• Monopoly Finding Prompts More Lawsuits
  Time: 13:49 EDT/18:49 GMT News Source: PC World Posted By: Alex Harris

  And so it starts. At least two antitrust lawsuits were filed against Microsoft after a federal judge called the vendor a predatory monopolist early this month.

  In a federal suit, Blaine Cox, a PC user in Birmingham, Ala., claimed he and other consumers were overcharged anywhere from $10 to $40 every time they bought Microsoft software. Cox wants that money back as well as treble damages.

  The figures are based on an internal study Microsoft did to figure out how to price Windows. The study, which U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson cited in his November 5 ruling, said Microsoft could charge $49; it ultimately charged $89.

  What prompted the suit? "The ruling, of course," said Bob Roden, Cox's lawyer from Shelby & Cartee in Birmingham.

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• Christmas virus could reformat hard drives
  Time: 13:43 EDT/18:43 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  This is worse than a lump of coal.

  A new quick-spreading computer virus that can reformat a victim's computer hard drive on Christmas has been detected, and already appears to have cropped up on three continents, antivirus researchers said.

  Dubbed "Prilissa," the malicious code is a combination of Melissa, an earlier virulent virus spread via email, and another program called PRI. It follows an increasingly common trend of using security holes in Microsoft's Outlook and Outlook Express to spread itself through email.

  "Come Christmas day, you could turn on your computer to play a new game or whatever, and it reformats your hard drive," said Sal Viveros, group marketing manager for the antivirus division of Network Associates.

  While potentially dangerous for users, the increased visibility of these viruses has been a boon for antivirus companies such as Network Associates and Trend Micro, which have seen sales of antivirus software skyrocket.

  Name: Prilissa
  What it does: If opened, the virus will reconfigure your hard drive on 12/25.
  Means of transmission: Email. Takes advantage of hole in Microsoft Outlook to replicate.
  How to recognize: The body of an email will read "This document is very important and you've GOT to read this!!"
  Who is at risk: Any Windows 95, 98 users

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• US says no to DRAM duties on Taiwan
  Time: 13:40 EDT/18:40 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  The United States will not impose new import duties on dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) semiconductors from Taiwan, U.S. officials said. ``U.S. industry is neither materially injured nor threatened with material injury by reason of imports of DRAMs of one megabit and above from Taiwan,'' the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) said in a statement.

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• Windows 98 bug patch problems continue
  Time: 13:08 EDT/18:08 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  A recently discovered bug is causing headaches for some users of the Windows 98 operating system, but Microsoft has not yet put its finger on the source of the problem.

  Some users are reporting problems after downloading a recent update from the Windows Update Web site. The update provides bug fixes and software updates for Microsoft's flagship operating system for consumers.

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• More Site News
  Time: 13:04 EDT/18:04 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Just a note about a few of the reviews that will appear on the site this weekend, they will be Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Racing Wheel, Theme Park World and Revenant. We are also starting work on a few of the request for new sections that you have made, we should have something to show you in a week or so.

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• ActiveWindows wins 1999 Site of the Year Award
  Time: 12:48 EDT/17:48 GMT News Source: WindowPlanet Posted By: Dennis Gregory

  We've won the 1999 Site of the Year Award brought to you by WindowPlanet!

  You can see their comments directly here.

  Byron's interview is available here.

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• AskAW Section Update
  Time: 11:53 EDT/16:53 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis Gregory

  We have our AskAW update up! Lots of questions answered this time! Keep them coming. Remember we are NOT accepting anymore questions via email. You can only submit questions via the MSN community here. Submit them ONLY in the AskAW Questions section on the left. We answered about 20 or so questions so thats more than half the questions we got. So if you submitted a question you may want to see this update, your answer could be included!

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• Site News
  Time: 11:50 EDT/16:50 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis Gregory

  We're going to start updating our Hardware and Gaming News sections more. So if you've visited before and no one was updating, well we are now! The 2 sections will be updated every day excluding weekends, but if some big news breaks we'll bring it to you weekends or not!

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• Site User Survey
  Time: 11:48 EDT/16:48 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis Gregory

  Please take a few moments of your time and fill out our User Profile Survey. This information will help us get a better idea of our average user's wants and needs. With this information, we will make ActiveWindows more customized to our viewers!

  Plus, we are giving away gift certificates to PC Connection - so it can't hurt!

  Women... No women have completed our survey, so get going!

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• Mediator appointed in MS-DOJ case
  Time: 19:31 EDT/00:31 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron Hinson

  The judge in the Microsoft antitrust trial has appointed a federal mediator in a last-minute bid to get the two sides to settle. The man who has been asked to help the two sides resolve the landmark case is Richard Posner, the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Seventh Circuit in Chicago.

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• Site News: New Logo - And The Reason
  Time: 18:01 EDT/23:01 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Well we have finally gotten around to changing the main page logo, and as promised here is the reason we had to change it. We got a nice letter from Microsoft that said they would sue us if we didn't remove it immediately as someone at Microsoft complained about our site....No names but it isn't hard for us here at ActiveWindows to figure that one out. Anyway enough about them, we hope you like the logo, just a shame that it had to be used a month or so earlier than planned.

  Feel free to post comments about the new logo and/or the reason via our community message board.

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• Here it comes - Windows for lawnmowers...
  Time: 14:41 EDT/19:41 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Many's the time that a cool feature devised for a Bill Gates demo has contributed to feature-creep in Windows, but in his Comdex keynote last Sunday Bill unwittingly (we hope) laid the groundwork for the daddy of them all - a control and monitoring system for all your electronic and automotive possessions that's surely going to require serious modifications to the user interface, scads more RAM and processor upgrades all round.

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• MS meets to set schedule for remainder of antitrust trial
  Time: 14:39 EDT/19:39 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT) and government lawyers met briefly with U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson, the first encounter since the judge declared Microsoft a monopoly. The judge requested the meeting to schedule the next phase of the antitrust trial. He was also expected to review any settlement prospects. But both sides left the courthouse after less than 30 minutes, suggesting there was little, if any, substantive discussion.

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• WindowBlinds 1.06 Released
  Time: 11:28 EDT/16:28 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  WindowBlinds 1.06 has been released for registered users and Object Desktop customers. It includes support for skinning progress bars and reenableds the property tab skinning that was dropped from 1.01. Visit the download page here at www.windowblinds.net to grab the update.

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• Microsoft sues Chinese firm over privacy
  Time: 11:18 EDT/16:18 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) has filed suit against Beijing-based Yadu Technology Group, accusing the company of using pirated software products. It's the first time that an end-user has been sued for piracy in China, the Xinhua news agency said

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• MSN Gaming Zone Membership Soars to 10 Million
  Time: 11:11 EDT/16:11 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today announced the 10 millionth member registration on the MSN™ Gaming Zone (http://www.zone.com/). This is the latest milestone in a huge growth year for the Zone, which now boasts the following:
  
  

  • Over 500,000 unique visitors per day, more than double the daily traffic of a year ago
  • Over 50 new games, bringing the total number of available games on the Zone to 118
  • Ad revenue growth of 1,000 percent from the previous fiscal year
  • 4.2 percent reach, making the Zone the No. 1 Internet games site that offers multiplayer gaming, according to PC Data figures for October 1999
  • Average usage of nearly 40 minutes per user per day, making the MSN Gaming Zone second only to AOL proprietary in visitor usage minutes (Media Metrix Digital Media Report, Sept. 1999)

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• Site News: More Job Openings
  Time: 10:52 EDT/15:52 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Thanks for all of the applications from yesterdays request, keep them coming. Today we have a few more openings so here we go again. We are looking for another new graphics artist, preferably someone with good Photoshop experience who can help us create new site logos and main section logos with similar themes across our Active Network pages when requested. Links to examples of your work is a must.

  We have a few openings free for those of you who are interested in writing Editorials and those of you who would like to specialize in CPU reviews (And we mean specialize). We are also looking for a number of new Tips writers who would be interested in helping us branch out our tips area (We are working on a large expansion of that area as you can probably tell from the side menu)

  All enquires should be mailed direct to me byron@activeie.com.

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• ActiveWindows Mouse Pads
  Time: 09:51 EDT/14:51 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Matt Sabean

  The Mouse Pads have been so popular that we have had to order another batch so don't forget that the first ActiveWindows piece of merchandise is now available to order. The first product in our new range of logos is the ActiveWindows Mouse Pad.

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• Microsoft Garners Top Industry Awards From COMDEX
  Time: 08:03 EDT/13:03 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. this week will leave COMDEX/Fall '99 with 17 awards for product excellence from leading industry publications.

  Microsoft garnered several awards for business productivity software, recognizing the company's tools for the knowledge worker. The awards reflect the success of the Microsoft® Office family of business productivity applications, which enable knowledge workers with the right information at the right time.

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• Latest Windows 2000 Beta to Be the Last
  Time: 03:08 EDT/08:08 GMT News Source: PC World Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft on Wednesday was poised to issue Release Candidate 3 of Windows 2000, the last beta test version planned for the next-generation client/server operating system before its long-awaited release.

  After some 15,000 beta testers have a chance to run Windows 2000 RC3 through its paces, Microsoft officials hope to release the operating system to manufacturing before the end of 1999. The software giant has set February 17 as the official launch date.

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• Microsoft Touts Quality, Linux Draws Crowds
  Time: 03:07 EDT/08:07 GMT News Source: PC World Posted By: Alex Harris

  Want high-tech paradigm shifts spelled out for you? Come to Comdex/Fall '99 in Las Vegas. Nowhere is the changing of the guard more obvious.

  Case in point: Windows and Linux. Wasn't too long ago that Microsoft's Bill Gates had the same drawing power as a rock star and kids would line up around the block just to get a glimpse of the nerd who made good. But Monday night, it was Linus Torvalds, developer of Linux, who held court over semi-hysterical young groupies, while Gates trotted out the establishment party line.

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• Hitachi Debuts DVD-RAM Camcorder
  Time: 03:06 EDT/08:06 GMT News Source: PC World Posted By: Alex Harris

  Hitachi unveiled at Comdex the prototype of a new digital video 110 camcorder based on a re-recordable version of DVD--the first optical disk camcorder for consumers, and the first to use a new version of DVD-RAM.

  The DZ-MV1 camera records video in MPEG2 format and the new single-sided 8-centimeter DVD-RAM disk holds up to 1.4GB of data. The small form DVD-RAM, like its larger 12-centimeter sister, comes in a cartridge. Both disks are the subject of standardization talks within the DVD Forum and specs are expected to be approved within the next six months, says Takeshi Hoshino, an interface designer from Hitachi's Tokyo Design Center.

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• Pentium III-800 brought forward to Q1 of next year
  Time: 03:02 EDT/08:02 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Alex Harris

  A report on a US wire said that Intel will bring the launch date of an 800MHz Coppermine Pentium III forward to the first quarter of next year. The Intel roadmap had this processor slated to appear in quarter two, said Pat Gelsinger, a senior VP at Intel, according to PC Week. And Intel has also acknowledged the shortages of many of the Coppermine parts it announced in October, as reported here a day after the launch. Gelsinger admitted that supply of many of the Coppermine parts was tight but claimed this was not due to any fundamental problem with its .18 micron process technology.

