Microsoft tackles anti-copy hole
Microsoft has said it is working to close a breach of its technology that protects music digital files from copyright infringement.
A program called Fairuse4wm has been posted on the net and is said to be capable of bypassing Microsoft’s Digital Rights Management (DRM) system.
It could spell problems for internet music shops, potentially enabling users to [...]
Google battles Microsoft with new online software tools
Internet giant Google Inc. took the software battle deeper into Microsoft’s territory with a new package of online services for small-business users.
Google said it would offer businesses tailor-made versions of its free email service Gmail, instant messaging, voice calling, shared calendars and basic design, publishing and hosting of websites.
The company is marketing its “Google Apps [...]
Bill Gates’ piracy confession
If you read way down to the bottom of a Wall Street Journal interview with Bill Gates that ran yesterday, you’ll discover that the Microsoft executive admitted to watching pirated movies on the Internet. The confession came as he was talking about content he had viewed on YouTube. Here’s part of the exchange:
[...]
Microsoft balks on Net neutrality explainer
Microsoft wants to block an effort for a shareholder vote forcing the world’s largest software maker to explain its support for Internet network neutrality, according to a company letter obtained by Reuters on Tuesday.
The Free Enterprise Action Fund, a mutual fund that says it offers both financial and ideological returns, wants Microsoft shareholders to seek [...]
French researchers find OpenOffice more vulnerable than Office
Computer security experts at France’s Department of Defense have concluded that OpenOffice is more vulnerable to security problems than its closed-source counterpart, Microsoft Office, according to a report at ZDNet France.
The article, published earlier in July, said that cryptography experts were able to create viruses which compromised the security of OpenOffice.
“We can affirm that OpenOffice [...]
Microsoft confirms plan to take on Apple’s iPod
Software maker faces uphill climb in closing the gap on Apple’s iPod.
Microsoft Corp. said Friday it plans to release a new music and entertainment player and accompanying software under the “Zune” brand this year, in a belated attempt to challenge the dominance of Apple Computer Inc.’s iPod player.
Microsoft confirmed the plans for an entertainment device [...]
Microsoft used pirated music software – report
ONLINE MAGAZINE Techrepublic thinks that it has found proof that the software giant Microsoft has been using pirated .wav files in Windows XP.
Hacks went through Wav files on XP using an editor and found in the Windows help files nine WAV files which provide background sound during the Windows Media Player Tour.
When these files were [...]
Microsoft in new web phone drive
Microsoft has announced a tie-up with telecoms giant Nortel to develop its software for integrating voice, e-mail and video services for businesses.
The move is designed to capitalise on a trend in some large firms to make all communications web-based.
By doing so, they hope to cut down on phone bills and give their staff easier access [...]
Microsoft files 26 U.S. piracy lawsuits
Microsoft Corp. has filed 26 lawsuits accusing U.S. companies of selling pirated software, the latest move in its ramped-up efforts to boost sales by cracking down on illegal copies.
The world’s largest software maker filed the lawsuits Friday in federal courts in Georgia, Illinois, Ohio, Colorado, South Carolina, New York and New Jersey. The lawsuits accuse [...]
EU fines Microsoft for defiance
European Union regulators fined Microsoft 280.5 million euros ($357.3 million) on Wednesday for defying a 2004 antitrust ruling, and warned the company to comply or face bigger fines from next month.
The tough new penalty is the first of its kind and comes on top of a record 497 million euro fine the Commission imposed in [...]
