Archive for January 15th, 2009
fter being leaked to software pirate sites two weeks before its official debut, software developers and hard-core users who wanted an official copy of Windows 7 beta on Friday were disappointed when they discovered they’d have to wait another day.The Windows 7 beta download site was overloaded by would-be beta users hours before the launch. Microsoft 
delayed the launch to add additional infrastructure support to the Microsoft.com properties before it posted the public beta.
The Windows 7 beta download site has been up and running smoothly since Saturday morning. Microsoft apologized for the inconvenience and sought to make up for the delays by making the software more broadly available.
“We have clearly heard that many of you want to check out the Windows 7 beta and, as a result, we have decided to remove the initial 2.5 million limit on the public beta for the next two weeks (thru January 24th),” Brandon LeBlanc wrote on the Windows blog. “During that time you will have access to the beta even if the download number exceeds the 2.5 million unit limit.”
Click here to read the rest of my story on NewsFactor.
January 15th, 2009
The wait for a Jerry Yang successor is over. Yahoo on Tuesday named Carol Bartz as the next CEO of the troubled Internet company.Bartz, 60, is a veteran technology executive. She most recently served as executive chairman of Autodesk and also served as CEO of Autodesk for 14 years, leading the company to become a powerhouse in computer-aided design software. During her tenure as Autodesk CEO, the company’s revenues climbed from less than $300 million to more than $1.5 billion and its share price increased nearly tenfold.
Bartz’s executive experience also includes hands-on responsibility for leading global operations, engineering, sales and marketing organizations for large technology and engineering companies, including Sun Microsystems, Digital Equipment, and 3M.
“There is no denying that Yahoo has faced enormous challenges over the last year, but I believe there is now an extraordinary opportunity to create value for our shareholders and new possibilities for our customers, partners and employees,” Bartz said. “We will seize that opportunity.”
Click here to read the rest of my story on CIOToday.
January 15th, 2009
Microsoft released critical fixes on Patch Tuesday for vulnerabilities that could leave the door open for worms that wreak havoc on business networks. In all, Microsoft released one security bulletin that addresses three vulnerabilities, two of them rated critical.”Both vulnerabilities rated as critical by Microsoft are server -side remote code-execution vulnerabilities in the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol,” said Alfred Huger, vice president of Symantec Security Response. “Remote attackers, even without a username and password, can take advantage of this issue and execute any commands they wish on the vulnerable server.”
Click here to read the rest of this story on NewsFactor.
January 15th, 2009
Although it’s not yet official, most analysts expect the NPD Group’s January video-game console report to show Nintendo’s Wii game console as the clear winner for December, with the Xbox 360 a distant second.Analysts are also predicting that even as Sony’s PlayStation 3 begins to gain some momentum, price cuts may be just around the corner as the once-leading console maker struggles to compete against its less-expensive competitors.
“We expect December {video-game] sales of $2.625 billion — up 10 percent compared to December 2007′s $2.39 billion. We expect next-generation software sales of $2.42 billion and current-generation software sales of $205 million,” said Michael Patcher, an analyst at Wedbush Morgan. “Our forecast reflects growth of four percent year-over-year for Xbox 360 software, 71 percent growth for Wii software, and 48 percent growth for PS3 software.”
Click here to read the rest of my story on TopTechNews.
January 15th, 2009
Reports of data breaches increased dramatically in 2008, and identity theft is still among the fastest-growing crimes. Security vendors are racing to help consumers and businesses protect themselves, with AVG Technologies making one of the first big moves this year.AVG, an antivirus and Internet security software provider, has acquired Sana Security to help battle the growing threats. Sana develops behavior-based software that proactively protects against threats in a way similar to the human immune system.
“Sana’s unique behavioral software, combined with AVG’s existing security technology, will provide the most comprehensive online identity protection in the industry, delivering continuous real-time protection,” said J.R. Smith, AVG’s CEO. “At the same time, AVG will continue to maintain low-PC-resource utilization for optimal system performance, a critical requirement both for the individual at home and for the business user.”
Click here to read the rest of my story on CIO Today.
January 15th, 2009
Palm’s new operating system is making waves in the mobile arena. When Palm debuted the new Palm Pre last week, it also unveiled the Palm webOS mobile platform.While the initial buzz surrounded the hardware and operating system, it’s the new information-management system that has analysts talking about this week. Synergy is a key feature of webOS that brings information from all the places you store it into one logical view. That means no tracking multiple calendars, contacts or messaging applications.
“Palm products have always been about simplifying lives and delivering great user experiences,” said Ed Colligan, Palm president and CEO. “webOS and Pre bring game-changing simplicity to an increasingly mobile world by dissolving the barriers that surround your information. It’s technology that seems like it’s thinking ahead to bring you what you care about most — your people, your time, and your information — in the easiest and most seamless way.”
Click here to read the rest of my story on CIO Today.
January 15th, 2009
The National Safety Council is throwing down the gauntlet on motor safety. The group is taking a three-pronged approach to stop wireless-device usage while driving: Asking consumers to stop, urging businesses to enact policies prohibiting it, and urging governors and legislators to pass laws.A Harvard Center of Risk Analysis study estimates cell-phone use while driving contributes to six percent of crashes, which equates to 636,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries, 12,000 serious injuries, and 2,600 deaths each year. The study also put the annual financial toll of cell-phone-related crashes at $43 billion.
“Studies show that driving while talking on a cell phone is extremely dangerous and puts drivers at a four times greater risk of a crash,” said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the NSC. “Driving drunk is also dangerous and against the law. When our friends have been drinking, we take the car keys away. It’s time to take the cell phone away.”
Click here to read the rest of my story on Sci-Tech Today.
January 15th, 2009
