• Microsoft Game Console Impresses
  Time: 19:18 EST/00:18 GMT News Source: AP Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp.'s (NasdaqNM:MSFT - news) new X-Box entertainment game console may have gained a number of converts among skeptical developers Friday, though whether that will translate to commercial success against already formidable competition is far from certain.

  Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, who introduced the new console at the Game Developers Conference here, put his company's challenge succinctly: ``One key element that is crucial is making it fun, making sure that people are entertained by what they do.''

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• THOMSON multimedia Endorses Microsoft's X-Box
  Time: 17:40 EST/22:40 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  THOMSON multimedia, a worldwide leader in digital consumer electronics products through its popular RCA and THOMSON brands, today announced its support for the new Microsoft X- Box that is expected to fuel even more demand for interactive digital products and services. THOMSON multimedia sees the definition of home entertainment dramatically changing over the next few years, with innovations in hardware, software, and content delivered to an ever more demanding consumer through advanced platforms.

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• X-Box Based On The Windows 2000 Kernel
  Time: 17:23 EST/22:23 GMT News Source: GDC/E-Mail Posted By: Byron Hinson

  The X-Box will be based on a Windows 2000 kernel and Microsoft's DirectX 8 gaming technology. "The X-Box takes game platforms from being programmer-driven consoles to an artist-driven consoles," said Shamus Black, director of X-Box advanced technology for Microsoft, who showed off several demos of the technology.

  "We can solve the problems you (developers) run into when creating a game without you needing to fix it." "It's a console designed by software engineers for software engineers," said Black.

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• X-Box Launch Photos
  Time: 16:12 EST/21:12 GMT News Source: AP Posted By: Byron Hinson

  (Updated) We have started to post the X-Box launch photos from Japan onto the site, expect more over the next few hours or so...Keep a check on our new X-Box section (On the nav bar) to keep up to date.

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• X-Box launches Microsoft into heart of the house
  Time: 15:56 EST/20:56 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft is trying to get into your living room, whether you like it or not. Microsoft chairman Bill Gates today outlined his vision for the X-Box--a game console with built-in high-speed Internet access and e-commerce capabilities--to a packed crowd at the Game Developers Conference.

  Arriving on store shelves in the second half of 2001, the X-Box will compete directly against Sony's PlayStation2, Nintendo's Dolphin and Sega's Dreamcast in the lucrative gaming market.

  The battle between the four companies will largely be waged over winning the hearts, minds and wallets of teens. To lure that crowd, Microsoft promises the X-Box will come with an easy-to-use operating system, an 8 GB hard drive, built-in connections for high-speed Net access, ultra-realistic graphics and a bevy of games. As previously reported, an Intel chip will serve as the brains of the box.

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• Hasbro Interactive to Develop Games for Microsoft X-Box
  Time: 14:19 EST/19:19 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Leading game publisher Hasbro Interactive, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS - news), today announced its support of Microsoft's X-Box, saying that it plans to develop several of its renowned game franchises for the new game console.

  ``X-Box is going to help make interactive game-playing very broad-based, attracting more consumers with new and diverse entertainment interests to our industry,'' commented Hasbro Interactive President Tom Dusenberry. ``Our all-family approach to interactive games, with something for every member of the household, positions us well to capitalize on and help fuel the further broadening of interactive game-playing.''

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• Intel says it will make the chip for Microsoft game console
  Time: 14:18 EST/19:18 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Computer chip giant Intel Corp. (NasdaqNM:INTC - news) said on Friday it would make the processor for Microsoft Corp.'s (NasdaqNM:MSFT - news) new X-Box video game console, joining the software heavyweight in its expansion away from traditional computers to smaller, cheaper consumer devices.

  ``It will be Intel technology. It will be an Intel processor that will drive this thing,'' Intel spokesman Bill Calder told Reuters.

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• ActiveWin: Frequently Asked Questions - Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me) - Updated
  Time: 14:17 EST/19:17 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Robert Stein

  We have updated the Windows Me FAQ with some new bits and pieces that have come into us over the past few days whilst speaking with Mary Jo Foley from ZDnet. Such as the May 26th RTM date touted around by some sites is not likely to happen.

