• Microsoft Announces Solution and Partner of the Year Award Finalists
  Time: 14:26 EST/19:26 GMT | News Source: Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT - news) today announced finalists for the worldwide Microsoft® Solution and Partner of the Year Awards. A panel of Microsoft judges selected 29 finalists out of more than 875 entries received from around the world based on excellence and innovation in customer solution delivery and service. The worldwide winner in each of the six award categories will be announced July 15 in Atlanta at Microsoft's Fusion 2000 partner event. Charles Stevens, vice president of the Enterprise Partner Group at Microsoft, will present the awards and host the awards banquet. During the ceremony, Microsoft also will present special recognition awards to companies that have demonstrated exceptional engagement in anti-piracy advocacy, ASP hosting and global services.

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• Bill Gates invests in a real estate developer
  Time: 14:26 EST/19:26 GMT | News Source: Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Cascade Investment LLC, the investment vehicle of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, one of the world's richest men, said on Monday it held a 6.3 percent stake in real estate developer Castle & Cooke Inc. (NYSE:CCS - news).

  The stake, equal to 1,073,600 common shares, was disclosed in a passive investment filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A stake of 5 percent or more in a company must be divulged with the SEC.

  Shares of Los Angeles-based Castle & Cook were up 9/16 to 19-3/4 on the New York Stock Exchange. They have a 52-week high of 19-12/16 and a low of 11-12/16.

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• RealtyOnline.Net and Microsoft Announce Effort to Enhance The Performance and Integration of Their Search Engine and Listing Service
  Time: 09:00 EST/14:00 GMT | News Source: Microsoft Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  RealtyOnline.Net Inc. and Microsoft Corp. today announced a plan to enhance the performance and integration of one of the Web's leading real estate data aggregator and listing services. RealtyOnline.Net will offer Web-based business-to-business real estate services utilizing the latest Microsoft^® Windows^® DNA platform-based technologies, including the Windows 2000 Advanced Server operating system and Microsoft SQL Server™ 7.0, as well as native load balancing, clustering, online analytical processing (OLAP) and the Internet Information Services (IIS) 5.0. That combination will give RealtyOnline.Net increased reliability and scalability, along with the benefits of single-source platform support.

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• ActiveWin: Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition - Review
  Time: 06:49 EST/11:49 GMT | News Source: ActiveWin | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  We have completed our in-depth review of the gold version of Microsoft's latest Windows release, Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me). The review features most of the new features a whole load of screenshots and a lot of information on whether it is worth buying come September. Here is a snippet from the review:

  The Millennium edition of Windows is aimed to help PC home users to enter into the next millennium with a big bang as Microsoft has focused its efforts to make Windows Me the user-friendliest, easy-to-use and multimedia-rich operating system of all the time. Windows Me has been developed and tested by Microsoft numerous months to ensure its reliability but does it have what it takes to make you want to pay out more money for a operating system that may well be too similar to Windows 98 and Windows 98 SE. Read on for our comprehensive review of this new operating system, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (WinMe).

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• Microsoft and Toshiba to Jointly Specify and Develop Advanced High-Resolution LCD for eBook Devices
  Time: 06:49 EST/11:49 GMT | News Source: Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Toshiba Corp. and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT - news) today announced they will jointly develop specifications for a color, low-temperature polysilicon thin-film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) that both companies believe will become widely adopted for midsize electronic book devices. The two companies recently completed the basic specifications for the new line of products and plan to have the displays integrated into prototype devices by the end of this year.

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• Gates, Merck to Give Botswana $100 Mln AIDS Help
  Time: 06:49 EST/11:49 GMT | News Source: Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  The family trust of software billionaire Bill Gates and U.S. drug company Merck and Co said on Monday they would make a $100 million donation to Botswana in cash and drugs to help it fight AIDS. Merck said it would establish a partnership with The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Botswana government to improve HIV/AIDS treatment there.

  The announcement came soon after Botswanan President Festus Mogae gave a chilling warning about the impact of the disease on his southern African nation, warning: ``We really are in a national crisis. We are threatened with extinction.''

