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• Pentagon computers vulnerable
  Time: 21:48 GMT Source: ABCNews Posted By: Bob

  Military computer and communications systems are “increasingly compromised” and vulnerable to attack by hackers and high-tech enemies, concluded a Pentagon-sponsored study released today.

   
• Group Chides Microsoft On Standards Adoption
  Time: 21:48 GMT Source: Techweb Posted By: Bob

  Microsoft on Thursday released InternetExplorer 5.0, which it said will makeWeb surfing more pleasurable and productive, and give developers a platform for innovation. But one group of Web developers was not cheering.

   
• Nielsen Comes to the Net
  Time: 21:45 GMT Source: Wired Posted By: Bob

  In TV Land, executives tremble before the power of the Nielsen Media Research's audience ratings. Nielsen numbers dictate the life and death of shows and determine where advertisers spend billions of bucks.

   
• Microsoft Off Truste's Hook
  Time: 21:45 GMT Source: Wired Posted By: Bob

  The consumer privacy organization Truste has decided that Microsoft's controversial Windows data-collection practices compromise consumer trust but that they do not violate the company's license agreement with Truste.

• Sun sets sights on software
  Time: 21:45 GMT Source: ZDNet Posted By: Bob

Sun Microsystems is about to jump, with both feet, into the software business again--and the company may just make a splash this time around.

• High-tech theft hits $5 billion
  Time: 21:42 GMT Source: ZDNet Posted By: Bob

  New study says pilfering of chips, cell phones, computers and more costs U.S. manufacturers, customers more than $5 billion each year.

   
• Senate subcommittee hears of Net fraud
  Time: 21:35 GMT Source: ZDNet Posted By: Bob

  They were neither green investors, nor Internet newbies. But an electrical engineer and a computer company executive told a Senate hearing Monday they had each lost thousands of dollars to online investment scam artists.

   
• Intel goes home with networking
  Time: 21:30 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Bob

  The company plans to roll out new home networking technology next month, called AnyPoint, that will allow multiple computers within a home to communicate using already installed phone wires, when used in conjunction with Microsoft's Windows operating system.

   
• Microsoft, DOJ open to settlement
  Time: 21:25 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Bob

  Microsoft executives want to use the remaining weeks of recess in their antitrust trial to negotiate a settlement with the government, sources close to the company said today.

   
• Rivals criticize merged NSI, InterNIC site
  Time: 21:21 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Bob

  Domain name registration hopefuls are crying foul after Network Solutions took over the InterNIC Web site just weeks before the company is set to lose its government-appointed monopoly to register the most lucrative form of Internet addresses.

   
• Firm gives ICQ offline seeking ability
  Time: 21:20 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Bob

  Israeli-based communications firm NECS is giving ICQ users a way to find their buddies even when they aren't connected to the Internet.

   
• Browser, OS On Collision Course
  Time: 20:48 GMT Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron

  Internet Explorer 5.0 is the best browser around today. Here are some thoughts I had last week when Microsoft introduced IE 5.0 at its studio location in Redmond, Wash.

  The browser, the operating system and the entire idea of client-based software are on a collision course.

   
• Intel Rolls Out New Celeron
  Time: 20:45 GMT Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron

  "Dollars for megahertz" may sound like a game, but it's the driving force behind the low-end PC market, according to Intel Corp., which today upped the ante with a new 433MHz Celeron processor. The Santa Clara, Calif., company's latest offering, which includes 128KB of integrated Level 2 cache, is priced at $169 per 1,000 in Intel's plastic pin grid array packaging. That translates into several OEMs offering sub-$1,000 desktops with the new chip.

   
• Gameboy Competitor Steals Japanese Market
  Time: 20:17 GMT Source: MSNBC Posted By: Dennis

  Nintendo’s Game Boy has dominated the handheld video game system market in the United States for so long that it is only natural to assume that domination is worldwide. That’s true, but perhaps not for long — several new competitors have appeared on the Japanese market in recent weeks.

  The successor to the monochrome Neo Geo Pocket (which has not been released in the U.S.), Neo Geo Pocket Color’s 2.6-inch screen is larger than the screen on Game Boy. It has a rotating “3D Lever” directional button that is very similar to the directional pads on the Analog Controller for the Sony PlayStation.

   

• MicroWorkz sets date for $299 PC Shipments
  Time: 20:10 GMT Source: News.Com Posted By: Dennis

  Responding to the crush of interest in its offer for a $299 computer, Microworkz said today it has started to take orders online, but won't start shipping units "subject to supply and demand" on April 19.

  Microworkz last week struggled to cope with getting information to consumers about their offer for a $299 PC that comes with a year of free Internet access.

   

• Comcast buys MediaOne for 60 billion dollars
  Time: 20:07 GMT Source: News.Com Posted By: Dennis

  A merger between two major cable companies today will give birth to a new broadband powerhouse, executives from the two companies said.

  Comcast, the fourth largest U.S. cable provider, agreed today to acquire MediaOne Group, the third biggest U.S. cable firm, in a $60 billion stock deal that would create a broadband communications firm.

   

• MSN Expedia and MaxMiles Join Forces to Save Travelers Time
  Time: 14:18 GMT Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron

  Today’s typical traveler is enrolled in more than seven frequent-travel programs. To help these busy travelers save time and maximize their travel benefits, the MSN™ Expedia™ travel service (http://expedia.msn.com/) is announcing an agreement with MaxMiles Inc. to offer a free one-year subscription to MileageMinerÔ , an online service that conveniently consolidates and manages consumers’ frequent-travel programs in one online location (connect-time charges may apply).

   
• Microsoft Wins Y2K Lawsuit in Federal Court in Illinois
  Time: 14:16 GMT Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron

  Microsoft Corp. announced a major court victory Friday with the dismissal of a year 2000 (Y2K) lawsuit filed in federal court in Illinois. The lawsuit, filed originally as a class action by plaintiff Ruth Kaczmarek of Naperville, Ill., was dismissed with prejudice by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

  In a strongly worded opinion, the court said, "As we near the 21st century, the media has focused on many potential Y2K problems. This focus will inevitably lead to much litigation … , which the courts will need to determine is meritful or meritless. Unfortunately for the plaintiff, we find this lawsuit falls in the latter category."

   
• Dreamweaver 2.01 Released
  Time: 12:26 GMT Source: Netigen Web Posted By: Byron

  Macromedia has released a minor update for its Dreamweaver Web authoring tool. Dreamweaver 2.01 corrects minor issues related to the JavaScript extensibility mechanism, as well a time zone issue that may affect customers outside the US. If you are working in the United States and are not writing or using third-party data translators and property inspectors, you probably do not need to download this patch.

  Note that this patch will update copies of Dreamweaver 2.0 that you have purchased either on CD or through electronic software download. It will not update the 30-day trial version as registration is required.

   

• TNT2 Vs. Voodoo 3
  Time: 12:12 GMT Source: The Review Zone Posted By: Byron

  The Review Zone has posted an article that puts the TNT2 up against the Voodoo 3. Here is a snippet from the article:

  The TNT2, at first glance, looks like a souped-up TNT, using the same Twin Texel 32-bit graphics pipeline. However, with 32MB of SDRAM (no support for SGRAM), a 300MHz RAMDAC (an improvement over the 250MHz RAMDAC of the original TNT), a maximum display resolution of 2048x1536 and an improved rendering pipeline, the TNT2 is a little more than merely a faster version of the original TNT. It includes support for hardware bump mapping and motion compensation, as well as AGP 4x, in anticipation of Intel’s upcoming 440JX (“Camino”) chipset.

• WindowBlinds 0.80 Review
  Time: 23:59 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis

  Here's our exclusive WindowBlinds 0.80 review. This includes some great screen shots. Give this a look.

   

• Mailing List Reminder
  Time: 17:59 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron

  Just a final reminder for those of you who missed out on our piece about out new HTML mailing list that we mentioned the other day. If you would like to sign up for it, please just check out the following page for more details.

