• AOL and Time Warner to Merge in $166 Billion Stock Deal
  Time: 17:50 EST/22:50 GMT News Source: New York Times Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Time Warner, the world's largest media and entertainment company, is being acquired by America Online for about $160 billion in stock in what would be the biggest corporate merger ever.

  The deal announced today raises the stakes in the consolidation scramble in the media industry and comes just four months after another blockbuster media merger, the proposed combination of CBS Corp. and Viacom Inc.

  The merger unites the biggest name in the traditional media world with the biggest name in the new media world, marking the most ambitious bet yet that the Internet will be one of the most dominant features in the media landscape of the future.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Court lets Microsoft stock ruling stand
  Time: 14:56 EST/19:56 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  WASHINGTON--The U.S. Supreme Court today rejected Microsoft's appeal of a ruling that thousands of temporary and contract workers were eligible to buy discounted stock in the software giant.

  The justices let stand a federal appeals court ruling that greatly expanded the number of past and present workers who can participate in a class-action lawsuit against Microsoft over its lucrative employee stock purchase plan.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Microsoft preparing for Caldera antitrust case
  Time: 14:56 EST/19:56 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft is sharpening up its defenses for yet another legal battle, this one set to commence on Feb. 1. While negotiations continue in Microsoft's landmark antitrust trial with the federal government and 19 states, the software maker's lawyers have been preparing to take on Caldera in a private antitrust case.

  This next legal battle will bring some of Microsoft's top executives to court, including Steve Ballmer, Paul Maritz and Brad Chase. Of the two trials, the stakes could be much higher in the civil case than the one brought by the government, legal experts say.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• MS loses temporary worker ruling
  Time: 14:53 EST/19:53 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron Hinson

  The U.S. Supreme Court Monday rejected Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) appeal of a ruling that thousands of temporary and contract workers were eligible to buy discounted stock in the software giant. The justices let stand a U.S. appeals court ruling that greatly expanded the number of past and present workers who can participate in a class-action lawsuit against Microsoft over its lucrative employee stock purchase plan.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Microsoft and FastLane Technologies Announce Licensing Agreement
  Time: 10:01 EST/15:01 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. and FastLane Technologies Inc. today announced that Microsoft has licensed technology from FastLane, which enables administrators to migrate files from Novell's NetWare to the Microsoft^® Windows^® 2000 Server operating system quickly and easily. Microsoft will incorporate the technology in the Microsoft File Migration Utility (MSFMU) component of its upcoming Services for NetWare version 5 product, expected to be available shortly after the launch of Windows 2000.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Study Reports Exchange Server 5.5 Dramatically Outperforms Domino R5
  Time: 10:00 EST/15:00 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today announced that a new study, conducted by ZD Labs, demonstrates that Microsoft^® Exchange Server 5.5 dramatically outperformed Lotus Notes/Domino R5 in critical e-mail tasks. This study is the first head-to-head performance comparison of the two leading messaging and collaboration systems available today. Calling Exchange Server 5.5 "far more responsive and productive" in its tests than Domino, the study shows that Exchange Server 5.5 significantly outperformed Domino:
  

  • Exchange Server 5.5 provides faster e-mail message delivery: Its maximum message throughput is up to 277 percent higher than that of Domino R5.
  • Exchange 5.5 reduces system delays and increases user productivity: Its response time is up to 23 times faster than Domino R5 during periods of peak system loading.
  • Exchange 5.5 decreases total cost of ownership: Its scalability was three times that of Domino R5 (based on the number of users the system was able to adequately serve during peak loads).
  • Exchange 5.5 reduces administration costs: It took six minutes to create 15,000 new user accounts, compared with 25 hours for Domino R5.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

• Success of Microsoft Money Continues to Grow
  Time: 09:59 EST/14:59 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  The popularity of the Microsoft^® Money product line - now represented at retail by Money 2000 Standard, Money 2000 Deluxe and Money 2000 Business & Personal - has grown dramatically among consumers, retailers and financial institutions during the past five years. Since 1995, Money has achieved a number of significant milestones:
  
  