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• Finger pointing begins in IE 5.01 SP1 fiasco; here's the fix
  Time: 06:49 EST/11:49 GMT | News Source: Wininfo | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  As reports of incompatibilities between Internet Explorer (IE) 5.01 Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Office 2000 swept across the Web this weekend, the finger pointing began between the two teams at Microsoft responsible for the products. Of course, for the users affected by this, it's not important who caused the problem, what's important is that it just get fixed. But it's not coincidental, perhaps, that this problem should arise between two products that have been so poorly tested. Both IE and Office--especially its service releases, such as Office 2000 SR1--have poor histories of reliability. And for some reason, this bug doesn't appear on every install of IE 5.01 SP1, though it does appear almost universally on Windows 2000 Professional and Windows 98 SE.

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• WARNING: IE 5.01 SP1 breaks Office 2000 Help!
  Time: 11:46 EST/16:46 GMT | News Source: Wininfo | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  If anything, this gives another reason for you to hold off downloading the SP1 update and waiting for IE5.5 on Wednesday:

  After issuing a warning Friday that Internet Explorer (IE) 5.01 Service Pack 1 (SP1) wasn't properly tested by Microsoft, I quickly received word from numerous readers that this release breaks the Help system in Office 2000. "Help requires Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 or greater," the warning reads. "You can install the latest version of IE from www.Microsoft.com." (Yes, they use that capitalization). And while this problem doesn't come as any surprise necessarily, it's still disheartening to realize that this company isn't doing what it needs to do to ensure that bug fixes don't introduce bugs of their own. Therefore, it is with some reluctance that I must advise users not to download and install IE 5.01 SP1, despite the fact that this is the only way--at least for now--for Windows 2000 users to upgrade Outlook Express and other non-browser components of IE. The more heavily tested IE 5.5, which will be released next week, should contain all of the fixes from IE 5.01 SP1, but Windows 2000 users will only be able to upgrade the Web browser with that release. None of the other IE components are upgraded in IE 5.5, if you're using Windows 2000. Why? I have no idea.

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• Motocross Madness 2 Terrain Editor Tutorials Released
  Time: 20:03 EST/01:03 GMT | News Source: Microsoft Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft and Rainbow Studios today announced the availability of two Armadillo video tutorials at http://www.microsoft.com/games/motocross2/. These tutorials are narrated by the game's designer, Robb Rinard, and are designed to help gamers understand the basic usage of the Motocross Madness 2 terrain editor, code named Armadillo.

  The first tutorial, of a two-part series, provides gamers with step-by-step instructions for creating customized racing tracks for use in Motocross Madness 2. In addition to learning the steps involved in customizing their own tracks, gamers will learn how to switch between 2D and 3D images of their track, "fly" around their tracks, and import customized textures such as trees, hay bales and signage. Gamers will also learn how to add and edit spline on the track, creating the outline and boundaries for the custom terrain. The second installment of the video tutorial instructs gamers on how to use the gradient tool in Adobe Photoshop to create challenging sections and jumps. The gradient tool and its utilities allow players to create a variety of jumps including accurate reproductions of take-off and landing jumps, double jumps, whoops, sections, step-ups and table tops.

  Developed by Rainbow Studios, the terrain editor not only lets gamers create a variety of racing tracks, but also lets them populate their racing world with 3D objects and entire ecosystems. Using Armadillo, gamers can create custom tracks to use in the Baja, Enduro, Freestyle Stunts, Nationals and even Supercross events. Players can also add a variety of obstacles to make their terrain more competitive. While Armadillo is not a 3D modeler, it is compatible with 3D Studio Max, which allows gamers to create and import their finished model into the terrain editor for placement. (Microsoft Product Support cannot offer assistance in using the terrain editor.)

  To download the Armadillo Video Tutorial and for more information on the game, visit the official site at:

  http://www.microsoft.com/games/motocross2/

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• Microsoft Links 2001 Website Launches
  Time: 20:02 EST/01:02 GMT | News Source: Microsoft Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft today announced the launch of the official Web site for Links 2001 at http://www.microsoft.com/games/links2001/. Links 2001, the most significant upgrade to the Links series in over a decade, features an entirely new rendering engine that delivers unprecedented ball physics and graphics. Gamers are invited to visit the Links 2001 site to learn about the Arnold Palmer Course Architect, new tour players and courses, golfer animations and personalities, and more.