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• IBM Deploys Windows 2000 Professional Internally
  Time: 02:57 EDT/07:57 GMT News Source: Windows NT Magazine Posted By: Alex Harris

  Late last month, IBM announced that it will make Windows 2000 Professional (Win2K Pro) its standard internal desktop OS. IBM is one of Microsoft’s rapid deployment partners. I spoke with Dick Sullivan, IBM’s vice president of integrated software. “Press stories regarding [Win2K Pro] deployment are not 100 percent accurate,” he said. Some of those stories had reported that IBM planned to deploy 300,000 copies of Win2K Pro, which is not true. According to Sullivan, 300,000 is the number of IBM employees. Although IBM plans to deploy several copies of Win2K Pro as its standard internal desktop, the company won't place Win2K Pro on every desktop.

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• New SQL Server-based solutions improve efficiency, profitability of Web business sites
  Time: 02:53 EDT/07:53 GMT News Source: Microsoft Daily News Posted By: Alex Harris

  To succeed in the competitive e-commerce world, businesses need to know if their Web sites are effective.

  To help businesses find that information, Microsoft has announced the Business Internet Analytics (BIA) initiative. BIA is a set of solutions based on Microsoft® SQL Server™ that store and analyze data on business Web sites. These solutions combine high-quality data analysis and data warehousing to help businesses create more powerful and profitable Web sites. BIA delivers unprecedented near-real-time results, so businesses can respond quickly to the information.

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• Microsoft judge sets date for more oral arguments
  Time: 02:51 EDT/07:51 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Alex Harris

  The judge in the Microsoft case will hear oral arguments in February to help him decide whether the company violated the nation's antitrust law, lawyers involved in the case said after meeting with him today.

  U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson met privately with representatives of Microsoft and 19 states and the federal government to lay plans for the next phase of the trial.

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• Microsoft faces legal scrutiny at every turn
  Time: 02:50 EDT/07:50 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Alex Harris

  It was an arrangement that sounded uncomfortably familiar to many high-tech industry veterans.

  At the opening of this week's Comdex trade show in Las Vegas, Bill Gates showcased a computing product that runs a Microsoft operating system, connects directly to Microsoft's Internet service, uses a chip made by long-time Microsoft ally Intel and is made by Compaq, one of the largest manufacturers of PCs sold with Microsoft software.

  The concept is  hardly unique, as America Online and other competitors are striking similar deals to bolster their online services. But the product, called the MSN Web Companion, bears one crucial distinction: It will be offered by the largest software company in the world, which has already been branded a monopoly by the judge presiding over its historic antitrust case.

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• Hotmail criticized over spam filter woes
  Time: 02:48 EDT/07:48 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Alex Harris

  Two weeks after Hotmail implemented a controversial junk-email filter, users are complaining that the flow of "spam" to their in-boxes has not slowed.

  In addition, some Internet business owners contend that Microsoft has aligned itself with the online equivalent of "vigilante militants."

  Microsoft's Hotmail, a free Web-based email service, last week said it had subscribed to the Mail Abuse Prevention System's (MAPS) Realtime Blackhole List (RBL). The list filters email coming from servers known to be conduits for unsolicited commercial email, or spam.

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• Newbridge slims business but considers buyout
  Time: 02:45 EDT/07:45 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Alex Harris

  Newbridge Networks today said it is open to takeover offers as the company plans to slash 10 percent of its workforce and outsource some of its businesses to cut costs.

  The struggling networking equipment firm said it will cut about 700 employees, shut down some sales offices and outsource its manufacturing and customer service operations.

  Industry sources said it's likely Newbridge has signed on IBM to run its customer service division. Newbridge chief financial officer Kenneth Wigglesworth in an interview with CNET News.com declined to comment, saying only that the firm has struck a deal with a "world-class organization."

  Newbridge executives announced the firm's new direction today following months of financial problems and strategic questions. The one-time leader in networking and telecommunications equipment has struggled in recent years to compete against Cisco Systems, Nortel Networks, Lucent Technologies and others.

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• ActiveWindows Quiz?
  Time: 22:15 EDT/03:15 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis Gregory

  We were bored and decided to make a little quiz of some computer questions. If you'd like to see how much you know about the computer world from Netscape to AMD this is the place to find out!

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• Microsoft's business ethics
  Time: 19:07 EDT/00:07 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron Hinson

  "You mean this is wrong?" asks an obviously incredulous Bill Gates of a black-robed judge. In the background of a cartoon from last week's Los Angeles Times, a henchman is smothering another guy with a pillow. The caption: "Mr. Gates discovers that his treatment of competitors is illegal."

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• Microsoft In The Land Of Opportunity
  Time: 19:06 EDT/00:06 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron Hinson

  I think it's the beginning of the end for Bill Gates and Microsoft, and it has nothing to do with whether the company wins or loses its antitrust trial.

  To me, it's the trial itself -- and not the eventual outcome -- that is a turning point in computer industry history, the moment that historians will look back on in 20 to 30 years and point to as the linchpin that led to Microsoft's eventual fall from market power.

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• Editorial - The Speed of the Computer Industry
  Time: 16:24 EDT/21:24 GMT News Source: Active Windows Posted By: Alex Harris

  I have posted an Editorial about the Speed that the Computer Industry moves out. Here is a snippet:

  In the computer retail market that I work in it is quite scary when you have customers coming up to you to buy their first PC and you tell them that the PC they are about to buy will probably be out of date by the time they pay for it in about a years time. Now this isn't always true mainly for the fact it is down to what the PC is going to be used for. If the customer is just going to be using their PC for word processing then they won't really care that much the speed it will run at in a years time. But the bulk of people that are buying it will most probably be having games on that PC and want their PC to last as long it can. Now I know I shouldn't complain because it is because of the speed of the computer industry that I get the money I do and job I have. But on saying that, people that come in are buying a PC just for the fact that their children use PC's at school and most jobs these days require the knowledge and use of a computer in some sense of the word. Most first time buyers can not believe that the £1000 - £1500 they are about to spend on a PC is going to be deflated by so much in a years time.

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• Microsoft, Justice prep for next step
  Time: 11:32 EDT/16:32 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft today meets with U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson for the first time since the release of his harsh findings nearly two weeks ago in the ongoing antitrust case. The meeting today, which includes government lawyers, is nothing more than a housekeeping discussion before moving on to the next stage of the antitrust case.

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• Site News: Job Openings
  Time: 10:52 EDT/15:52 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron Hinson

  We have a few openings free for those of you who are interested in writing Editorials and those of you who would like to specialize in CPU reviews (And we mean specialize). We are also looking for a number of new Tips writers who would be interested in helping us branch out our tips area (We are working on a large expansion of that area)

  All enquires should be mailed direct to me byron@activeie.com.

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• Site User Survey
  Time: 09:14 EDT/14:14 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Please take a few moments of your time and fill out our User Profile Survey. This information will help us get a better idea of our average user's wants and needs. With this information, we will make ActiveWindows more customized to our viewers!

  Plus, we are giving away gift certificates to PC Connection - so it can't hurt!

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• Windows Update - Updated
  Time: 06:27 EST/11:27 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft has posted a number of new fixes and downloads up on Windows Update. Here are a few of them, Internet Explorer 5.01 which we mentioned yesterday, being the obvious biggy. It is always worth checking out the site each month to keep your version of Windows updated.

  Windows Security Update, November 12, 1999
  Windows 98 Second Edition Shutdown Supplement (November Update)
  Internet Explorer 5.01 and Internet Tools

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• Microsoft Windows 2000 manageability enhanced with new Full Armor software
  Time: 03:21 EST/08:21 GMT News Source: Microsoft Daily News Posted By: Alex Harris

  A powerful operating system has to be manageable to be truly useful.

  That's why Microsoft has included extensive manageability features in Microsoft® Windows® 2000. And that's why Full Armor, a provider of enterprise policy management software, this week announced that it is developing critical manageability support for Windows 2000. Full Armor will provide extensive management of Windows 2000 Active Directory™, Group Policy and Windows Installer in its policy management product, Full Armor Zero Administration (FAZAM). The expanded version of FAZAM will be designed to further increase efficiency and reduce the total cost of ownership in Windows 2000 environments.

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• Microsoft Project 2000, Microsoft Project Central aim to boost team efficiency
  Time: 03:21 EST/08:21 GMT News Source: Microsoft Daily News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Teamwork breeds success, and upcoming products from Microsoft can help companies make teams more effective than ever.

  Monday at COMDEX/Fall '99, Microsoft President Steve Ballmer announced Microsoft® Project 2000, a major upgrade to the company's project management software, and Microsoft Project Central, a Web-based companion to Microsoft Project 2000 that helps teams share product-related material on the Internet. Used together, these tools are designed to make it easier for teams of employees to plan, manage and collaborate on projects, increasing the quantity and accuracy of the information they give to project managers.

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• McNealy, Ellison call for Microsoft bust-up
  Time: 03:13 EST/08:13 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  The chief executives of two of Microsoft's bitterest rivals have called upon the government to bust up the software giant.

  Look beyond the beige box Wednesday: Win 2000 beta? PC Mag's Excellence Awards Appearing separately in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Larry Ellison of Oracle (Nasdaq:ORCL) and Scott McNealy of Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq:SUNW) stumped on behalf of stiff remedies against the software giant. (Meanwhile, Microsoft CEO Bill Gates once again publicly raised the possibility of a deal with the government.)

  Ellison and McNealy regularly lob verbal bombs at Microsoft, but their comments took on heightened significance as they came only a couple of weeks after judge Thomas Penfield Jackson rebuked the software maker as a predatory monopolist. Many legal experts believe the judge will determine that Microsoft broke the law when he issues his conclusions in the long-running antitrust trial.

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• Why Microsoft Finally 'Gets' the Web
  Time: 03:13 EST/08:13 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  Imagine you're at the tuxedo shop helping your teenage son choose a prom outfit. He struts out of the dressing room in a powder blue tux. He actually thinks he looks great. You wince, then urge him to try a black one.

  For years, I've been wincing at MSN's silly, sophomoric Web efforts. Remember the original, proprietary version that was incompatible with the Internet? Or Mungo Park, the exotic travelogue? Or all those cheesy, Hollywood-esque shows?

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• Details emerging on secretive start-up Transmeta
  Time: 03:13 EST/08:13 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  More clues about Transmeta, one of the most secretive companies in Silicon Valley, are slowly becoming available, including the name of its first processors.

  While details about its first products are still sketchy, the chip company evidently has decided on a name for them: Crusoe. The Crusoe processors will be targeted at mobile applications, according to the company's recently revised Web page.

  The secrecy surrounding the company's plans have led to much speculation about the nature of the start-up. But the secrecy is something of a ruse: The company has actually been working hard to promote itself by being just secretive enough to spur interest.