  • The product line's year-to-date unit share at retail grew from 6.1 percent in 1995 to 21.4 percent in 1999 (Source: PC Data, October 1999).
  • More than 1 million copies of the Money trial edition have been distributed since 1995.
  • The number of financial institutions supporting Money to connect to their customers has grown more than 4,000 percent - from 21 in 1995 to 875 in 1999.
  • An estimated 4.4 million people are now using Money to manage their finances (Source: Media Metrix, September 1999).
  • Money 2000 was named by PC Magazine in early December 1999 as one of the best software products of 1999; it was the only personal financial management software product to be cited for excellence.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   

• Flink Ink: Story of the Week: Developer's ASP
  Time: 09:55 EST/14:55 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Charles has posted a new editorial called Story of the Week: Developer's ASP. Here is a snippet:

  Many editorialists will say the week's top story was the Y2K disaster that didn't happen.  Those that previously claimed that Y2K would be a big deal will naturally say their warnings were well-heeded and thus claim victory.  Those that questioned Y2K hype will question once again the tendency for profit-driven paranoia to distort the truth.  I wish I had the courage to say what I thought about Y2K in my "Stop Foolish Paranoia!" article.  If I had, I'd be crowing now!  But in a veiled way, I guess I did by pointing out that every InfoSec story has elements of true risk that have to be balanced against the tendency to exploit unreasonable fear.  But Y2OK is already a wimp of a story.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

• Microsoft Completes Acquisition of Visio
  Time: 19:14 EST/00:14 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq "MSFT") today announced the completion of its acquisition of Seattle-based Visio Corp. for approximately $1.5 billion in stock.

  Under terms of the acquisition, originally announced on Sept. 15, 1999, Visio will become the Visio Division operating within Microsoft's Business Productivity Group led by Microsoft Group Vice President Bob Muglia. The Visio Division will retain its offices in downtown Seattle.

  "We are thrilled to officially welcome Visio, a pioneer in delivering unique diagramming solutions to business and enterprise customers, to the Microsoft family of business products," Muglia said. "Together, Microsoft and Visio will bring visualization and diagramming software to a broader range of customers while improving the ways knowledge workers can present their ideas."

  "This is an exciting day for all of us at Visio," said Jeremy Jaech, president and chief executive officer of Visio Corp. "We look forward to being a part of Microsoft and to many opportunities and challenges as we focus on increasing and expanding the value that diagramming software can add to knowledge workers around the world."

  Jaech will become a vice president at Microsoft, managing the Visio Division and reporting to Muglia.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Sony and Microsoft Collaborate on Advanced IEEE 1394 Support For Windows-Based PCs
  Time: 19:14 EST/00:14 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  Sony Corp. and Microsoft Corp. today announced that they have collaborated to ensure a simple and reliable connection between IEEE 1394 devices, such as digital camcorders and recordable CD drives and PCs running Microsoft® Windows® operating systems. Specifically, Sony and Microsoft cooperated on the implementation of the digital video (DV) software included with Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows 98 Second Edition. In addition, the two companies worked together in the testing of IEEE 1394 storage devices with those operating systems.

  " Microsoft Windows and Sony's 1394 peripherals are a great combination for letting consumers do cool and fun new things with PCs," said Keiji Kimura, vice president, Personal IT Network Co., Sony Corp. "These products work great together because Sony and Microsoft have been collaborating on driver software for DV and storage products. Sony' s VAIO PCs with i.LINK (a trade name for IEEE 1394) ports, Digital Handycam and CD-RW drives will be a choice for customers seeking greater integration of their PC and AV appliances."

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• SETI Upgrades ET Search
  Time: 19:12 EST/00:12 GMT News Source: Wired  News Posted By: Alex Harris

  The search for little green men will get a boost next week when the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project releases SETI@Home 2.0, an overhaul to its screensaver that scans radio signals from space for signs of alien life.

  The SETI@Home project was launched in May as an effort to harness the idle CPU power of Internet users. It asked people who left their computers running when they weren't in use to leave the client running, which operates as a screensaver.

  The SETI Project, run at the University of California at Berkeley, hoped to snare 150,000 users. Instead, it has 1.5 million users, more than 500,000 of whom are active at any time. The result is that it has the most users of any distributed computing project in the world. It's also the world's most powerful computer, providing more than eight teraflops of processing per day, according to SETI@home director David Anderson.

  "A supercomputer to do that would cost [US]$100 million, and we've done that out of essentially nothing," he said.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• eHome puts roof on real estate e-commerce business in just one week with Windows 2000
  Time: 19:09 EST/00:09 GMT News Source: Microsoft Daily News Posted By: Alex Harris

  For an Internet start-up, time is a precious commodity.

