Neowin.net - Blindwrite Suite 5.0.0.110 Released

CloneCD 4.3.1.7 Released

"CloneCD is the ideal tool to make backup copies of your music- or data CDs, regardless if they are copy protected or not! CloneCD's award-winning user interface copies almost any CD in just a few mouse clicks!

CloneCD allows you to create excellent 1:1 copies of your valuable original discs. E.g., should your copy protected music cd not play in your car audio, the backup created with CloneCD will!

View: Changes

Download: CloneCD 4.3.1.7

Homepage: SlySoft"

MSFN - CloneCD 4.3.1.7 Released

Apache HTTP Server 1.3.29 & 2.0.48 for Windows

"Apache HTTP Server 1.3.29

This version of Apache is principally a security and bug fix release. Of particular note is that 1.3.29 addresses and fixes the following issue:

• A buffer overflow could occur in mod_alias and mod_rewrite when a regular expression with more than 9 captures is configured.

Download: Apache 1.3.29 Mirrors
View: Changelog

Apache HTTP Server 2.0.48

This version of Apache is principally a bug fix release. Of particular note is that 2.0.48 addresses two security vulnerabilities:

• mod_cgid mishandling of CGI redirect paths could result in CGI output going to the wrong client when a threaded MPM is used.
  
• A buffer overflow could occur in mod_alias and mod_rewrite when a regular expression with more than 9 captures is configured.

Download: Apache 2.0.48 Mirrors
View: Changelog

MSFN - Apache HTTP Server 1.3.29 & 2.0.48 for Windows

Η πρώτη πόλη στον κόσμο με πλήρες δίκτυο wi-fi

Η Αδελαΐδα είναι η πρώτη πόλη στον κόσμο με πλήρες δίκτυο wi-fi, δηλαδή ασύρματης ευρυζωνικής πρόσβασης στο Διαδίκτυο.

Πολλά εστιατόρια, γραφεία και εμπορικά κέντρα σε όλο τον κόσμο παρέχουν πλέον την υπηρεσία, ενίοτε δωρεάν, παρότι συνήθως περιορίζεται στα 100 μέτρα ακτίνας δράσης περιμετρικά του σημείου πρόσβασης.

ADSLgr Independent Review Site For Broadband In Greece - Η πρώτη πόλη στον κόσμο με πλήρες δίκτυο wi-fi

Microsoft ASP.NET 2.0 "Whidbey" Websites Launched

"ASP.NET 'Whidbey' and Visual Studio 'Whidbey' are the next release of Microsoft's Web platform and tools. With 'Whidbey' you will be able to build powerful, scalable, and feature rich Web applications faster than ever before. Common and never-before possible scenarios become simple allowing developers to build the best Web experience. 'Whidbey' is currently in 'Alpha', with about 2/3rds of the functionality complete – expect a feature complete beta coming in late spring. This site is your early guide to what the future of Web development enables."

MSFN - Microsoft ASP.NET 2.0 "Whidbey" Websites Launched

Windows 2000 site runs for two years without reboot

"www.baltimore.com has run for two years since its last reboot, and has the longest time since reboot of any Windows 2000 site we find on the internet.

Baltimore was an early evangelist of enterprise PKI and briefly a FTSE-100 company during 2000, and although their business has considerably reduced in size, the www.baltimore.com site, which Alexa ranks in the busiest 50,000 sites on the internet, will have seen a considerable volume of traffic since it was last rebooted."

B i n k - Windows 2000 site runs for two years without reboot

Microsoft in standards battle with W3C

"Microsoft and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) are at loggerheads over competing standards for electronic forms which help automate business processes. On Tuesday, Microsoft released InfoPath, its new XML-based application in Office 2003 allowing users to organise and share data. But the security of its signatures has been called into question on a W3C discussion forum.

The W3C recently released the specification for XForms 1.0, which allows the creation of interactive forms to help automate the exchange of corporate data. It is being backed by IBM and Sun Microsystems as a more open approach for heterogeneous environments that rely on interoperability."