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• NVIDIA selected for Microsoft X-Box
  Time: 12:00 EST/17:00 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  NVIDIA(TM) Corp. (Nasdaq:NVDA - news) today announced that Microsoft® Corp. has selected NVIDIA to design and manufacture the 3D graphics and multimedia sub-system for Microsoft's highly anticipated X-Box game console.

  Microsoft officially announced X-Box today to an anxious audience at the Game Developer's Conference, being held this week in San Jose, Calif. The design win represents an important strategic step for NVIDIA. For the past three years, NVIDIA has dominated the performance 3D segment of the desktop PC market with its RIVA TNT(TM), TNT2(TM) and GeForce 256(TM) graphics processors.

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• X-Box to Deliver Ultimate Console Gaming Experience
  Time: 08:58 EST/13:58 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  At a Microsoft executive retreat last March, a suggestion that the company develop its own video game console coincided with a similar idea already being explored by Microsoft’s DirectX team. The proposal quickly made its way up the ranks of approval and, one year later, has become reality.

  Today, at the annual Game Developers Conference, Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates revealed that Microsoft is entering the video game scene with the introduction of a new game console, code-named X-Box. Capitalizing on its software expertise, experience in maintaining MSN Gaming Zone (http://www.zone.com/) -- the most popular gaming community on the Internet -- and advances in PC technology, X-Box is a game console that will deliver the most realistic, intense and action-packed game experience available.

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• Intel Confirmed As CPU Chip In X-Box
  Time: 07:35 EST/12:35 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Byron Hinson

  This morning we have spoken with a few people at Microsoft about the X-Box and have received confirmation that the CPU inside the X-Box will indeed be powered by Intel. It is a plain old Pentium III 600 chip with the Streaming SIMD Extensions. Microsoft also said that the press release will be updated later today and that Intel will also be mentioned during the Bill Gates speech at the GDC.

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• Microsoft Enters Videogame Battle With X-Box
  Time: 07:24 EST/12:24 GMT News Source: Yahoo Newswire Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft headed into the living room battle zone Friday, unveiling the ``X-box'' videogame console with which it will challenge market leaders Sony and Nintendo. ``The X-box will be a huge milestone for Microsoft and the entire game industry,'' Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates told a Tokyo news conference in a recorded video. It did not display an actual model of the machine, but showed various graphics illustrating its capabilities.

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• Microsoft Unveils New Game Console
  Time: 07:23 EST/12:23 GMT News Source: AP Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. is setting up a battle of the gaming giants as it takes the wraps off an entertainment console code-named ``X-Box'' in a bid for a larger chunk of the $11 billion video gaming industry. The system was unveiled Friday in Tokyo, ahead of a planned announcement at an annual gaming conference here by Chairman Bill Gates - a sign of how serious the company is about taking on the Big Three Japanese game makers: Sony, Sega and Nintendo.

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• Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS00-008) - Patch Available for "Registry Permissions" Vulnerability
  Time: 07:00 EST/12:00 GMT News Source: Microsoft Product Security Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Microsoft has released a tool that installs tighter permissions on three sets of registry values in Microsoft(r) Windows NT 4.0. The default permissions could allow a malicious user to gain additional privileges on a machine that they can interactively log onto.

  Read more

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• Gates Hints Microsoft Serious About Settlement
  Time: 04:27 EST/09:27 GMT News Source: TechWeb Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates said in a broadcast interview that his company was doing its best to reach a settlement with the Justice Department of its landmark antitrust case.

  "The idea of a settlement could be attractive for Microsoft, for the government, and for consumers. And we're very serious about exploring that and putting a lot of effort into it," Gates said in an interview with CNBC.

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• Official X-Box Website Opens
  Time: 02:35 EST/07:35 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  As we announced yesterday, Microsoft today opened up their Official X-Box website to the public, the site contains some interesting quotes and the official specs on the console, check it out.

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• Microsoft Unveils Plans for X-Box Video Games System Inspires Developers to Create Better Games, Faster
  Time: 02:25 EST/07:25 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Bill Gates announced today at the annual Game Developers Conference that Microsoft Corp. is entering the video game world with the introduction of a future-generation dedicated video game console, currently code-named X-Box, designed to deliver intense, action-packed games. Building on the company’s software expertise and advances in PC technology — such as 3-D graphics and Internet connectivity — Microsoft is developing a high-performance, easy-to-use platform that will enable developers to create better games, faster.

