DVD recording got a big endorsement Wednesday from Microsoft, which is licensing technology from Sonic Solutions, presumably for use in Windows XP. The two companies signed a multiyear deal focused on Sonic's AuthorScript technology, used to create DVD movies. The move comes as computer manufacturers increasingly view the ability of PCs to record home movies to DVDs as a big selling point. Consumers can then run the discs in standard DVD players.
An A-list of computer makers sell systems with DVD recording drives: Apple Computer, Compaq Computer, Dell Computer, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard and Sony. Apple and Compaq were the early leaders, both having shipped DVD-recording PCs early last year.
Microsoft said on Wednesday it had signed up Telefonica Moviles in a deal that will bring its email service to over 28 million cellphone users in Europe, Latin America and North Africa. It is the first big wireless telecoms operator Microsoft has signed for its Internet-based Hotmail service after it announced it was to launch a mobile phone version six months ago. "This is very important for us, because Telefonica is such a large operator," said Vassili le Moigne, strategic development manager for MSN, the Microsoft unit which operates Hotmail.
Although we arrived early for Monday's Press Day and meetings with Microsoft and other companies, the 2002 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) didn't officially kick off until Tuesday morning. Unlike COMDEX, CES has grown dramatically in recent years, and the types of consumer electronics products seen here are far more interesting and relevant than most of what COMDEX has to offer. We expect the attendance and importance of CES to soon surpass that of COMDEX, if it hasn't already.
Today in his keynote address at the 2002 International CES in Las Vegas, Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect of Microsoft Corp., announced the launch of Microsoft Windows CE .NET, the robust, real-time embedded operating system for rapidly building the next generation of small-footprint smart devices such as handhelds, smart phones, set-top boxes, retail point-of-sale devices and displays. In addition, Microsoft announced new promotional pricing of $995 for the Windows CE .NET tools, as well as free availability of Evaluation and Emulation editions of the tools and platform, and source access to additional Windows CE .NET components. The company also detailed the new Windows CE .NET training curriculum. All of these will help bring developers up to speed quickly on the Windows CE .NET platform and tools, jump-starting their development process.
The FBI has reversed its advice for computer users trying to protect themselves against serious flaws in the latest version of Windows: Applying the free fix from Microsoft Corp. is adequate, after all. The bureau's top cyber-security unit, the National Infrastructure Protection Center, told consumers and companies Thursday to disregard its earlier advice to go beyond the Microsoft recommendations to protect against hackers who might try to attack Windows computers.
The FBI said it based its latest determination "upon a careful review of the written technical materials provided by Microsoft" and after working with the federally funded CERT Coordination Center, who are researchers at Carnegie Mellon University.
On January 7, Bill Gates will present the Microsoft strategy for the consumer electronics market, as well as launch Windows CE .NET, during his keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Watch the on-demand broadcast as soon as it's available.
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Microprocessor giant Intel and its smaller but increasingly adept rival Advanced Micro Designs (AMD) will unveil faster new products Monday aimed at bolstering PC sales. Intel's offering is a new 2.2 GHz version of the Pentium 4, which is built with a smaller manufacturing process that can supply cooler and faster chips. AMD, meanwhile, will unleash its fastest Athlon processor ever, the Athlon XP 2000+, which runs at 1.67 MHz but outpaces 2 GHz Pentium 4 chips. With these important new releases, both companies are raising the stakes and lowering prices in order to gain market share.
Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates opened the 2001 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Monday night with a keynote address that touched on the company's upcoming digital media integration products and services. Chief among these are "Freestyle," a set of technologies for bridging the gap between the PC and the living room, and "Mira," a networking technology for extending the reach of XP-based PCs to connected devices in the home. But Gates also found time to tout recent advances for Windows XP, the Xbox video game, and MSN, touched off with some of the tech giant's trademark self-depreciating humor.
When Microsoft transformed its Connected Home business group into the new Windows eHome Division last February, it was clear the company had big designs for home users. Early living room-oriented products such as the Xbox video game console, Photo Viewer, and Web TV/Ultimate TV were early clues about Microsoft's goal to expand its presence beyond PCs in the home office. But the company's core strength lies in its PC-based operating systems, and with this week's preview of a new product called Freestyle, Microsoft has made a credible and even exciting case for moving PCs out of the office and into the family room.
Embedded developers have reason to rejoice, as Microsoft today released the final version of Windows CE .NET after nine months of beta testing. Microsoft chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates made the official announcement in his keynote address at CES Monday, showcasing devices using the new operating system.
"Windows CE .NET delivers the next-generation embedded platform, and the programs and services announced today will enable developers to bring smart Windows Powered devices to market even more quickly," Gates said.