  Real estate e-commerce company eHome felt a big time crunch when launching its business. The company only had a week to set up 12 workstations for its real estate agents. The company made its deadline thanks to the stability and plug-and-play configuration of Microsoft® Windows® 2000.

  "We got up and running fast with Windows 2000 Professional because we didn't have to spend a lot of time configuring machines on the back end," said Patrick Husting, chief technology officer and co-founder of eHome. "It was just plug and play."

  California-based eHome offers home sellers both real estate agent services and an online marketing presence. People who visit the eHome site can view homes, access tools for selling a home and talk with agents in real time. Although currently limited to the San Francisco Bay Area, eHome plans to expand to markets throughout the United States.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Newsletter from CPU Review
  Time: 19:07 EST/00:07 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Alex Harris

  Last but by no means least, CPU Review would like to mention that they are starting a weekly newsletter that will cover the news from their site and from hardware sites from around the net, include ActiveWindows. To sign up then head over to http://www.cpureview.com and fill in the form that can be gotten to from the left hand navigation bar.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• 0.13um Copper chips next year?
  Time: 19:05 EST/00:05 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Alex Harris

  CPU Review have posted an article that talks about some interesting developments with UMC that may impact processors and memory in the next year. To read the article click here

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   

• Performance of Scientific Code on Athlon, P2, P3, Celeron and SGI
  Time: 19:01 EST/00:01 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Alex Harris

  CPU Review have updated the benchmarks and have posted a pile of new results for running scientific code on P2, P3, Celeron, Athlon and a couple of SGI workstations. To read the article, click here

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

• Microsoft Internet Keyboard - Review
  Time: 18:55 EST/23:55 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Bob has posted his review of the Microsoft Internet Keyboard. Here is a snippet from the review:

  As if our lives weren't easy enough, Microsoft has just made our lives a tad bit easier. With the Introduction of the new Internet Keyboard, browsing the Internet has been made quicker, more efficient, and more relaxing. Now, get one-touch access to the Internet, your e-mail and more. With its customizable Hot Keys and powerful IntelliType Pro software, the Internet Keyboard gives you a high-quality design with the tools and easy web access to help you work efficiently. With a detachable palm rest, a zero-degree slope for a relaxed wrist position and posture, and a high quality key switch for quick and consistent action, the Internet Keyboard promotes a comfortable typing position.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• DirectX 8.0 Technical Beta Program
  Time: 18:52 EST/23:52 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft are looking for beta testers who are either developing games with DirectX or are just hard core gamers. Their #1 requirement is that during the beta cycle you immediately install and use the beta releases to help expose bugs prior to our final release. They also request that you actively participate in newsgroup discussions and chat sessions during the beta cycle.

  Interested? try signing up for the DirectX 8 beta.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• MSN Announces Temporary Suspension of its MSN Internet Access Rebate Program in California and Oregon
  Time: 15:11 EST/20:11 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  MSN is temporarily suspending its popular MSN™ Internet Access rebate program in two states -- California and Oregon. The program was developed on a national basis to provide consumers an easy and affordable way of accessing the Internet and MSN and all that it has to offer. To date, the program has been very successful for consumers and the retail partners of MSN.

  Due to recent reports of some individuals abusing the rebate program, MSN has decided to temporarily suspend the offer in the states of California and Oregon while taking steps to ensure the program continues to meet its goal of helping people access the Internet easily and affordably.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Microsoft and Audible Will Bring eBooks to Life With Audio Content for Microsoft Reader
  Time: 10:27 EST/15:27 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Robert Stein

  Audible is the leading provider of digital spoken audio for PCs and mobile devices. More than 20,000 hours of audio from www.audible.com™ will be available to Microsoft Reader customers. With the integration of Audible's audio playback capabilities, Microsoft Reader will provide users with a single application that can be used to hear or read book titles in electronic form. Microsoft Chairman and CEO Bill Gates demonstrated this integrated text and audio capability at CES during his keynote address on Wednesday.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• barnesandnoble.com and Microsoft to create eBook Superstore
  Time: 10:27 EST/15:27 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Robert Stein

  barnesandnoble.com Inc. (Nasdaq "BNBN") and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq "MSFT") announced today that they will take a major step into the digital content future with the creation of a barnesandnoble.com eBook superstore using Microsoft^® Reader software. The eBook initiative, announced at the 2000 International CES, will provide barnesandnoble.com's millions of customers with access to thousands of eBook titles through Microsoft Reader, a new software application designed to deliver an on-screen computer reading experience rivaling that offered by traditional paper-based text.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Microsoft Announces Reader for ClearType for Pocket PCs
  Time: 10:27 EST/15:27 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Robert Stein