B i n k - Microsoft in standards battle with W3C

Microsoft Voice Command released at Handango by Microsoft

"Voice Command transforms your Pocket PC into your own virtual personal assistant by letting you use your voice to look up contacts and place phone calls, get calendar information, play and control your music, and launch applications in a way that is easier, more convenient, and safer while you are on the go. Voice Command uses state-of-the-art speech technology, which means you/ll never have to pre-record important phone numbers or use difficult commands. There are many ways to say commands so you can always find a command that it natural for you. You have the option of using a single command to get what you want or you can be guided, if you prefer. You can even ask 'What can I say'? at any time to get help."

B i n k - Microsoft Voice Command released at Handango by Microsoft

Microsoft Launches Office System 2003 Worldwide

"Microsoft Corp. today announced the general availability of the new Microsoft® Office System, along with research that shows how leading companies are already gaining a competitive advantage from Microsoft Office System productivity solutions. The research, conducted for Microsoft by Navigant Consulting Inc. (NYSE 'NCI'), showed that information workers using the solutions gained an average of two hours in productive time each week without working longer hours, that the companies realized a median net present value of $4,000 per worker, and that the solutions paid for themselves in an average of just eight months. (Full details of the new research can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/officesystemlaunch."

WinBeta.org - Microsoft Launches Office System 2003 Worldwide

Microsoft Launches Exchange Server 2003 Worldwide

"Today, Microsoft Corp. launched Exchange Server 2003, the next edition of its messaging and collaboration server, as part of the Microsoft® Office System.

Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 works with Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 to deliver best-in-class e-mail-based collaboration services that are highly secure, reliable and easy to access, enabling businesses to make decisions efficiently and compete more effectively. Exchange Server 2003 is part of the Windows Server System ^TM , Microsoft's comprehensive, integrated and interoperable server infrastructure that simplifies the development, deployment and operation of agile business solutions. Exchange Server 2003 is also a key component in enabling information worker scenarios as part of the Microsoft Office System."

WinBeta.org - Microsoft Launches Exchange Server 2003 Worldwide

Borland Takes Wraps Off Significant Update To Java IDE

"Borland Software on Tuesday unveiled an upgrade to JBuilder that one company executive called the most significant update to the cross-platform Java IDE in two years.

Taking a page out of Apple's playbook, Borland called the new version of the product JBuilder X. The branding reflects Mac OS X, the next-generation, Unix-based operating system that Apple launched in 2001.

Bill Pataky, director of product management and marketing for Java solutions at Borland, called the branding 'symbolic.' Acknowledging the nod to Apple's branding, Pataky said JBuilder X is the first to support Apple's Mac OS X, now that it supports J2SE 1.4, the latest version of the Java runtime for the desktop. JBuilder X also represents a milestone for Borland: It's the tenth major update to the IDE, which was introduced in 1997."

Tech-Critic - Borland Takes Wraps Off Significant Update To Java IDE

Bink.nu via WAP!

"As of today Bink.nu news can be read from WAP devices. Thanks to Brodie who is Chief editor for the WAP articles, he shortens the articles to save connection time.

So get Wapping at http://wap.bink.nu"

B i n k - Bink.nu via WAP!

Microsoft Home Network Guide

"The Microsoft Home Network Guide is an interactive wizard designed to guide the home user seeking assistance in designing their home network. By guiding the user through a series of questions about their particular requirements, the guide will identify the specific components for purchase based on the user's need. The user can print out a list of recommended equipment types for use in making their purchase decisions.

View: Home and Small Office Networking w/ Windows XP
Download: Microsoft Home Network Guide"

WinBeta.org - Microsoft Home Network Guide

QuickTime 6.4 Released

"Welcome to QuickTime 6.4, featuring 3GPP, the worldwide standard for the creation, delivery, and playback of multimedia over new, high-speed wireless networks. Built on MPEG-4 and powered by QuickTime, 3GPP extends the reach of rich multimedia to a new generation of handheld wireless devices. As the first widely distributed, freely available multimedia technology to deliver 3GPP capabilities, QuickTime enables users all over the world to share 3GPP content with others via both computers and mobile devices.