  The official site for Links 2001 provides PC golfers with tips-and-tricks from PGA pro Lanny Nielson, as well as commentary from the game's developers to help players stay on the fairway and under par. The site features a detailed summary of each course in the game, along with screen shots, course and signature hole descriptions, and beauty shot desktop wallpaper that is available for download. Gamers can also go "behind the scenes" of Links 2001 and watch motion capture videos of Sergio Garcia. Garcia played an active role in the development of the game and consulted with Microsoft on online components that enhance the PC golf experience.

  Visitors to the Links 2001 site can also download and view an in-game video featuring the all-new Arnold Palmer Course Architect (APCA). The APCA provides users with the power and versatility to accurately recreate their home course in a powerful real-time 3-D system, using the same tools employed by the Links 2001 team. Players can tweak every inch of fairway with the APCA and create tunnels and arches with full control over each point on the course. A robust library of trees, shrubs and other vegetation allows players to sort for the climate and season that fit their home course, or they can import their own custom images.

  To view the official Links 2001 site, go to:

  http://www.microsoft.com/games/links2001/

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• Software Artisans Endorses Microsoft .NET Technology Strategy
  Time: 14:24 EST/19:24 GMT | News Source: Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Software Artisans, a leader in the worldwide server-side component market, today announced its support for Microsoft .NET, the new Microsoft strategy for Internet-based software and XML-based Web Services. Software Artisans' ASPStudio suite of server-side components, including SA-Check forms data verification and validation, will work in any environment that supports the Microsoft .NET development platform and automation.

  ``Microsoft is pleased that Software Artisans is giving application developers a comprehensive development environment,'' said John Montgomery, group product manager for Microsoft .NET at Microsoft Corp. ``By endorsing the Microsoft .NET programming model, Software Artisans is helping to ensure that it will be an active participant in the next generation of Internet-based computing and Web services.'' ``The Microsoft .NET vision will give developers an unprecedented range of options in how they utilize their development resources,'' said David Wihl, president of Software Artisans. ``Like ASPStudio, the XML-based Microsoft .NET platform will increase programmer productivity, streamline the development process and ensure robust, scalable Web applications.''

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• Microsoft says happy with solution on Telewest
  Time: 14:24 EST/19:24 GMT | News Source: Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp said on Friday it was satisfied with a deal with the European Commission under which it agreed to limit its investment in Telewest Communications to a minority stake. ``We believe it's a good solution for everyone,'' John Frank, Microsoft's senior director for European law and corporate affairs, said, speaking by telephone from Paris.

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• EU: Microsoft To Limit Cable Stake
  Time: 14:24 EST/19:24 GMT | News Source: Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. (NasdaqNM:MSFT - news) has agreed to limit its investment in British cable television provider Telewest Communications PLC (NasdaqNM:TWSTY - news) after the European Commission objected to its original plan to take a controlling stake. The huge software maker will buy a 23.7 percent stake in Telewest for about $3 billion but no longer plans to take control in partnership with AT&T Corp.'s (NYSE:AWE - news) cable unit Liberty Media Group.

  ``Microsoft has now informed the commission ... it is breaking all structural links with Liberty Media and giving up any rights which would have given it decisive influence over decisions at Telewest,'' the agency said Friday in a statement.

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• Analyst says Microsoft eyes Dassault partner-report
  Time: 09:05 EST/14:05 GMT | News Source: Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp (NasdaqNM:MSFT - news) has expressed growing interest in Dassault Systemes SA's (NasdaqNM:DASTY - news) digital manufacturing systems and could partner with the French company, BusinessWeek reported in its most recent issue, citing a Merrill Lynch analyst.