  The world's first pocket eBook with Microsoft^® ClearType™ display technology was unveiled today at the 2000 International CES, where Microsoft Corp. announced that Microsoft Reader with ClearType will be featured in the new family of Pocket PCs. Microsoft Reader is designed to deliver an on-screen computer reading experience that for the first time approaches the convenience and quality of reading text printed on paper.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   

• DirectX Developers Day
  Time: 07:34 EST/12:34 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  You’re about to take the ride of your life. Side effects such as faster game development, better graphics and enhanced audio are common. Attend our developer day to learn more; it's all about the latest version of the DirectX application programming interface (API) - the fast, easy way to create powerful games. Sounds like all hype, no content? No way. It's under NDA! and it's taking place in San Jose on March 8th. Find out more and register now at http://msdn.microsoft.com/events/directx/.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Windows 2000 - More Tips & Tricks
  Time: 06:43 EST/11:43 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron Hinson

  We have added four more Windows 2000 tips and tricks to the Windows 2000 tips section, we will be adding four tips each day as we have quite a lot to post. So keep checking back daily for more updates.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• NorthPoint, Microsoft expand relationship
  Time: 06:22 EST/11:22 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  NorthPoint and Microsoft have expanded their joint plans to offer high-speed Internet service with RadioShack, marking a significant coup for the small broadband Net company. The duo agreed last November to create a series of "store within a store" outlets promoting digital subscriber line (DSL) service and Microsoft products. At that time, NorthPoint was on tap to provide the broadband service underlying the Microsoft Network (MSN) connections.

  The two companies have now expanded that relationship tenfold, NorthPoint said today. Once slated for just 100,000 lines, the San Francisco-based company is now under contract to provide up to 1 million broadband lines over the next four years, a spokeswoman said.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Y2K bug lurking in Microsoft VB, Access
  Time: 06:16 EST/11:16 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Some of the problems Web sites had ticking over successfully from 1999 to 2000 are likely to be caused by a Y2K bug in Visual Basic 3.0, as evidence emerges of Y2K problems with old versions of Microsoft Access 2.0.

  Although Microsoft has upgraded Visual Basic several times since version 3.0, the program was used for many years in large, medium and small businesses, as was Access.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   

• Awards - Page Updated
  Time: 06:08 EST/11:08 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron Hinson

  We have finally gotten around to updating our awards section, this area covers some of the awards and acknowledgements that ActiveWindows has gotten both on the internet and in the printed press.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

• Flink Ink: Developing a Priceless Product: Free Software
  Time: 16:00 EST/21:00 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Charles has posted a new editorial called Developing a Priceless Product: Free Software. Here is a snippet:

  In our free-market society, the price of something usually reflects it's value.  Charging what the market will bare has been the cornerstone of success for many market leaders of the 19th and 20th centuries, giving rise to the history of 'cornering the market' and the invention of  the first (and real) game of monopoly.  This value/price relationship was there at the founding of the Software industry and served that industry well through most of it's life.  But it's time for a change. 

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Windows 2000 - Tips & Tricks
  Time: 15:59 EST/20:59 GMT News Source: ActiveWindows Posted By: Byron Hinson

  We have finally started on our Windows 2000 tips and tricks section, we will be adding four tips each day as we have quite a lot to post. So keep checking back daily for more updates.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• MS Gets Behind Mac OS X
  Time: 15:23 EST/20:23 GMT News Source: Wired Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. will release its latest Macintosh-based Internet browser by early March and bundle it with the next version of Apple's operating system later this year, the software giant said Wednesday.