   

• Internet Explorer 5 FAQ Updated
  Time: 17:57 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron

  The IE 5 FAQ has yet again been updated. This one includes speed and AutoComplete issues that have been cropping up.

   

• Site News
  Time: 14:05 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron

  There is very little news about today, so we will spend most of the day updating various sections on the website, but as per usual, if anything crops up, we'll post it here first.

   

• New Winamp Due On Wednesday
  Time: 14:02 GMT Source: e-mail Posted By: Byron

  The guys over at Winamp have updated their plan. "The new Winamp release is scheduled for Wednesday the 24th of this month".

   

• Novell, IBM in development pact
  Time: 04:57 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Bob

  The networking software provider will strengthen its ties with Big Blue to obtain the application development software it needs to battle Microsoft.

   

• Symantec offers security for Pentium III
  Time: 04:45 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Bob

  The company announces a patch to disable a program designed to swipe serial numbers off Pentium III processors less than a week after the hack was first announced.

   

• Better Business Bureau joins online privacy fray
  Time: 04:40 GMT Source: CNN Posted By: Bob

  The Better Business Bureau today became the latest organization to unveil an Internet privacy program, rolling out a plan that offers businesses a seal of approval if they follow bureau guidelines.

   

• Microsoft Ready To Ship Small-Business Server
  Time: 04:25 GMT Source: Techweb Posted By: Bob

  Microsoft's BackOffice Small Business Server 4.5, which will be released to manufacturing on March 23, is "rock solid" and will begin shipping to the reseller channel in April, said sources briefed on Microsoft's plans. Beta testers received the final beta, beta 3, approximately two weeks ago. Microsoft released the first beta version in January.

   

• Hacker exposes security weaknesses on eBay
  Time: 04:21 GMT Source: Nando Posted By: Bob

  The Internet auction site eBay Inc. has been penetrated by a hacker who managed to take down the company's home page and achieved extensive access to other content, Forbes Digital Tool reported.

• WindowBlinds 0.80 Update & Site News
  Time: 21:55 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis

  WindowBlinds 0.80 is set for release on Wednesday, now since it is still in beta it could be delayed or pushed up. Also, WindowBlinds 0.80 Beta is up for Object Desktop Network users. I encourage all of you to buy a subscription, as it is quite a bargain, and the bargain is increasing, making it more and more useful. We have received the 0.80 beta and will start our review today, and when we get an new updated build tomorrow we will yet again update the review, and then post it tomorrow night.

  Also, we have a SimCity 3000 review hopefully tomorrow night as well. A new poll will be coming up later tonight. If you have any poll suggestions please email dennis@activewin.com.

   

• Windows 2000 To Ship In October
  Time: 17:24 GMT Source: Windows Magzine Posted By: Byron

  WINDOWS Magazine has learned from multiple sources both inside and outside Microsoft that a target shipping date for Windows 2000 has finally been set. That date is October 6, just in time for the Comdex trade show in November. Meanwhile, we’ve also found out that the company has delayed the release of the planned Consumer edition of Windows 2000 until at least 2001.

  According to sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, current beta versions of Windows 2000 (up through build 1984 at this writing) have performed better than expected in both internal tests at Microsoft and external tests by third parties--giving managers enough confidence to not only schedule a release, but also to announce it. The announcement was made in March at a closed meeting of the Joint Deployment Program (formerly known as the Rapid Deployment Program, under which selected corporate customers get early access to Windows 2000 beta code). In addition, we have learned that at least one outside fulfillment house has been alerted to expect large orders for pressing CDs in late September and early October.

   
• Intel Shows Off 800MHz Pentium
  Time: 17:07 GMT Source: PC World Posted By: Byron

  Intel demonstrated an 800-MHz Pentium at the CeBit show here Thursday, offering a glimpse of the high-powered chips it will rely on in the future to sustain profits as semiconductor prices slide.

  The 800-MHz CPU is about 60 percent faster than the new Pentium III Xeon chip Intel unveiled the day before. The demonstration chip is "not a product we are going to sell tomorrow but it shows where we are going," says Pat Gelsinger, general manager of Intel's desktop products group.

   
• Finalized Rage Pro Drivers?
  Time: 11:46 GMT Source: 3D Gaming News Posted By: Byron

  Today Microsoft released some new ATI Rage Pro drivers, which appear to be the finalized 5.35-T20 OpenGL ICD. Pick them up here

   

• TNT Detonator Drivers 1.20 Released
  Time: 09:00 GMT Source: Dimension 128 Posted By: Byron

  Dimension 128 has posted the newest version of the TNT Detonator drivers, version 1.20. You can download the drivers from their site here.

   

• Internet Explorer 5 FAQ Updated
  Time: 08:54 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron

  I'll stop posting about it after today, but the Internet Explorer 5 FAQ has yet again been updated. Added various Q&A's about the radio toolbar and Outlook Express slowness.

   

• Rage Fury AGP Review
  Time: 08:52 GMT Source: E-mail Posted By: Byron

  The sanctum has posted their review of the ATI Rage Fury AGP. Here is a short snippet:

  With the impending release of nVidia's TNT2 videocard and 3dfx's Voodoo3 users are left with a few choices. Keep in mind that if you purchase the fury now, you will be getting a card with a not fully matured driver set. Out of the box you wont have a DVD player either, and will have to mail the coupon out for one. In time with a few driver releases ATI's Rage Fury will hopefully mature, so we insist on waiting and watching. If you really need an AGP videocard and cant wait for TNT2 or Voodoo3 then the Fury might be one of your options, although we recommend a TNT based card if 3D is your fortay. The OpenGL driver shipping with nVidia's TNT cards is much better. In closing TheSanctum gives ATI's Rage Fury AGP videocard a 80%. In its current state we really cant give it a great buy. If it's drivers were more mature and a DVD player was packed in box, it would have received a few more points.

• New Creative Drivers and Bios
  Time: 23:58 GMT Source: 3DFiles Posted By: Byron

  Creative Labs has posted new drivers for their Voodoo 2, a new bios for their Riva TNT and new drivers and bios for their Banshee. You can download them here.

   

• Intel Settlement May Affect 64-Bit Platforms
  Time: 23:32 GMT Source: Techweb Posted By: Bob

  Intel's settlement this week of Federal Trade Commission antitrust charges won't have any profound or immediate effect on the PC or workstation arenas, but could presage a subtle shift in the industry's movement to 64-bit computing.

   

• Senators urge YK2 contingency plans
  Time: 23:29 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Bob

  A group of congressmen are urging federal agencies to submit emergency plans for dealing with Y2K-related failures.

   

• The price of 'Net access
  Time: 23:28 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Bob

  Members of Congress are pushing new legislation that would officially bar federal regulators from imposing new charges on Internet access. The FCC, meanwhile, is working on its defense against a number of formidable foes.

   

• Intergraph, Compaq won't fight FTC ruling
  Time: 23:25 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Bob

  The companies say they won't file objections to the settlement in the Federal Trade Commission's antitrust case against Intel.

   

• Dell to sell PCs with Linux
  Time: 23:19 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Bob

  Dell Computer will install Linux technology on select PCs in a deal that could mark a broad new stage for the upstart operating system.

   
• Teen arrested for AOL hack
  Time: 23:10 GMT Source: Internet News Posted By: Bob

  America Online says its safeguards worked when an 18-year-old high school dropout hacked into the company's internal computers from his bedroom.

   
• AOL may cut up to 700 jobs
  Time: 23:00 GMT Source: Internet News Posted By: Bob

  Fresh off the finalization of its acquisition of Netscape Communications Corp., America Online Inc. reportedly plans to cut up to 30 percent of the browser pioneer's work force.

   
• Real Networks aim to please
  Time: 22:53 GMT Source: ABC News Posted By: Bob

  Real Networks today moved to integrate its streaming media software with both America Online's instant messaging service and Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser, and to support an important Web broadcasting technology.