  “Building on our strengths as a software company, X-Box will offer game developers a powerful platform and game enthusiasts an incredible experience,” said Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect at Microsoft. “We want X-Box to be the platform of choice for the best and most creative game developers in the world.”

  Join our X-Box community

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• Bill Gates Announces The X-Box On CNBC
  Time: 18:15 EST/23:15 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Bill Gates tonight finally announced what everyone has known about for the past 7 months, Microsoft's first entry into console gaming...The X-Box. We were tipped off early this morning that Bill Gates was due to talk about the new console on CNBC so we stayed on to watch and thankfully we were not disappointed. An hour earlier Bill Gates also confirmed the console on another Satellite channel and here in the UK on News 24 although he wouldn't go into specifics. Here are the official bits and pieces:

  Nvidia will make the graphics chip
  Onboard Disk Drive
  Internet Connection
  Won't be available till 2nd Quarter 2001
  May have a price point as low as $200

  Sega was quoted as saying they won't back down from the race, stating that even though Microsoft is a huge company, it is a company that has never dealt with the console industry before. Bill Gates also stated that it would be a "Breakthrough product" although he wouldn't exactly say how.

  Join our X-Box community

  ActiveXBox (Opening Soon)

  Visit the Microsoft X-Box website (Opens Tomorrow)

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• Bill Gates Announces The X-Box On CNBC
  Time: 18:15 EST/23:15 GMT News Source: Active Network Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Bill Gates tonight finally announced what everyone has known about for the past 7 months, Microsoft's first entry into console gaming...The X-Box. We were tipped off early this morning that Bill Gates was due to talk about the new console on CNBC so we stayed on to watch and thankfully we were not disappointed. An hour earlier Bill Gates also confirmed the console on another Satellite channel and here in the UK on News 24 although he wouldn't go into specifics. Here are the official bits and pieces:

  Nvidia will make the graphics chip
  Onboard Disk Drive
  Internet Connection
  Won't be available till 2nd Quarter 2001
  May have a price point as low as $200

  Sega was quoted as saying they won't back down from the race, stating that even though Microsoft is a huge company, it is a company that has never dealt with the console industry before. Bill Gates also stated that it would be a "Breakthrough product" although he wouldn't exactly say how.

  Join our X-Box community

  ActiveXBox (Opening Soon)

  Visit the Microsoft X-Box website (Opens Tomorrow)

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• Microsoft security hole bugs Web-based email
  Time: 17:46 EST/22:46 GMT News Source: News.com Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Microsoft today confirmed a security hole in Windows 95 and Windows 98 that could result in problems for Web surfers or users of particular email programs.

  The hole could also potentially be used to create more significant system damage, experts say.

  The vulnerability, which was just discovered, works by forcing a computer to process a certain sequence of characters. A user could encounter this situation in several instances: when downloading a Web page that has been embedded with malicious code, when opening an email message on Hotmail or some other Web-based email service or simply by typing the code at a DOS prompt. When a computer encounters the sequence of characters and tries to process them, it crashes.

  Microsoft confirmed the vulnerability, which is a type of "Trojan horse," and said it is working on a patch.

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• Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS00-014) - Patch Available for "SQL Query Abuse" Vulnerability
  Time: 17:14 EST/22:14 GMT News Source: Microsoft Product Security Posted By: Matthew Sabean

  Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a security vulnerability in Microsoft® SQL Server 7.0 and Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE) 1.0. The vulnerability could allow the remote author of a malicious SQL query to take unauthorized actions on a SQL Server or MSDE database or on the underlying system that was hosting the SQL Server or MSDE database.

  Read more

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• Get a jump on Windows 2000 with deployment planning tool from Compaq, Microsoft
  Time: 15:06 EST/20:06 GMT News Source: Microsoft Daily News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Compaq and Microsoft are helping IT professionals get a head start on deploying Microsoft® Windows® 2000.

  The two companies are offering a Windows Media™-based deployment planning tool that delivers technical seminars and other information on Windows 2000 right to the desktop. The Deployment JumpStart for Windows 2000 is a Compaq ProLiant server preconfigured with Windows 2000 Server and loaded with 50 one-hour technical seminars and two white papers. Using Windows Media Services, the Deployment JumpStart delivers the seminars with high-quality audio and video synchronized with PowerPoint® slides and demonstrations.