  ``Microsoft wants to create an environment around Windows for business processes, including manufacturing,'' Merrill's Jay Vleeschhouwer told BusinessWeek. Merrill has a long-term buy rating on the stock, the magazine noted. BusinessWeek said Dassault could not be reached for comment. The French company is known for its computer-assisted design software. Some of Dassault's customers and partners include U.S. aerospace firm Boeing Co (NYSE:BA - news) and International Business Machines Corp

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• Gates Outfit Seeks 'Global Health Equity'
  Time: 09:05 EST/14:05 GMT | News Source: Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  The foundation set up by billionaire Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda is working toward global health fairness, its top executive said Friday. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the world's largest foundation. It has already donated $1.7 billion to attack diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and AIDS that pose the greatest danger to people in the developing world.

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• Bill Gates the Cable Guy
  Time: 07:26 EST/12:26 GMT | News Source: Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Sometimes, the real action isn't where you think it is. Case in point: Mister Softee. While everyone at the Justice Department has been wringing their hands over a long-dead browser war, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT - news) has been quietly making inroads into a large portion of the world's broadband network, with very little fanfare until just the past week. Pretty slick.

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• Internet Explorer 5.5 Gold Due July 12th
  Time: 06:29 EST/11:29 GMT | News Source: Microsoft | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  For all of you who are still waiting for Internet Explorer 5.5 gold to be release (apart from some of you in the international areas who got it early last week). Microsoft are due to release all version on Wednesday July 12th.

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• Internet Explorer 5.01 Service Pack 1 (SP1) - Released
  Time: 16:40 EST/21:40 GMT | News Source: Microsoft | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft today release Internet Explorer 5.01 Service Pack 1 on to the internet (Yes really this time after their last mess up):

  Internet Explorer 5.01 Service Pack 1 (SP1) provides the latest updates and security fixes to the Internet Explorer technology. Internet Explorer 5.01 SP1 can be installed as an upgrade to existing versions of Internet Explorer, or on computers with no previous Internet Explorer installation.
  
  

  • If you are running Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT® 4.0, installing Internet Explorer 5.01 SP1 will upgrade your computer to 128-bit encryption.
  • If you are running Windows 2000, installing Internet Explorer 5.01 SP1 will not change the current level of encryption on your computer.
    
    
  Note Internet Explorer 5.01 SP1 is eligible for export from the U.S. to all customers worldwide, except to U.S. embargoed destinations. Information on exporting Microsoft products is available at www.microsoft.com/exporting/.

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• Midtown Madness 2 Beta Sign Up Tomorrow
  Time: 16:37 EST/21:37 GMT | News Source: Microsoft Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft today announced that at an undisclosed time on Friday, July 7, gamers will be able to sign up for the chance to win a preview beta copy of Midtown Madness 2 at http://www.microsoft.com/games/midtown2/, or any of the over 15 participating sites around the Web. Midtown Madness 2 is the over-the-top urban racer sequel to the award-winning Midtown Madness, one of the top-selling racing games of 1999.

  A select group of gamers will win exclusive beta copies for this highly anticipated sequel. Would-be racers will want to check the sites frequently, as the forms will be posted at an unspecified time. The official Midtown Madness site will also list all of the participating sites hosting the sign-up form. Ten lucky winners will be chosen from each participating site, along with 50 winners randomly selected from all entries.

  Beta winners will have the chance to experience "Madness-style" racing months before the game hits store shelves. Midtown Madness 2 beta winners will receive:

  * A copy of the Midtown Madness 2 beta and manual
  * Access to the Zone.com beta lobby for multiplayer racing mayhem
  * Access to a private beta-testing newsgroup to provide feedback on the game
  * Exclusive private chat with members of the development team to discuss gameplay tips and tricks
  * A copy of Midtown Madness 2 when it ships

  Midtown Madness 2 delivers the same madcap racing excitement as the original with even more hair-raising racing challenges, two new locations –- London and San Francisco –- and nine hip, new urban roadsters. Midtown Madness 2 also features the new single-player Crash Course Mission mode where budding drivers can learn and improve their skills by racing as a Hollywood stunt driver on location at a San Francisco movie set or as a trainee at the Imperial Cabbie Academy in London.

