Archive for February 20th, 2007
Over the weekend, SlySoft launched the first version of its HD DVD cracking software designed to let consumers decrypt HD DVD movie discs and rip them to a hard drive.Specifically, the AnyDVD HD software cracks the Advanced Access Content System (AACS), a specification for managing content stored on the next generation HD DVDs. A consortium of companies, including IBM, Microsoft 
, Intel, Panasonic, and Sony , developed the spec and license it to manufacturers in an effort to protect video content.
“Officially, the film industry and the AACS consortium is, of course, not very happy about this development,” SlySoft said in a published statement. But the company also said that, behind closed doors, the movie industry is “likely pleased” that users are now able to make “unlimited use” of the HD DVD platform.
Click here to read the rest of this story on NewsFactor.
February 20th, 2007
In what analysts are calling a significant move, Microsoft on Tuesday released Service Pack 2 for SQL Server 2005, promising full compatibility with Windows Vista and Office 2007.With Service Pack 2, or SP2, the software giant has expanded virtualization use rights in SQL Server to allow unlimited virtual instances on servers that are fully licensed for SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition. Virtualization technology is designed to reduce the number of servers a company needs by allowing multiple copies of an operating system to run on a single piece of hardware .
“Microsoft is realizing that server software is often deployed with unlimited virtualization instances and charging folks a penalty for that deployment choice is not going to sit well,” said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group. SP2, he added, is specifically designed to help SQL Server compete more effectively against offerings from IBM and Oracle.
Click here to read the rest of this story of CIO Today.
February 20th, 2007
Viacom is up in arms over a new YouTube proposal, and Google is searching for an attorney to help the company tackle the media-sharing issues that the search giant inherited with its controversial YouTube acquisition.News has emerged that YouTube is launching technology that aims to help content owners identify pirated videos that community members upload to the site. This type of technology is the online world’s answer to demands on the part of content owners to protect copyrights in the wake of rampant illegal uploads.
However, YouTube is drawing the ire of the media industry with its intent to offer the antipiracy tools only to companies that have inked distribution deals with the video service, according to news reports.
Click here to read the rest of this story on NewsFactor.
February 20th, 2007
Robotic cars will compete for bragging rights — and a $2 million prize — in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Urban Challenge next winter. The race, which will run in November 2007, offers a glimpse into the future of smart cars.DARPA’s Urban Challenge is designed to encourage researchers to develop cars with autonomous driving capabilities for city streets, with the goal of eventually producing cars that can save lives on the battlefield by driving themselves through dangerous terrain.
That’s the long-term goal. Over the short-term, the government hopes the experimental technology will yield new devices that can aid human drivers and improve highway safety.
Click here to read the rest of this story on NewsFactor.
February 20th, 2007
