April 16, 2007

Microsoft unveils Silverlight as Flash killer
InfoWorld, CA – Apr 15, 2007

Microsoft Corp. this week will reveal new technology to deliver rich media applications on the Web, part of a broader strategy to go head to head with Web and design tools powerhouse Adobe Systems Inc.
As described by Forest Key, a director of product management for Microsoft's Server and Tools Division, Silverlight is a browser plug-in that allows Web content providers to offer rich video and interactive media experience from directly within Web sites. The technology, which leverages Vista's new graphics framework Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), will debut at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference, being held this week in Las Vegas.


Microsoft sheds light on Flash rival
ZDNet – Apr 15, 2007

Microsoft's answer to Adobe Systems' Flash Player has an official name--Silverlight--and a coveted target audience: media and entertainment companies bringing video to the Web.

On Monday at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show in Las Vegas, Microsoft is expected to launch Silverlight, a Web browser plug-in for playing media files and displaying interactive Web applications.


Storm worm variant ignites e-mail virus deluge
CNET News.com, CA - Apr 13, 2007

Thursday likely marked the largest proliferation of e-mail virus attacks in more than a year, according to security company Postini.

Postini said that two variations of the Storm worm virus, which originally spread across the Internet in January, have quickly driven global virus levels 60 times higher than their daily average. E-mail users should be on alert for messages with "love"-related subject lines and an executable attachment that would contain a Trojan virus, as well as messages with "Worm Alert!" subject lines that contained a .zip file full of malicious code.


Storm worm variant ignites e-mail virus deluge
ZDNet Asia, Asia – Apr 16, 2007

Thursday likely marked the largest proliferation of e-mail virus attacks in more than a year, according to security company Postini.

Postini said that two variations of the Storm worm virus, which originally spread across the Internet in January, have quickly driven global virus levels 60 times higher than their daily average. E-mail users should be on alert for messages with "love"-related subject lines and an executable attachment that would contain a Trojan virus, as well as messages with "Worm Alert!" subject lines that contained a .zip file full of malicious code.


More Free WiFi: Fon Gets Competition From Whisher
Business 2.0, CA - Apr 14, 2007

Tomorrow a new startup will launch from Spain called Whisher that is adding a new twist to the concept of a WiFi sharing community. Like Fon, another Spanish startup backed by Google and Skype that is up and running with 50,000 shared WiFi hotspots around the world, the idea is that you make your WiFi router available to other members and when you are traveling or in another neighborhood you can gain access to their WiFi networks. The difference is that Fon requires you to use a WiFi router it ships to you and you have to install, whereas Whisher is a simple software download that turns your existing WiFi router into a shareable Whisher router.


Coming Soon: A Wi-Fi iPod?
PC World – Apr 16, 2007

Apple rumor du jour: DigiTimes is reporting that we may see an iPod with built-in Wi-Fi in the third quarter of 2007. The theory is based on scuttlebutt from Taiwanese electronics manufacturers who are supposedly involved in manufacturing the thing.


How Apple will use Wi-Fi iPod to crush competitors
iTWire, Australia – Apr 15, 2007

The news that iPods equipped with Wi-Fi are imminent has raised speculation about how Apple intends to make use of the new wireless capabilities of its fastest selling device. Some commentators believe that wireless data transfer is the most probable use. However, this seems unlikely given previous comments from Apple. Music sharing - now that's another story.