  The game puts players in the driver's seat of nine all-new campy urban roadsters ranging from the Aston-Martin Vantage DB-7 to a cherry-red Freightliner fire truck. These are in addition to the madcap assortment of cars and trucks from the original game, including the new VW Bug and Ford Mustang. The game features the same great racing modes as the original, including Blitz, Check-Point, Circuit and Multiplayer Capture-the-Gold. Plus, Midtown Madness 2 builds upon the ground-breaking physics engine of the original by allowing all new racing challenges like racing on two wheels, and mastering the hand brake, power slides and more. In addition, damage modeling has been improved, allowing breakaway parts and even better damage detail.

  Midtown Madness 2 will be available at retail locations throughout North America in October for an anticipated street price of US$39.99. For more information on the game, visit:

  http://www.microsoft.com/games/midtown2/

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• Microsoft Windows Services for NetWare Version 5.0 Enable Easy Integration of Windows 2000 Into Existing Novell Networks
  Time: 09:50 EST/14:50 GMT | News Source: Microsoft Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft today announced the release of a complete set of interoperability tools and services that will make it easier for customers to integrate the Windows 2000 operating system into existing NetWare-based environments. The new Windows Services for NetWare Version 5.0 (SFN5) includes components that streamline coexistence with or migration to the Microsoft Windows 2000 platform. SFN5 allows customers to build on existing technology investments by leveraging NetWare resources and expertise.

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• Microsoft Windows 2000 Featured in Smithsonian Exhibition on Disability Rights Movement
  Time: 09:50 EST/14:50 GMT | News Source: Microsoft Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  When Katherine Ott, the Smithsonian Institution’s curator for its new exhibition about the disability rights movement, wanted an object that would capture the importance of computers and technology for people with disabilities, she turned to Microsoft.

  "The role of technology is really critical to the disability rights movement," Ott said. "The lengths that Microsoft has gone to in designing accessible software made it the company we thought of first."

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• Windows Me Tips Section Updated
  Time: 9:34 EST/14:34 GMT | News Source: ActiveWin | Posted By: Robert Stein

  We have updated the Windows Me section with even more tips to help users out with Microsoft's new operating system. The new tips include reboot tips and more...Be sure to check the section out.

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• ActiveWin: Windows Millennium Edition - Review
  Time: 09:30 EST/14:30 GMT | News Source: ActiveWin | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  We have completed our in-depth review of the gold version of Microsoft's latest Windows release, Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me). The review features most of the new features a whole load of screenshots and a lot of information on whether it is worth buying come September. Here is a snippet from the review:

  The Millennium edition of Windows is aimed to help PC home users to enter into the next millennium with a big bang as Microsoft has focused its efforts to make Windows Me the user-friendliest, easy-to-use and multimedia-rich operating system of all the time. Windows Me has been developed and tested by Microsoft numerous months to ensure its reliability but does it have what it takes to make you want to pay out more money for a operating system that may well be too similar to Windows 98 and Windows 98 SE. Read on for our comprehensive review of this new operating system, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (WinMe).

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• Microsoft Japan ISP clients shift to NTT East unit
  Time: 08:53 EST/13:53 GMT | News Source: Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  The Japanese unit of Microsoft Corp (NasdaqNM:MSFT - news) will transfer its Internet Service Provider (ISP) business to Purara Network Inc, the companies said on Thursday. Purara is owned 71.6 percent by NTT East Corp, one of two domestic telephone service units of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp (NTT).

  With 470,000 subscribers, Purara is the eighth-largest Internet service provider in Japan. NTT also owns OCN, the nation's third-largest Internet service provider with 1.1 million subscribers.

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• Microsoft says made new offer in EU Telewest probe
  Time: 15:44 EST/20:44 GMT | News Source: Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp said on Wednesday it had made new concessions to the European Commission in a last-ditch effort to save its planned purchase of a stake in British cable operator Telewest Communications Plc.

  The U.S. software giant plans to buy Mediaone's 29.7 percent stake in Telewest, in a $3 billion deal which would give Microsoft joint control of the company with Liberty Media Group. But the Commission, the EU's antitrust watchdog, has expressed concerns about the Microsoft-Telewest deal.