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• Via to release cut-rate processor early next year
  Time: 03:11 EST/08:11 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Via Technologies will release its first microprocessor for low-cost PCs by the end of January, company executives said today, opening a new round in its duel with Intel.

  Code-named Joshua, the processor will run at clock speeds of 433 MHz, 466 MHz and 500 MHz. More important, it will fit into the same circuit boards as Intel's Celeron processor, making the chip the first Celeron clone.

  A new generation of chips will follow in the third quarter, company executives said at the Comdex trade show here today.

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• Internet Explorer 5.01 Released
  Time: 18:49 EST/23:49 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft has released Internet Explorer 5.01 tonight. This new version contains many bug fixes and security patches that occurred in Internet Explorer 5. Make sure you download it, as it also manages to speed things up a bit.

  Download Internet Explorer 5.01

  Installation Notes

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• But Did Microsoft Actually Hurt Consumers?
  Time: 18:45 EST/23:45 GMT News Source: Washington Post Posted By: Matt Sabean

  Ever since 1890, when Congress passed the Sherman Act, the antitrust laws have sought to protect consumers and prevent the evils of concentrated economic power. No company seems to pose those dangers so starkly today as Microsoft. Yet, the case against Microsoft still isn't made, even after Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson's denunciation of the company. The trouble is that Jackson's opinion doesn't show how Microsoft's brutal competitive behavior has hurt consumers.

  Companies compete, after all, to defeat their rivals. The social harm arises only if consumers suffer from excess economic power. Despite months of bad trial publicity and Jackson's scathing decision, most Americans still doubt the government's antitrust case. A Gallup poll taken after the ruling found that, by a 67 to 16 percent margin, people have a favorable view of Microsoft. Asked whether the company should be broken up, respondents objected by 54 to 35 percent.

  Popular skepticism isn't just ignorance. "In many ways, [Microsoft] is a weaker company now than several years ago," says Michael Gartenberg of the GartnerGroup, a computer research firm. "It dominates the desktop, but it doesn't dominate every market it enters." Predictions that Microsoft would rule on-line Internet services and e-commerce haven't materialized

  Read more

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• GT Interactive and Epic Games' 'Unreal Tournament' has gone gold and the title will ship Nov 22nd Worldwide
  Time: 17:23 EST/22:23 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  In addition, Unreal Tournament features a innovative tutorial that guides novice players through the basics of multiplay and allows them to hone their skills before going online to play. In a partnership with S3 Incorporated, Unreal Tournament will be the first game to ship with over one gigabyte of original textures. Players whose PCs and laptops accelerator cards utilize S3 Incorporated Savage4 and Savage/IX 3D mobile accelerator chips will experience photo realistic environments, graphics and textures. S3's patent texture compression technology allows for rapid loading times of extremely complex, detailed textures. Unreal Tournament ships November 22 for an estimated retail price of $54.95. For more information about the game, visit <http://www.unrealtournament.net/>.

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• Microsoft backs off messaging clash with AOL
  Time: 15:34 EST/20:34 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  After months of wrangling, Microsoft announced today that its MSN Messenger service will no longer communicate with America Online's AOL Instant Messenger.

  The decision comes with the release of Microsoft's next-generation version of MSN Messenger, the company's instant messaging software. The announcement coincided with the launch of its redesigned MSN Web portal.

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• CDNOW's Cosmic Music Network Selects Windows Media As Featured Technology
  Time: 15:04 EST/20:04 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  CDNOW Inc. (Nasdaq "CDNW"), a leading online music destination, and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq "MSFT") today announced that Microsoft® Windows Media™ has been selected as a featured technology for music downloading and streaming audio on CDNOW's Cosmic Music Network (CMN), a new comprehensive and innovative online community uniting unsigned bands with music lovers. The CMN site, at http://cosmic.cdnow.com/, goes live tomorrow and bands interested in joining CMN can register free through the site.

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• MSN Messenger 2.0 Preview - Local Download
  Time: 14:59 EST/19:59 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron Hinson

  We have made MSN Messenger 2.0 Preview available to download locally as we are one of the official download sites for MSN Messenger now. We will be setting up a special messenger page very soon too.

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• Microsoft and Blockbuster Team Up to Distribute Free Y2K Video
  Time: 09:13 EST/14:13 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today announced that Blockbuster Inc. stores nationwide will carry a year 2000 (Y2K) video that helps customers prepare their home PC for the year 2000. Through this program, Microsoft has produced a free, 30-minute video titled "Is Your Computer Prepared for the Year 2000?" to be carried in the Community Service section of participating Blockbuster stores. When consumers check out the free Microsoft Y2K video, they will also be provided with the Microsoft Year 2000 Resource CD, which includes the latest updates for key Microsoft® products as well as an assortment of tools and information related to Y2K.

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• Billboard Brings Music Charts to Life With Microsoft Windows Media
  Time: 09:10 EST/14:10 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Billboard Online and Microsoft Corp. today announced that Billboard's weekly chart of music popularity, distributed to more than 75 of the largest online retail and media Web sites, will now include streamed audio samples in the Microsoft® Windows Media™ format. Web sites subscribing to the service will be able to offer their users a chance to sample all the hits on the Billboard charts.

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• Site News, Community Update and Stuff
  Time: 06:21 EST/11:21 GMT News Source: Slate Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Hi again everyone. As you have probably noticed, we never managed to get our new Active Network logo up the other day, we "should" have the new logo up tonight though. As usual it is also time to mention our MSN Community, we are currently still the leading Operating System community on MSN, so make sure you check us out - our next chat is on the way on 27th November.

  We also plan to have our online interviews area ready for launch in a couple of weeks with a few interviews with various important people from around the industries we cover including Microsoft, Games, DVD and Linux interviews.

  I have decided to clean up our reviews layouts so that our new reviews will be better than ever in terms of layout and information than before. I have also decided to clean up our upcoming reviews list, getting rid of the old and bringing in the new (Or at least the stuff we know is going to be reviewed)

  Hardware: Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Racing Wheel (This Weekend), Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer, SoundBlaster Live! Platinum, Microsoft Force Feedback Steering Wheel, Microsoft Force Feedback Joystick
  Software: Theme Park World (This Weekend) Gabriel Knight 3, SWAT 3, Interstate 82, Star Trek: Hidden Evil, Indiana Jones & The Infernal Machine, Ultima 9, Revernant (This Weekend), Asheron's Call, Unreal Tournament, Wheel Of Time, Delta Force 2, Nocturne, Prince Of Persia 3D, Flight Simulator 2000 Pro, Pandora's Box, Firestorm, System Shock 2, Rogue Spear, Driver, Encarta Africana
  Applications: Corel Suite 9, Vizact 2000

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• My Visit to Microsoft By Al Gore
  Time: 06:21 EST/11:21 GMT News Source: Slate Posted By: Byron Hinson

  I've just walked into the Slate offices after an hour-long free-form discussion with about 200 Microsoft employees. I loved the discussion. There was obviously tension in the air, because my visit--though long-scheduled--came on the heels of the "Findings of Fact" by the judge presiding over the antitrust case brought against Microsoft by the Justice Department.

  Even though the Justice Department makes its own independent decisions in such matters without input from the White House, its leaders--including Joel Klein--are appointees of the current administration. For that reason, I couldn't comment on the decision that was clearly on many people's minds on the Microsoft campus today. I did make clear that there is a fundamental American value in making sure that neither heavy-handed government nor unfair business practices stamp out competition.

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• MSN.Com Redesigned
  Time: 05:54 EST/10:54 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis Gregory

  After weeks of it being on http://beta.msn.com its finally up on http://www.msn.com. This is a site on its own, not many sites have the great layout that MSN has developed nor the technology in the Message Center.

  Note: We've received word that not everyone can view the new page including UK visitors, but you can access it directly via this link.

  What are you waiting for? After reading all the AW news check out http://www.msn.com! 

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• COMDEX: Evidence mounts of exodus from Windows CE
  Time: 05:09 EST/10:09 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Matt Sabean

  Three years after its debut, evidence is mounting that Microsoft's efforts to spread the use of its Windows CE operating system to gadgets are not faring well.

  The latest clues can be seen here at the Comdex trade show from the likes of Compaq Computer, Sony and Everex, another hardware maker that will stop making devices based on Windows CE, Microsoft's scaled-down OS.

  To boot, Sony yesterday said it was licensing the Palm operating system from 3Com's Palm Computing for use in next-generation handheld devices.

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• GE retakes top spot from Microsoft
  Time: 05:02 EST/10:02 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Matt Sabean

  Microsoft has lost its spot as the country's most-valuable company to General Electric just days after a federal judge said the world's biggest software maker is a monopoly.

  Microsoft's shares have fallen 4.6 percent since the Nov. 5 ruling, cutting its market capitalization to $450.5 billion. GE's shares have climbed 4.4 percent in that time, giving the latter a market value of $457.6 billion. In late January, Microsoft's value exceeded GE's by almost $100 billion.

  The narrowing of the gap has accelerated since Sept. 20 as Microsoft's investors, awaiting a ruling in the landmark antitrust trial, pushed down the stock about 11 percent. GE--whose market value reached $400 billion Sept. 20--has climbed about 14 percent since then as the multiindustry company prepares to deliver its sixth consecutive year of record sales and profit in 1999.

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• Junk mail from MS: whose spam is it anyway?
  Time: 04:45 EDT/09:45 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Byron Hinson

  "Spammers are thieves... They're hijacking your system to deliver their unrequested, unwanted advertising," says a new Microsoft web site paper by R'ykandar Korra'ti. But Microsoft is on shaky ground when it comes to spam - in recent newsgroup posting the company's own abuse manager Mike Lyman has effectively been conceding that Microsoft sends out unwelcome, unsolicited mail, and that company staff are unwilling and unable to do much about it.

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• Athlon/Pentium 3 Price Comparison
  Time: 04:43 EDT/09:43 GMT News Source: CPU Review Posted By: Byron Hinson

  This is the tenth edition of the K7/P3 Price comparison article; I hope you find the information useful. In this edition I added pricing information on the 650Mhz and 700Mhz speed grades.

  [Note: Read CPUReview's Athlon 600 Review and Athlon 600: Running Linux for more information on the Athlon]

  The price war is quieting down; AMD K7's are cheaper than P3's at both the low and the high end. As of today you can get a K7-650Mhz processor for $115 less than an Intel P3-650Mhz! [Click here for the previous version of this article; with prices from November 3.]