  Microsoft will also bundle its Outlook Express email product with Apple's new OS X when it debuts in the second half of 2000, as well as an OS X version of its Office package including Word, Excel and Powerpoint plus, a Microsoft executive said.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Gates to CES: Less is more -- for MS, too
  Time: 14:39 EST/19:39 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  When you think of convergence, you think of consolidation, right? Less is less. But Bill Gates sees it the other way around: When it comes to the combination of computers, TVs and telephones, less is really more. During his keynote address to the giant Consumer Electronics Show here Wednesday evening, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) CEO Gates claimed that the ever accelerating and much vaunted digital convergence will actually create more devices, more opportunities -- and more companies.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Windows 2000 banned by Chinese government
  Time: 14:37 EST/19:37 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Alex Harris

  Software giant Microsoft has run into more bad publicity in China with a newspaper reporting that its latest Windows 2000 operating system will be banned throughout the government.

  Microsoft and Chinese officials today denied the report, which appeared in yesterday's edition of the Yangcheng Evening News. But a Ministry of Information Industry official, who declined to be identified, said the government was advocating that users bought domestic software.

  The newspaper offered no evidence to back up its report that Windows 2000 had been blacklisted in China even before its formal launch in March. Microsoft is reeling from a stream of negative publicity in China, fueled by a vitriolic book written by its former Chinese general manager, Wu Shihong, who accuses her former employer of arrogance and insensitivity to China's needs.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Democratic National Committee patches security hole
  Time: 14:35 EST/19:35 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Alex Harris

  The Democratic National Committee has fixed a security hole on its Web site that could have displayed private information collected about visitors.

  The DNC regularly polls its users on political issues via its Web site. Earlier today, the Center for the Study of Technology and Society, an online security watchdog organization, said the DNC site keeps a log of users' Internet protocol (IP) addresses, which could be read online by anyone with a Web browser. An IP address is a unique string of numbers that identifies a computer on the Internet.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Computer glitch causes havoc at Northeast airports
  Time: 14:33 EST/19:33 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Alex Harris

  A computer problem grounded planes in the Northeast this morning, potentially snarling air traffic for the remainder of the day.

  A Federal Aviation Administration representative said the problem does not appear to be related to the Y2K computer bug. The problem occurred about 6:15 a.m. EST at Washington Center in Leesburg, Va., which handles much of the air traffic for the Northeast. The problem was related to communications between the main computer at Washington Center and an unidentified peripheral device. As error messages mounted, they overloaded the main computer, forcing the operations center to shift to a backup system.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Microsoft Lends a Hand to Lefties With Launch of First Ambidextrous Optical Mouse
  Time: 10:00 EST/15:00 GMT News Source: Press Release/ActiveWindows Posted By: Robert Stein

  Active Windows Exclusive!! We have just added to the above article an exclusive image of this new mouse sent to us directly from our contact at Microsoft. Be sure to check it out! Now, back to the Press Release:

  IntelliMouse Optical, unveiled during CES in Las Vegas today, is the newest in Microsoft's family of ball-free Mouse products that use digital optical tracking technology. Sporting the silver detailing, signature red taillight and glowing underside made popular by IntelliMouse Explorer, IntelliMouse Optical features a smaller design that is comfortable for both left- and right-handed mouse users.

  "With the introduction of Microsoft IntelliMouse Optical, the more than 33 million 'lefties' in this country no longer have to feel 'left out' from having a cool, five-button optical mouse," said Tim O'Brien, product manager in the Hardware Division of the Hardware Group at Microsoft. "Regardless of which hand they favor, consumers can benefit from the comfortable design, IntelliEye™ technology and five customizable buttons that make using their computer less cumbersome and more fun."

  • ActiveWindows Intellimouse Explorer Review
  • ActiveWindows IntelliMouse Featuring IntelliEye Review

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Microsoft Pocket PC Software Previewed at Annual Consumer Electronics Show
  Time: 10:00 EST/15:00 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Robert Stein

  Today at the 2000 International CES, Microsoft Corp. previewed the next-generation Windows^® CE-based Palm-size PC software and gave the devices a new name: Pocket PCs. Hardware vendors that include Casio Computer Company Ltd., Compaq Computer Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co. and Symbol Technologies Inc. plan to support Pocket PC software in upcoming products expected to be available in the first half of this year. The Pocket PC software, previously code-named "Rapier," puts the best of the PC into a small device, providing users with the freedom to better manage their work and their life anywhere, any time.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Phillips Electronics and WebTV Networks to Deliver New Personal TV Hardware and Services to Consumers
  Time: 10:00 EST/15:00 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Robert Stein