Note: To update you can also use Quicktime's integrated auto-update feature.

Download: Apple QuickTime 6.4
Homepage: Apple QuickTime"

MSFN - QuickTime 6.4 Released

The PHP Scalability Myth [Oct. 15, 2003]

"PHP scales. There, I said it. The word on the street is that 'Java scales and PHP doesn't.' The word on the street is wrong, and PHP needs someone to stand up and tell the truth: that it does scale.

Those with a closed mind can head straight to the inevitable flame war located at the end of this article. Those with an open mind who are interested in taking their web development skills and putting them to use building applications in the cross-platform, easy-to-write, easy-to-maintain, scalable, and robust PHP platform, but were hesitant because of the scalability myth, should read on. It starts by looking at the term scalability."

ONJava.com - The PHP Scalability Myth

Microsoft Jet 4.0 Service Pack 8 (SP8)

"Microsoft Jet 4.0 Service Pack 8 (SP8) provides the latest updates to the Jet 4.0 database engine with Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, and is discussed in Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 829558. Download now to get the most current updates for Jet 4.0. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

Download: Windows 2000 | Windows XP | Windows Server 2003
View: Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 829558"

MSFN - Microsoft Jet 4.0 Service Pack 8 (SP8)

With update, Mozilla introduces fees

"In an attempt to pick up where Netscape left off with consumer marketing, and perhaps to raise some cash, Mozilla is offering customer support at $39.95 per incident.

With Wednesday's release of Mozilla 1.5, the open-source group founded by Netscape Communications introduced its first for-fee service and the first CD of the software, which costs $5 for shipping and handling.

Mozilla downplayed the revenue-generating value of the new offerings, and cast the decision more in the light of taking on responsibilities formerly carried out by the receding Netscape business, a unit of AOL Time Warner."

CNET News.com - With update, Mozilla introduces fees

RDF Last Call Working Drafts Published

10 October 2003: The RDF Core Working Group has released the second Last Call of six Working Drafts. The Resource Description Framework (RDF) supports the exchange of knowledge on the Web. Comments are welcome through 7 November. Also updated is the Working Group Note LBase, a framework for specifying the meaning of Semantic Web languages. Read about the Semantic Web Activity.

• RDF Primer
• RDF Concepts and Abstract Syntax
• RDF Semantics
• RDF/XML Syntax Specification (Revised)
• RDF Vocabulary Description Language 1.0: RDF Schema
• RDF Test Cases"

W3C - RDF Last Call Working Drafts Published

Microsoft gets 64bit OS beta happy

"Microsoft gave AMD top billing in a Wednesday statement announcing beta versions of 64bit Windows Server 2003 operating systems.

Right atop Microsoft's brief marketing blurb is news that AMD's 64bit chips will be supported with both Standard and Enterprise editions of Windows Server 2003. The beta software has arrived for MSDN subscribers and 'will soon' be available to the rest of the proles.

Microsoft, of course, already has Windows XP in beta for AMD's Athlon 64 with final release due early next year.

A bit later on its statement, Microsoft salutes its good chum Intel as well. A beta of the Standard edition of Windows Server 2003 is available for Itanium. Microsoft already has the Enterprise and Datacenter flavors of the OS available for public consumption on Intel's 64bit chip."

The Register - Microsoft gets 64bit OS beta happy

Linux vs. Windows Viruses

"That SecurityFocus would choose to publish a column designed to perpetuate this myth is a little disappointing, but there you go. What follows is a brief rebuttal of the article.

'None of the Unix or Linux viruses became widespread - most were confined to the laboratory.'

Simply untrue. According to F-Secure, the bot-net created by Linux/Slammer reached around 14,000 machines. Compared to the number of infections caused by some Windows worms, this may seem quite small, but this number is by no means trivial. 14,000 machines focused in a DDoS attack against the root name-servers would easily render the net unusable for a majority of Internet users. The reason we have not seen malicious code exploit recent vulnerabilities in other widely-installed open-source applications is pure luck.