   
• More than half of American homes have a personal computer, research firm says
  Time: 22:52 GMT Source: Nando Posted By: Bob

  More than half of all homes in the United States now have at least one personal computer, a leading market research firm said Thursday, citing a surge in sales the past two years led by falling prices and Internet fever.

   
• Win98SE delayed to buy time for Windows 2000 Pro.
  Time: 22:15 GMT Source: Computer News Daily Posted By: Dennis

  Microsoft Corp. said Thursday it will offer an update to its Windows 98 computer-operating system by the fourth quarter in a move that analysts said buys time for the No. 1 software maker's Windows 2000 system.

   

• Microsoft Patches Privacy Holes
  Time: 22:11 GMT Source: Wired Posted By: Dennis

  Microsoft responded to privacy concerns by posting software patches on its Web site late Thursday to stop its Office software from invisibly stamping a hardware identification number in users' documents.

   

• GM Web site lets Spammers access Email Data
  Time: 22:09 GMT Source: Wired Posted By: Dennis

  Until today, spammers could tap into the personal data of more than 10,000 online sweepstakes entrants at Pontiac's site. The company promised that would never happen.

   

• Web Standards Group "Disappointed" With MS IE 5
  Time: 20:23 GMT Source: Newsbytes Posted By: Byron

  Not everyone is pleased with the latest browser software rolled out by Microsoft Corp. The Boston-based Web Standards Project said it feels Internet Explorer (IE) 5 falls short on standards support, and in the process, forces Web developers to take extra measures in designing their content. The standards initiative contends that while IE 5 makes "marked improvements" compared to the previous version 4.0 release, the software still falls short of fully supporting key Web standards. The group asserted that in some instances the omissions could be considered "significant."

   
• K6-III Vs. PIII
  Time: 20:20 GMT Source: PC World/CoolInfo Posted By: Byron

  PC World Tests out the K6-III and the PIII processors. Here is a snippet:

  The K6-III may be great with standard business applications, but when you run the latest 3D shoot-'em-up, you could be the victim. In our graphics benchmarks, the K6-III-450 PCs that had been running like Pentium III-500s couldn't keep up with the average PII-450.

  On the PowerPoint test, our least taxing graphics test, the K6-III systems came within striking distance of the Pentium IIIs. The CyberMax K6-III-450, the slowest K6-III-450 in our business application tests, finished this test in 156 seconds, only 9 seconds behind the average Pentium III-500 with the same NVidia TNT graphics chip.

  The K6-III systems were significantly slower with our more demanding graphics tests. For example, in the Redline Racer game test, Compaq's pricey Presario 5600s-450 ran about 44 percent slower than the average similarly configured PII-450 PC we've tested. On the same test, the 450-MHz CyberMax Enthusiast fared only slightly better, trailing the PII-450s by about 30 percent. On the Director test, results were similarly unimpressive: The top-performing Compaq lagged behind the PII-450s by 11 percent

   
• Microsoft OUT of IE5 CDs
  Time: 17:31 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis

  Today, I was watching the mail for an IE5 cd I had bought, on Saturday, I even paid the extra 5 bucks for the Express shipping method! Angrily, I thought I'd call the MS dept that's controlling this. I called their shipping phone #, and used their automated shipping status menu. I was prompted for my order number and it said "We have found 1 order matching your order number. We are sorry, we are out of stock on that particular product." Hmm... Out of stock for the IE5 cds and it just came out yesterday? Sounds like this is the reason they say "Please wait 8-10 weeks for delivery."

  If you ordered an IE5 cd, please check your email for your email receipt, and included in that email is the phone number to call (1-800-485-2048), see if your order was processed.

  We will keep you up to date on the IE5 cd problem.

  UPDATE: We have received more information, that Microsoft lost about 10,000 orders for the IE5 cd, please call 1-800-485-2048 with your order number to see what's up with your CD. We just don't want people waiting for a CD that will never came. I would also like to remind everyone that I ordered my IE4 cd in August of 97, and got my IE5 cd at the end of October. So the best thing for you is to keep up with your order.

   

• Microsoft Outlines Vision for Directory Scalability and Performance
  Time: 14:38 GMT Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron

  Microsoft Corp. yesterday announced its position on scalability and performance requirements for enterprise directory services. In conjunction with Compaq Computer Corp. and Cisco Systems Inc., Microsoft also released the results of tests that show that the Microsoft® Active Directory™ directory service of the Windows® 2000 Server operating system will scale and perform to meet the needs of customers ranging from Internet service providers (ISPs) to the largest enterprises.

   
• ActiveWindows Mailing List Ready
  Time: 13:52 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron

  We have finished work on our very own mailing list setup. You can now subscribe to either a HTML or a regular plain text version. The HTML mailing list has its very own design and layout and will be used daily to send out some of our top news, it will also be used if there is any breaking news we think you would like to know about.

   
• Internet Explorer 5 FAQ Updated
  Time: 12:01 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron

  As we mentioned yesterday, we will keep the Internet Explorer 5 FAQ up to date throughout the coming weeks. We have been scouring the IE 5 newsgroups and examining nearly all of your questions to see which ones are becoming the most asked.

   
• Handhelds All The Rage At CeBit Show
  Time: 10:36 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Byron

  It may not be as glamorous as Comdex, but manufacturers are using the big European confab to show off the newest in handheld and wireless devices.

   

• Opera 3.60 Beta Released
  Time: 10:30 GMT Source: Netigen Web Posted By: Byron

  Opera Software has released the latest beta version of its popular alternative Web browser. Opera 3.60 Beta has been made available for public download. At the moment, specific changes in this release are not available -- however I assume it includes additional CSS and Java support as well as fixes for bugs in 3.51.

• Having Problems Downloading IE5?
  Time: 22:30 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis

  We have some more links to the IE5 setup if you are having problems download it. You can downloading the setup DIRECTLY from WindowsUpdate here. Or you can download it from one of the many download sites Microsoft has here. This is still just the ActiveSetup, and when opened it will download from one of the download sites.

   

• Windows 98 SE Will Hit Stores
  Time: 21:47 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Byron

  We don't usually blow our own trumpet, but we did say 3 months ago that Windows 98 OSR was to go into mainstream retail and we were told by a number of other sites that we were completely wrong, well Bill Gates has confirmed it will go on sale for $89, what more can we say.

   
• Official: Win 98 New Version To Ship In Q3
  Time: 21:43 GMT Source: The Register Posted By: Byron

  Microsoft has now officially conceded that there will be another version of Windows 98, and says that what is likely to be called Windows 98 Second Edition will ship in late summer or autumn of this year. The company still hasn't admitted that its plans for a convergence of code on the NT/Win2k kernel are therefore toast, but what were you expecting?

  Confirmation that Windows 9x lives comes from IE marketing chief Yusuf Mehdi, who says that the new software will include Internet Explorer 5.0 (which is released today) and various other technologies, including Internet Connection Sharing, which will allow multiple computers to access the Internet over a single line. This is clearly intended to take xDSL deployment a stage further via a form of home networking. Microsoft's hit rate when it comes to accurate prediction of how fast consumer broadband is going to take off has so far been absolutely diabolical, but maybe this time it will be different.

   
• Microsoft Goes To DSL By Taking $30 Million Rhythms Stake
  Time: 21:07 GMT Source: Internet News Posted By: Bob

  Microsoft Corp. this week agreed to a $30 million equity stake in high-speed networking provider Rhythms NetConnections Inc. and will offer the DSL provider's customers with a co-branded MSN portal.

   

• Real Integrates G2 Player, AOL Instant Messenger
  Time: 21:05 GMT Source: Internet News Posted By: Bob

  RealNetworks Thursday released an update to its RealPlayer G2 that incorporates America Online's Instant Messenger service and adds new features for broadband users.