  Today at the 2000 International CES, Philips Consumer Electronics, one of the world's largest electronics companies, and WebTV Networks, Inc., a subsidiary of Microsoft Corp., announced their plans to develop and deliver a set-top box incorporating the new Microsoft^® WebTV Network™ Personal TV service featuring digital video recording (DVR) capabilities, Live TV Pause and optional Internet services. Philips will manufacture and market the hardware, which will be based on WebTV^® services.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Microsoft Previews New Devices Using Windows CE for Automative 2.0
  Time: 10:00 EST/15:00 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Robert Stein

  Today at CES, Microsoft Corp. previewed new devices from Visteon Corp. and Clarion Corporation of America built on the second version of the Microsoft^® Windows^® CE for Automotive operating system that was released to manufacturers this summer. The devices bring the benefits of interactive speech technology, mobile connectivity, information on demand and enhanced entertainment within the automobile to new levels.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Microsoft Windows Media Closes the Gap on Competition
  Time: 10:00 EST/15:00 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Robert Stein

  According to Media Metrix Inc., the leader in Internet audience measurement, WindowsMedia.com leapt forward in its number of unique visitors - up 909 percent from January through October 1999, marking its position as by far the fastest-growing Web site for digital audio and video content on the Internet.* WindowsMedia.com attracted 3.9 million unique visitors in November 1999, reinforcing the strong demand for audio and video in the Windows Media format.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• MSN Takes Another Step Forward in Enabling the Everyday Web
  Time: 10:00 EST/15:00 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Robert Stein

  At the 2000 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) today, Microsoft Corp. announced a number of enhancements to the MSN™ Mobile Service and MSN-based Web companions that will further the company's commitment to make the Web accessible any time, anywhere and from any device. As the first fully customizable wireless information service offered by a major portal, MSN Mobile will now be extended as an MSN megaservice, allowing third parties to offer MSN Mobile Service to their customers who purchase wireless devices. In addition, MSN Mobile Service 2.0, which the company plans to release in the coming months, will allow users of Web-enabled cellular phones to pull customized content from the Internet in real time. And MSN-based Web companions will include additional features to make it even easier to surf the Web, communicate with others and accomplish everyday tasks online.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Microsoft Unveils Windows Media Player for Palm-Size PCs
  Time: 10:00 EST/15:00 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Robert Stein

  Today at 2000 International CES, Microsoft Corp. unveiled the Windows Media™ Player for Palm-size and Pocket PCs, giving consumers access to CD-quality music on Palm-size and Pocket PC devices. The Microsoft^® Windows Media Player for Palm-size PCs is scheduled to be available for download in February 2000 for Casio Cassiopeia E-100 and E-105, the Compaq Aero 1500 and 2100 Series, and the Hewlett-Packard Jornada 430SE Palm-size PC model owners. The Windows Media Player will support Windows Media and MP3 formats. Consumers selecting the Windows Media format will get two hours of CD-quality playback on a typical 64MB device and one hour of playback using MP3. Demonstrations of Windows Media Player on these and other Palm-size PCs will take place in Booth 626 at CES.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Microsoft Debuts Concept Home
  Time: 10:00 EST/15:00 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Robert Stein

  Microsoft Corp. today announced the debut of its new Microsoft^® Home, located on the company's Redmond, Wash., campus. The concept family home was designed to showcase the company's vision of the role new software will play in improving people's quality of life. The Microsoft Home brings together under one roof a broad range of technologies, products and services that work together to make home life easier and more enjoyable for all family members.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Independent Aberdeen Group says Windows 2000 Server, Windows NT Server enterprise-ready
  Time: 05:04 EST/10:04 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Enterprises need IT systems that are reliable, manageable, scalable and secure.

  And according to independent research firm Aberdeen Group, the Windows platform can meet those requirements. The firm said its research shows that Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Server and Windows NT® Server are suitable for running enterprise-class, mission-critical applications. Aberdeen Group cited the successful deployment of the operating system by enterprise customers and improvements in both hardware and the Windows platform.

  "This report shows that the Windows operating system can succeed in the most demanding computing environments," said Karan Khanna, lead product manager at Microsoft. "And with Windows 2000 Server, enterprises will see dramatic improvements over Windows NT Server in the key areas of scalability, availability, manageability and security."