'Even worse, Microsoft's email software is able to infect a user's computer when they do something as innocuous as read an email!' "

Neowin.net - Linux vs. Windows Viruses

For developers only: Pocket GCC released - now you can write and compile software inside of your Pocket PC

"This news item is not directly related to Pocket PC phones, but to all Pocket PC PDAs, and is interesting only for developers (programmers), but it is very important achievement for Pocket PC platform, especially for developers, therefore we publish it here.

GCC is a free Software Development Kit (SDK), including compiler and linker, that is available for many many platforms. Now the impossible has become reality thanks to the porting of GCC to Pocket PC platform: you can write and compile programs for Pocket PC right inside of your device!"

msmobiles.com - For developers only: Pocket GCC released - now you can write and compile software inside of your Pocket PC

HOW TO: Slipstream the Update Rollup into Windows XP SP1

"As we promised last week, we've got up a guide on how to slipstream the Update Rollup into Windows XP SP1. The Update Rollup went final today, and covers all of the critical updates listed on Windows Update since the release of Service Pack 1 until September 2003.

For this guide you will need the following:

• Windows XP Home/Pro with Service Pack 1 Slipstreamed
  
• Update Rollup 1 (KB826939)
  
• CDImage for Windows XP Home / Windows XP Professional

You will find the appropriate links to some of the above in the guide.

In the next few days, we'll show you how you can get the rest of the Updates shown on Windows Update to be installed (not slipstreamed) during Windows XP Setup, such as the Cumulative Updates for IE & OE which isn't included in the Rollup. So watch this space!

View: Slipstreaming the Update Rollup 1 into Windows XP SP1"

MSFN - HOW TO: Slipstream the Update Rollup into Windows XP SP1

SUS SP1 bug

"The cumulative patches for IE are released regally and what the word cumulative says the latest supersedes all the previous ones. So when you approve an IE cumulative patch it is installed on your sus enabled clients.
When a new cumulative patch comes out it updates the previous patch and should remove the previous cumulative patches from the repository or at least the moment you approve the new one. SUS has a mechanism for updated patches, unfortunately SUS keeps previous cumulative patches approved even if you approve the new one.

So when fresh installed client queries the SUS server for updates it gets all the approved IE cumulative patches, which is waist of bandwidth and deploy time.

Microsoft confirmed that this is an issue with SUS 1.0 and will be fixed in SUS 2.0 which is scheduled for release Q1 2004.

To work around this issue the SUS admin should disapprove previous IE cumulative patches when approving a later IE cumulative patch."

B i n k - SUS bug

New Microsoft Security Release method started

"Today the new method of notifying and distributing patches has started. On the 3rd Wednesday of the month the security bulletins will be released (accept if they are critical)

Well there are 7 new bulletins!

MS03-047 : Vulnerability in Exchange Server 5.5 Outlook Web Access Could Allow Cross-Site Scripting Attack (828489)
MS03-046 : Vulnerability in Exchange Server Could Allow Arbitrary Code Execution (822363)
MS03-045 : Buffer Overrun in the ListBox and in the ComboBox Control Could Allow Code Execution (824141)
MS03-044 : Buffer Overrun in Windows Help and Support Center Could Lead to System Compromise (825119)
MS03-043 : Buffer Overrun in Messenger Service Could Allow Code Execution (828035)
MS03-042 : Buffer Overflow in Windows Troubleshooter ActiveX Control Could (826232)
MS03-041 : Vulnerability in Authenticode Verification Could Allow Remote Code Execution (823182)"

B i n k - New Microsoft Security Release method started

New Internet speed record set

"Two major scientific research centres said on Wednesday they had set a new world speed record for sending data across the Internet, equivalent to transferring a full-length DVD film in seven seconds.

The European Organisation for Nuclear Research, CERN, said the feat, doubling the previous top speed, was achieved in a nearly 30-minute transmission over 7,000 kms of network between Geneva and a partner body in California."

WinBeta.org - New Internet speed record set

Adobe Photoshop CS!