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• MSN Messenger 2 Preview Download Released
  Time: 01:12 EDT/06:12 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron Hinson

  MSN Messenger Service 2.0 for the Windows® operating system includes many new features:
  
  

  • Easier setup: MSN Messenger Service version 2.0 includes several features that make it easier to quickly get your friends up and running on the service, including an easier setup process and the ability to search for your friends' e-mail addresses in your Windows® Address Book or the Hotmail® Member Directory and send them instructions for how to get started on the service.
  • Links to news and information: MSN Messenger Service now includes news and headlines from MSN.
  • Message formatting: Version 2.0 enables you to customize your message font, color and style.
  • Improved Hotmail integration: The new Mail toolbar button gives you easier access to your Hotmail account as well as an up-to-date count of your unread e-mail.
  • Always on Top mode: You can now choose to keep MSN Messenger Service in the foreground at all times so you have easier access to MSN Messenger Service features when using other programs.
  • Usability improvements: There are several basic usability improvements to MSN Messenger Service version 2.0 based directly on your feedback, including the ability to view your current online status in the status bar as well as changes to some of the names used to designate status.

  Download MSN Messenger 2 Preview Version

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• Site User Survey
  Time: 16:39 EDT/21:39 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Please take a few moments of your time and fill out our User Profile Survey. This information will help us get a better idea of our average user's wants and needs. With this information, we will make ActiveWindows more customized to our viewers!

  Plus, we are giving away gift certificates to PC Connection - so it can't hurt!

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• COMDEX: MS demonstrates its new 'Web companion'
  Time: 16:36 EDT/21:36 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft's (Nasdaq:MSFT) new Internet access device is so easy to use it could replace reading the newspaper at breakfast time. Or so said officials with the company's MSN.com Monday at Comdex as they demonstrated the low-cost MSN-based "Web companion" that gives consumers one-click access to the Internet. (Microsoft Chairman and CEO Bill Gates showed off the appliance Sunday in his Comdex keynote.)

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• Gates Comments on Possible Break-Up
  Time: 15:29 EDT/20:29 GMT News Source: Avault Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Reuters has reported that Bill Gates, in a published interview, refused to rule out breaking up his company to settle a government antitrust suit. But a spokesman said Monday the company rejected a break-up. Gates said that although he wants to settle, he would oppose any deal that would restrict the company's freedom to design Windows and assure its consistency. But in the interview with Time magazine he twice refused discussion about a solution that might involve breaking up the software giant.

  "I can't go down the path of saying what the settlement would be," Gates replied when asked about breaking up Microsoft. In a follow-up question, Gates was asked if Windows must be part of Microsoft.

  "In terms of discussing the details of a settlement, I can't do that," he replied.

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• COMDEX: Microsoft Previews Project 2000 At Comdex
  Time: 15:20 EDT/20:20 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft President Steve Ballmer took the slightly unusual step of launching a major product upgrade from the show floor at Comdex on Monday, introducing Microsoft Project 2000 to attendees who packed the company's theater Pavilion.

  Ballmer also introduced a new Web-based companion called Microsoft Project Central that is to be used with Microsoft Project 2000. Ballmer made the announcement about the new productivity tool for the Office family in between an appearance with Unysis executives discussing a powerful electronic business environment and a Windows 2000 briefing.

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• COMDEX: Microsoft Launches Website For Palm PCs
  Time: 15:15 EDT/20:15 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft at Comdex launched a user-community website called Uplink to showcase the things people are doing with palm-size PCs. While not a newsgroup, Uplink content will come from enthusiasts and be hosted by Microsoft.

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• COMDEX: Gates: Digital image firms face obstacles
  Time: 15:15 EDT/20:15 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  The future of digital imaging is promising, but there are many obstacles yet to overcome, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates told a Comdex crowd here.

  Gates addressed the crowd of press and analysts in his capacity as founder of Corbis, which is developing a database of digital images taken from private and public photography and art collections, rather than as chairman of the software giant. Gates did not touch on the recent setbacks in the antitrust case filed against Microsoft.

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• COMDEX: Microsoft Launches Windows 2000 RC 3
  Time: 15:08 EDT/20:08 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft announced at Comdex Monday the delivery of the final beta code of Windows 2000--Release Candidate 3--this week.

  The beta code, which will be delivered to just 15,000 joint development partners, incorporates final bug fixes but no major new features, executives said. The Redmond, Wash., software giant originally planned to launch the product at the show.

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• Microsoft Settles Software Piracy Suit Against Megabyte Corp
  Time: 14:59 EDT/19:59 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today announced the settlement of a lawsuit against Megabyte Corp. The suit, which was filed under seal on Sept. 29, 1998, charged Megabyte with distributing counterfeit Microsoft® End User License Agreements (EULAs), as well as counterfeit Microsoft software. The settlement, the terms of which will remain under seal, was signed on April 2, 1999

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• Financial Services Industry Leaders Embrace Microsoft Windows 2000
  Time: 14:59 EDT/19:59 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Today at the Financial Technology Expo, Microsoft Corp. showcased customer and industry support for the forthcoming Microsoft® Windows® 2000 operating system, including plans for migration by financial services companies. The company also announced new services from Compaq Computer Corp. that will assist financial services companies in migrating to this new platform.

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• Reed sues Microsoft
  Time: 09:51 EDT/14:51 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Cahners Travel Group, a division of Reed Elsevier, has filed suit against Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) and its Expedia Inc. division, charging them with breach of contract. Cahners says it had a contract to provide hotel information to the Expedia site and had signed a deal with Microsoft to "be the exclusive provider of ad sales support" for the hotel directory advertising on Expedia. Cahners said Microsoft violated that contract and misappropriated its database.

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• Microsoft to buy back PCs
  Time: 09:49 EDT/14:49 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) has launched a new program to buy back PCs from small business for $500. The buy-back is part of the company's Small Business Windows 2000 Web service, the company said.

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• Microsoft Delivers Windows for Smart Cards
  Time: 05:06 EDT/10:06 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  At COMDEX/Fall '99 today, Microsoft Corp. announced availability of the Microsoft^® Windows^® Smart Card Toolkit, which will enable developers and card customers to build a broader range of smart-card applications and services more easily by utilizing a common operating system and familiar tools. Windows Powered Smart Cards, which are the size of a credit card, have a crypto-capable microprocessor and can perform a number of practical applications, such as secure corporate logons for Windows 2000; Web and phone authentication; medical data storage; and debit, credit or cash transactions. Windows Powered Smart Cards are being used in a number of pilot projects both in the United States and Europe.

  In addition to the availability of the Windows Smart Card Toolkit, Microsoft announced a pilot program with British Telecom (BT) that will provide BT's 35,000 mobile workers with one-touch remote network access from any device through Windows for Smart Cards technology.

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• Microsoft Delivers Windows for Smart Cards at Cartes 99
  Time: 05:04 EDT/10:04 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  Today at Cartes 99, Microsoft Corp. announced the availability of the Microsoft^® Windows^® Smart Card Toolkit, which will enable developers and card customers to more easily build a broader range of smart-card applications and services by utilizing a common operating system and familiar tools. In addition, Microsoft showcased the Windows for Smart Cards operating system's wide industry support through its rapidly expanding Smart Card Associates Program.

  "Microsoft is proud that within a year we have worked with key players in the smart-card industry to transform our Windows for Smart Cards operating system from a potentially intriguing technology to a credible and powerful smart-card solution that is already being implemented around the world," said Philippe Goetschel, director, Smart Cards, Microsoft. "We are especially happy to see that companies have embraced using the Windows for Smart Cards operating system in a wide variety of smart-card applications, whether it be support for GSM SIM cards, logon for Windows 2000, Web authentication, medical record storage, or debit, credit and cash transactions."

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• Microsoft Project 2000 and Microsoft Project Central Extend Project Management to a Broader Knowledge Worker Audience
  Time: 05:04 EDT/10:04 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  Today at COMDEX/Fall '99, Microsoft Corp. President Steve Ballmer announced Microsoft® Project 2000, a major upgrade to the world's best-selling project management software. He also announced Microsoft Project Central, a new Web-based companion product that when used in conjunction with Microsoft Project 2000 delivers a flexible and scalable solution, which enables knowledge workers on teams of any size to manage projects collaboratively.

  At a time when organizations increasingly are turning to team-based structures to accomplish their work, Microsoft Project 2000 is designed to make it simple for team members to help manage the multiple details of projects. "Microsoft is delivering breakthrough collaborative technology to the knowledge worker with Microsoft Project 2000," Ballmer said. "Project 2000's new Web collaboration will increase teams' productivity and accuracy. Even knowledge workers who don't think of themselves as 'project managers' can benefit from the product because it improves their ability to manage details and work more effectively with others."

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• EMI to Deliver Extensive Music Video Library Via Microsoft Windows Media
  Time: 05:03 EDT/10:03 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  EMI Recorded Music and Microsoft Corp. today announced an agreement under which more than 5,000 EMI music videos will be made available in Windows Media™ format, making it the single largest conversion of music video content from a major label into any streamed digital media format. The videos will be available for streaming in both high-quality broadband as well as narrowband formats.

  "This agreement will help in our continuing effort to make EMI artists' content available in all formats, so that the consumer is better served," said Jay Samit, senior vice president of New Media, EMI. "We are looking forward to being able to offer the consumer the depth of our video catalog online."

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• MS: 'We'd Love to Resolve This'
  Time: 05:01 EDT/10:01 GMT News Source: Wired Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, locked in a legal battle with the US government over domination of the software market, was quoted Sunday as saying he insisted on the right to determine what goes into the company's widely used Windows operating system.

  Gates was interviewed by Time magazine after a federal judge ruled last week Microsoft was a monopoly that had bullied rivals and hurt consumers by stifling competition, a ruling that analysts said could have drastic consequences, including a possible break-up of the company.

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• NT Servers: Fast, Cheap, And Out Of Control
  Time: 04:59 EDT/09:59 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Alex Harris

  NT Servers: Fast, Cheap, And Out Of Control (11/15/99, 7:47 p.m. ET) By Jan Stafford , VARBusiness Fast, cheap, and out of control: that's the corporate NTserver scenario painted by Data General's NT server division. At Comdex, the company is touting an NT server consolidation strategy designed to corral the stampede of NT servers. Oh yes, the strategy will also give Data General--which was recently acquired by EMC--a way to differentiate its value in a crowded marketplace.

  "Every time Intel comes out with a new chip, the gains offered in price performance are a compelling reason for a company to buy a different server," says David Flawn, Data General's vice president of NT server marketing. The result is a management nightmare in which hundreds of NT servers are sitting in workgroups in a company. "This is making corporate-wide information sharing, security, revision control, application compatibility, and backup very difficult to implement," says Flawn.

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• Lucent's Major Breakthrough
  Time: 04:57 EDT/09:57 GMT News Source: Wired Posted By: Alex Harris

  In a breakthrough that may lead to high-rise processors, Lucent's Bell Labs claims to have found a way to build a chip's components vertically instead of horizontally.

  Dubbed one of the "Holy Grails" of the semiconductor industry, the ability to manufacture chips vertically may give current chip-making technology a new lease on life, Bell Labs said.

  The chip industry is widely believed to be approaching the physical limits of how small chips can be manufactured.

