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 IT
World
Martin J Young
surveys developments in computing, gaming and gizmos.
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Chrome contender in
browser battle
Search giant Google is stepping up its challenge in the web-browser market with
the introduction of Chrome, a sleek affair if apparently short on new ideas,
even as Mozilla nibbles more users away from market leader Microsoft and its
ever-spinning variations of Internet Explorer. (Sep
5, '08)
Building a backyard black hole
The switches have been thrown on a scientific experiment of breathtaking scope
and arguably unparalleled audacity, with consequences that could reveal the
innermost secrets of creation - or destroy the Earth and more. So don't blink
... (Aug 29, '08)
Microsoft cranks up '7' hype
Microsoft is moving towards providing an alternative operating system - Windows
7 - for disappointed Vista users. Cloud computing and touchy features are
expected. But not too much more. (Aug 22, '08)
Georgia under web fire
Tanks and destroyed buildings caught the attention of the world during Russia's
offensive in Georgia. A second, less photogenic, battle was also taking place
that points to tactics in future conflicts - in cyberspace.
(Aug 15, '08)
High-jumping China's firewall
Google, Microsoft and Yahoo are drafting a code of conduct for business
operations in China and other countries with restrictive Internet policies as
journalists at the Beijing Olympics fret about Internet access and other
visitors are advised to go "naked" of digital devices.
(Aug 8, '08)
All about face
Facebook says its newly introduced redesign will give site users more control
of their profiles, although FriendFeed fans might think the new look not so
new. Meanwhile, a German social-networking company refuses to bow to claims
that its own site is a mere law-infringing copy of the American company's
money-spinner.(Jul 25, '08)
Video games move to mass market
Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo demonstrated at the E3 conference in Los Angeles
their belief that the mass market is the future for gaming, announcing products
aimed at seducing the young, the old and anyone else not too keen on spending
their spare time shooting people. (Jul 18, '08)
Viacom wins victory over
privacy
Internet privacy suffered a severe blow as media and entertainment behemoth
Viacom secured a court order requiring Google to hand over user information
relating to every video clip viewed on the YouTube web site. (Jul
11, '08)
Domain doors open to dot chaos
Anything goes in the domain name-game, at least from early next year, when
common words will be allowable as address suffixes. This name inflation will be
profitable for a few companies, costly for others, and confusing for the rest
of us. (Jun 27, '08)
Fans in frenzy for feisty
Firefox
Mozilla looks to have taken the lead in satisfying nerds' needs for instant
gratification with its newest version of Firefox, downloaded in record numbers
as soon as it was released. Unsatiated games players, meanwhile, can splurge
out on the latest chips from Nvidia and AMD. (Jun
20, '08)
Fruits for suits
Apple, a minor if much-loved computer maker, has hauled itself into the list of
the top three smartphone makers. The latest version of the fast-selling iPhone
will have Research In Motion wondering how long before Apple ousts the
BlackBerry as the businessman's favorite gadget. (Jun
13, '08)
Taipei tech show goes green
Smaller, lighter and more energy-efficient products took the spotlight this
week at Taiwan's Computex 08, the world's second-largest information technology
trade show. (Jun 6, '08)
Freedom call
Viacom's US$1 billion copyright infringement lawsuit over clips made available
on Google's YouTube prompted cries that the legal challenge threatens how
people use the freedom of the Internet. (May 30,
'08)
Yahoo courtship resumes - sort
of
Microsoft's on-off courtship of Yahoo has lost a little of its chill for at
least long enough for the two to agree on a bit of collaboration between their
online advertising divisions. Meanwhile, the aging but still energetic Carl
Icahn is doing his bit to nudge Yahoo into a warmer embrace with the software
giant. (May 23, '08)
Microsoft 'fixes' bring more
pain
Microsoft's long-awaited release of software to fix bugs in its Windows XP
operating system met with the expected response - complaints over installation
woes, compatibility, and worse. It is almost enough to make consumers switch to
Microsoft's newer and much-shunned Vista operating system. Now that wasn't
intentional, was it? (May 16, '08)
Grand Theft Auto rules, OK
Fast-action, grim and gritty Grand Theft Auto has kicked Microsoft's tedious
tussle for Yahoo into the gutter of public attention. The game looks guilty of
mugging mega-movie Iron Man at the box-office and has pumped some
testosterone into the bank account of its makers, who are responding to a
takeover bid by global games muscle-man Electronic Arts. And that's all before
you shoot the game up on your console. Whew! (May 9,
'08)
Microsoft looks to the clouds
The corporate battle to take control of everyone's computing power has moved up
a notch with Microsoft's saying it will move into "cloud computing" by offering
remote services. Closer to the ground, the software giant will learn this
weekend if it has to take the gloves off in its US$44 billion bid for Yahoo,
which may be emboldened after reporting its first quarterly profit gain in two
years. (Apr 25, '08)
Mac attack over PC's Leopard
capture
As Microsoft prepares to bring out what looks certain to be its last patch for
the aged Windows XP system, smaller rival Apple finds itself on the spot as a
Miami outfit puts on sale PCs loaded with Leopard, the latest Mac operating
system. (Apr 18, '08)
Internet domination dance
becomes a crowd
Microsoft's courtship of struggling Yahoo has prompted numerous wallflowers to
show a belated interest in the one-time sweetheart of the Internet world.