"After many awards and becoming a raving succcess, Adobe have upgraded there desktop digital imaging program Adobe Photoshop. It is said that there are hundreds of new features and improvments, heres the top 5...

Improved File Browser
Quickly preview, tag, and sort images; search and edit metadata and keywords; and automatically share batches of files from the improved File Browser.

Match Color command
Achieve a consistent look between package shots, fashion photos, and more by instantly matching the color scheme of one image to another.

Histogram palette
Monitor changes to your image in the Histogram palette, which dynamically updates as you make adjustments.

Shadow/Highlight correction
Quickly improve the contrast of over- or underexposed areas of an image while preserving the overall balance of the photo using Shadow/Highlight correction.

Text on a path
Create eye-catching typography by placing text on paths or within shapes. Edit the text at any time, even in Adobe Illustrator® software."

Neowin.net - Adobe Photoshop CS!

RAR 3.20 for Pocket PC

"Just imagine being able to save precious space on your Pocket PC without
having to pay for it. RARLAB and win.rar GmbH make that possible with the release of Pocket RAR for Pocket PCs as freeware! This means that anyone may use Pocket RAR for absolutely FREE.

View: Rar Homepage
Download: Pocket Rar 3.20 final"

Neowin.net - RAR 3.20 for Pocket PC

Fireworks predicted over MS/Vodafone Web services deal

"Industry observers predict that the rest of the mobile industry could see a partnership between Vodafone and Microsoft as an attempt to hijack existing work on mobile Web services.

The alliance between Microsoft and Vodafone to push the development of mobile Web services is likely to cause ructions within the industry in the months ahead, analysts have predicted.

The two firms announced on Monday that they are joining forces to extend Web services standards to mobile devices. This move, they say, will make it easier for more developers of Web services on PCs to port their efforts to mobile devices.

Microsoft and Vodafone will initially work together to build on existing Web services architecture before sharing their progress with other companies. The industrywide process will begin with a workshop to be held next January."

ZDNet UK News - Fireworks predicted over MS/Vodafone Web services deal

Security Update for Windows NT4/2000/XP/2003 (824141)

"A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise a computer running Microsoft Windows and gain control over it. To attempt an attack, the attacker would have to be able to log on to the computer. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

Download for: Windows NT 4.0 Workstation | Windows NT 4.0 Server
Download for: Windows 2000
Download for: Windows XP | Windows XP 64-Bit Edition

MSFN - Security Update for Windows NT4/2000/XP/2003 (824141)

Update Rollup 1 for Microsoft Windows XP (826939)

"This update consists of previously released critical updates, for Windows XP, rolled into one convenient package. Installing this item provides you the same results as installing the individual updates. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

Download: Update Rollup 1 for Microsoft Windows XP
View: Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 826939 (not available yet)
View: Additional Download Information
"
MSFN - Update Rollup 1 for Microsoft Windows XP (826939)

Mozilla 1.5 Released - MozillaZine Talkback

"Mozilla 1.5 has been released! In addition to enhancements to tabbed browsing, Mail & Newsgroups and the DOM Inspector, this milestone also features many Composer improvements, including support for absolutely positioned elements, better resizing for images and tables, z-index management and a new snap-to-grid option. The ChatZilla IRC client has been overhauled and now includes support for logging. Mozilla 1.5 also features a spellchecker, as well as improved standards support and better performance and stability.

Mozilla 1.5 can be downloaded from the mozilla.org Releases page, the mozilla 1.5 directory on ftp.mozilla.org or the new Mozilla download page. The Mozilla 1.5 Release Notes feature more information, as does the new Mozilla 1.x product page at mozilla.org."

MozillaZine Talkback - Mozilla 1.5 Released

Windows XP sp2 in December ??

"A Microsoft executive said the company will launch Service Pack 2 for Windows XP in December, months earlier than the company forecast on its Service Pack roadmap.

At the Citrix iForum in Florida on Tuesday, Microsoft's corporate vice president of content, Richard Kaplan, who is in charge of the Microsoft.com and Windows Update Web sites, told delegates that Windows XP SP2 would be available by the end of the year. The service pack was originally planned for this year, but had been put back to 2004."

