News


Microsoft Reorg Continues

Microsoft continued its management reorganization this week as it moved to realign responsibilities within its operating systems group to reflect newly minted Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie's growing influence.

St. Bernard Software Wants Bigger Bite of Security Mart

An unusual merger is adding loads of cash to St. Bernard Software's coffer, which will be used to build new products and buy up security vendors, said company CEO John Jones in an interview this week.

IBM Expands Lineup of AMD-Based Servers

International Business Machines Corp. picked one of the hottest days of the year, when many Americans are living with the threat of power outages, to unveil a line of computer servers that are designed to consume less juice than comparable machines.

BlackHat, DefCon Pranks Underlie Larger Security Message

The middle-aged G-men who wear crisp suits and consort with teenage hackers sporting purple hair can make the two conferences that will converge in Las Vegas this week look like a scene from a science-fiction movie.

Microsoft Recalls Small Business Server 2003 R2

Microsoft has recalled Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 from manufacturing last week after the company discovered some of the files were not the most up-to-date.

Flaws in McAfee Security Programs May Expose Data, Researchers Say

Consumer versions of McAfee Inc.'s leading software for securing PCs is susceptible to a flaw that can expose passwords and other sensitive information stored on personal computers, researchers said Monday.

Office 2007 Beta 2? That'll Be a Buck Fifty

Microsoft said this week that downloads of Office 2007 Beta 2 have been so popular it has decided to start charging for them.

Microsoft Hands Documents Over to EU

Microsoft Corp. has given the European Union more documents in response to a 2004 antitrust order, but regulators said they do not know yet whether the company will avoid additional fines.

Microsoft: No Quick Payoff on iPod Rival

Microsoft's plans to offer an iPod competitor could take up to five years of investment, but the spending is worth it in part because it will help the software maker's broader entertainment agenda, a company executive said Thursday.

Programmer Stole, Sold Sentry Insurance Customer Data, Company Says

Personal information on 72 worker's compensation claimants was stolen from Sentry Insurance and later sold over the Internet, the company said.

China Cracks Down on Foreign Internet Investors

China is trying to tighten control over foreign investors in Internet ventures in a crackdown that a state newspaper said Friday could see some companies stripped of operating licenses.

Ozzie: 'Live' Not Risky for Microsoft

While industry observers have viewed Microsoft's Windows and Office Live initiative as risky business, newly installed Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie on Thursday said it is much closer to a natural evolution given the company's capabilities and heritage as a software platforms company.

Microsoft: IE7 To Be High Priority Automatic Update

Microsoft quietly announced this week that it will distribute Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP as a high priority update via Automatic Updates when the new browser version is complete.

Ballmer Heralds a New Era for Microsoft

Saying both he personally and his company were entering a new era, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said he will take a much more active role in championing innovation within the company as chairman Bill Gates gradually backs away from his role as chairman over the next two years.

AOL Co-Founder Offers Merger Apology

AOL co-founder Steve Case has offered a qualified apology for his role in architecting the online company's disastrous combination with Time Warner Inc. "Yes, I'm sorry I did it," Case said on PBS's "The Charlie Rose Show" last Friday.

Microsoft Buys Medical Records System

Microsoft Corp. has acquired a patient information system that the world's largest software maker plans to sell to health care providers worldwide.

Students Face Jail for Hacking Professor's Computer

Two students each face up to a year in jail for a prank that involved hacking into a professor's computer, giving grades to other students and sending pizza, magazine subscriptions and CDs to the professor's home.

New-Generation BizTalk Exam Now Live

Microsoft releases exam for business process management experts after a successful beta test last month.

Intel Unveils New Core 2 Duo Chips

Intel Corp. introduced its most important product line in six years Thursday, unveiling 10 microprocessors that are expected to help the world's largest chip maker retake ground lost to smaller competitor Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

Key IBM Growth Engine Appears to Sputter

A growth engine in IBM Corp. appears to be sputtering, illustrating the challenges with the company's broader strategy of enticing businesses to let Big Blue take over vital operations from designing products to handling payroll and customer service.