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Microsoft, Barnes & Noble in alliance
  Time: 04:58 EST/09:58 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Microsoft said it's entered into an alliance with Barnes & Noble and Barnesandnoble.com to use the software company's product for reading books on portable computing devices.

  Craig Mundie, a Microsoft senior vice president, said the Redmond, Wash., company reached an agreement with the No. 1 U.S. bookseller and its Web-based business, the No. 2 online bookseller.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• AMD scores HP notebook win, readies 800-MHz debut
  Time: 03:13 EDT/08:13 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Alex Harris

  AMD sought to counter a groundbreaking Intel initiative with an expanded relationship with Hewlett-Packard, and tomorrow will announce an 800-MHz processor that matches the giant's fastest chip.

  As expected, AMD will release an 800-MHz Athlon processor at the Computer Electronics Show tomorrow in Las Vegas. Both IBM and Compaq will be on hand to announce computers incorporating the new chip, according to sources familiar with the Sunnyvale, Calif., company's plans.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   

• Gates touts new version of CE, hints at Windows update
  Time: 03:11 EDT/08:11 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft chief executive Bill Gates isn't giving up on software for handheld devices, tonight describing a new version of Windows CE in a trade show address.

  In a keynote speech long on gee whiz predictions about the home of the future, and short on details of how Microsoft hopes to participate in a connected world, Gates kicked off the Consumer Electronics Show here with several announcements. As expected, he touted an updated version of Windows CE called Pocket PC and several other technologies.

  Notwithstanding Gates' musings on convergence, though, the big question is whether Microsoft can make a go at fast-growing handhelds, popular information appliances that are increasingly figuring in high-tech companies' plans for online goods and services. Despite Microsoft's marketing heft and predictions that its arrival into the market would decimate rivals, Windows CE has failed to gain much momentum.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

• Windows Update: Updated
  Time: 18:15 EDT/23:15 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Windows update has had a few new bug fixes added to it today. Including one called Windows 98 Second Edition 1394 Storage you can download this component to install a Safe Removal utility that allows you to safely stop a Plug and Play storage device prior to physically unplugging the device. This component also includes an update for 1394 drivers, to resolve issues related to the surprise removal of peripheral devices.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Launch Contest
  Time: 15:52 EDT/20:52 GMT News Source: E-Mail Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft have opened a new site, http://www.windows2000contest.com where entrants can win a Grand Prize of an expenses paid trip to the live Windows 2000 launch in San Francisco, also a weekly prize of a copy of Windows 2000 Professional from January 3rd to February 17th. It is also possible to register to attend the event and have a chance to win a Palm PC or Microsoft Windows 2000 polar-fleece pull-over.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Working with Windows 2000
  Time: 15:45 EDT/20:45 GMT News Source: Windows NT Magazine Posted By: Alex Harris

  I recently received an IBM ThinkPad running Windows 2000 Professional (Win2K Pro). It's my first real hands-on experience with Win2K, if you discount a quick training course I attended a few months ago. Like many of you, I pay more attention when I’m connecting a new system to my network than I do when I'm taking a class. In any case, the Win2K notebook had no trouble joining my Windows NT 4.0 domain on the first boot, and it correctly browsed all the network resources.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• Driver Signing and File System Verification
  Time: 15:45 EDT/20:45 GMT News Source: Windows NT Magazine Posted By: Alex Harris

  In an article last month, I wrote about Windows File Protection, a Windows 2000 (Win2K) feature that protects your crucial system files by preventing other applications from overwriting them. By default, Windows File Protection lets other applications replace system files only when you use Windows Update, perform OS upgrades using winnt32.exe, install service packs with Windows Update, and install hotfixes.

  Microsoft has digitally signed Win2K system files to ensure that the OS will run smoothly. A digital signature is Microsoft’s assurance that no other software installations have altered the files and that Microsoft has tested the files and approved them for use with Win2K. If someone accidentally or intentionally replaces a system file or a device driver, Windows File Protection automatically replaces the offending file or driver with Microsoft’s digitally signed file. This week, I discuss the driver signing concept and the File System Verification utility.

  [Submit News]  [Return To Headlines]  [Translate]

   
• What Microsoft Hasn’t Told You About Deploying Win2K
  Time: 15:43 EDT/20:43 GMT News Source: Windows NT Magazine Posted By: Alex Harris

  After we get past any Y2K problems, the challenge for many systems administrators will be deploying Windows 2000 (Win2K). Althou