  This information is designed to help companies’ IT staff and other employees plan for, deploy and begin using Windows 2000.

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• Why Microsoft Wants Sega
  Time: 15:06 EST/20:06 GMT News Source: MCV Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Sure, conversations between companies like Microsoft and Sega happen all the time. Some times they work out, other times they fall apart. MCV examines more details behind these proposed deals, why Sega would be an excellent partner for Microsoft and why Sega would say yes within the scope of its long-term vision.

  Let's start at the top. There are four key elements to any platform when examining it at the most macro level: the hardware, the operating system, the network and the content. Each has ramifications for development costs, publishing support, hardware manufacturing costs, retail support and consumer demand for the system. Examination of Microsoft's support in each of these areas shows very obvious holes; the largest is probably content.

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• Former MS execs invest in wireless
  Time: 15:06 EST/20:06 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  A group of former Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) and McCaw Cellular executives has formed a new-company incubator firm. The new firm, Ignition, will fund, mentor and build wireless Internet startup companies. Based in Bellevue, Wash., Ignition has already raised $140 million from investors, including Qualcomm Inc. (Nasdaq: QCOM), Softbank Venture Capital and Madrona Venture Group.

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• Web attacks: Cure worse than disease?
  Time: 15:04 EST/20:04 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  The difference between checking for security holes and exploiting them is purely one of intent, as anti-virus maker Trend Micro Inc. has discovered.

  Trend Micro's enterprise anti-viral program OfficeScan -- which also scans for denial-of-service (DoS) vulnerabilities -- also is a prime vehicle for foul play. According to Bugtraq reports and Trend Micro itself, OfficeScan also opens the door for internal attacks.

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• The rise and fall of Netscape
  Time: 15:02 EST/20:02 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  When Netscape employees first heard their company was going to be bought by America Online in November 1998, they worried whether their dogs would still be allowed in the office. A year and a half later, the dogs are still allowed, but little else is the same. Key executives and engineers cashed in their options and left, and the company that once was synonymous with the Web itself -- the pioneer of the Net as we know it -- is now merely the "at-work" arm of AOL's multi-brand media strategy.

  "The merger has been a disaster," said Michael Cusumano, professor at MIT's Sloan School of Management and co-author of "Competing on Internet Time," which details Netscape's struggles in its now legendary browser war against Microsoft. "All the best engineers and managers have left. Sun has taken over the client software. ... They're no longer a player."

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• Microsoft is still 'The Evil Empire'
  Time: 14:53 EST/19:53 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft bashing is just not as fun as it used to be. Everyone, from the government, to disgruntled developers -- to yours truly, I must admit -- has elevated to the level of a national past time the practice of kicking Microsoft when it's down. The cumulative damage has started hitting Microsoft where it hurts. For more than a month, the company's stock price has been hovering around $90. Even Santana couldn't help Microsoft hype Windows 2000 enough to bring the share price back to over $100.

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• Microsoft and Dunn Computer Sign Partner Letter to Jointly Market Windows 2000 solutions
  Time: 12:13 EST/17:13 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Dunn Computer Corporation (Nasdaq: DNCC - news) announced it has signed a letter of understanding with Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT - news) to become a partner in the Microsoft 2000 Jumpstart program. Dunn and Microsoft will jointly market Microsoft's Windows 2000 operating system along with Dunn's migration and desktop deployment services to commercial accounts in the Washington DC metropolitan area. Dunn sales and technical consultants will work with Microsoft's inside sales team and local field account representatives to seed new accounts with the new Microsoft software, associated Dunn services and Dunn's new line of Windows 2000 platforms.

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• MSN Continues Aggressive Spam Protection for 58 Million Hotmail Users With Customizable Inbox Protector
  Time: 09:33 EST/14:33 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  MSN today unveiled the new Hotmail Inbox Protector, the most customizable and user-friendly bulk mail filter that puts users of the world's largest e-mail service in more control of their Web experience. MSN also announced continued integration of communication services on the MSN™ network of Internet services, including updates to the MSN Hotmail^® Web-based e-mail service, MSN Messenger Service and MSN Calendar. These enhancements bring consumers closer to experiencing the Everyday Web any time, anywhere and on any device.

