Microsoft launches desktop search tool

Microsoft has pronounced its Windows Desktop Search product complete and has officially launched its desktop search product. It provides a means for users to find documents and files across their hard disk or the Internet in a relatively seamless fashion. The product also attempts to take advantage of Microsoft's domination in desktop software to integrate itself with the leading office and email applications as well as other MSN services. ...more

Microsoft leaks release date for Whistler

Microsoft has set the internal date for the final version of Whistler at 18 April 2001, according to an internal e-mail. ZDNet News reports that the e-mail says the final version of the follow up to Windows 2000 will be minted in the spring and in the shops in the second half of 2001. Beta 1 is due to be released on 11 October and Beta 2 is due on 6 December. ...more

Xbox gets official debut

Bill Gates tried his best to show he was a cool dude at the unveiling of the new Microsoft Xbox console. During his keynote address, Gates showed off the console and two Xbox games. In an attempt to boost his street cred, Gates was seen giving high-fives to his co-speaker Robbie Bach and even called on the services of WWF wrestler, The Rock, to join him in a bizarre comedy double act. ...more

Major EU countries ignore EU Directive deadline

The European Commission has launched infringement proceedings against member states that failed to meet the 25 July deadline for implementing the Electronic Communications directive into national law. You might expect the culprits to be made up of recently acceded nations, such as Poland or the Czech Republic. Not so. ...more

PocketZip hits 100Mb

Iomega has released a 100Mb version of its PocketZip drive. Previously limited to 40Mb, the PocketZip drive could be an ideal way of keeping your data mobile while keeping down the costs of doing so. The drive will be backwards compatible and able to read and write to the 40Mb disks and the 100Mb disks will still be inexpensive (about $10 each when bought in a ten-pack - currently 40Mb disks cost about ?8 each in the UK in boxes of ten, so expect that figure to be slightly more for the 100Mb version by the time it reaches our shores). ...more