Microsoft guns for Open Source

A top Microsoft Executive has expressed Redmond's disapproval of the Open Source development model. Criticising the Open Source movement as a threat to commercial business, he promoted Microsoft's own "shared source" initiative. Craig Mundie, Microsoft's senior VP of Advanced Strategies was giving an address at a Business School in New York on Microsoft's "shared source philosophy", the model under which Microsoft could share source code with customers and partners. ...more

Sony converges computer and TV screens

Sony's HT-Series of LCD displays is merging support for entertainment and IT. Starting with 17in and 19in models - with integrated TV tuners, support for surround sound and nimble response times - the LCDs are aimed at both PC and TV needs. 'Really, it's just common sense,' says Sharon Garner, product manager for Sony Displays. ...more

Microsoft improves spam filtering in Office 2003 update

As well as bug-fixes, Microsoft has incorporated new features into the Office 2003 Service Pack 1, which has just been made available. New features for the all-dominant productivity suite include improved spam control in Outlook (junking messages on the basis of country codes), support for InfoPath developers (those using managed code, digital signatures and form sharing via e-mail) and end users (additional handwriting support for Tablet PCs), and improved OneNote integration with other Office 2003 components (for example, to import meeting details from Outlook 2003, create contacts and appointments, and to copy notes directly from a Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC or Smartphone). Note that the OneNote changes have already been previewed in an update from April 2003 - Microsoft takes note of OneNote changes Microsoft states that the same error reporting tools and feedback mechanisms that helped with the beta programme have been used to prioritise features and fixes for the service pack update. ...more

Intel completes WiMax Connection 2300 chipset design

Intel is moving closer to its vision of laptops and other mobile devices supporting 'the best connection you can find' courtesy of WiMax, the wireless metropolitan area network technology. It has announced completion of designs for its first mobile WiMax baseband chip. Combined with its previously announced single-chip, multi-band WiMax/Wi-Fi radio, the pair will create the Intel WiMax Connection 2300 chipset. ...more

Red Hat moves into identity management

Red Hat is to take on Novell even more directly with the release of its own identity management products. When Novell bought SUSE, the second-placed Linux distribution, at the start of the year, it emphasised its own long history of involvement with identity management. Sun Microsystems and Microsoft too have a good pedigree in such products, marking out Linux leader Red Hat with something of a gap in its portfolio. ...more