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• FILMSPEED, ShowBIZ Data and Microsoft Announce New Syndication Model for High-Quality Internet Video
  Time: 09:33 EST/14:33 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  FILMSPEED, ShowBIZ Data Inc. and Microsoft Corp. announced a new syndication model for streaming and downloaded video distribution on the Internet, using ShowBIZData's deep, multileveled entertainment database, fully optimized FILMSPEED video imagery and Microsoft^® Windows Media™ technologies.

  This alliance enables the Hollywood film and television community to distribute movie trailers and other video content on the Internet at less expense, with higher quality, and to a wider audience than ever before, all from the central FILMSPEED distribution service in Los Angeles. The service is available immediately at http://www.FILMSPEED.com/.

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• Microsoft To Hold A Conference On "New Game Business" Tomorrow
  Time: 06:20 EST/11:20 GMT News Source: Microsoft Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp said on Thursday it will hold a news conference at 02:00 GMT on Friday in Tokyo about a new game business. "The company will talk about its new game business. We can't comment any further" a Microsoft spokesman said.

  Microsoft Vice President Rick Thompson, who is in charge of hardware, will attend the conference.

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• Microsoft, Sega X-Box Deal Off
  Time: 06:18 EST/11:18 GMT News Source: Gamespot Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Here is a new article from Gamespot about the Microsoft and Sega dealings (Which we announced a while back exclusively) over the X-Box:

  According to Nikkei Shinbun, Microsoft will join the race in the console-gaming industry independent of Sega's help, despite recently published rumors that stated otherwise. The reason behind the decision, which apparently was made late last night by Sega, is mostly due to a negotiations breakdown with Microsoft on the night of March 6. According to the article, the royalties for the Windows OS and the cost to make the X-Box compatible with Sega's Dreamcast were factors in Sega's decision.

  The deal is not entirely off, however, as Sega may possibly be manufacturing an OEM X-Box for Microsoft in the future. Microsoft has now decided to prioritize X-Box development by seeking Japanese developers and publishers directly. Without Sega's support for the X-Box, however, Japanese game companies might be a bit ambivalent about jumping on the X-Box bandwagon.

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• Fixed Font Alignment in Japanese Windows 2000
  Time: 21:40 EST/02:40 GMT News Source: Microsoft Posted By: Byron Hinson

  For Windows 2000, Japanese language-version only. This update resolves the "Fixed Font does not Align Properly when using Double-Byte Character Set" issue in the Japanese language-version of Windows 2000. When you use a fixed pitch font, such as MS Gothic or MS Mincho, the fonts may not be aligned properly on your monitor or printer.For Windows 2000, Japanese language-version only. This update resolves the "Fixed Font does not Align Properly when using Double-Byte Character Set" issue in the Japanese language-version of Windows 2000. When you use a fixed pitch font, such as MS Gothic or MS Mincho, the fonts may not be aligned properly on your monitor or printer.

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• Microsoft X-Box trails Playstation on software support
  Time: 19:53 EST/00:53 GMT News Source: EE Times Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp.'s decision to jump into the game console business is a testament to the PC industry's belief that it has the technological underpinnings to take on the likes of Sony Computer Entertainment's Playstation 2. But observers say Microsoft and its allies will be hard-pressed to match the support SCE has won from the software developer community.

  SCE has made lofty claims about the new level of realism in computer graphics that will be ushered in by its powerful new graphics subsystem. Playstation 2 is powered by two custom-made processors, the 128-bit Emotion Engine CPU with two channels linking it to Direct Rambus DRAMs, and a fast graphics processor with embedded RAM. SCE claims the graphics subsystem will provide a floating-point performance of 6.2 Gflops, and can churn out some 75 million polygons per second.

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• New Content Added To The Official StarLancer Site
  Time: 15:58 EST/20:58 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft today unveiled new content on the official StarLancer Web site, located at http://www.microsoft.com/games/da/starlancer/. The site now provides even more detailed information on the game, including new screen shots and AVIs. StarLancer is the highly anticipated new game being developed by Erin and Chris Roberts, creators of the popular Wing Commander and Privateer series. A futuristic space combat game that combines the action of a first-person space shooter with the drama and intrigue of a classic air combat movie, StarLancer will be available in stores this April.