B i n k - Windows XP sp2 in December ??

Windows XP SP2 to be 'Springboard' to Longhorn

"If you're wondering why Microsoft is taking so long to release Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), wonder no more: The company is working to back-port various Longhorn security technologies into SP2, providing a mid-ground between the default security found in XP and that which will be available in its next major desktop OS. Code-named 'Springboard,' the new security features include an updated version of the Internet Connection Firewall (ICF), which adds outbound scanning capabilities and other features previously found only in Microsoft's enterprise server product, Internet Security & Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000."

B i n k - Windows XP SP2 to be 'Springboard' to Longhorn

MySQL Buys Alzato, Clustering Technology

"MySQL has acquired Alzato, a maker of clustering technology for data management systems.

MySQL, based in Uppsala, Sweden, made its name offering Linux databases under both the open-source General Public License and commercially. The integration of NDB Clusters from Alzato could make MySQL more attractive for high-end database applications requiring real-time performance and maximum uptime, the companies said.

The clustering technology scales to up to 32 nodes and 'will extend the cost-efficient scalability of MySQL to provide carrier-grade availability and high throughput in a clustered environment,' said Marten Mickos, CEO of MySQL in a statement."

WinBeta.org - MySQL Buys Alzato, Clustering Technology

Microsoft unpacks details of Longhorn storage

"The Longhorn edition of Microsoft's Windows operating system is at least two years away--but the company is revealing some details on how it intends to create a smooth transition from today's Windows PCs.

One of the most significant enhancements to Longhorn is a data storage system called WinFS, technology designed to make information easier to find and view. Clearing up long-standing confusion, a Microsoft senior vice president said that WinFS will work with--not replace--the existing file system in Windows, called NTFS, when WinFS debuts in late 2005 or 2006. NTFS is only one component of the revamped storage system in WinFS. Another key building block is the querying capabilities of Microsoft's SQL Server relational database, according to Microsoft. WinFS also will incorporate the data labeling capabilities of Extensible Markup Language (XML), Bob Muglia said.

One of the ways that WinFS will improve searching across Windows machines is a mechanism to store related 'metadata' with a given file. The metadata will provide more context and keyword information than Windows applications do today. For example, currently a person can use Windows to view when photos were taken. WinFS is being designed to allow a person to search with more specific information, such as who is in the picture. "

WinBeta.org - Microsoft unpacks details of Longhorn storage

Microsoft plans Wi-Fi enhancements for Windows

"Users of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows XP operating system will soon be able to take advantage of a new software enhancement that the U.S. software company claims will offer faster, easier and more secure access to broadband wireless networks. With its new Wireless Provisioning Services (WPS) technology, Microsoft aims at helping not only business and private users connect to Wi-Fi hotspots more easily and securely, but also telecommunication operators provision and manage these networks more simply and cost-efficiently, Microsoft said Sunday in a statement released at the Telecom World 2003 conference and exhibition in Geneva. The event is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), an arm of the United Nations (UN)."

Neowin.net - Microsoft plans Wi-Fi enhancements for Windows

Israel slams the door on Microsoft

"In a bold assertion of independence, Israel has thrown the full weight of its antitrust legislation at Microsoft.

The Israeli Ministry of Commerce has suspended all governmental contracts with Microsoft, and indicated that the ban will last throughout 2004. The de facto suspension means no upgrades for the duration, at a time when Microsoft is looking to roll out its Office 2003 upgrade; and the Ministry is said to be examining OpenOffice as an alternative. It's a consequence of a much-anticipated legal verdict: Israeli Antitrust Authority director general Dror Strum has finally acknowledged that Microsoft is a monopoly"

MSFN - Israel slams the door on Microsoft

Microsoft CMS Finds New Home With SharePoint

"Microsoft's Content Management Server has found a new home in the company. The CMS team is being folded into the SharePoint Portal Server (SPS) group, Microsoft sources confirmed Monday. 'It just makes sense. This is based on customer feedback (and) analyst feedback. The two (products) are closely aligned, so it makes sense to align them organizationally,' one Microsoft source said."

