Microsoft: We’re in ‘Fighting Shape’

"Microsoft has some catching up to do. It's not a phrase you hear every day. But whether it's Apple Computer's iTunes-iPod combo or Google's advertising engine, the software maker's top executives readily admit that they are coming from behind. In a rare joint interview ahead of the CES, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and CEO Steve Ballmer outlined their plans to catch their rivals and discussed why it's Sony that will have to play catch-up in the video console wars."

Intel Brings Internet, Media Content Providers Under Viiv Platform

"Paul Otellini, CEO of Intel, outlined plans to bring a wide range of content, from sports to first-run movies, to anyone with a broadband Internet connection and a remote control using its new Viiv PC platform, during a Thursday night keynote at the 2006 CES. While it incorporates new hardware and software, including Intel's latest Core Duo and Pentium D 900 series chips, Viiv represents the company's larger effort to bring together a variety of content and display it on a range of devices, including televisions and handhelds." In addition, Intel teamed up with Google to provide video content for the Viiv platform.

YellowDog Linux 4.1 Released

Terrasoft has released YellowDog Linux 4.1. This new release of course incorporates the latest and greatest of the Linux world, but besides that it also features support for the latest Apple PowerBooks, beta support for Apple G5 PowerMacs with dual-core processors, and basic 64-bit development and runtime support. The release is now only available to subscribers, but a public release is planned for mid-February.

Coders Wooed by Novell for OpenSuSE

Early in 2006, Novell plans to release a development framework that will let outside contributors or third-party software developers contribute software or patches. The framework also will include a publicly available server that any registered developer can use to build software, Novell said. Since the OpenSuSE.org site was launched, there have been 750000 verified installations of SuSE Linux, Novell said.

Partition Images with Partimage, Partimaged

"This is a guide to create or restore images of your partitions using the great open source tool Partimage. It provides information on how to do this locally or across the network, by setting up a Partimaged Server. I guess this info is non distribution specific, since we will work from a Rescue environment. Partimage is a command line tool with a basic ncurses user interface. For information about the supported filesystems, you can check its homepage."

Linux Heats Up in the Mobile Phone Market

At least three Linux-based phones were shown at CES this week. WNC's GW1 dual mode GSM/WiFi SIP phone is running a version of Trolltech's latest Qtopia Phone edition with VoIP/SIP capabilities. Motorola showed its new Linux-based ROKR E2 feature-phone too (pics, video), but the iTunes software is now removed. This feature phone uses Motorola's new softkey-based UI. Recently, information became known for Motorola's A1200, which uses the older touchscreen UI, same to the one we reviewed a few months ago. Unfortunately, the SDKs of these phones won't be released to developers at large to create native applications, as Motorola is not interested in creating a compatible Linux "platform" similar to Symbian/WinMobile/Palm platforms and instead is pushing just for generic Java apps.

Run Mac OS on your Sony PSP

We all know that PSP users who haven't upgraded their firmware beyond 1.50 are able to run third party hobby applications as opposed to just commercial ones. This community has ported a large number of emulators to the PSP able to run almost every console game ever released. Apparently, someone also ported the Basilisk-II 68k emulator which allows users to run a full copy of Mac OS 8.1 on it. Video here (since that video was made a new version of the port allows for a much faster runtime).

Gates Sees IBM, Not Google, As Top Microsoft Rival

Media coverage focuses on Microsoft's competition with Google, but Chairman Bill Gates sees IBM - not the Web search leader - as its biggest challenger. "People tend to get over-focused on one of our competitors. We've always seen that," Gates said, comparing the potential threat of Google's search capabilities to past competitors such as Internet browser Netscape and Sun Microsystems' Java programming language.

A New Palm Treo Uses Microsoft’s Software, But It Doesn’t Beat 650

"Palm this week introduced a Treo model that uses the latest version of Microsoft's Windows Mobile software (formerly known as Pocket PC). On the outside, the new Treo 700w looks very much like the current Palm-based model, the Treo 650, which will remain on sale and will continue to be developed on a parallel track. On the inside, though, the new Treo's key software functions - phone, email, Web, multimedia - are all different."

Google To Sell Video, Take on Apple; Announces Google Pack

"Tomorrow Google will announce a new commercial video download service, according to multiple sources. In related news Google will also take the wraps off of Google Pack, a bundle of applications that will be made available for download in a single installation bundle. Sources tell us that Google pack will feature a Google-tweaked version of Firefox, Adobe Acrobat Reader, antivirus software from Symantec, AdAware, Trillian, and Google's own offerings, including Google Desktop Search, Picasa, Google Earth, Google Talk, and all of the toolbar action you can shake a stick at. Oh, and I left out one other item: the RealPlayer."

DropMyRights: Tighten Security; Again Unofficial WMF Patch

"As every network manager knows, you should never run your computer as administrator, especially if it has access to the Internet. Malware often depends on admin rights to disable firewalls, delete registry entries and download or create files. Without those rights, malicious code must find another path to your destruction. That bit of insight led Microsoft Security Engineering's Michael Howard to create DropMyRights for Windows XP and up. Once DMR is added to a web application's shortcut, the app starts with Normal User Rights instead of Admin rights. Users get the freedom of movement they've always enjoyed, with a little extra protection." In related news, there's now another unofficial patch for the WMF flaw.

Gates Shows Off Vista in CES Keynote

"After months of touting Vista's geekier side, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates on Wednesday highlighted features designed to convince the average consumer that they need the next version of Windows. During his keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show, Gates showed new photo-editing tools and a revamped media player designed to improve the way that Windows tackles the types of media files that are most used by consumers. Gates also showed the improved remote-control experience that will be part of the Media Center edition of Vista." Be sure to check the video on Windows Vista, it's a lot better than that crappy one I put up a few days ago.

Apple Licensing Excess Hardware for AmigaOS4?

Just as the discussion surrounding the Pegasos II and AmigaOS4 is settling down, a new possibility for hardware for AmigaOS4 has arisen. PPCNux reports about an Amiga-branded G5 board- which is basically the motherboard of the iMac G5 without the AirPort slot, but with an Amiga sticker slapped on. Another reason why this is a fake is that the board lacks legacy ports, heresy for Amiga fans. PPCNux speculates that with the switch to x86, Apple might be left with excess stock on PPC hardware, and will be licensing them as Amiga hardware. This is supported by Hyperion's statement that they "are working with several hardware companies that want to provide hardware for AmigaOS4.0." Another possible indication is that Hyperion states that AmigaOS4 runs on the PPC 9xx series-- the G5 is the 970. Speculation, and probably a prank at best, but an interesting idea nonetheless.

Designing Mobile Web Services

"From when to choose mobile Web services to the overall design guidelines to the value types to use in mobile Web services, this article addresses many of the design considerations you need to ponder when developing Web services for mobile devices. Learn how to decide when to use Web services, what things to consider when you design Web services, and what to keep in mind when planning mobile Web services."