Microsoft releases anti-spyware beta

As previously announced, Microsoft has now placed the anti-spyware tools it acquired last month when it bought Giant Software. Now that Windows XP Service Pack 2 has blocked many, although not all, of the vulnerabilities open to virus writers, spyware is set to become the biggest headache for end-users in 2005. The purchase of Giant Software is Microsoft's attempt to secure Windows from spyware before it reaches epidemic proportions, although some experts think that many computers already have dozens of pieces of spyware installed. ...more

Microsoft announces DRM milestones

Microsoft aims to make audio, video and eBooks more secure after the company announced that it has passed two key Digital Rights Management (DRM) milestones. The first milestone relates to the DRM system used with Microsoft's Windows Media technology. The company has said that over 7. ...more

Apple delays Leopard release until October

Apple has announced that Mac OS X 10.5 will not be released, as previously expected, in June, but has been delayed until October. In a statement the company explained that in order to meet its June deadline for the release of the iPhone, many development resources that would otherwise have been deployed on Leopard have instead been deployed on the widescreen iPod-phone-Internet communicator. ...more

Microland goes into liquidation

It has been officially announced that the Stockport-based PC builder Microland Technology PLC is going into liquidation. 'We have been instructed to call meetings to place the company into Creditors Voluntary Liquidation and these are to be held on Monday 31 January 2005,' said Ian Millington, a partner in the Bolton-based Unity Corporate Recovery & Insolvency After these meetings the company's assets will be sold (those interested should visit www.ubsg. ...more

Intel, Microsoft go on HD DVD promotion offensive

Intel and Microsoft have decided to join up to the HD DVD promotion group in order to show their backing for the next-generation blue-laser optical discs. HD DVD's rival in this space is the Sony-led Blu-ray technology, which already boasts the likes of Dell, Apple, Samsung and HP among its ranks as well as numerous movie studios. HD DVD is the baby of Toshiba and NEC, although it too enjoys support from IT, media and movie companies. ...more