MSFN - Microsoft CMS Finds New Home With SharePoint

Opera 7.21 Final for Windows

"Opera was the first browser to introduce a multiple document interface (MDI), making it possible to surf in several windows at once. Now Opera further advances this feature by introducing an 'Undo' functionality. If users now close a window by mistake, it's easy to recall by referring to the 'Closed' window history list now added to the menu or using a keyboard shortcut, Ctrl Z. Kiosk mode is reintroduced with Opera 7.21, as was previously implemented in Opera 6. Kiosk mode is a customizable browser setting to limit functionality, blocking menus, preventing downloads, or adjusting other system preferences. Opera's kiosk mode is the most secure way to restrict access appropriate for computer labs, libraries and other kiosk providers."

MSFN - Opera 7.21 Final for Windows

Microsoft Readies Add-Ons for Windows Server 2003

"Microsoft is prepping new troubleshooting and monitoring tools for Windows Server 2003 as part of a menu of server add-ons due this quarter, said one executive at the Momentum conference in New Orleans.

The tools, code-named Sonar and Ultrasound, are designed to improve the Windows servers' file replication services and their operation in mixed environments and will be made available in a la carte fashion by the end of the year, said Michael Goulde, senior product planner at Microsoft.

During his discussion on the Windows Server road map at Momentum over the weekend, the Microsoft executive detailed the roster of add-on feature packs due this quarter, including the Windows SharePoint Services (WSS), Security Configuration Wizard and an iSCSI Initiator for supporting iSCSI devices to the OS.

And those are just some of the appetizers Microsoft is planning. During the first half of 2004, the company will release Rights Management Services and Software Update Server (SUS) 2.0, said Goulde."

WinBeta.org - Microsoft Readies Add-Ons for Windows Server 2003

Microsoft Launches Visual Studio Tools for Office 2003

"Microsoft Corp. today announced the launch of Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft Office System, which brings the power and productivity of Visual Studio .NET 2003 and the Microsoft .NET Framework to business solutions built on the latest versions of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. Microsoft Office is the most broadly used client application in the world, used or customized by nearly 3 million developers and over 400 million users. With today's launch, Microsoft is now providing professional developer customers with the compelling developer tools that they need to take advantage of the power and flexibility of the .NET Framework in their Office-based solutions.

In addition, the Microsoft Office Access 2003 Developer Extensions will be paired with Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft Office System and offered at an upgrade price to users of the previous Office Developer Edition products. The Access Developer Extensions provide the tools and resources developers need to more quickly and easily create, test and deploy sophisticated Microsoft Access solutions."

MSFN - Microsoft Launches Visual Studio Tools for Office 2003

CloneDVD 1.3.10.1

"CloneDVD extracts, transcodes and writes any orginal DVD title you like to a single recordable DVD. Be impressed by the program speed and the amazing image quality of the movie copy. A special transcoding technology compresses your choice of DVD title with your selected audio and subtitle streams to one DVD Recordable. A Video Preview plays an overview of all selectable DVD titles. CloneDVD is very easy to use."

Tech-Critic - CloneDVD 1.3.10.1

MAME 0.75

"MAME stands for Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator. When used in conjunction with a game's data files (ROMs), MAME will more or less faithfully reproduce that game on a PC. MAME can currently emulate over 1900 unique (and over 3300 in total) classic arcade video games from the three decades of video games - '70s, '80s and '90s."

Neowin.net - MAME 0.75

PS3 in Early 2006

"Sony Computer Entertainment have revealed that mass production of the 'cell' microprocessor is due to start in the second half of 2005, a date which suggests that Sony's next console will be on track for a Spring 2006 release in Japan. Once in production it has been suggested that 8 such chips will power Sony's new console.

Initial reports had hinted at a 2007 release claiming that the high expectations for the chip would delay its mass production. SCE's announcement however, suggests that progress in the research phase, the period we are curently in, has been significant and will result in the company meeting a mid-2005 mass production schedule. Sony's ambitions for the chip are great and Toshiba and IBM, its partners in the cell venture are also investing in its development."

