Wednesday, January 31, 2007

News that Matters to Techies World Wide

General Techie News

Vista Arrives With Limited Fanfare - The quiet debut for Microsoft’s latest version of the Windows operating system reflects how the company’s influence has faded as the nature of computer software has changed.

Hobbled by Disappointing Sales and a Loss at the Game Unit, Sony’s Profit Drops 5% - The company’s PlayStation 3 game console has had a shaky start, despite rebounding sales in its bread-and-butter consumer electronics.

Games That Sell While Others Languish - There are growing signs that Nintendo’s Wii, which gets couch potatoes off the couch, has taken the lead over Sony’s PlayStation 3.

Yahoo Planning to Add 100 Web Sites for Entertainment - The company’s effort is intended to create online destinations for individual movies, television shows, bands, celebrities, games and other types of entertainment.

To ’08 Hopefuls, New Media Can Be Friend or Foe - White House candidates are aggressively monitoring and trying to master technologies like video streaming.

Nickelodeon Begins a Web Site Focusing on Interactive Play - The popular children’s cable network is pushing hard into the online world with a new Web site that will let its young users enter their own world of Internet activities.

Microsoft sets up MSN R&D center in China: sources Reuters - 9 minutes ago
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Software giant Microsoft Corp. is setting up a research and development center in Shanghai for its online MSN service, its first such center outside the United States, sources familiar with the plan said on Wednesday.

Napster boss eyes strong mobile future Reuters - 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
LONDON (Reuters) - The majority of consumers have not yet accepted the subscription model to rent rather than buy music but this is likely to change over the next year, according to the head of the online service Napster Inc..




Vista News

Vista steals the show
reporter's notebook Gates tries to sell The Daily Show's Jon Stewart on the new operating system, as Office takes a backseat.January 30, 2007

Experts: Don't buy Vista for the security
New Microsoft operating system is a leap forward in security, but few people familiar with it say the advances justify an upgrade.January 30, 2007

Vista's actual launch? Think whisper, not bang
reporter's notebook The day was filled with fanfare, but the late-night launch at CompUSA was anything but extraordinary.January 30, 2007

A frat party for Vista's debut
reporter's notebook Burgers, DJ and NFL quarterback help welcome the OS in San Francisco, but midnight shoppers aren't necessarily buying what Microsoft is selling.January 30, 2007

A lively market, legal and not, for software bugs
Software vulnerabilities are bought and sold online, both by legitimate security companies and by thieves.The New York TimesJanuary 30, 2007

Gaming News

2K returns to gridiron - Visual Concepts bringing football back with All-Pro Football 2K8 for 2K Sports; game set to hit next-generation systems this summer.

Wii, Wario win ToyAward Nintendo's latest honored for innovation at International Toy Fair in Trend and Lifestyle category.

PSP gets firmware update, Killzone demo Sony tweaks system's Web browser and sound setting options, promises more trial versions of games on the way.

M'soft details XBLA releases Band of Bugs, Eets: Chowdown, Luxor 2 announced along with seven others as coming to Xbox Live Arcade beginning February.

Electronic Arts, EA Mythic discuss online plans for 07 Gaming giant gives a glimpse of what it has in store for Ultima Online, Dark Age of Camelot, and Warhammer Online.

Sonic rolls to Wii early The iconic hedgehog's debut on Nintendo's new console coming a week early; Sonic and the Secret Rings now shipping on February 20.

UK game charts: January 20-27 Lost Planet shakes off The Burning Crusade to rediscover the top slot, while football titles continue to prove popular.

Consumer Electronics News

Prices to plunge with demand for plasma TVs?
Plasma panels are losing flat-screen battle to LCDs, research shows. If history has a say, more price cuts are on the way.
January 30, 2007, 1:37 PM PST

Sony Ericsson takes No. 4 spot in handset shipments
Nokia remains No. 1, but Sony Ericsson shipments surpassed those of LG and gained on Samsung during fourth quarter.
January 29, 2007, 1:53 PM PST

Gates: Internet to revolutionize TV in 5 years
Microsoft founder Bill Gates tells the audience at the World Economic Forum that in five years, people will be laughing at what we today call TV.

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