News

Meebo to transform Web-based IM into ‘platform’

Internet startup Meebo hopes to create Facebook-like momentum behind its Web-based IM site

Security geeks say Leopard needs fixing

Leopard's new security features are often implemented incompletely and leave users vulnerable to attack, researcher says

Van Wyk aims to transform Red Hat for future growth

Company seeks to capitalize on its purchase of JBoss and transform itself into a billion-dollar company

Storm Worm sent 15 million pump-and-dump e-mails

Though Storm's botnet is deflating, the month of October saw big numbers for one of the most insiduous Trojans in circulation

Companies tap RSS to tame info overload

Enterprise RSS feeds can overcome e-mail fatigue and deliver pertinent information to affected or interested parties, without clogging the inbox

Pharma industry touts cure for data security ills

A group of pharmacy benefits managers contends that it has charted a model for stronger data security

Microsoft hails Oslo for services, modeling

Conference notes company's efforts in services space

EMC buys change-management vendor Voyence

Voyence software is already integrated with EMC Smarts network management platform, but they could be further combined, EMC spokesman says

Microsoft shows off future features of Project

Next and upcoming versions of Microsoft Office Project will give customers an easier way to customize fields, as well as enable access from mobile devices

A waste of time: Teaching programming?

IBM to recycle silicon for solar

New money- and resource-saving process requires fewer chemicals and refurbishes imperfect wafers for reuse within IBM or for sales to solar-cell industry

ParAccel targets midmarket with new database

Startup presents database software that uses columnar orientation, which it claims is better for companies with business intelligence needs

IBM taps Alcatel for unified communications strategy

Deal brings together Alcatel-Lucent's OmniTouch Unified Communication software and IBM's Lotus Sametime to take on Microsoft's Office Communications Server package

Cisco to have a fifth of its top executives in India

By 2012, India will be company's development hub and a base for technology and applications that can be deployed worldwide

Seven-year Internet tax ban heads to President

Lawmakers expect extension of Internet tax ban, which has been in effect in United States since 1998, to be easily approved by President Bush

Think tank, lawmakers create U.S. cybersecurity commission

Group aims to create a list of recommendations for reducing cyberthreats to present to the next U.S. president

Report: Google phone platform due out in mid 2008

Google's mobile phone platform will reportedly incorporate a variety of Google online services and let outside developers create apps

Microsoft sets Oslo project for model-centric apps

Plan in which models themselves become applications is called 'ambitious' by analysts

McAfee buys Web site security company for $51M

McAfee purchases ScanAlert and will integrate its 'Hacker Safe' logo into the SiteAdvisor service that scans Web sites and scores them according to risk

Asustek’s low-cost laptop coming to U.S.

Asustek's Linux-based Eee PC laptop will soon be on sale in the U.S. and Europe, and the company plans to offer a version running Windows XP by year end

Cisco cautious on Brazil tax scandal

Cisco's Brazilian unit has been accused of importing $500 million worth of telecommunications and networking equipment without paying necessary taxes

5 ways data projects go bad

Covad sells to private equity firm for $304 million

Communications services company Covad becomes the latest technology company to sell to a private equity firm

Asustek complains of Intel laptop processor shortage

Strong demand for mobile computers means laptop PC makers have faced persistent problems this year in trying to procure certain parts

Yahoo Messenger deepens social networking features

Yahoo releases beta of its instant messaging service that accentuates the social networking and interactive capabilities of Yahoo Messenger

Outsourcing overhyped, overused, says EMC’s Tucci

EMC's CEO says the company might look at further acquisitions but is now focused on companies that will help grow its existing businesses

.Net, JMS worlds bridged

Adapters from JNBridge unite disparate JMS systems to .Net applications and BizTalk Server

Fake FTC e-mails contain virus attack

Scammers spoof the FTC by sending an attachment to recipients that contains keylogging software

SP1 for Microsoft’s Project may drive upgrades

The rush is on to finish the upgrades that will be a thumbs-up for many to finally deploy the new software

OLPC developing new ‘supercharger’

Cows and yo-yos are among the power sources One Laptop Per Child copmuters will use to recharge batteries

FTC: More spyware-fighting tools needed

On top of collecting operators' profits and money for consumer redress, commission would like ability to impose civil fines on companies issuing spyware

Attack code out for critical Kodak bug in Windows

Older versions of Windows might be vulnerable to bug that tricks Image Viewer into running unauthorized software when it opens a TIFF file; patch available

Wachovia building ‘MapQuest for the datacenter’

No credit card, no iPhone

Apple limits iPhone purchases to those made with credit or debit cards to control unlocked and resold phone problem

BEA fires back at Icahn

Company not opposed to being sold — just wants to be sold at the right price

Vista’s broken Time Machine

Wireless and fiber broadband drive up Verizon’s income

Verizon added 1.6 million new wireless customers and 229,000 new Fios fiber-based broadband customers to post income up 19 percent from a year ago

Alibaba making final preparations for IPO

Most of the proceeds of Alibaba's $150 billion IPO will go to shareholders, but the company will receive $387 million to use for acquisitions and to develop new technologies

Hutchison 3 to release Skypephone in eight countries

Mobile phone operator's new handset makes it easier for users to make Skype VOIP calls and send IM

Rambus eyes HDTVs, mobile phones

Interview: Rambus CEO Harold Hughes discusses new products and hopes that 2008 will be a breakout year for XDR memory technology

UPDATE: News Corp.-NBC venture takes on iTunes, YouTube

News Corp. and NBC launch the beta of their Hulu video venture into an increasingly hot and crowded market space

Microsoft builds custom ‘skin’ for new T-Mobile phone

Custom Windows Mobile user interface for a new phone from T-Mobile shows Microsoft may be getting serious about the consumer mobile market

Former top UMC executives found not guilty

Taiwan court rules that the founder of UMC was not guilty of investing in and transferring technology to a Chinese chip maker

Michael Dell hints at more, bigger acquisitions

Dell CEO also promises to announce next month new x86-architecture based products with 'breakthrough performance and power capability'

Microsoft to buy Thai health software vendor

Software giant acquries third healthcare software maker in 13 months

Security experts blast New Jersey AG

Effort by State Attorney General raises awareness, but also red flags

Epilogue: The problem with Ubuntu

Oracle bid for BEA expires as expected

There is still the possibility Oracle will end up buying BEA; billionaire Carl Icahn, BEA's largest shareholder, has demanded the board let shareholders consider Oracle's bid

Icahn demands BEA shareholder vote on Oracle bid

BEA investor Carl Icahn begins lawsuit proceedings in Delaware, accusing BEA's board of intending 'to find ways to derail a sale and maintain your control of the company'

Leopard’s off and running, but where’s Mustang?

Some say Apple's Leopard and Sun's Mustang were meant to run neck and neck — but so far Java SE 6 is out of the race.