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• Despite lag, Microsoft committed to Mac Media Player
  Time: 15:44 EST/20:44 GMT | News Source: Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  If you want to get a Mac user riled, three simple words will suffice --Microsoft Media Player. The reaction runs the spectrum from head shaking, to deep sighing, to total disgust normally after a complete rebuild of their Mac operating system. Whatever the reaction, there is little love -- or apparently use -- for the media player a large amount of Mac users love to loathe.

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• FAQ Updates: Windows Me & X-Box
  Time: 14:59 EST/19:59 GMT | News Source: ActiveWin | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  We have posted some updated FAQ's today. The main one is the Windows Me FAQ as it has now had its first major update since we first started to write it a few months back, we have begun to add various questions you have all been e-mailing us about.

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• Midtown Madness Site Goes Live
  Time: 14:34 EST/19:34 GMT | News Source: Microsoft Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft today announced that the official Web site for Midtown Madness 2, the highly anticipated sequel to last year's award-winning Midtown Madness, is now live at http://www.microsoft.com/games/midtown2/.

  Midtown Madness 2 is the over-the-top urban racer sequel to the award-winning Midtown Madness, one of the top-selling racing games of 1999. The game delivers the same madcap racing excitement as the original with even more hair-raising racing challenges, two new locations and nine new urban roadsters. Midtown Madness 2 also features the new single-player Crash Course Mission mode, where budding drivers can learn and master the tricks of the game racing as a Hollywood stunt driver on location at a San Francisco movie set or as a trainee at the Imperial Cabbie Academy in London.

  The official Midtown Madness 2 site offers gamers in-depth information, including a detailed features list, current news and articles, a multitude of screen shots, and an in-game video clip through the streets of London and San Francisco.

  To view the official Web site for Midtown Madness 2, go to:

  http://www.microsoft.com/games/midtown2/

  Midtown Madness 2 puts players in the driver's seat of nine all-new campy urban roadsters ranging from the Aston-Martin Vantage DB-7 to a cherry-red Freightliner fire truck. These are in addition to the madcap assortment of cars and trucks from the original game, including the new VW Bug and Ford Mustang. The game features the same great racing modes as the original, including Blitz, Check-Point, Circuit and Multiplayer Capture-the-Gold. Plus, Midtown Madness 2 builds upon the ground-breaking physics engine of the original by allowing all new racing challenges like racing on two wheels, and mastering the hand brake, power slides and more. In addition, damage modeling has been improved, allowing breakaway parts and even better damage detail.

  Midtown Madness 2 will be available domestically this fall.

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• Windows Me Section Updated
  Time: 10:12 EST/15:12 GMT | News Source: ActiveWin | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  We have updated the Windows Me section with more tips and another new bug that has cropped up since we reviewed the product last week. If you have a bug to report send it in to us and we'll check it out. We have also updated the Hardware Compatibility list too.

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• Microsoft and ComponentSource Collaborate on New MSDN Resource for COM-based Developers
  Time: 09:13 EST/14:13 GMT | News Source: Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft in association with ComponentSource, the world's largest software component community, today announced the launch of MSDN Online Component Resources, designed to aid COM-based component authors, software architects and developers wishing to buy or build components and integrate them with existing or new applications and architectures. MSDN Component Resources -- http://msdn.microsoft.com/componentresources -- also offers a collection of tools, comments, discussion groups, directories and articles devoted entirely to the issues facing developers and architects in COM-based component development.

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• Microsoft Provides Support for DAISY Consortium
  Time: 09:12 EST/14:12 GMT | News Source: Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  The DAISY Consortium announced today that Microsoft Corporation has pledged financial and technical support for the Consortium's on-going work to establish global accessibility standards for the next generation of digital talking book (DTB) technology.

  The DAISY Consortium is comprised of nearly 40 nonprofit libraries and organizations worldwide that produce and distribute books, journals and other types of information in accessible formats. Its mission is to identify and create global standards for information technology for people with print disabilities such as blindness.

