September 2006
Google Provides New Service |
Google has come out with a new service that will allow organizations to run applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, calendar and E-mail through the World Wide Web, all for free. This software will require no installation and no extra data storage space. If you have the bandwidth, you have the applications. This puts Google in direct competition with Microsoft, which has a 95% market share for workplace productivity software. This can be an especially attractive offer to small businesses, and there is a good chance it could usher in a fundamental change in the way businesses obtain software. |
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So, will Web-based applications eventually come to completely take the place of desktop applications? It’s not likely. For instance, many people who deal in very sensitive information will not want to trust it to another computer, particularly after reading Google’s privacy disclosure, which reveals that the domain administrator is given power to access virtually anything they wish. As they say, absolute power has the potential to corrupt absolutely. Another caveat is that the applications Google is offering are, as of yet, not as powerful as their MS Office counterparts. This will not matter to most users; after all, very few of us are familiar with everything Excel can do. But for many advanced users, Web-based apps may not suffice.
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Microsoft Fixes Troubled IE Patch |
Microsoft has just released an updated version of a faulty Internet Explorer patch to fix a serious security flaw introduced by the original version. The security patch is targeted only at users of IE 6 with Service Pack 1, which may run on Windows XP or Windows 2000. They do not affect other versions of IE, such as that in Windows XP with SP2 or Windows Server 2003.
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Apparently, users were having their browser crash when certain Web pages were viewed. The crash is a result of a buffer overrun vulnerability introduced by the security update. The flaw could be exploited by cyber attackers. Nonetheless, the revised version of the previous update fully resolves the security vulnerability.
The initial “Critical”
update was released on
August 8th, as part of a
monthly patch cycle.
Thus, if you have not
performed any Windows
updates since the 8th, it is
important to go back to
Windows updates and perform
the revised version.
Microsoft will end technical
support for Windows XP
Service Pack 1 (SP1) and
Service Pack 1a (SP1a) on
October 10, 2006, and will
not provide any more
security updates. |
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Stratellites Tested to Provide Wireless Service |
A few small IT firms in the U.S. have been championing an innovative way to provide wireless service: stratellites. These are helium-filled airships that float thousands of feet above the Earth’s surface and act just as a satellite would, relaying wireless signals and beaming them back down to Earth. The advantages of stratellites, called as such because they would float in Earth’s stratosphere, are numerous. |
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They don’t have quite the immense costs associated with launching and maintaining satellites in outer space, or the latency issues that satellites have. And unlike the big ugly cell phone towers that have become a staple of the modern landscape, they do not require much space. More good news is that the financial costs saved by employing stratellites could be passed onto consumers in the end.
Though stratellites are not a new concept, the idea of incorporating hot-air dirigibles into Information Technology has met with understandable skepticism and thus has been slow to catch on. Stratellites by ambitious companies such as Sanswire Networks and Space Data are still in the prototypical stage at this time. It is likely that they will grab market share first in countries that do not yet have much of an existing IT infrastructure. But even U.S. consumers should not be surprised to see stratellites become increasingly prevalent in the wireless market in the near future.
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Microsoft’s Upcoming Product – Zune - to take on Apple’s iPod |
Microsoft confirmed last month that it was developing a device and music service to rival Apple Computer's iTunes/iPod combination. The company had said Zune would have built-in Wi-Fi abilities, but have not decided what they will allow users to do with their wireless connection.
According to the draft user manual, the device supports both the 802.11b and 802.11g wireless standards. The Microsoft Zune, which will be manufactured by Toshiba, has a 30GB hard drive, a 3-inch screen and an FM tuner, along with a USB 2.0 connection to synchronize with a PC. You can sync your music, movies and pictures.
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Microsoft even said that the Zune will come preloaded with videos from record label EMI, but has not discussed the details of any music or movie service it plans to offer.
In addition, the DJ feature allows you to send streaming music content to up to four other devices. With the device’s wireless networking abilities turned on, people can send receive photos, as well as promotional copies of songs, albums and play lists. Moreover, you will have the option of turning the DJ feature on or off, as well as choosing whether to stream to any nearby Zune user or only to people on their friends list. However, the music sent is the same as what the DJ is listening to, if they stop listening, the stream is interrupted. One model of the Zune should be available in time for this year’s holiday season - suggested retail price will be $299 and it will come in three colors. |
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Microsoft Live Drive |
Microsoft is planning to use
its server farms to offer
anyone huge amounts of online
storage of digital data.
With Live Drive, all your
information: movies, music,
tax information, a high
definition videoconference you
had with a colleague,
whatever, could be accessible
from anywhere on any device.
Microsoft technical
specialist, John Hodgson, said
that the basic Live Drive was
likely to include around 2
gigabytes of storage for free.
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Additional storage capacity
will be available for
purchase, though pricing and
final release dates have not
been announced. Windows
Live Drive has the potential
to be one of Microsoft’s most
popular Windows Live services.
Not only could it be a great
place for users to store
files, but it could also be
easily integrated with other
Live applications, such as
Microsoft Office Live and
Windows Live Messenger. |
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