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• NVIDIA And Microsoft Jointly Promote New 3D Standards At Game Developers Conference
  Time: 15:12 EST/20:12 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Continuing its commitment to drive new 3D graphics standards for the desktop PC, NVIDIA™ Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA) today announced its premier sponsorship of the Microsoft Windows® DirectXTM Developer Day. Microsoft's DirectX Developer Day provides developers with critical technical information regarding the DirectX API's (Application Programming Interface) next generation features. The event will be held at the Game Developer Conference on Wednesday, March 8th from 8:00AM to 6:00PM at the San Jose Convention Center.

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• China approves Windows 2000
  Time: 14:46 EST/19:46 GMT News Source: Reuters Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) has won approval from Beijing to sell its Windows 2000 software in China, laying to rest fears that new rules on encryption technology would snarl the product launch later this month. China began enforcing rules in January that require companies and individuals to register their encryption products with the government, then apply for permission to use them. Many executives fear the rules are the first step toward an outright ban of the sale in China of foreign encryption technology, which is embedded in everything from software and mobile phones to cable television systems and Internet servers.

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• Microsoft Previews Next Version of DirectX at GDC 2000
  Time: 14:41 EST/19:41 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  This week at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2000, Microsoft Corp. will preview for software developers the next version of its powerful game-development DirectXâ application programming interface (API). With sweeping advances in real-time rendered music, photo-realistic graphics and the addition of advanced voice technology, the forthcoming version of Microsoft^® DirectX, scheduled to ship in late summer 2000, is expected to enable the creation of game titles that deliver the most sensory, immersive Windowsâ -based gaming experience to date.

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• Stride Rite Deploys Windows 2000 to Maintain Competitive Edge
  Time: 14:41 EST/19:41 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Byron Hinson

  Microsoft Corp. today announced that Stride Rite Corp., one of the leading marketers of high-quality footwear, has deployed the Microsoft^® Windows^® 2000 operating system and replaced their Novell NetWare environment.

  The result is a powerful, scalable network that operates more efficiently, a consistent and smoothly functioning client architecture that is more manageable and cost-effective, and a rapid-development environment for building line-of-business applications that take advantage of the Windows DNA 2000 architecture.

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• Microsoft Acts to Thwart Software Piracy in Wisconsin
  Time: 10:25 EST/14:25 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft Corp. today announced that the company has filed lawsuits against four resellers in Wisconsin as part of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and legitimate resellers and to lessen the negative effects of software piracy on Wisconsin's economy. The four resellers allegedly distributed counterfeit and/or infringing Microsoft® software.

  Wisconsin has a piracy rate of 25 percent, the same as the average piracy rate in the United States. This means that one in four computers is running pirated software in Wisconsin. According to a recent study by International Planning & Research Corp., in 1998 Wisconsin lost almost $79 million in combined wage, salary and tax revenue to software piracy. The state also lost more than 2,400 jobs due to the severe impact of the distribution of illegitimate software, as well as more than $11 million in tax revenue - money that otherwise could have contributed to local and state improvement projects.

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• Microsoft Announces Technology Tools For Helping Faculty Create and Manage Online Resources And Comply With Instructional Management System Standards
  Time: 10:23 EST/14:23 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft Corp. today announced new technology tools developed to empower faculty members to create and manage online learning resources with MicrosoftÒ Office 2000 in compliance with Instructional Management Systems (IMS) specifications, as well as a new set of resources to enhance educators' use of the Microsoft FrontPage 2000 Web site creation and management tool in the classroom. With the new IMS Meta-Data Add-In for Microsoft Office 2000 Professional and access to the add-in source code, which supports the IMS Learning Resource Meta-data specifications, educators using Office 2000 can easily create meta-data. In addition, using FrontPage 2000 and the new add-in, faculty members can design rich instructional Web sites and incorporate simple computer-based quizzing solutions into their instruction materials.

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• Go2Net Selects TransPoint as Exclusive E-Bills Provider
  Time: 10:20 EST/14:20 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  TransPoint LLC and Go2Net Inc. (Nasdaq "GNET") today announced an exclusive agreement that will allow users of the Go2Net Network to receive and pay bills offered by the TransPoint™ online bill payment service in spring 2000. The agreement gives users of the Go2Net Network access to both the TransPoint e-billing service and the Pay Anyone feature that was launched Feb. 1, 2000, enabling users to pay and manage all of their bills via TransPoint. Today's agreement also includes a multimillion dollar promotional component, through which TransPoint will be marketed across several of the Go2Net Network's most popular sites.

