Microsoft plays down Sendo Smartphone snub

Microsoft has put a brave face on the very, very late switch by Sendo away from its Smartphone OS. Sendo has instead chosen to license the rival Nokia Series 60 platform, joining the ranks of Matsushita, Samsung and Siemens, as well as Nokia. The Sendo move, however, 'will not have an impact on Microsoft's ability to be successful' in this market, asserts Anne-Marie Duffy, a Mobility Marketing Manager from Microsoft's Mobile Devices Division. ...more

Microsoft unveils the Vista versions

Barely a week after a web page detailing Microsoft's Vista range made a fleeting appearance online, Redmond has officially unveiled the Vista lineup. Although at the time, Microsoft said the Web page was posted prematurely and 'included incomplete information about the Windows Vista product line up', there is clearly little difference between what was 'leaked' last week and the official version. However, we do now have more information on exactly what each version will offer. ...more

FairUse4WM crackers threaten Microsoft DRM defence

No sooner had Microsoft closed a hole in its PlaysForSure DRM technology than the FairUse4WM crackers opened another one. Last week Microsoft issued a patch to PlaysForSure clients, such as Napster, to disable the ability of the FairUse4WM software to strip the DRM from music files. Inevitably the release of the patch prompted a swift response - a new hack was released which not only works round the Microsoft update but includes additional DRM-stripping features into the bargain. ...more

Consumers hit spot for Gates

Chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates stated his intention to take Microsoft into every corner of modern life with the announcement of Smart Personal Object Technology (SPOT) in his keynote speech at Comdex Fall, Las Vegas. In front of an excitable crowd of admirers, Gates said Microsoft intended to push computing down to every level as he unveiled a range of gadgets powered by his company's SPOT technology. Networked fridge magnets and key fobs that deliver personalised information and 'smart' alarm clocks led an array of gadgetry that the bespectacled MS leader intends to push into everyday life to 'make life better and easier'. ...more

BT chops hot spot costs

BT has cut the cost of connecting to its Openzone range of public Wi-Fi hotspots. New subscribers who sign up between 1 September and 30 November will pay just ?5 for 250 minutes per month or ?15 for 4,000 minutes. After three months prices will revert to ?10 and ?25 respectively. ...more