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• Gates: The best CEO, the worst CEO
  Time: 04:51 EDT/09:51 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  Results of a survey of U.S. CEOs named Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT) Chairman and CEO Bill Gates as the CEO who most skillfully managed his company's reputation during the past twelve months. Paradoxically, he was also voted as the business leader who handled his company the least skillfully. The October PR Week survey polled 269 CEOs from leading U.S. companies. The survey was completed before the release of the findings of fact in the Microsoft antitrust trial.

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• MS employees put Gore on defensive
  Time: 04:50 EDT/09:50 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  Vice President Al Gore defended U.S. antitrust laws on Monday in a visit to Microsoft Corp. headquarters where he was peppered with questions about the government case against the software giant.

  Gore's meeting with about 250 mid- and senior level Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT) executives came just 10 days after a preliminary ruling against the company in the long-running antitrust case and was nearly canceled over a closed-door press policy.

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• Netscape Netcenter to launch redesign
  Time: 04:48 EDT/09:48 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Alex Harris

  Netcenter, the Web portal for America Online subsidiary Netscape Communications, is close to relaunching its site in a bid to draw more daytime traffic.

  Two alternate beta versions of the redesign went live recently at two URLs: "http://home.netscape.com/index_c.html?cp=HOMFB" and "http://home.netscape.com/index_c.html?cp=HOMDB."

  "These are two new home page designs that we are considering for Netcenter," said Nathan Tyler, a Netscape spokesman. He would not disclose a date for Netcenter's relaunch.

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• Microsoft, DOJ to meet with judge Thursday
  Time: 04:46 EDT/09:46 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Alex Harris

  Lawyers for Microsoft, the Justice Department and 19 states will meet District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson Thursday to discuss scheduling matters in the firm's landmark antitrust case, people close to the case said Monday.

  The meeting, the first since Jackson said in his findings of fact that Microsoft uses monopoly power to harm consumers and other companies, will help set the stage for the next phase of the trial.

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• Linux founder: User needs shaping new era
  Time: 04:43 EDT/09:43 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Alex Harris

  Linux is moving into a different era, a time when the future of the operating system software will be driven by user needs instead of programmers' curiosity, the movement's founder said Monday.

  "The technology is not driving the market any more. What people want is driving it," Linux Torvalds said in a well-attended speech here.

  "The iMac comes in five colors. Who cares from a technical standpoint? But they're obviously selling like crazy," said Torvalds, who launched the Linux programming effort five years ago while a student in Finland.

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• Ballmer aims to end 'Blue Screen of Death'
  Time: 04:41 EDT/09:41 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft Corp. Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT) executives including President Steve Ballmer showed off some of the new features of the company's upcoming Windows 2000 operating system such as infrared file sharing during a presentation at Comdex/Fall '99, and they promised fewer of those blue screens of death. Microsoft vice president Jim Allchin also said the OS still was on track for a Feb. 17 release.

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• Survey: Microsoft's media player catching up to RealNetworks
  Time: 16:16 EDT/21:16 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft is gaining ground on RealNetworks in the digital media player market, as consumers increasingly turn to multiple products to download music and video from the Internet, according to a survey released today by PC Data Online. "Real is clearly winning," said Howard Dyckovsky, PC Data's vice president of operations. "The question is whether they will continue to do so."

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• Windows NT update carries bug
  Time: 16:16 EDT/21:16 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  A software update for Microsoft's Windows NT operating system introduced a bug that could potentially cripple Lotus Notes unless companies compromise network security.

  The bug in Windows NT Service Pack 6 prevents users from accessing Lotus Notes without administrator rights--the highest and broadest level of access typically reserved for network managers. Companies generally restrict user access to prevent security breaches or catastrophic accidental changes to PCs or servers.

  The bug puts companies that have applied the service pack in a bind, possibly forcing them to grant users temporary administrator privileges in order to use Lotus Notes.

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• Fifa 2000 Competition Winner
  Time: 15:06 EDT/20:06 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Our Fifa 2000 competition has finished so it is time to announce the winner. One full boxed copy of the US version of Fifa 2000 is on the way to Paul Carter in the next week or so.

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• Microsoft ClearType Design Team Honored at World Technology Awards
  Time: 14:59 EDT/19:59 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today announced that two of the key software developers of Microsoft® ClearType™ display technology, Bill Hill and Bert Keely, were distinguished finalists in the Information Technology category of the inaugural World Technology Awards hosted by the World Technology Network (WTN) of London, in association with The Economist magazine and sponsored by Booz-Allen & Hamilton. The World Technology Awards were created by WTN to honor those innovators whose work is of the greatest likely long-term significance for the benefit of business and society.

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• Microsoft and S3's Diamond Multimedia Showcase Rio Player In First Live Demonstration of Windows Media On SDMI-Capable Portable Device
  Time: 14:58 EDT/19:58 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq "MSFT") and Diamond Multimedia™ Inc., a division of S3â Inc. (Nasdaq "SIII"), today showcased at Webnoize the first live demonstration of Microsoft® Windows Media™ Technologies 4 on a Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI)-capable portable music device. The third-generation Rio™ players will support Windows Media and Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM). This marks a significant step toward the mainstream adoption of secure digital media devices and software by consumers.

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• Microsoft and TVT Records Take Digital Music Commerce to New Level
  Time: 14:56 EDT/19:56 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  History was made at Webnoize '99 today as TVT Records, the nation's largest independent label, and Microsoft Corp. announced that TVT's entire catalog is available immediately for sale via digital download. At http://www.tvtrecords.com/, music fans can now purchase and download every song from a collection of over 100 TVT titles, featuring acclaimed artists such as Nine Inch Nails, Guided by Voices, Sevendust and XTC.

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• Microsoft Windows Media Leaps Forward in Market Acceptance
  Time: 14:56 EDT/19:56 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  At the Webnoize '99 Conference in Los Angeles, Microsoft Corp. today announced the crossing of two major milestones in the effort to bring digital music into the mainstream. First, Microsoft announced the broadest commitment ever of major label and well-known artist content to an Internet digital media format. Second, Microsoft and Diamond Multimedia Inc. demonstrated the first end-to-end operation of a Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI)-capable portable music player delivering music in the secure Microsoft® Windows Media™ format. In addition, independent market research firm PC Data Online announced a first-ever look at Internet consumers' behavior in using digital media, which showed that the Windows Media Player is the fastest-growing media player; it was used in the last month by 60 percent of consumers who accessed streaming media.

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• 3Dfx Website Open
  Time: 14:18 EDT/19:18 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis Gregory

  I'm not sure if you've been keeping up to date, but earlier today 3Dfx announced Voodoo 4 & 5. This weekend, 3Dfx's website had been down telling of a new site today. Well since the announcement has been made the site is now up, and once again 3DFx shows its Shockwave style with another shockwave website for their new announcement.

  Check out 3dfx's website here.

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• COMDEX: See it Live!
  Time: 13:38 EDT/18:38 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Dennis Gregory

  PCWeek and ZDNet are broadcasting Comdex `99/Fall live via the internet and if you missed previous speaches they also have those in their archive. You can visit their broadcasting homepage here.

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• Microsoft and BMG Move Digital Music to Mainstream
  Time: 13:28 EDT/18:28 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Dennis Gregory

  REDMOND, Wash., and NEW YORK - Nov. 15, 1999 - Microsoft Corp. and BMG Entertainment today announced the launch of the BMG Artist Showcase program to promote BMG performers' use of Microsoft^® Windows Media™ formats and the WindowsMedia.com media guide, part of the MSN™ network of Internet services. Downloadable digital music, streaming audio and music videos from two top BMG artists from around the world will be featured each month on the BMG Artist Showcase at WindowsMedia.com, exclusively in Windows Media formats.

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• COMDEX: Sony aims to control the digital living room
  Time: 11:38 EDT/16:38 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Not content with having George Lucas promoting the PSX 2, In the home networking market, Sony is hedging its bets. The electronics giant has a partnership with Sun Microsystems, as the two have been working together since January on consumer electronics devices such as stereos and video cameras that can communicate over home networks. Yet recent deals with Sun rival Microsoft show that Sony isn't willing to put all its eggs in one basket

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• Microsoft patches Windows security hole
  Time: 11:17 EDT/16:17 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft patched a security hole in its Windows operating system that exposed Internet-connected computers to invasion by attackers. The problem, which Microsoft acknowledged last week, lets a malicious hacker crash the operating system by flooding the file address field with more characters than it can accommodate, sending the excess characters into memory where they can be executed when the computer is restarted.

  Download the patches for for both Windows 95 and Windows 98.

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• COMDEX: Microsoft Announces Business Internet Analytics for Smarter, More Efficient and Profitable Web Businesses
  Time: 11:12 EDT/16:12 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Today at COMDEX/Fall '99, Microsoft Corp. outlined its vision for Business Internet Analytics (BIA), a broad-reaching initiative aimed at improving the customer satisfaction, operational efficiency and profitability of Web businesses through a combination of high-capacity clickstream data analysis and business data warehousing. BIA, a set of tools and processes that can be implemented more quickly than any other solution available, supports some of the largest businesses on the Internet and delivers unprecedented near real-time results.

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• COMDEX: 3dfx Voodoo 4 & 5 Announced
  Time: 11:05 EDT/16:05 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  3dfx Interactive® Inc. (NASDAQ: TDFX) today announced the first implementation of its new Voodoo Scalable Architecture technology. The initial advanced processor, the VSA-100(tm), is a highly scalable design that supports the integration of one to 32 chips per system, using proprietary programmable scan-line interleaving (SLI) techniques, to deliver ultimate fill rates and high visual reality through breakthrough digital cinematic effects. Additionally, the VSA-100 architecture substantially improves the overall 3D rendering quality by incorporating advanced full-scene anti-aliasing technology, available for the first time at real-time frame rates and consumer prices.

  Read more

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• New Intel Motherboard Specs Announced
  Time: 11:01 EDT/16:01 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Intel today official announced the specs for their new motherboards, they are the first motherboards to support 4x AGP graphics capabilities:

  Intel® Desktop Board VC820 for the Intel® Pentium® III Processor
  Intel® Desktop Board CC820 for Intel® Pentium® III Processor

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• COMDEX: MSN-Based Web Companions: Microsoft Unveils a New Way to Access the Web
  Time: 10:22 EDT/15:22 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Today at COMDEX/Fall '99, Microsoft previewed MSN-based Web Companion, a small, low-cost device designed for consumers who want a fun and easy way to connect to the Internet, surf the Web and communicate with others. MSN-based Web Companion represents a major move for Microsoft into the Internet-access device market, and underscores the company's commitment to its vision of the Everyday Web, whereby people are empowered to be connected to the Internet any time, any place and from any device.

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• COMDEX: Gates Envisions New Era of "The Personal Web" at COMDEX
  Time: 09:37 EDT/14:37 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Addressing an industry audience at COMDEX/Fall '99, Microsoft Chairman and CEO Bill Gates explained how Web sites will transform into personal interactive service centers, giving consumers an unprecedented degree of flexibility and personalization. Gates envisioned the era of the "Personal Web," where users can access the information, goods and services they want -- any time, any place and from a variety of devices.