   

• IE5 reportedly has looser links with Windows
  Time: 21:02 GMT Source: Nando Posted By: Bob

  Microsoft's new internet software appears less integrated with the Windows operating system, making it easier to separate some Web navigation features from computer desktop functions.

   

• Superhacker Kevin Mitnick signs plea bargain
  Time: 21:00 GMT Source: Nando Posted By: Bob

  Kevin Mitnick, whose computer-hacking exploits put him on the FBI's most-wanted list until he was arrested four years ago, has signed a plea agreement reportedly calling for one more year behind bars.

   

• Victory for Network Solutions
  Time: 20:51 GMT Source: ZDNet Posted By: Bob

  Judge says company has antitrust protection to retain its monopoly on registering Net names for now.

   
• IE5 Web Accessories... The best IE5 features...
  Time: 20:36 GMT Source: Microsoft Posted By: Dennis

  There is a link with Microsoft Web Accessories, this is referred to as the IE5 power toy on the internet. This is not true. In fact, that is just ONE of the may accessories Microsoft has uploaded.
  
  

  • Explorer Bars. This is a new feature that Microsoft has that will open a left bar, that will display news. There was a MSN one a few months ago that wasn't very popular.
  • Microsoft Web Accessories. Dreamed up by our very own development team, this kit contains eight terrific utilities that let you zoom in and out on any image, highlight text, do custom searches, and much, much more.
  • IE Toolbar Background. Turn the Internet Explorer toolbar into a work of art! Run the download, close Internet Explorer, then start it up again. Choose Toolbar Wallpaper from the Tools menu and pick your wallpaper! This Accessory is in beta and not supported by Microsoft.
  • Power Tweaks. his pack of Web Accessories is designed to make your life easier. It adds an Offline/Online button to your toolbar that's especially useful for notebook computer users. Restrictions commands right in the tools menu help you set sites as trusted or restricted without having to wade through the control panel to find the controls. Finally, with a right click of the mouse you can copy and URL right into the clipboard so you can paste locations in e-mail or any document.
  • Web Developer Accessories. These two tools help the web developer or those who are just curious about how pages are coded. The DOM tree tool lets you view all the Document Object Model properties in tree form via right click or the tools menu. And for those who are tired of scrolling through hundreds of lines of HTML to find that one section of code that does what you want, search no more! Simply highlight the area of Web page that you want to see the source for, right click on it and select "View Partial Source." It's that simple!

   

• ZDNet also gets in the Hype
  Time: 20:15 GMT Source: ZDNet Posted By: Dennis

  It's still Internet Explorer, but don't call it a browser. Microsoft's new mantra makes it just another feature in Windows 98. So, here's the dope on Win98, the IE5 edition.

   

• News.Com gets in the IE5 Hype
  Time: 20:12 GMT Source: News.Com Posted By: Dennis

  The latest version of Internet Explorer contains some interesting features, but the main challenge facing Microsoft's Web browser may be one of mind share.

   

• Five Has Arrived
  Time: 14:33 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron

  Microsoft has finally updated their Internet Explorer 5 site announcing that IE 5 can now be downloaded across more formats. Whether it is worth your while trying to download it straight away is up to you, but the sites will be pretty slow over the next day or so. But some of you may already have it after we posted the links to the setup files yesterday ;o)

   
• IE 5: Mindshare Over Matter?
  Time: 13:53 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Byron

  Ever Microsoft found Internet religion in 1995, the Internet Explorer Web browser was internally thought to be a natural extension of its dominant Windows operating system franchise.

  Now, more than three years after the company transformed itself seemingly overnight because of the Net, that philosophy is becoming all but formal doctrine across the sprawling Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington. As chairman Bill Gates himself releases the latest version of Internet Explorer today, it is clear that the browser has fully been subsumed into a larger Internet strategy, from the manner in which Microsoft presents information on its Web site to the alignment of its product teams.

   

• Windows 2000 Beta 3 RC 1 Released
  Time: 12:09 GMT Source: Wugnet Posted By: Byron

  A spokesperson from Microsoft has confirmed that the company has shipped Windows 2000 Beta 3 Release Candidate 1 (RC1) to testers today, also implicitly confirming the release schedule reported earlier in WinInfo. She also commented that the mood at Microsoft was "upbeat" (meaning that the traditional company party for St. Patrick's Day is on) and that the final Beta 3 is on track for release in April as expected.

   
• TweakIE 2.1 Released
  Time: 12:04 GMT Source: Wizard Systems Posted By: Byron

  A new version of TweakIE (2.1) has been released, this new version supports Internet Explorer 5 gold as well as Internet Explorer 3/4

   
• IE 5 FAQ's Updated
  Time: 11:47 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron

  As many of you probably already know, we have updated the FAQ's for Internet Explorer 5 final - If you have any questions, check the FAQ out to see if they have already been answered. We will be updating the page throughout the week as more questions and answers arise.

   
• Korea Investigates MS Over Windows 98 Pricing
  Time: 11:46 GMT Source: The Register Posted By: Byron

  Even more bad news for Microsoft, as now the Korean FTC (Fair Trade Commission, this one) mounts an investigation of possible price-gouging on Windows 98.

   

• MS Could Face French Liability Claim Over Win98 Y2K Issue
  Time: 11:45 GMT Source: The Register Posted By: Byron

  The French government is considering taking action against Microsoft over the non-Y2K compliance of several products, including Windows 98. Both 98 and Works 4.5 failed compliance tests carried out in January, and according to French small and medium business minister Marylise Lebranchu, possible liability on Microsoft's part is currently being assessed.

   

• K6-III Processor Review
  Time: 11:42 GMT Source: Lost Circuits Posted By: Byron

  LostCircuits has posted a review of the AMD K6-III processor. Here is a snippet:

  The business suite of Winstone98 brought out a few surprising results. First, there is not too much impact of the system bus frequency on the performance of the AMD K6-III. At 6x 66 MHz, however there is definitely a performance hit compared to the 4x100 MHz setting (run on the Iwill XA100 Plus). In addition, the Sharptooth performs significantly better than the K6-2 or a PentiumII running on the ASUS P2B with otherwise identical hardware at 3x 140 MHz (timed by WS98 as running at 416 MHz). The most surprising result, however, turned out to be the performance of the Shuttle HOT 603 reaching the high-score of 30.9 WS98 marks at 75x5.5 (413) Mhz.

  In order to look at impact of the additional L2 cache on the cacheable system RAM limitation of the chipset, we ran a few test runs on both the FIC PA 2013 and the Shuttle HOT603. Both boards have a cache limitation of 128MB system RAM that, in the case of the Shuttle HOT 603 can be increased to 256 MB RAM by enabling 3T-write in the BIOS which switches from WriteBack mode (WB) to WriteThrough (WT) mode. The FIC PA 2013 was run with 64MB RAM versus 192 MB RAM, whereas the Shuttle HOT 603 was run in WB mode compared to WT mode.

   
• What's so great about IE5?
  Time: 11:05 GMT Source: ZDNet Posted By: Dennis

  At the brink of IE5 being released, Here's another review of it. We will be posting our review sometime today or tomorrow of IE5, read this one for now.

   

• IE5 Released (Regardless what other sites say)
  Time: 10:59 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis

  Regardless what the other sites sites say, IE5 is up and its available for download. IN FACT, Its available from Windows Update RIGHT NOW. Go here. This totally overwrites the other sites' claims. IE5 is out, and you can download it, al though nothing has been announced, IE5 final being allowed to be download on a Microsoft web site is good enough for me. Windows Update also has the IE5 Power Toys "Web Accessories" check this out as well.

• IE 5 Final On Microsoft Server
  Time: Updated Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis

  While most IE5 Microsoft download servers don't have the ie5setup.exe we've found one that does! IE5 Final is now available. This is yet to be officially released by Microsoft, but its from  MS server so it is the final.