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• Microsoft Agent Expands Support for Foreign Languages With Release of New Text-to-Speech Engines
  Time: 09:12 EST/14:12 GMT | News Source: Microsoft Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Today at Tech●Ed Amsterdam, Microsoft Corp. announced the immediate availability of new foreign language text-to-speech (TTS) engines for use with Microsoft^® Agent 2.0, a technology that provides a more natural way for people to work with their computers. The release of these engines will enhance the appeal of the technology to international markets where British English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian and Spanish are spoken. Like the Microsoft Agent software, the new TTS engines can be downloaded for free from the Internet at http://www.microsoft.com/msagent (connect-time charges may apply).

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• World's Favorite Mouse Becomes Even Mightier
  Time: 09:09 EST/14:09 GMT | News Source: Microsoft Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Less than a year after introducing the world's best-selling optical mouse, Microsoft Corp. continues to up the ante, today unveiling the second generation of the award-winning Microsoft^® IntelliEye™ optical technology. The improved optical technology is 33 percent faster than the current version and will be integrated exclusively into Microsoft's family of optical products later this year.

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• EU says no decision yet on Microsoft/Telewest deal
  Time: 09:09 EST/14:09 GMT | News Source: Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  The European Commission said on Tuesday it was premature to say it would block plans by Microsoft to buy a stake in British cable operator Telewest Communications Plc. The U.S. software giant plans to buy MediaOne's 29.7 percent stake in Telewest, which would give Microsoft joint control of the company with Liberty Media Group.

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• Happy Independence Day
  Time: 05:25 EST/10:25 GMT | News Source: ActiveWin | Posted By: Robert Stein

  Just to wish all of our readers a Happy Independence Day. On another note you may have noticed some downtime earlier, but everything should be fixed now. If any important news comes in today, we will post it. But expect today to be a slower news day everywhere.

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• ActiveWin.com: Windows Me FAQ - Updated
  Time: 17:14 EST/22:14 GMT | News Source: ActiveWin | Posted By: Robert Stein

  We have posted an update to the Windows Me FAQ. The new version includes pricing, and some other updates. Check it out!

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• X-Box Prototype Finally Shows Itself
  Time: 15:14 EST/20:14 GMT | News Source: MSXbox | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  MSXbox has posted the first screenshot of the X-Box console. Funnily I got sent this image page at the weekend and took no notice of what was on it as it seemed like all old hardware. Shame on me.

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• ActiveWin: Adobe InDesign 1.5 - Review
  Time: 12:12 EST/17:12 GMT | News Source: ActiveWin | Posted By: Robert Stein

  We have posted the review of Adobe's InDesign 1.5. Here is a snippet of the review:

  A few months after unleashing to the world its long awaited Quark Xpress Killer, formerly named InDesign 1.0, Adobe is now back with a brand new version 1.5 of InDesign. This new release comes with several enhancements based on customers' feedback, new features and the full support of the high end brand new Microsoft Windows 2000. One of the most interesting things is that this update is practically free for InDesign 1.0 users with a cheap price of $99.00. Adobe InDesign is professional publishing software created principally for prepress professionals and graphic designers. InDesign provides powerful & flexible tools to create graphically intensive layouts such as flyers, ads, brochures, catalogs, packaging and more.

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• ActiveWin: Matrox Marvel G400TV 16MB - Review
  Time: 12:12 EST/17:12 GMT | News Source: ActiveWin | Posted By: Robert Stein

  We have posted the review of the new Matrox Marvel G400TV 16MB Card. Here is a snippet of the review:

  Up until recently, Matrox was known to be the king of 2D graphics. When Matrox released the Matrox Mystique board, years ago, it had been a great success for Matrox with the inclusion of some of the first 3D features. However Matrox didn't manage to follow its competitors like Nvidia, 3dfx and others in the amazing 3D features' race. Months after releasing the Millennium G400, an award-winning board with innovating and sufficient 3d features for everyone even hard core gamers, Matrox now present the Marvel G400 board it's multimedia high quality all built-in video board. The marvel G400 adds the following exciting features to the G400 board: TV reception and MJPEG video capturing.