Tech-Critic - PS3 in Early 2006

DVD Region-Free 3.10

"DVD Region-Free enables you to watch any region DVD on region-locked DVD drive. It will work, even if you can not change the DVD drive's region anymore.

You needn't hack DVD drive (flash firmware) which is sometimes dangerous, useless or unavailable.

DVD Region-Free disables region check for software DVD players such as PowerDVD, WinDVD, ATI DVD Player, DirectDVD, NVDVD, CinePlayer, Windows Media Player, PCFriendly Player, InterActual Player, TheaterTek DVD and UltraDVD.

DVD Region-Free enables DVD copy software such as DVDFab, DVD X Copy XPress, InterVideo DVD Copy, CloneDVD, DVD2One, Pinnacle InstantCopy, DVD Shrink and Nero Recode to copy any DVD from DVD drive directly.

Other features include Region-Free for RCE DVDs, Macrovision-Free, Operation-Free, Direct-Play DVD menu or movie, and run self at DVD programs startup automatically."

Neowin.net - DVD Region-Free 3.10

It's Official: No Longhorn Until 2006

"Microsoft execs at last have admitted publicly, at last, that Longhorn will not ship in 2005. Does it matter?

At Microsoft's worldwide partner conference this week, Microsoft finally admitted that Longhorn won't see the light of day until 2006. This isn't a guess on my part, educated or otherwise. Or flame bait. Or conjecture. This is straight from the horses' mouths.

At the show this week, several Microsoft execs casually slipped into their presentations that Longhorn is three years away from debut. Last time I did the math, that was not 2005, as promised just a few months ago. Nor is it even the wishy-washy '2005 ' that a few execs had taken to attaching to their product timetables. The new target is 2006, plain and simple."

MSFN - It's Official: No Longhorn Until 2006

Microsoft's Raikes Touts Office System 2003 Suite

"Information worker productivity is at a tipping point, becoming a workspace for innovation, integration and teams, with Microsoft itself making a major transition and working with its partners to make this happen, Jeff Raikes, Microsoft's group vice president on productivity and business solutions, said Friday.

Addressing several thousand attendees at the Worldwide Partner Conference, he took a swipe at Linux, open source and StarOffice, saying, 'they simply accept the view that what they have is good enough. That view does not foster innovation. Being where we were with Office 1997 is not good enough for us,' he said. Microsoft Office 2003 shows the new potential of information worker productivity, where services come together to dramatically enhance what people can do together, said Raikes."

MSFN - Microsoft's Raikes Touts Office System 2003 Suite

Microsoft Dissatisfaction Running High, Users Contemplate Switch

"Almost two-thirds of respondents to a recent InternetWeek Reader Question said they are dissatisfied with Microsoft software, and 41 percent of respondents are at least thinking about switching away from Microsoft software. Only 28 percent of users responding to the poll described themselves as satisfied Microsoft customers.

We asked the question: 'Microsoft users are getting fed up. They're battered by worms, viruses, security patches and increasing enterprise licensing costs. Aggravation has users talking about switching from Microsoft software to something else. We're trying to figure out how much of that talk is just talk, and how much is serious action. Do you seriously plan to dump Microsoft software?' "

MSFN - Microsoft Dissatisfaction Running High, Users Contemplate Switch

Windows security update planned

"Stung by criticism over lax software security, Microsoft Corp. disclosed plans Thursday to update its flagship Windows operating systems early in 2004 to make consumers less vulnerable to hackers.

Microsoft said the changes, announced by chief executive Steve Ballmer during a trade conference in New Orleans, will be offered free in the next “service pack” update to users of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 software, the company’s latest versions for consumers and businesses.

The announcement was aimed at calming Microsoft customers increasingly irritated by the ease with which hackers and others have broken into Windows computers. Adequately protecting an average personal computer can take far more time than many customers are willing to spend."

ieXbeta Board - Windows security update planned