   

• IE 5 Final On Tucows
  Time: Updated Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis

  While Microsoft still gets IE5 ready for release, Tucows has posted it! Tucows has posted the 24 MB version, the activesetup downloads 18 MB, we recommend waiting as this isn't the MS final. This is a modified version of IE5 final for Tucows, so its not the final thats on MS's servers, but its the same browser just some Tucows customizations. If you want the MS official one, wait, and we'll post the url to it as soon as its available. We will post when MS has posted their activesetup. If this doesn't install the components you want or it installs too many, you can add/uninstall them later after its installed. This has been confirmed FINAL! It is Internet Explorer 5.00.2014.0216.

  Update: We've also received word that the IE5 final on Tucows does NOT have the radio tool bar or FTP functions, we will keep you posted. Please wait for the IE5 Final from Microsoft.

• IE 5 Final On Microsoft Server
  Time: 23:59 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis

  While most IE5 Microsoft download servers don't have the ie5setup.exe we've found one that does! IE5 Final is now available. This is yet to be officially released by Microsoft, but its from  MS server so it is the final.

   

• IE 5 Final On Tucows
  Time: 23:59 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis

  While Microsoft still gets IE5 ready for release, Tucows has posted it! Tucows has posted the 24 MB version, the activesetup downloads 18 MB, we recommend waiting as this isn't the MS final. This is a modified version of IE5 final for Tucows, so its not the final thats on MS's servers, but its the same browser just some Tucows customizations. If you want the MS official one, wait, and we'll post the url to it as soon as its available. We will post when MS has posted their activesetup. If this doesn't install the components you want or it installs too many, you can add/uninstall them later after its installed. This has been confirmed FINAL! It is Internet Explorer 5.00.2014.0216.

  Update: We've also received word that the IE5 final on Tucows does NOT have the radio tool bar or FTP functions, we will keep you posted. Please wait for the IE5 Final from Microsoft.

   

• Internet Explorer 5.0 Countdown Chat
  Time: 21:30 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis

  Our chat will begin at 6 PM EST, that's 11 PM GMT. We will have some special guests including someone from Stardock Systems to talk about WindowBlinds.  We will chat from 6 PM to the IE5 Release. This is one chat you do NOT want to miss!

   

• Gates brags of digital record-keeping in book, contradicting key defense witness
  Time: 20:50 GMT Source: Nando Posted By: Bob

  Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates, writing in an upcoming book about the benefits of technology for business, appears to directly contradict a key witness for his company at its antitrust trial when he describes how Microsoft tracks important sales figures.

   
• Java for the cell phone
  Time: 20:43 GMT Source: Wired Posted By: Bob

  Partners in British-based Symbian, the alliance between the world's biggest cell-phone manufacturers, said on Wednesday that the Sun computer language would become part of the standard operating platform for a new generation of mobile communications devices.

   
• AOL-Netscape take leap of faith
  Time: 20:42 GMT Source: ZDNet Posted By: Bob

  Shortly after America Online Inc. revealed it would buy Netscape Communications Corp., AOL chairman Steve Case flew out to the Web software pioneer's headquarters to address its workers. The subject was hairy.

   
• FTC approves Intel settlement
  Time: 20:36 GMT Source: ZDNet Posted By: Bob

  The Federal Trade Commission Wednesday approved a settlement of antitrust charges against Intel Corp. which prohibits the chip maker from withholding products from customers in most situations.

   
• Microsoft Offers Y2K Patch For Office 95
  Time: 20:09 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Byron

  With less than nine months to go before January 1, 2000, Microsoft has released a new set of Year 2000 fixes for its Office 95 applications suite.

   
• Windows 2000 Compatibility Still An Issue
  Time: 20:06 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Byron

  As Windows 2000 enters the last phase of testing, Microsoft is still hammering out compatibility guidelines for third-party software applications. The software giant plans to release a series of application guidelines in conjunction with the release of a final test version of Windows 2000, the company's bid for a larger chunk of corporate computing dollars. A third test version, or beta, of the Windows 2000 upgrade, formerly known as Windows NT 5.0, is due next month.

   
• Developers Support Windows as Gaming Platform
  Time: 20:03 GMT Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron

  Today at the Game Developers Conference (GDC), Microsoft Corp. announced that independent software vendors are embracing the Microsoft® DirectX® 6.1 set of APIs, a mature and comprehensive set of system services in the Windows® operating system, making Windows a preferred platform for game development.

   
• Windows Media Technologies Optimized For Intel Pentium III Xeon Processor
  Time: 20:01 GMT Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron

  Microsoft Corp. announced today that its Windows® Media Technologies will be optimized for Intel Corp.'s new Intel Pentium® III Xeon™ processor, resulting in significant time and cost savings for content providers and a sharper, smoother visual experience for end users. Microsoft plans for a future release of Windows Media Technologies to contain an updated MPEG 4 video codec that is optimized for the Pentium III Xeon processor.

   
• Microsoft, Phone Manufacturers Preview Web-Enabled Telephones Powered By Windows CE at CeBIT
  Time: 19:59 GMT Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron

  Microsoft Corp., in conjunction with several telephone manufacturers, previewed Web-enabled telephones powered by the Microsoft® Windows® CE operating system at the CeBIT 99 trade show today in Hanover, Germany. Acer Inc., Daewoo Telecom Ltd., Panasonic, Philips and Vestel (information appliances division) demonstrated prototype Web-enabled telephones, which combine traditional telephone services such as voice messaging and caller ID with enhanced data capabilities such as Internet access and e-mail.

   
• MS Takes On MP3 - Or Is That Takes Over?
  Time: 19:55 GMT Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron

  Could Microsoft's unannounced MS Audio 4.0 be just the tip of a new end-to-end streaming audio system? Microsoft Corp. is breaking ranks and creating its own alternative to the MP3 digital music playback and recording standard, according to vendors and published reports. Microsoft could announce its MS Audio 4.0 technology as soon as its Windows Hardware Engineering conference in early April, according to sources. MS Audio 4.0 could potentially create music files that are about half the size of MP3 files and with more built-in protection against illegal downloads, say published reports.

   
• Hotmail To Add Desktop Applications
  Time: 14:55 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Cliff

  Microsoft chairman Bill Gates said in an interview the software company plans to boost the functionality of its Hotmail free email service, joining the growing trend of putting desktop applications on the Web.

   
• Palm V Not As Powerful As Palm IIIx
  Time: 14:43 GMT Source: 32Bits Online Posted By: Cliff

  32BitsOnline.com has posted an article about the new Palm IIIx and the new Palm V. It compares and contrasts some of the highs that the Palm V brings, but also some of it's lows, compared to the IIIx.

  No longer is it a guy thing. Of course, 3Com wouldn't be so politically incorrect as to say it's targeting women with the Palm V, but I will be. The Palm V's smooth curves, its slimness and even its shiny new casing are all geared towards making it aesthetically pleasing, not purely functional. So much the better to go with those Gucci heels, or that Channel handbag.
  Although the Palm V has technological advances over the Palm IIIx -consider its long-awaited lithium-ion battery and cradle that acts as a charger - it has less "power."

   
• Intel Takes The Wraps Off 550-MHz Xeon
  Time: 14:43 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Cliff

  Intel boasts that the performance enhancements of the new chip, which will run at 500 MHz and 550 MHz and contain up to 2MB of performance-enhancing secondary cache, put it in the same class as Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) chips, the powerful processors that run many high-end corporate servers and workstations. With this chip, Intel and the PC powers aim to take market share from companies that sell multiprocessor RISC and Unix operating system-based products, such as Sun Microsystems.

   
• Microsoft Looks to Advance PC Accessibility
  Time: 14:37 GMT Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron

  In an effort to make computers and the Internet easier to use for people with disabilities, Microsoft Corp. today announced a series of grants to nonprofit research and educational institutions for original research in the field of PC accessibility. The international grant program, Exploring PC Accessibility: New Discoveries, was created in December to complement and extend the work Microsoft and other software and hardware vendors are doing to make computers easier and more useful for people with a variety of disabilities.