  Initially, Go2Net will feature the TransPoint service on four of its primary properties, including Go2Net.com, Dogpile, HyperMart and Silicon Investor. The Go2Net Network was among the fastest growing of the Internet's top 20 destinations in 1999, according to the Media Metrix Web measurement service.

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• XML: Does MS really have nothing up its sleeve?
  Time: 10:18 EST/14:18 GMT News Source: The Register Posted By: Alex Harris

  With the rise of XML, Microsoft is being cast in an unfamiliar role: that of being a leading innovator (but not the instigator) of an architecture for interoperable distributed Web applications.

  XTech in San Jose last week brought together many of the hard-core developers of XML protocols without the marketing types. The focus is now on developing a serialisation and transport layer for XML messaging/RPC (remote procedure calls), and how such standardization should be brought about. A protocol is essential if Web applications are to be connected in ways chosen by users, rather than vendors, with the result being what has been dubbed the two-way Web.

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• Microsoft resigns from industry body SIIA
  Time: 04:05 EST/09:05 GMT News Source: IDG.net Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft Tuesday resigned from industry organization the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA). The move, which was not entirely unexpected, follows SIIA's filing of a "friend of the court" brief against the software giant in the ongoing U.S. government antitrust case last month.

  Also Tuesday, Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Bob Herbold, who had been a member of SIIA's 19-person board, announced his resignation from the body's board.

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• Microsoft and Leading Data Mining Vendors Line Up In Support of Data Mining Specification
  Time: 03:39 EST/08:39 GMT News Source: Press Release Posted By: Alex Harris

  Microsoft Corp. today announced the beta release of the OLE DB for Data Mining specification, a protocol based on the SQL language, that provides software vendors and application developers with an open interface to more efficiently integrate data mining tools and capabilities into line-of-business and e-commerce applications. A dozen leading data mining and business intelligence vendors announced their support for the new protocol, which will enable diverse data mining products to more easily exchange data and results and allow developers to more easily incorporate data mining technology into existing data warehousing solutions. Supporting vendors include ANGOSS Software Corp., Appsource Corp., Comshare Inc., DB Miner Technology Inc., Knosys Inc., Magnify Inc., Megaputer Intelligence Inc., Maximal Innovative Intelligence Ltd., NCR Corp., PolyVista Inc. and SPSS Inc.

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• Stride Rite takes big step toward Business Internet by migrating to Windows 2000
  Time: 03:37 EST/08:37 GMT News Source: Microsoft Daily News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Stride Rite Corp., a longtime leader in the shoe business, wants to stay a step ahead of the competition.

  And a state-of-the-art IT system is key to meeting that goal. Stride Rite recently implemented Microsoft® Windows® 2000 across its organization, migrating from a patchwork of Novell and legacy systems. Windows 2000 Server gives Stride Rite a more powerful, scalable and efficient network. Windows 2000 Professional offers a more manageable, cost-effective client architecture. And Windows 2000 delivers a rapid-development environment for building and deploying applications for the Internet.

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• Continental Airlines, eHome save money with Windows 2000 Server-based VPN solutions
  Time: 03:35 EST/08:35 GMT News Source: Microsoft Daily News Posted By: Alex Harris

  Remote access services connect workers to important tools and information.

  But dial-up charges can be costly, especially for companies with lots of workers connecting via long-distance or 800 numbers. That's why many businesses are using Internet access and virtual private networking (VPN) to connect their remote users to company networks. And by taking advantage of VPN support in Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Server, companies like Continental Airlines and online real estate firm eHome have saved money while gaining fast, secure and manageable remote access capabilities.

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• AMD, Intel pushing beyond 1GHz
  Time: 03:30 EST/08:30 GMT News Source: ZDNet Posted By: Alex Harris

  The gigahertz race may be over, but don't count on the PC industry stopping just there.

  According to PC makers, the computing public's hunger for greater performance remains unabated -- and that means 1GHz, or 1,000MHz, processors will, sooner rather than later, be surpassed by even more powerful chips.

  Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NYSE: AMD) beat archrival Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) to the 1,000MHz mark Monday when it announced it is shipping a 1GHz Athlon processor for deskto