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• AskAW Update
  Time:10:57 EST/15:57 GMT | News Source: ActiveWin | Posted By: Dennis Gregory

  AskAW is back! We have received a total of 55 questions, however we stopped submitting questions to our AskAW staff when we got up to the first 16. We have everyone questions and we will try to get them answered. 

  I don't have the AskAW staff page updated yet but that should be updated some time today. If you have any questions for AskAW email them to askaw@activewin.com. 

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• Level 8 Extends Value of Windows DNA at Microsoft(R)Techo Ed 2000 Europe
  Time: 09:57 EST/14:57 GMT | News Source: Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Level 8 Systems (Nasdaq: LVEL - news), a leading global provider of high performance eBusiness integration software, will feature the Geneva software at Microsoft® Techo Ed 2000 Europe July 4-7, 2000, in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

  Level 8 will demonstrate how its products extend the value of Windows DNA to non-Windows platforms. Geneva delivers a comprehensive, high performance integration suite that automates the synergy between existing data, applications and the Internet. Since 1996, Level 8 has been working with Microsoft to develop interoperability solutions with non-Microsoft platforms. Level 8 is the exclusive Microsoft partner for providing MSMQ to non-Windows platforms. To date, Level 8 has broadened the reach of Windows DNA to include: Solaris, HP-UX, AIX, SCO UNIX, Linux, VMS, OS/400, HP/3000 and MVS, and is featured on the Windows 2000 CD.

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• IgniteAsia Teams Up with Microsoft, Compaq and Indosuez WI Carr Securities To Invest in Asia's Best Internet Startup's
  Time: 09:57 EST/14:57 GMT | News Source: Press Release | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Seoul's best Internet Start-ups will gather at the Renaissance Hotel, Seoul on Thursday 6th July at 6:45 pm, to attend the final Innovation Roadshow event to introduce The IgniteAsia Challenge to the Region.

  IgniteAsia is a competition for non-public internet companies looking for 1st and 2nd round funding, and is partnered by some of the regions most prestigious companies, including Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT - news), Compaq, Indosuez W.I. Carr Securities, Cable & Wireless HKT (Hong Kong Stock Code: C&W HKT 008), JOS Technology, Bain & Company, LabMorgan, NETVIGATOR.com, and Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA).

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• Windows Me Section Updated
  Time: 06:00 EST/12:00 GMT | News Source: ActiveWin | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  We have updated the Windows Me section with the first lot of tips and one new bug that has cropped up since we reviewed the product last week. If you have a bug to report send it in to us and we'll check it out.

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• Internet Explorer 5.5 Final - International Versions Released
  Time: 11:00 EST/16:00 GMT | News Source: ActiveWin | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Well low and behold after we mentioned that the IE5.5 final download areas on Microsoft.com were starting to show up, today various international versions of Internet Explorer 5.5 final have been released. So I guess we can expect the English/US download sometime early next week. The working download sites are as follows:

  Update: You can read the English readme file from Internet Explorer 5.5 here on the Microsoft site.

  Internet Explorer 5.5 Final: German
  Internet Explorer 5.5 Final: Korean
  Internet Explorer 5.5 Final: Japanese
  Internet Explorer 5.5 Final: Chinese

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• Internet Explorer 5.5 Release Getting Closer
  Time: 07:00 EST/12:00 GMT | News Source: ActiveWin/Betanews | Posted By: Byron Hinson

  It looks like Microsoft is much closer to releasing the long awaited new version of their Web browser, Internet Explorer. The Internet Explorer 5.5 .dat files, which guide the Active Setup program, have finally been updated. Instead of displaying build 3406 as the RTW (Release to Web) version, the .dat files now point to correct download sites for the final release of IE 5.5. Once Microsoft posts the various language folders, users will be able to download the update. Hitting RTM on June 13th, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 is set for public release within the next 2 weeks.

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You can read more of the past months news in our News Archive for May and Previous June News.

Do you have any Windows based news? Just Remember To Get In Touch!

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