   
• Microsoft Publisher Gets an "A" in Customer Satisfaction
  Time: 14:36 GMT Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron

  Microsoft® Publisher, the world's most popular business desktop publishing program based on the Windows® operating system, continues to lead its category in high customer satisfaction. A recent study by Griggs-Anderson Research revealed that Publisher 98 has a 92 percent customer satisfaction rating. In fact, Publisher has maintained a rating of 90 percent or higher throughout its past four releases, and Microsoft has worked closely with customers to help ensure continued success in the upcoming release of Publisher 2000.

   
• Links and Search Updated
  Time: 14:10 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron

  We have completed a couple of basic updates to the Links and Search pages, fixing a few problems and adding a few new features.

   
• IE 5 Final CD's Start Arriving
  Time: 13:11 GMT Source: E-mail Posted By: Byron

  A number of people have started to receive their Internet Explorer 5 final CD's that they ordered direct from Microsoft's website. So for those of you who ordered one, keep a look out.

   
• IE 5 Sneak Peek Shows News Content Features
  Time: 12:55 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Byron

  When Microsoft unwraps Internet Explorer 5 Thursday with fanfare and festivities in Redmond, it will be showing off a browser with some new ideas on how to present Web content along with one or two others borrowed from the competition.

  A copy of the new browser obtained by CNET News.com includes the innovations included in the IE 5 public beta, which Microsoft launched in November. It also comes with a few new bells and whistles first reported last month, along with a few surprises.

  One of the major new features of IE 5 is its "Web Accessories" initiative. Web Accessories let third-party Web sites build extensions to the browser interface and serve, or "push," content to a separate pane no matter where the user surfs.

   
• Microsoft Unveils Developer Education Initiative for Windows 2000
  Time: 12:50 GMT Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron

  Microsoft Corp. today introduced the Windows® 2000 Readiness Program for Applications and Developers. This program provides software developers worldwide with the resources they need to ensure that existing applications will be compatible with the Microsoft® Windows 2000 operating system and that future versions of applications will deliver new levels of reliability and manageability for customers. This program will begin with the beta 3 release of Windows 2000, which is scheduled for April.

   

• Intel Celeron 433 to Arrive Monday
  Time: 12:46 GMT Source: The Register Posted By: Byron

  Sources close to Intel confirmed today that it will introduce its 433MHz version of the Celeron this coming Monday.

  The 466MHz Celeron part is now expected to arrive in June. The 433MHz Celeron will cost around $165 at launch and will come in both Slot One and socket versions. But our sources tell us that Intel has now accelerated the death of Slot One Celerons and that by the middle of the year, only 370-pin Celerons will be available to both OEMs and the channel.

  Intel refused to comment on unannounced products at press time. ®

• Microsoft Publisher 2000 Details Released
  Time: 22:23 GMT Source: News.Com Posted By: Dennis

  Microsoft today detailed the latest version of its desktop publishing software. Priced at $99 as a standalone, Microsoft Publisher 2000 lets users create marketing and sales materials, like newsletters, brochures, or Web sites. Publisher 2000 also offers tighter integration with Microsoft Office that makes the product even easier to learn and use. Publisher 2000 also provides a publishing product with print-to-Web design features that makes it a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes.

   

• Free Internet Access is here
  Time: 21:23 GMT Source: Andover News Posted By: Dennis

  Until now, it's been an Internet fact of life: No one roams the Web for free. But nothing is set in stone online, least of all access plans and their price tags. And monthly dial-up fees could go the way of the dot matrix printer if others keep giving away what America Online -- the world's biggest Internet provider -- is trying to sell.

   

• WindowBlinds 0.70 Released
  Time: 21:19 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis

  WindowBlinds 0.70 is available for all  Object Desktop Network Edition Subscribers.  You can learn more about OB here. This is highly recommended, and although its 50 bucks, this includes WB free, and a LOT more things, including a program similar to Net.Medic, and a Notepad tool, both of these programs can add up to over 100 dollars. OB is a sure buy. We will be posting a WindowBlinds 0.80 review next week probably Monday or Tuesday. So get ready for that. So you know... WindowBlinds 0.70 is incredibly fast and its definitely foreshadowing that 0.80 will be a great release. WindowBlinds 0.80 is set for release next week.

   

• Dow hits 10,000 First time
  Time: 21:15 GMT Source: Wired Posted By: Dennis

  After hitting 10,001.78 -- surpassing 10,000 for the first time in its 114-year history -- the Dow was down 15.54 points at 9943.23 in mid-afternoon trading. The rest of the market followed the blue-chip index back to more familiar territory.

   

• Star Wars Digital Experiment
  Time: 21:11 GMT Source: Wired Posted By: Dennis

  That's the debate among moviemakers, distributors, and theater owners following George Lucas's announcement last week that he would release an all-digital version of The Phantom Menace on four screens and shoot Episode 2 of the Star Wars prequel entirely with digital cameras.

   

• Creative Ships FourPointSurround FPS2000 Digital
  Time: 20:03 GMT Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron

  Creative Technology Ltd, and its wholly-owned subsidiary Cambridge SoundWorks, today announced the shipment of its latest speaker system, the FourPointSurround(TM) FPS2000 Digital. This incredible new digital surround sound system is a high-powered, high-output, four-channel multimedia sub-system that is ideal for the serious gamer. The FourPointSurround FPS2000 Digital is based on the highly-successful PCWorks(TM) FourPointSurround that has created a new category of multi-channel four-speaker system for the true 3D positional audio experience. The FPS2000 Digital provides significantly more power with a radically new subwoofer design and more powerful satellites. It includes a digital input for connecting to the Sound Blaster® Live! audio accelerator, making it the high-end standard for gaming and PC audio enthusiasts.

   

• Novell hoping to steal a march on Microsoft
  Time: 17:03 GMT Source: Techweb Posted By: Bob

  Windows 2000 may get a run for its money with the unveiling of two Novell products at the company's Brainshare event in Salt Lake City, Utah this month.

   
• Disgruntled employees are newest kind of hacker
  Time: 16:50 GMT Source: CNN Posted By: Bob

  With the dawn of more business than ever being done over the Internet, companies will have to be aware of the new 21st century hacker -- disgruntled employees.

   
• AOL - Netscape floodgates set to open
  Time: 16:40 GMT Source: ZDNet Posted By: Bob

  America Online Inc.'s acquisition of Netscape Communications Corp. is almost a done deal. On Friday, the Justice Department gave the $9 billion deal the green light, and Wednesday, Netscape shareholders are expected to vote in favor of the merger. So what happens next? According to analysts, stand by for a flurry of announcements on AOL's next moves in e-commerce.

   
• ICQ ensnared in free speech debate
  Time: 16:40 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Bob

  ICQ users who choose to screen out "objectionable" messages may think they are simply blocking the seven dirty words or other sexually explicit material.

   
• Samsung starts 256 megabit DRAM production
  Time: 16:36 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Bob

  That makes the South Korean chipmaker the first company to begin mass production of the high-capacity DRAM (dynamic random access memory) chip, Samsung said in a statement. Samsung plans to produce between 2 million and 3 million such chips this year, worth a projected $200 million to $300 million in sales revenue.

   
• Report: States to seek Microsoft overhaul
  Time: 16:32 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Bob

  Nineteen state attorneys general, who joined the federal government's antitrust suit against Microsoft, said if they win the case, they want a revamp of the software giant, according to reports.

   
• AOL, others may not back U.S. privacy plans
  Time: 16:30 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Bob

  America Online, Walt Disney, and other companies won't endorse a U.S. Commerce Department plan to bring U.S. companies in line with European Union privacy rules, according to reports.

   
• Microsoft Publishes Open Directory-Synchronization Interface
  Time: 15:30 GMT Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron

  Microsoft Corp. today announced it has published the specifications for a flexible LDAP-based control, called DirSync, for enabling synchronization of information between heterogeneous directories. Microsoft published the specification as a nonstandards-track Internet draft submission to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Microsoft is making specification freely available, without license, for use by anyone.