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• Microsoft and Extended Systems Form Strategic Relationship To Deliver Windows CE-Based Enterprise Solutions
  Time: 09:37 EDT/14:37 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. and Extended Systems Inc., maker of the award-winning XTNDConnect Server (formerly known as ASL-Connect), today announced a relationship with the objective of increasing customer access to secure, server-based synchronization and management solutions. Microsoft and Extended Systems will work together in a number of areas, including joint marketing and distribution efforts as well as technical collaboration for future products. This relationship marks both companies' commitment to deliver improved device management solutions for corporate IT and better synchronization of business data for mobile knowledge workers.

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• COMDEX: UpLink Helps Users of Microsoft Windows CE and Palm-Size PCs Do More
  Time: 09:37 EDT/14:37 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Delivering on a vision of making information accessible any time, anywhere from a range of devices, Microsoft Corp. and Socket Communications Inc. today announced that the Microsoft® Communications Kit for the Windows® CE operating system is available immediately for distribution with the Battery Friendly™ Digital Phone Card Data Connection Kit from Socket. With this hardware and software combination, people can unite a Windows CE-based Palm-size PC or Handheld PC with a data-capable cellular phone and easily access e-mail, browse rich Internet content in color, and synchronize personal information while on the go.

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• Microsoft and Socket Announce Availability of Microsoft Communications Kit for Windows CE and Distribution With Socket's Digital Phone Cards
  Time: 09:35 EDT/14:35 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Delivering on a vision of making information accessible any time, anywhere from a range of devices, Microsoft Corp. and Socket Communications Inc. today announced that the Microsoft® Communications Kit for the Windows® CE operating system is available immediately for distribution with the Battery Friendly™ Digital Phone Card Data Connection Kit from Socket. With this hardware and software combination, people can unite a Windows CE-based Palm-size PC or Handheld PC with a data-capable cellular phone and easily access e-mail, browse rich Internet content in color, and synchronize personal information while on the go.

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• COMDEX: Microsoft Furthers Everyday Web Vision by Unveiling MSN-Based Web Companions at COMDEX/Fall '99
  Time: 09:35 EDT/14:35 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today joined with industry-leading OEMs at COMDEX/Fall '99 to preview the simple, fun and low-cost MSN™-based Web companions that deliver instant one-click access to the Internet. This announcement further demonstrates Microsoft's commitment to making the Everyday Web experience available any time, anywhere on any device. Designed for consumers who want an easy and affordable way to browse the Web, communicate with others and accomplish everyday tasks online, MSN-based Web companions bring the rich Internet experience that a PC provides in a lightweight, streamlined new format, featuring instant power-on, a single user interface and easy-to-find controls.

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• Microsoft Announces Windows 2000 Global Launch Partners
  Time: 09:34 EDT/14:34 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today announced the first Windows® 2000 Global Launch Partners, industry leaders who are showcasing significant investment in the Microsoft® Windows 2000 family of operating systems through solutions, services and support. Cisco Systems Inc., Commerce One Inc., Compaq Computer Corp., Dell Computer Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., i2 Technologies Inc., Intel Corp., SAP AG, Toshiba Corp. and Unisys Corp. are working closely with Microsoft in the development of key industry innovations supported by Windows 2000.

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• Microsoft Offers Free Shipping to More Than 30 Million MSN.com Users
  Time: 09:32 EDT/14:32 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Just a few weeks after launching its new online shopping service, Microsoft Corp. today announced it will feature free shipping offers on MSN™ eShop this holiday season. One of the top reasons online shoppers decide midway through the purchase not to buy is high shipping costs*. MSN eShop will help eliminate this concern for consumers this holiday season with offers of free shipping from more than 30 online stores. The new MSN eShop also provides a complete online shopping solution for the more than 30 million MSN.com™ users. They can easily browse more than 100 of the top online retailers; compare thousands of products side by side; peruse product reviews, detailed product information, return policies, warranties and more; and then buy with confidence. MSN eShop provides customers with a shopping experience unparalleled by any other site portal: top merchants in one location, a wide range of product offerings and, now, free shipping.

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• COMDEX: Gates: Long Live the PC
  ZDNN or News.Com
  Time: 06:14 EDT/11:14 GMT News Source: ZDNN & News.Com Posted By: Dennis Gregory

  LAS VEGAS - Personal computer vendors may be shying away from the PC moniker, but Microsoft Corp. isn't.

  At his keynote address to open Comdex/Fall '99, Bill Gates, Microsoft Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT) chairman and CEO, focused heavily on the past and future PC hardware and software advances which he said will make possible "The Personal Web."

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• Al Gore back in hot potato (sp?) Microsoft meet
  Time: 06:13 EDT/11:13 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Byron Hinson

  US presidential hopeful Al Gore had backed out of a meeting scheduled with Microsoft staff tomorrow (Monday), but is now reported by US wire services to be back in. The current vice president had been lined up for the meeting prior to the publication of judge Jackson's findings of fact, but this has made the Microsoft campus something of a danger zone for presidential candidates.

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• Quake 3 Arena Demo Released
  Time: 06:02 EDT/11:02 GMT News Source: Voodoo Extreme Posted By: Byron Hinson

  ID Software has released a demo of Quake 3 Arena, here are a few of the download sites:

  id Software - id Software's official download
  Fileplanet - Fileplanet / Gamespy Industries
  MNG Network - MNG Network
  AVault - The Adrenaline Vault
  Blue's News - Blue's News
  CDROM.com - CDROM.com

  Just a reminder, this isn't the general demo. If all goes well, the general demo will be uploaded in a few days. The demo contains four maps (q3dm1, q3dm7, q3dm17, q3tourney2) and six characters (Sarge, Visor, Major, Grunt, Daemia, Stripe). Bots are in there on five difficulty settings (from "I can win!" to "Nightmare!"). The demo is for PC only, Mac and Linux will be released later. More mirrors will be added as they become available.

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• Gone Offline?...Your Not Alive
  Time: 06:00 EDT/11:00 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Ross has released his latest report called "Gone Offline?...Your Not Alive". Here is a snippet:

  Personally, I've been spoiled, a 64/128Kbps ISDN connection and toll-free access at weekends. Not Bad. It may not be cable but I love it; just a few seconds, couple of clicks here and there, the familiar flashing lights appear in the system tray and I'm on. The cost of this luxury however, is fairly steep with line rental charges of £120 ($195 US approx.) per quarter on top of horrendously steep call charges,to run a fast Internet connection using anything other than a dial-up here in the UK, you almost have to have Billy G's bank balance.

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• Site News
  Time: 05:55 EDT/10:55 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron Hinson

  A new week but more Site News. I managed to miss a couple of deadlines for two reviews I was due to post at the weekend, but a few other things cropped up that stopped me from completing them, reviews of Revenant, Flight Simulator 2000 and The Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Racing Wheel will be up before the weeks end.

  On another note, we have a few new bits and pieces coming up on the site over the next few weeks. To start with we will have a new main page logo which although we didn't want to release this new Active Network one just yet (It was due when the news engine starts), we were forced into doing so. (We will explain why when we post it later today). We also have our new News Engine going into motion from the middle of next month, which will not only mean more news - but also the chance for you to customize the news pages to the way you like. We're also going to launch something a little bit special at the same time as the news engine, so keep an eye out for it.

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• AskAW & Site News
  Time: 20:58 EDT/01:58 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis Gregory

  First... We have some good news regarding this week's AskAW section update, we have a brand new way for AskAW staff and helpers to respond to your questions and we've received overwhelming responses and we thank all of our AskAW Helpers! Because of that we will have a bigger update than usual. Remember if you want to submit your AskAW question go to our AskAW Questions section in our MSN Community here.

  Second... If you didn't know...The most popular week in computing is here! Comdex/Fall `99 in Las Vegas, NV is going on right now with  Bill Gates' keynote. We will bring you Comdex/Fall `99 updates with links to complete stories on trusting sources like C|Net and ZD. Any Comdex/Fall `99 news will have the prefix COMDEX: before the headline. This will only go on for this week so expect this starting tomorrow.

  We at ActiveWindows will continue to keep you updated on the ever changing computer world!

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• AMD Athlon Commercials on Tonight on ABC (US)
  Time: 20:55 EDT/01:55 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis Gregory

  If you're about to watch Who wants to be a Millionaire? or The Practice on ABC tonight you may see an interesting commercial. AMD will be launching their own commercials of their new Athlon chip. Here's a quote from AMD's press release regarding it which can be read in its entirety here:
  
  "The new commercial will run through the holiday season, nationwide on the ABC network and ESPN. It will appear on prime-time shows like Monday Night Football, Spin City, The Practice, The Drew Carey Show and during ABC's Thanksgiving-night movie, Forest Gump."

  Thanks for visiting ActiveWindows.

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• Codename Asheron Launched
  Time: 20:46 EDT/01:46 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis Gregory

  We're proud to announce the launch of Codename Asheron. Justin Harrison our Asheron's Call expert is going to be hosting his brand new website of all the Asheron's Call information giving you a sneak peak at the game if you havn't bought it yet. If you have, you'll find it a very informative guide to the world of Dereth.

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• Reviews On The Web
  Time: 08:37 EDT/13:37 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Here are a few of the new reviews that are popping up across the web:

  BeOS 4.5 - Riva Extreme
  Matrox Millennium G400 - Beta Bites
  Tiberian Sun - Window Planet

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• Texturing & DirectX 7 Guide
  Time: 11:29 EDT/16:29 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Gamasutra has posted a guide to texturing and DirectX 7 for some of you wannabe programmers for those of you who are interested in that kind of thing, it is well worth checking out.

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• Search Engines Gang Up on Microsoft
  Time: 09:37 EDT/14:37 GMT News Source: PC World Posted By: Alex Harris

  Could Microsoft be "more evil than Satan himself"? Even Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson would not make that ruling. But the jury may still be out at popular search engines.

  Try running the query "more evil than Satan himself" at the Google search site. According to the folks at Google, the URL for damnation is Microsoft.com.

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• Bubbleboy Worries the Experts
  Time: 09:37 EDT/14:37 GMT News Source: PC World Posted By: Alex Harris

  It may be the most overexposed computer virus threat that never was--yet.

  Bubbleboy, the newest wrinkle in PC viruses unveiled earlier this week, may hold the title for the most famed virus ever. But as far as is known, it hasn't infected a single PC.

  Named after a character in an episode of the Seinfeld television series, Bubbleboy was sent anonymously to major antivirus research labs this past Monday. Virus experts believe it originated in Argentina, and that it was sent to researchers as a "proof of concept" from a proud virus writer who wanted to show what he (most virus writers are male) had discovered. It has not gone into the "wild," the term virus researchers use when a virus becomes widespread among users.

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• Hitachi Boosts Rewritable DVD to 4.7GB
  Time: 09:37 EDT/14:37 GMT News Source: PC World Posted By: Alex Harris

  Digital Versatile Discs will soon be even more versatile, with a little help from Hitachi America. The company is unveiling a new recordable DVD drive that nearly doubles the capacity of first-generation DVD-RAMs.

