News


Microsoft Reorgs Search Unit

In an attempt to pull its search efforts out of a slow spiral, Microsoft Wednesday formed a new group to focus on search and advertising, and named two executives to head it.

Exchange Exams Get Their Turn in Beta Spotlight

Exams for candidates who want to highlight their skills with Microsoft's messaging platform head onto the beta test onramp.

Dell Debuts China-Specific Desktop PCs

Dell Inc. has a new desktop computer targeting first-time and novice computer users in China.

Court Upholds Ban on States Regulating VoIP

A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld a decision by the Federal Communications Commission that barred states, including Minnesota, from regulating Internet-based phone services.

Federal Agency Bans Microsoft Vista

At least two federal government agencies are refusing to upgrade their computers with Microsoft's Windows Vista.

Adobe Ships Cross-Platform Apollo Alpha

Adobe announced it is shipping an alpha release of its "Apollo" cross-operating system Web applications platform, with commercial release scheduled for later this year.

Dell Debuts China-Specific Desktop PCs

Dell Inc. has a new desktop computer targeting first-time and novice computer users in China.

Speculation of Palm Buyout Rises

Speculation of a buyout of Palm Inc. heightened Tuesday after an industry online publication reported a deal could occur this week.

FullArmor Endpoint Policy Manager Ships

FullArmor announced it is shipping FullArmor Endpoint Policy Manager (FullArmor EPM), a management tool that automates the delivery, enforcement, and auditing of critical security policies on mobile, disconnected and unmanaged endpoint devices, such as guest laptops.

EU Considers RFID Privacy Rules

Privacy and security need to be built into radio frequency identification tags before they become widespread, the European Commission said, announcing it would publish guidelines later this year.

IBM Wins Deal to Manage Firm's IT Unit

IBM Corp. it has won a 10-year contract to manage the IT infrastructure of Indian mobile company Idea Cellular

Domain Registration Privacy Moves Forward

Many owners of Internet addresses face this quandary: Provide your real contact information when you register a domain name and subject yourself to junk or harassment. Or enter fake data and risk losing it outright.

Gates Promotes PC Training in Colombia

In his first trip to this violence-wracked country, Bill Gates said Microsoft Corp. was helping set up computer learning centers in areas where demobilized paramilitary fighters are in dire need of job training.

Expression Design Beta 2 Ships

As Microsoft pushes to ready a suite of new design tools for offer under the Expression Studio brand, the company announced late last week that it is shipping the second beta release of the third of those tools.

Hynix, Toshiba End Legal Battle

Hynix Semiconductor Inc. of South Korea and Japan's Toshiba Corp. declared an end to their legal battles Tuesday, signing accords to share semiconductor patents and products.

Oracle's 3Q Profit Rises 35 Percent

Oracle Corp's fiscal third quarter profit climbed 35 percent, lifted by strong software sales that exceeded management's projections. The Redwood Shores-based business software maker said Tuesday that it earned $1.03 billion, or 20 cents per share, for the three months ended in February. That compared with net income of $765 million, or 14 cents per share, at the same time last year.

Computer Error Rocks Alaska's $38 Billion Oil Fund

Perhaps you know that sinking feeling when a single keystroke accidentally destroys hours of work. Now imagine wiping out a disc drive containing an account worth $38 billion.

Compute Cluster Pack SP1 Arrives

Microsoft announced late last week it is shipping the first service pack for its Compute Cluster Pack.

Microsoft Joins OpenAJAX Alliance

In a move that promises to facilitate interoperability of AJAX-based applications developed with different tools and frameworks, Microsoft on Tuesday announced it has joined the OpenAJAX Alliance.

Fortran Creator Backus Dies

John Backus, whose development of the Fortran programming language in the 1950s changed how people interacted with computers and paved the way for modern software, has died. He was 82.