Google has signed up for a brief tango, while septuagenarian Rupert Murdoch
reckons he can still win hearts if the price of partnership fits his wallet.
(Apr 11, '08)
Big brother China eyes Microsoft
Chinese regulators are ready to have their say on big business acquisitions
alongside their US and European counterparts, thanks to a new anti-monopoly law
to come into effect this autumn. First up could be Microsoft's proposed
purchase of Yahoo!, which has invested US$1 billion in Chinese e-commerce
business Alibaba.com. (Apr 4, '08)
Paris Hilton gives Facebook the
better Vista
Microsoft's latest attempt to keep its Vista customers satisfied looks unlikely
to do that, with the Service Pack's plethora of fixes likely to herald a new
catalogue of woes. A Facebook flaw, allowing exposure of pics of a socializing
Paris Hilton, at least offered users of the networking site with nothing better
to do something to leer over. (Mar 28, '08)
One down, many to go
"Spam King" Robert Soloway's guilty plea in a Seattle court this week marked a
notable victory in the battle against junk mail, but Internet users have no
reason yet to lower their defenses against unwanted emails.
(Mar 20, '08)
Google eye too close for comfort
Internet giant Google came across something even bigger than itself when it
used its Street View service to display the interior of a US military base.
Civilians so far seem to be taking a more lenient view of a remarkable
technology that has dark implications. (Mar 14, '08)
Microsoft's pants down
Microsoft's top executives have at least one thing in common with their
customers - deep disenchantment with the company's latest products. Email
exchanges at the top also reveal that the software giant lowered its own
requirements so that partner Intel could maintain earnings.
(Mar 7, '08)
Pakistan site swipe exposes web
fragility
Pakistan's efforts to prevent its citizens from viewing a YouTube video
affected the Internet far beyond its borders. No less worrying, the country's
censors indicate they have no inclination to prevent a repeat of the global
blackout. (Feb 29, '08)
Microsoft plays cool after DVD
blow
As Toshiba's DVD format is dumped in the technological rubbish bin, Microsoft
is putting on a brave front. Its HD-DVD-using Xbox 360 machine faces an
ever-tougher struggle with Sony's PlayStation3 and its victorious Blu-ray
format. (Feb 22, '08)
Google spits the dummy
Google's protestations against Microsoft's US$44 billion bid for Yahoo! are to
be expected, given that custom from millions of Internet users is up for grabs.
But talk of "principles" is hogwash. (Feb 8, '08)
Virtual cure closer for upgrade
headaches
A cure to the recurring nightmare created by software upgrades and hard disk
failures is moving closer to reality with Microsoft's decision to put more
effort into its virtualization programs. (Feb 1,
'08)
Microsoft partners get Vista
successor
Microsoft, brimming with record earnings, has started shipping its next
operating system to key partners. Unhappy buyers of the Vista operating system
meanwhile desperately wait for the promised headache remedy, Service Pack 1.
(Jan 25, '08)
Slimmed-down Mac a lightweight
Apple's latest headline-grabbing laptop has the elegance the market has come to
expect from Macintosh. But in terms of computing power it is a step backwards.
(Jan 18, '08)
Gates' retread sums up Vegas
show
Visitors to the massive Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas had plenty to
gawk at, from a quarter-tonne TV to Intel's latest microchips. But techies were
disappointed with a lack of big announcements. Even chairman Bill Gates offered
a retread with his plans to step back from Microsoft's daily operations.
(Jan 11, '08)
Apple, Google set pace
Loved by consumers and investors, Apple and Google led the public face of
technology world last year, while old warhorse Intel continued to show AMD that
it knows how to stay ahead of the field in keeping our computers up to speed.
(Jan 4, '08)
IBM makes light breakthrough
The US computer firm may have brought the world a step closer to optical
computing by sending data carried by light using a device 1,000th the size of
ones used in previous efforts. (Dec 14, '07)
Microsoft retreats on Vista
piracy
The US software giant is to remove the contentious "kill switch" from its
Windows Vista operating system, which will please customers locked out of
legally purchased versions of the product and buyers of pirated copies, who
will now face only the annoyance of warning notices when they use the fake
stuff. (Dec 7, '07)
There's no catching Google
Google has expanded its share of the US search market to 58.5% at a time when
all its competitors are losing ground. Google also plans to offer its
subscribers web-based hard-disk space for backup and data storage.
(Nov 30, '07)
Intel streaks ahead
Intel's latest chip, the Penryn CPU, using a groundbreaking
manufacturing process, will provide more horsepower for high-end users who need
extra muscle for gaming or video editing. Intel's competitors are struggling to
keep pace. (Nov 16, '07)
Lessons for students to
kick-start careers
Yahoo's latest social networking service, Kickstart, will allow college
students to connect with universities and professionals to locate internships,
advice and ultimately jobs. The project itself, though, still has some learning
to do. (Nov 9, '07)
Mac users beware: The porn
Trojans have arrived
So you thought your Mac was safe from the nasties that plague PCs? Think again.
Mac users who try to download porn videos from a certain website are now
targeted by a Trojan invader, the first of its kind.
(Nov 2, '07)
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