  Hitachi America will demonstrate the 4.7GB GF-2000 at next week's Comdex computer trade show in Las Vegas, and it expects to ship samples to hardware manufacturers in January.

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• MS ruling leaves room for compromise
  Time: 09:35 EDT/14:35 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  The window remains open for Microsoft and the Justice Department to do what U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson has pressed them to all along: Settle the landmark antitrust case out of court. On the surface, Jackson's findings of fact that declare Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT)an abusive monopoly give the prosecution little reason to accept a settlement. But some experts believe there's still a real possibility for the parties to compromise.

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• Software makers split on MS breakup
  Time: 09:33 EDT/14:33 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  Reaction from small software developers to Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson's ruling against Microsoft Corp. depends largely on how closely the developers are aligned to the software giant and its Windows platform. Some say breaking the company up would kill the prospects for small developers. Others say a breakup could unleash a wave of opportunity and innovation.

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• MS, AMD to tout co-existence of 'computing appliances'
  Time: 09:30 EDT/14:30 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  The future of the PC and the computing appliance and how they work together should become a little more clear at next week. Industry players Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NYSE:AMD) and Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT), which will converge on Las Vegas for Comdex/Fall next week, will tout new "legacy free PCs" and computing appliance devices, while making an effort to show customers how the PC and computing appliance can coexist.

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• Gore cancels MS visit
  Time: 09:28 EDT/14:28 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  Update - Vice President Al Gore has canceled a planned visit to the headquarters of Microsoft Corp next Monday because of a flap over reporters' access to cover his trip.

  Gore was scheduled to meet with officials and employees, but a spokesman for the Vice President's Presidential campaign said Gore decided to call off his visit because of Microsoft's closed-press policy.

  Microsoft, however, attributed the cancellation to a miscommunication and indicated plans to be in contact with the Gore campaign throughout the weekend.

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• Shortage! Drought in new PIIIs
  Time: 09:26 EDT/14:26 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  Computer users with a need for speed are apparently running into a speed bump.

  Major PC manufacturers are reporting shortages of Intel Corp.'s fastest processor, the 733MHz Pentium III, spurring some delays in PC deliveries.

  An executive at Micron Electronics Inc. (Nasdaq:MUEI) said the shortage has become a daily frustration for him and is forcing the computer maker to "juggle a lot."

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• DirectX 7 and Windows 2000 News
  Time: 09:22 EDT/14:22 GMT News Source: E-mail Posted By: Alex Harris

  Just some news to keep things going for the weekend. MS plans to release DirectX 7.0a BETA early next week (week of Nov. 15th), while Win 2000 RC3 delayed until 17th.

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• Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS99-049) - Patch Available for "File Access URL" Vulnerability
  Time: 21:53 EDT/02:53 GMT News Source: E-mail Posted By: Matt Sabean

  Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows 98. The vulnerability could allow a malicious web site or e-mail message to cause the Windows machine to crash, or to run arbitrary code..

  Read more

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• Gadgets, home networking highlight changing Comdex
  Time: 17:10 EST/22:10 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Matt Sabean

  The largest computer industry trade show kicks off next week in Las Vegas, but actual computers might be somewhat hard to find.

  At this year's Comdex, the show floor will be crammed with companies and industry groups talking about the post-PC era, laying out a vision of TV set-top boxes, smart cell phones, handheld devices and palm-size computers, all connected to the Internet and each other without the help of wires. Even the new computers set to be unveiled next week will be dressed up to resemble so-called Internet appliances.

  Tech companies are betting big on gadgets and devices, but despite the hype, it's an untested market, and it remains to be seen which of the "next big thing" gizmos being shown this year will make it into stores next year, observers say.

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• Barnesandnoble.com trusts mission-critical app to Windows 2000 beta
  Time: 16:41 EST/21:41 GMT News Source: Computerworld Posted By: Matt Sabean

  Barnesandnoble.com will run Windows 2000 beta code on an eight-way cluster for a mission-critical fulfillment application this holiday season, said CIO Gary King. The company, which expects its biggest holiday season ever, will use a cluster of servers from Compaq Computer Corp. running Windows 2000 Advanced Server. The system previously ran on Windows NT 4.0 and Hewlett-Packard Co.'s HP-UX.

  Microsoft will detail Barnesandnoble.com's early adoption of Windows 2000 next week at Comdex/Fall '99 in Las Vegas.

  Barnesandnoble.com has long had a close relationship with Microsoft, and King said that enabled the companies to perform extensive testing. "It will support the mission-critical application we designed it to run," King said.

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• Has Microsoft backed off instant messaging war?
  Time: 16:35 EST/21:35 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Matt Sabean

  Having wrestled for months to create a product that works seamlessly with America Online's hugely popular AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), Microsoft says it may give up the fight.

  The decision comes as Microsoft plans to launch a new version of its MSN Messenger Service, as previously reported. The new software will have deeper integration with the MSN.com Web portal, as well as with Hotmail.

  "We've been thinking about interoperability ever since we launched (MSN Messenger)," said Deanna Sanford, lead product manager for MSN. "It's getting harder and harder to provide that interoperability."

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• The Mac-Microsoft symbiosis
  Time: 15:21 EDT/20:21 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Steve Jobs began his current tenure at Apple with a neat (and characteristic) bit of theater, taking Boston's Macworld Expo keynote stage in August 1997 to introduce Microsoft Corp. CEO Bill Gates via satellite and declare a cease-fire in the longstanding OS war between the two companies.

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• Microsoft knows it's time for change
  Time: 14:50 EDT/19:50 GMT News Source: Red Herring Posted By: Byron Hinson

  As a betting man, I'd put more than even money on the hunch that Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) knew the judge was going to issue a finding of fact against the company. It's not that Bill Gates could bully an opinion out of a U.S. District Court Judge ahead of time, but rather that the Microsoft legal team expected to take it on the chin when the finding of fact was issued. The real question is: does it matter any more?

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• In the Wake of Microsoft Judgment, Top Tech Execs Say Software Giant Should be Punished, According to Computerworld Survey
  Time: 14:47 EDT/19:47 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  The landmark court decision finding Microsoft to be a monopoly has tech executives at large corporations nationwide calling for the Department of Justice to punish the global software giant, according to a survey to be published next week by Computerworld, an information services company for information technology (IT) Leaders.

  According to the survey, while many IT executives feel that Microsoft should be penalized for its business practices, opinions were mixed about the company's effect on competition and innovation in the technology industry.

  Computerworld surveyed IT executives nationwide at organizations of 500+ employees, with two-thirds of respondents at companies with more than 2,500 employees. Computerworld Editor-in-Chief Maryfran Johnson is available to comment on the Microsoft decision and the new survey, the findings of which include:
  
  

  • Break it up - 79% of execs say the Department of Justice should fine Microsoft; order the company to license its operating system to competitors; or dismantle Microsoft, separating the operating system from the applications.
  • Conservative techies? - 66% of tech execs feel that a combination of moderate government regulation and market forces is the best solution to monopolies in technology. None of the respondents thought that there should be strong government regulation to solve the monopoly problem.
  • Conflicting opinions -- Contradictions abound in the survey results, with 67% of IT professionals saying that Microsoft has not hurt innovation in information technology; while 62% feel that Microsoft does not have any true competitors in desktop operating systems.
  • Feelings also were mixed regarding the ruling's perceived effects on the computer industry as a whole; 30% think the ruling will have a positive effect; 32% said the decision will have a negative effect; and 33% said the ruling will have no effect at all.
  • The bottom line: 93% of IT executives say the judgment will have no effect on how they do business with Microsoft.

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• Site News: Chat Reminder
  Time: 14:35 EST/19:35 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Remember to sign up for our online community where you can chat with us and ask questions via our message board, our next chat is on November 13th so mark your calendars. We will be announcing a few new site features during the chat, some of which you will be able to decide on.

  On another note I have been making a few design changes on various parts of the site, including the new tip of the day feature at the bottom of the navigation bar and a few CSS changes too.

  Hardware: Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Racing Wheel (This weekend), Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer, Regular Visor, Microtek SlimScan6, SoundBlaster Live! Platinum, Microsoft Force Feedback Steering Wheel, Microsoft Force Feedback Joystick
  Software: Ultima 9, Reverent (This weekend), Asheron's Call, Unreal Tournament, Wheel Of Time, Delta Force 2, Nocturne ( + competition), Prince Of Persia 3D, Flight Simulator 2000 Pro, Pandora's Box, Links LS 2000, Driver
  Applications: Corel Suite 9, Vizact 2000 (+ competition)

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• Gore takes campaign to Redmond
  Time: 14:28 EDT/19:28 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  WASHINGTON--Vice President Al Gore will visit the headquarters of Microsoft Monday where he will meet with executives and employees. Company executives said the visit to the company's campus in Redmond, Wash., will be closed to the media in keeping with company practices.

  The Democratic presidential hopeful will be hosted by Microsoft vice president Jeff Raikes. Microsoft chairman Bill Gates is scheduled to be out of town attending a big computer trade show. The visit is sensitive following last week's legal finding by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson that Microsoft used monopoly power to harm consumers.

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• Microsoft patches IE, Windows
  Time: 14:28 EDT/19:28 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft is scrambling to fix numerous Internet security holes in both the Internet Explorer browser and the Windows operating system. Microsoft expects to release a patch today for a problem with Windows 95 and 98 that could let a malicious Web site operator or sender of HTML email invade a visitor's or recipient's computer.

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• Will Microsoft Become 'The Baby Bills'?
  Time: 14:25 EDT/19:25 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Last Friday's announcement of the findings in the U.S. Department of Justice's case against Microsoft brings to mind what took place with AT&T a decade-and-a-half ago. Although dealing with numerous phone companies can be exceedingly frustrating, there's little doubt that those who held Ma Bell stock through the breakup and beyond have benefitted handsomely.

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• Microsoft "Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings" Crowned Best-Selling PC Game
  Time: 14:22 EDT/19:22 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today announced that the "Age of Empires® II: The Age of Kings™" game is topping retail sales charts in the United States, United Kingdom and Germany. According to market research firm PC Data Inc., Microsoft® "Age of Empires II" outpaced all other PC games in the United States for four weeks in October, its first month of retail availability. In addition to being the best-selling game in the United States, "Age of Empires II" owned the No. 1 spot across all retail software categories for three weeks in October.

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• Researchers warn about 'FunLove' virus
  Time: 08:32 EDT/13:32 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron Hinson

  There's nothing tender about the new FunLove virus. The virus, technically called W32.FunLove, brought down the servers of a large company in Europe and has been detected in companies in the United States as well, according to researchers at Symantec Corp.'s AntiVirus Research Center.

  The good news is that it shouldn't spread all that fast because it doesn't have the ability to e-mail itself like the Melissa virus, said Charles Renert, director of research at SARC. The bad news is that it uses a new way to attack the file security system of the Windows NT operating system. The virus may also use the network to spread itself.