   
• Windows NT Server Is the No. 1 Internet and Intranet Web Server Platform
  Time: 15:28 GMT Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron

  Microsoft Corp. today announced that over 1 million Internet sites now use the Microsoft® Windows NT® Server operating system as their Web server platform. This unprecedented momentum is further evidenced by the results of a new IntelliQuest Inc. report, which found that Windows NT is the most frequently deployed corporate Internet platform. Forty percent of all corporations have Windows NT Server with Internet Information Server (IIS) installed up from 33 percent 9 months ago. Microsoft Windows NT Server with IIS is also the leading corporate intranet platform for 47 percent of corporate intranets, up from 41 percent 9 months ago. In addition, Windows NT Server is the leading e-commerce platform. Netcraft's February 1999 SSL Server Survey found that Windows NT Server with IIS has 36 percent of all the third-party-certified SSL Internet sites. SSL technology is used by e-commerce sites to provide secure transactions.

   
• Microsoft Announces Windows CE Toolkit for Dreamcast
  Time: 15:26 GMT Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron

  Microsoft Corp. today announced that the Microsoft® Windows® CE Toolkit for the Sega Dreamcast home video game system is now available to licensed Dreamcast developers. The Windows CE Toolkit for Dreamcast provides a full-featured development environment including optimized DirectX® libraries for 3-D graphics, sound and input, as well as built-in communications support designed to provide Internet access and networked multiplayer gaming. The flexible development environment of the Windows CE operating system also maximizes programming productivity by delivering for the first time the benefits of the Microsoft Visual C++® development system to the world of console development.

   
• Windows 98 - Second Edition
  Time: 13:08 GMT Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron

  Looks like what we mentioned about 3 months ago is starting to filter through to everyone else. Here is a snippet from ZDNet:

  Microsoft Corp.'s forthcoming Windows 98 refresh will be more than just a routine point-release update to the operating system. The Service Release -- which has evolved into a combination of Microsoft's planned Windows 98 Service Pack, plus its expected Windows 98 OEM Service Release -- is now being called Windows 98 Second Edition, sources said.

  Whether Microsoft will end up selling Windows 98 Second Edition at retail is not certain, but some OEMs say they expect Microsoft to do so.

   

• Worlds Fastest CD-ROM Drive
  Time: 10:59 GMT Source: GA Source Posted By: Byron

  Kenwood Technologies announced that it has signed an OEM Agreement that will enable Compaq Computer Corporation to offer Kenwood's 52X TrueX CD-ROM drive in their Presario, Prosignia, and Deskpro PC lines.

  The 52X TrueX is the world's fastest CD-ROM drive. Unlike so-called max CD-ROM drives that reach top performance only on the outermost tracks of the disc, the Kenwood 52X TrueX CD-ROM, based on TrueX technology from Zen Research, delivers an unprecedented typical transfer rate ranging from 6750 KB to 7800 KB per second across the entire disc.

  Compaq PCs with Kenwood's 52X TrueX drives will be available on March 15, 1999. Customers can purchase Compaq computers with Kenwood's 52X TrueX CD-ROM either directly online from the Compaq web site, from their local Compaq Authorized Reseller, or from their Compaq sales representative.

   

• Finding Your Pentium II PSN Could Be A Tricky Business
  Time: 10:53 GMT Source: The Register Posted By: Byron

  A reader who is a chip architect told us today that finding processor serial numbers (PSNs) on .25 micron Pentium IIs is not necessarily easy.

  He said: "The bus multiplier is in that same PIROM [as the serial number] and while there is an interface to the PIROM it isn't accessible without some fancy hardware work. I can confirm your other source is correct [about processor serial numbers being in .25 micron PIIs.]"

  He added: The serial number and bus multiplier value (among other things) is written into the PIROM after the chip has been bonded out/packaged. The testing unit determines what the speed of the processor is and then writes the serial number information along with bus multiplier into the PIROM. A simple mistake in the test software would give the wrong value to the PIROM bit that allows the serial number to be read by the CPU."

• Site News
  Time: 23:59 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis

  PHEW! That was a long day! We apologize if the site is loading slow, that's because we have too much news! Hardware, Software, Business, its all here... Make sure you check out our ActiveIE section, Byron's been working real hard! Also, just a reminder we will be uploading an IE5 Review on March 18, so get ready for that!

  The download links on the right are updated. You may have to scroll down a bit.

  Also, if there are any WindowBlinds fans out there, the next public release will be 0.80, and it will be next week! They are really getting these builds out fast. I received an exclusive copy of WindowBlinds 0.65, which is the most current release, and we will of course post an early WB 0.80 review, as soon as we receive it. Also, you can get early versions of WindowBlinds and a LOT of other products in Stardock's Object Desktop, its really good, we will have a review of it soon, but you can see it or buy it if you'd like (which we recommend) here.

  Really, since its just a minute to midnight, its 2 more days till IE5!! Make sure you check out our ActiveWindows IE5 Chat!

   

• New ATI Wonder Chip Boasts TV On A PC
  Time: 23:51 GMT Source: Newsbytes Posted By: Bob

  Chip maker ATI Technologies Inc. is showing off its latest product which the firm claims will give personal computer (PC) users the ability to use their machines like a traditional television set and VCR mix.

   

• FCC goes on defense in Congress
  Time: 23:30 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Bob

  Congress is kicking off a new set of hearings this week aimed at shaking up the Federal Communications Commission, beginning what may turn into a battle with the White House over scaling back the agency's powers.

   

• Nullsoft Sued for Copyright Infringement
  Time: 23:30 GMT Source: Wired Posted By: Dennis

  Nullsoft, maker of the de facto standard MP3 player, faces a US$20 million dollar copyright infringement lawsuit. We will be focusing on this lawsuit in a later poll, so take this chance to read this article.

   

• New viruses search for strong encryption keys
  Time: 23:25 GMT Source: Techweb Posted By: Bob

  In a paper published last week, two cryptographers contend the long keys used by "strong" encryption programs are easier for intruders to find, and a new generation of computer virus is tailored to locate them on hard drives.

   
• Millennium Bug quick fix may only last a few decades
  Time: 23:20 GMT Source: Nando Times Posted By: Bob

  The most common technique used to fix computers susceptible to Year 2000 failures is only a short-term remedy, and even advocates of the method acknowledge it will require other expensive repairs or replacements within a generation.

   
• Janet Reno launches anti-hacking initiative
  Time: 23:10 GMT Source: Nando Times Posted By: Bob

  A new public-private alliance to curb online crime will teach children "that hacking is the same as breaking and entering," Attorney General Janet Reno said Monday.

  Educating children about acceptable online behavior is among three initiatives under the Cybercitizen Partnership, an initiative of government and the high-tech industry to promote cyberspace ethics and help law enforcers track down online criminals.

   
• Get Ready for a New Breed of of Equipment
  Time: 23:10 GMT Source: LA Times Posted By: Bob

  Products are combining features of mobile phones and PCs, making data connections as commonplace as voice. Some people are so attached to the Internet that it's difficult for them to leave it behind when they leave their desks. Soon they may not have to.

   
• Sony, NBC Considering Alliance
  Time: 22:55 GMT Source: ZDNet Posted By: Dennis

  A possible alliance between Japanese electronics giant Sony Corp and U.S. television network NBC could hold major benefits for Sony, including in its move toward digitally networked home electronics, analysts said on Monday.

   

• Paul Allen invests in Go2Net
  Time: 22:51 GMT Source: ZDNet Posted By: Dennis

  Who's Paul Allen?!? A lot of people don't know this, but Paul Allen is the co founder of Microsoft, so its not all Bill. In one of the biggest cash deals in Internet history, the Microsoft co-founder invests $750M in portal site.