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• Bill speaks on integration, lawyering and Linux
  Time: 08:18 EDT/13:18 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Byron Hinson

  When he was talking to shareholders yesterday Bill Gates didn't just deal with the trial. Remember this is probably the most favorable audience he could ever had (so long as the stock price stays up), so they get to ask serious questions, and they get answers that are a cut above your average press conference. That process threw up some interesting data yesterday, and we were watching.

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• AskAW Section Updated
  Time: 18:18 EDT/23:18 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Dennis Gregory

  We've released our update to the popular AskAW section. We've included some helpers as well. So from now on, AskAW will be not just asking our staff members, but the whole AW community including visitors.

  If you have any AskAW questions email them to askaw@activewin.com.

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• Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS99-048) - Patch Available for "Active Setup Control" Vulnerability
  Time: 17:43 EDT/22:43 GMT News Source: E-mail Posted By: Matt Sabean

  Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a vulnerability that could allow a malicious user to embed an unsafe executable within an email and disguise it as a safe type of attachment. Through a complicated series of steps, the unsafe executable could be made to execute under certain conditions, if the user opened the attachment.

  Read more

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• Microsoft Extends Commitment to Bridge the Digital Divide
  Time: 15:30 EST/20:30 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft Corp. today announced an Equal Access grant to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the latest in the company's long history of support to the UNCF and its member colleges. The $100,000 Equal Access cash grant is part of a $300,000 commitment made this month by Microsoft to help the UNCF bridge the digital divide for communities of color. The funds in aggregate will underwrite special projects that improve technology access at six historically black colleges and universities. Grant recipients will be announced in December.

  The donation will be presented at COMDEX/Fall '99 in Las Vegas on Monday, Nov. 15. Deborah Willingham, vice president of Business and Enterprise Marketing for Microsoft, will personally make the announcement at the sixth biannual Equal Access event. Virgil E. Ecton, senior executive vice president of the UNCF, will be on hand to accept the grant.

  Equal Access is a charitable outreach program created by Microsoft to help fulfill the company's vision of providing access to PC technology and the Internet for everyone. Launched in 1997, the program was designed to level the technology playing field so all individuals can have the same opportunities to learn and grow in their careers, education and personal lives. Microsoft hopes that one long-term result of the Equal Access program will be increased diversity in the high-tech workplace.

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• Windows2000.com owner sells domain to Microsoft
  Time: 15:27 EST/20:27 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Alex Harris

  Windows 2000 was an unexpected name for NT 5, as is seen from Microsoft's failure to check whether the trademark Windows2000 and the domain Windows2000.com might just have been previously claimed before it barged in.

  As it turned out, the domain was being used, and not by a cybersquatter but by Bob Kerstein of Falls Church, Virginia who has a business trading in stock and bond certificates for collectors (it's called scripophily, apparently). Kerstein, formerly an accountant, has concluded a deal with Microsoft whereby Microsoft gets the trademark and domain name, and Kerstein gets bob.com, which Microsoft had obtained in 1996, at the height of Bob's, well, failure. Kerstein thinks bob.com might be rather easy for people to remember.

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• Expedia IPO suggests there's gold in an MS break-up
  Time: 15:25 EST/20:25 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft's Expedia IPO closed at $53 yesterday, up from the $14 offer price which had been hiked from the original $10 to $12. It marks a rally in IPOs and shows underlying strength in the travel sector in particular. At the close, the gain was 277 per cent, but at one point, it reached 471 per cent. Microsoft sold just 15 per cent and made $72.8 million for Expedia.

  Expedia had a market value of $535 million when trading started yesterday, $1,482 million at the end of the day. Expedia has a cumulated loss of $92 million, with revenue in the last quarter being $15 million. There is already serious competition in the travel market leader, with Sabre Holdings/Travelocity (up 7.5 per cent yesterday, on the news) that is about to acquire Preview Travel, which itself rose 17 per cent yesterday.

  Travelocity is spending $100 million on its website. Sabre is a member of the ProComp anti-Microsoft lobby and has expressed concern about the association between IE and Expedia.

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• Taiwan chip, electronics makers recover from quake
  Time: 15:22 EST/20:22 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  There are signs that the impact of the Taiwan earthquake on the electronics and computer industries may be diminishing as companies report solid sales and more stable supplies.

  Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, one of the largest chipmakers in the world, reported this week that sales for October were the highest on record at about $216 million.

  "Despite the negative impact of the earthquake...the company's wafer shipment for October 1999 reached a new record high at 169,000 8-inch equivalent wafers, and the company's sales for October 1999 also grew to a new record," TSMC said in a statement.

  "It was mainly due to the faster-than-expected recovery and the capacity expansion," the company added.

  TSMC said sales for October showed an 18 percent increase sequentially over September 1999 and a jump of 71 percent on a year-to-year basis. Acer, which supplies computers and components to a number of PC makers worldwide, also recorded strong sales in October.

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• Coppermine Pentium IIIs tough to find
  Time: 15:20 EST/20:20 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Intel announced its newest Pentium III processors more than two weeks ago, but so far they haven't been easy to find.

  Nearly all major PC manufacturers and a number of retailers claim there is a dearth of "Coppermine" Pentium III processors, especially the fast 700-MHz and 733-MHz versions. Individuals at two leading PC companies say they barely have enough of the 733-MHz chips to perform testing or make review systems.

  Smaller manufacturers and chip dealers aren't even advertising the 700-MHz and 733-MHz products, which were announced with 13 other processors on October 25.

  "There's a ridiculous shortage of these chips," according to one source who works at a major PC manufacturer.

  The situation markedly contrasts with the chipmaking giant's normal course of business. Typically, when Intel releases a new chip the supply pipeline has been well stocked so that manufacturers can launch new systems the day the processor is announced.

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• Microsoft, RadioShack in surprise deal
  Time: 15:18 EST/20:18 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft and consumer electronics retailer RadioShack have formed an e-commerce alliance to promote high-speed Internet connections and other online services, a surprise move aimed at revitalizing the software company's Web strategy and boosting the consumer chain's revenues.

  Microsoft has also made a $100 million investment in a newly launched e-commerce site called RadioShack.com that will be featured on Microsoft's MSN Web portal. Under a five-year deal, the two companies plan to establish a Microsoft "store within a store" in as many as 7,000 RadioShack locations nationwide.

  Although the dollar investment is relatively small for Microsoft, the Tandy deal carries ramifications on several fronts. The move indicates that Microsoft is determined to forge ahead with aggressive plans to expand, less than a week after receiving significant criticism from the judge presiding over its federal antitrust case.

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• A kinder, gentler Gates to debut at Comdex?
  Time: 14:48 EST/19:48 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Should we expect to see a humbler Bill Gates when he takes the floor Sunday night at the kickoff Comdex Fall keynote?

  I'm not counting on it. While the shadow of Judge Jackson's court will loom large over what's usually Microsoft's nonstop party in Vegas, I'm expecting Gates to be unbowed (although not unbroken, according to colleagues who claim the trial has taken a substantial personal toll on Gates).

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• Microsoft Names Bruce Brooks as Director of Community Affairs
  Time: 09:39 EST/14:39 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: c

  Microsoft Corp. today announced that Bruce Brooks, a former deputy mayor of Seattle and a leader in local and regional civic and philanthropic organizations, will join the company as director of community affairs overseeing Microsoft's charitable programs, which last year gave more than $104 million in cash and software to nonprofit organizations.

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• Analysis: Jackson's ruling reflects serious misunderstandings
  Time: 02:57 EST/07:57 GMT News Source: Yahoo! Daily News Posted By: Alex Harris

  U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson's findings of fact reflect serious misunderstandings of the origin of Microsoft Corp.'s dominance in PC operating systems. To the extent that his finding of monopoly power is based on these misunderstandings, the rest of his rulings will stand on a shaky foundation.

  Jackson cites the competitive weakness of IBM's OS/2 Warp and Apple Computer Inc.'s Macintosh OS as what he calls "empirical evidence of the applications barrier to entry." In plain words, this is the argument that most developers write software for Windows because it is the most popular platform, creating a vicious circle.

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• New Microsoft Office Online lets workers access Office 2000 via the Internet
  Time: 02:52 EST/07:52 GMT News Source: Microsoft Daily News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Now there's another way for businesses to get the tools they need to be more productive.

  Businesses can now access and use Microsoft® Office 2000 online with a new Internet-hosted application service called Microsoft Office Online. The service, which will be available from Microsoft's bCentral Web services portal and several industry partners, will give customers another way to use Office applications. The centrally managed software solution is designed to be ideal for branch offices that lack onsite IT support and for small businesses that want the latest technology or want to outsource the management of their infrastructure.

  "We are moving into the next wave of the Web where software and services are delivered together, and we are excited to offer Office 2000 to our customers in this new way," said Steven Sinofsky, vice president of Microsoft Office. "Providing productivity applications along with services over the Internet is a new opportunity for industry partners, and Office Online will offer new solutions for our customers. With Office Online, we believe the world's leading desktop productivity suite will contribute to the growth of this emerging industry."

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• Gates: Don't put limits on "ability to innovate"
  Time: 02:50 EST/07:50 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft chairman Bill Gates told shareholders the company would "go a long way" to address government concerns over its monopoly status--though Microsoft's ability to innovate isn't negotiable.

  U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson made an initial legal pronouncement Friday, declaring Microsoft a monopoly. (See related story.)

  "We're willing to go a long way to address the government's concerns,'' Gates told about 2,500 shareholders at the company's annual meeting here. "But if we can't add Internet support [to the Windows operating system], we can't do anything.''

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• Is Microsoft raising white flag in IM battle?
  Time: 02:48 EST/07:48 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft may be backing off of its much publicized battle to make its instant messaging service work with America Online's version of the increasing popular Internet communications tool -- at least for the time being.

  Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT) officials said Wednesday that the next version of MSN Messenger, due out next week, will likely not work with AOL's (NYSE:AOL) Instant Messenger, known as AIM.

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• Microsoft to unveil key partnership
  Time: 02:46 EST/07:46 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft's chairman and president are preparing a major announcement that may involve a significant investment in a company that provides high-speed communications services. Microsoft said in a cryptic statement today that it would announce a "strategic partnership" tomorrow, touching off a flurry of reports and speculation of possible deals.

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• Expedia adds to Gates's net worth
  Time: 02:44 EST/07:44 GMT News Source: CNet News Posted By: Alex Harris

  When online travel site Expedia launched its successful IPO today, Microsoft investors found they are indirectly a little bit richer. The software giant owns an 86.4 percent stake of Expedia, which is newly valued at $1.76 billion.

  Gates holds a 15.3 percent stake in Microsoft, according to the company's September 28 proxy statement. That makes his Expedia stake worth $269 million.

  And Microsoft president Steve Ballmer, who holds a 4.7 percent stake in Microsoft, finds his Expedia stake worth about $83 million.

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Read more of the past months news in our News Archive for October and Previous November News.

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