   

• Intel combats chip forgery
  Time: 22:30 GMT Source: News.Com Posted By: Bob

  Intel is stepping up its efforts to combat chip "remarking"--or the practice of fraudulently disguising slower chips so they can be sold as newer, more expensive processors--although the changes will make it more difficult for home users to goose the speeds on their own chips through "overclocking."

   
• Heavy hitters join for telephony alliance
  Time: 22:28 GMT Source: News.Com Posted By: Bob

  A group of PC and communications heavyweights unveiled new technologies designed to carry telephony, data, and Internet traffic for businesses. Microsoft, Intel, Hewlett-Packard, and Nortel Networks, announced the new platform initiative today at the Technology Museum of Innovation in San Jose, California.

   
• Web not so U.S-centric anymore
  Time: 22:25 GMT Source: CNN Posted By: Bob

  From the beginning, the Internet has been touted as the first truly global communications platform. Mostly, that's been hype. Throughout the 1990s, the bulk of the Net's growth has taken place in the U.S. The unabashedly American character of Web content is impossible to overlook.

   
• Netscape launches Publishing Program
  Time: 22:20 GMT Source: Internet News Posted By: Bob

  Netscape Communications Corp. Monday launched My Netscape Network, a program that will allow Web publishers to create channels of content for the company's My Netscape personalized start pages

   
• Netscape Stocks Soar High
  Time: 21:18 GMT Source: News.Com Posted By: Dennis

  As Netscape Communications heads toward the finish line with its acquisition by America Online, its share price is ending on a note similar to where it began.

  Netscape shares today hit a historic day high of 90, reaching a level not seen since its early days.

   

• Office 2000 Put To The Test
  Time: 21:10 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Byron

  Microsoft has sent out the latest beta version of Office 2000 to technical testers, the company confirmed today. Office 2000, Microsoft's next generation of office suite applications, has been beset by delays, which have cost the company in this quarter's earnings. (See related story.)

  But beta testers are reporting that the first Release Candidate of the much-anticipated software has been released. Release Candidates are issued to testers after most bugs have been reported and fixed, and are close to the final version of the product. There are typically only a few Release Candidates before the final product is introduced.

  Microsoft is on track to release Office 2000 in the first fiscal quarter of this year, said John Duncan, a product manager with Microsoft. The Release Candidate was sent out to a "few thousand" testers, he said.

   
• Microsoft Posts Windows NT Patch
  Time: 21:08 GMT Source: News.com Posted By: Byron

  Microsoft has released a patch for a Windows NT bug that allows users to gain access to privileged files by exploiting a flaw in the screensaver. Microsoft issued a security bulletin to its users on Friday night and made the patch available on its Web site.

  The Windows NT screensaver matches the security level of the user logged onto the machine, Microsoft explained, but does not check to make sure that the match is accurate. Theoretically, a malicious screensaver file could allow any user to log on as an administrator.

   
• NVidia Officially Announce The TNT2
  Time: 20:20 GMT Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron

  For the fourth consecutive season, NVIDIA(TM) Corporation, announced today the RIVA TNT2(TM) 3D processor, the fastest 3D graphics processor for the mainstream market.

  This new offering from NVIDIA sets a new standard for performance and quality by combining best-of-class 3D and 2D performance with 32-bit true color rendering, 32-bit Z-buffer and a 32MB frame buffer. The TwiN Texel Architecture with per-pixel mip-mapping precision combined with the TNT2's unprecedented fill rate of up to 350 million pixels-per-second, which is twice the nearest competitor. The RIVA TNT2 also has the ability to render up to 10 million triangles per second, allows developers to write standards based applications with stunning visual effects.

   
• Netscape Navigator 5
  Time: 20:16 GMT Source: MAC Week Posted By: Byron

  Netscape Communications Corp.'s lead engineer says the company is working on a fast new layout and rendering engine that will keep the next version of its Web browser "ahead of the game."

  The layout engine, named Gecko, is at the core of Navigator 5.0, and Netscape Director of Engineering Rick Gessner said it will be the fastest, smallest and most standards-compliant layout engine available -- features that Netscape hopes will help it win its bloody browser war with rival Microsoft Corp.

   

• Windows and Web Developers to Unite Under MSDN Banner
  Time: 15:00 GMT Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron

  To take advantage of this fast-growing duplication among the 5.5 million professional developers internationally, Microsoft is combining its resources for MSDN and the Site Builder Network under the MSDN brand. As part of this marriage, the MSDN Online and SBN Web sites and online membership programs will be merged into a single, comprehensive, one-stop source of information and tools for developers. The newly redesigned MSDN Online officially launches March 29.

   
• Microsoft Windows NT-Based Management Solution Is Customers' Choice in Comparative Study
  Time: 14:58 GMT Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron

  Microsoft Corp. today announced important research from Northeast Consulting Resources Inc. (NCRI) that found Microsoft® Windows NT® Server 4.0 and Systems Management Server address customers' needs better than Novell's management solution. Based on a head-to-head comparison of Microsoft and Novell management solutions, NCRI found that Windows NT Server 4.0 with Systems Management Server provides the more scalable way to reduce the costs of change and configuration management for desktop and server systems based on the Windows® operating system. The December 1998-January 1999 study concluded that Systems Management Server offers enterprise customers an average annual cost savings of $1,200 per desktop and an average investment return rate of 315 percent over five years.

   
• Manufacturing and Supply Chain Industries Embrace Microsoft SQL Server 7.0
  Time: 14:56 GMT Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron

  Today at National Manufacturing Week, Microsoft Corp. announced that leading independent software vendors (ISVs) have developed and plan to ship 34 manufacturing and supply chain applications built on Microsoftâ SQL Server™ 7.0 by April 1999. The applications developed include industrial automation solutions, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, product data management (PDM) solutions, warehouse management applications and distribution systems.

   
• Internet Explorer Section Test Up
  Time: 13:30 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron

  For those of you who have joined us from ActiveIE, we have decided to post some of the new Internet Explorer section up on the website before we fully launch it on March 18th. You can get to all new sections by either clicking the links in the left hand frame (If you use frames) or by clicking here.

   
• Articles Section Updated
  Time: 11:37 GMT Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron

  We have added a number of new sections to the Articles area, these include, Internet, Processors and Telephony.

   
• Microsoft Readies MP3-Killer Digital Music Format
  Time: 11:22 GMT Source: The Register Posted By: Byron

  Microsoft will release its own alternative to the MP3 digital music format next month. The new format, MS Audio 4.0, is believed to offer better sound quality than MP3's near-CD reproduction and twice the MPEG-based format's level of compression. According to sources cited by MP3 distributor MP3.com, Microsoft's entry into the downloadable music business will contain the anti-piracy features that MP3 is usually criticized for lacking.

   
• MS Office For Linux - Dream Or Nightmare?
  Time: 11:20 GMT Source: The Register Posted By: Byron

  The MS Office Linux port story our good friends at ZD floated last week might seem like pretty desperate stuff, but if you think about it, it's possible - at least in some parallel universe. And the obstacles are probably more political than technical.

  If you focus on the way Microsoft develops for Windows you see little but obstacles to a Linux port of Office. Office for Windows is deeply entangled in the operating system, so shifting it to another operating system would be tricky and expensive. Microsoft's internal development resources are meanwhile at full stretch (even more so than usual, given the amount the company currently has on its plate), and that makes the port even less plausible.

   
• Netscape Hard At Work On Browser
  Time: 11:18 GMT Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron

  Netscape Communications Corp.'s lead engineer says the company is working on a fast new layout and rendering engine that will keep the next version of its Web browser "ahead of the game."

  The layout engine, named Gecko, is at the core of Navigator 5.0, and Netscape Director of Engineering Rick Gessner said it will be the fastest, smallest and most standards-compliant layout engine available -- features that Netscape hopes will help it win its bloody browser war with rival Microsoft Corp.

  Currently at Version 4.51, Netscape said Navigator 5 is scheduled for a beta release by July and commercial Mac and Windows versions by year-end.

Read more of the past months news in our News Archive for March.

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