Datanyheter på engelska!

[Okänd]

Seven Post-Install Tips for Ubuntu 7.04

Fixes, extras, and eye candy: Here are seven steps to take just after installing Feisty Fawn.

So, you've just installed Ubuntu 7.04, otherwise known as the "Feisty Fawn" release of everyone's favorite (for now) flavor of Linux. You booted the installation disc, looked around the test environment to discover that your hardware was working, and double-clicked the Install icon on the desktop. The Ubuntu installer helped you make room for Linux on your hard drive, and even copied over some of your documents and settings from Windows.

Half an hour ago, you had only Windows on your PC, but now you have a choice at boot time, and a whole new world to explore. Congratulations!

But wait--before you dive in too deeply, here are seven steps you can take right away to prevent common headaches and help yourself enjoy your new surroundings.

Läs mer här.........

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,130923/article.html

[Okänd]

How Will Microsoft Reach Its Unlimited Potential?

Microsoft's sweeping emerging market initiative is one thing in concept, but execution will require close coordination with local governments, nongovernmental agencies and local partners.

Overnight, Microsoft expanded its Unlimited Potential program, as the company seeks to add another 1 billion computer users by 2015. To achieve its goal, Microsoft is offering governments a software suite—including Office Home and Student 2007 and Windows XP Starter Edition—for $3 per student, expanding local educational facilities and engaging non-traditional channels for placing computers and software.

Läs mer här...........

http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/ ... ntial.html

[Okänd]

What's Hot at Dell? Everything but Vista

There's back and forth on whether Vista is selling poorly or well, but if recent announcements from Dell are anything to go by, the buzz is on other operating systems.

In its announcement yesterday that it is bringing XP back as an option for people buying select new Inspiron laptops and Dimension desktops, Dell said it heard its customers "loud and clear."

And before that, more than 100,000 people were just as loud and clear about wanting Linux on Dells as well, according to an announcement (scroll down) at the end of last month. The computer giant is still mum on which Linux distributions it will offer pre-installed, and on which PCs, beyond saying it will be both desktop and notebook models.

Läs mer här..........

http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/004183.html

[Okänd]

Microsoft sued for patent infringement

Fort Worth, Texas-based Vertical Computer Systems said Friday that it has filed a patent infringement suit against Microsoft. Vertical filed its suit Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Texas, claiming Microsoft's .Net technology infringes on its patent.

A Microsoft representative said that the company had yet to be served with a copy of the lawsuit and said it was premature to comment.

Läs mer här..........

http://news.com.com/Microsoft+sued+for+ ... g=nefd.hed

[Okänd]

PC makers walk fine line with 'crapware'

For years, computer makers have managed to wring a few extra bucks of profit out of each PC sale by bundling all sorts of third-party software.

While adding software, setting default search engines and including toolbars can all put money in PC makers' pockets, the practice has also alienated some consumers who say all such "crapware" is clogging their hard drives and bogging down their systems.

For the moment, computer makers appear to be trying to walk a fine line, tweaking their approaches slightly but hoping not to have to slay a cash cow. Gateway, for example, offers only one program in each category, while Dell has added an option for some models that allow a user to configure a system with no trial software.

Läs mer här..........

http://news.com.com/PC+makers+walk+fine ... g=nefd.pop

[Okänd]

What Would You Pay for Vista?

If my local store is typical, going-out-of-business CompUSAs are having one helluva Vista fire sale. The deep discount raises good questions about what people should pay—and we'd like you tell us (and Microsoft) what that price should be.

The shelves are starting to look pretty bare at the local CompUSA, where discounts range from 10 percent to 40 percent. Notebooks are holding at 10 percent off, while Zune gear and some digital cameras are discounted 30 percent. The big deal is on Windows Vista, which the soon-to-close CompUSA has discounted by 40 percent. Other Microsoft software is discounted just 30 percent.

Läs mer här.............

http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/ ... vista.html

[Okänd]

Run Linux Apps on IBM Unix Servers

Beta software lets users run x86-based Linux programs on IBM's proprietary Unix server hardware.

BM and other IT hardware vendors have for years touted the cost-saving benefits of running enterprise applications on industry-standard x86 hardware and Linux instead of on Unix systems that run on proprietary hardware.

That message notwithstanding, IBM Monday unveiled beta software that allows users to run thousands of x86-based Linux applications without code modifications on IBM's proprietary Power-processor-based System p Unix servers. The idea, according to IBM, is that some corporate users like the security, reliability and scalability of Unix while also wanting the benefits of server consolidation.

The beta software, now available for download, will allow users to run their Linux x86 applications in virtualized Linux environments in what is being called the IBM System p Application Virtual Environment or System p AVE.

Läs mer här............

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,13112 ... ticle.html#

[Okänd]

Microsoft Links PC, Xbox Gaming

Microsoft Games for Windows Live lets PC, Xbox gamers chat; high-end version allows cross-platform gaming.

Microsoft Corp. hopes the launch in May of a gaming platform that ties together Windows PCs and the Xbox 360 console will give PC gaming a boost in Japan and in turn mean better business for its console.

"I believe the PC gaming market in Japan has been under-developed. We hope to revitalize that market in Japan, and that will in turn create momentum for Xbox 360," said Takashi Sensui, general manager of the Xbox division at Microsoft's Japan unit.

The "Games for Windows - Live" platform will allow PC and Xbox gamers to exchange text chat messages, signing on to each system with a common username and seeing a common friends list. A more advanced version will allow cross-platform gaming so, on software that supports it, PC and Xbox 360 gamers will be able to battle each other. This latter version will be included in Microsoft's Gold membership account, which costs US$49.95 per year.

Läs mer här..........

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,13111 ... ticle.html

[Okänd]

Kubuntu 7.04 - Is the the distro for those coming from a Windows background?

The other day I posted a question which asked "Which is best - Ubuntu or Kubuntu?"  Interestingly one of the most popular replies that I got was "it depends."  With this phrase in mind I decided to take Kubuntu for a spin and see for myself which I preferred.

The first thing that struck me about Kubuntu is that while Ubuntu reminded me of Mac OS X, Kubuntu reminds me of Windows (maybe Windows 2000/XP).  It looks good.  I know it's just cosmetic and that under the hood Ubuntu and Kubuntu are the same thing, but the application of a brighter, clearer UI and a task bar makes using Kubuntu look and feel more "normal."

Don't get me wrong, I like Ubuntu (quite a lot as it happens) but for me, coming from a Windows background, Kubuntu feels like it has less of a learning curve, and when adopting a new OS, that's an important consideration.  I think that bportlock was right, those coming from a Windows background might well find the K-desktop more familiar.

Next I'll be taking a look at how Ubuntu/Kubuntu react to different hardware configurations.  Stay tuned.

Läs mer här.........

http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=374

[Okänd]

$10,000 Mac Hack Affects Windows Too

The bug that helped a security researcher claim a big prize at a recent security conference also affects Windows-based systems.

The bug that helped security researcher Dino Dai Zovi claim a $10,000 prize at last week's CanSecWest security conference affects Windows systems too.

That's because the flaw that Dai Zovi exploited actually lies in the way Apple's QuickTime Media Player works with the Java programming language, according to Terri Forslof, manager of security response at 3Com's TippingPoint division, which put up the $10,000 prize. QuickTime runs on both Windows and the Mac.

How Serious?

When first reported last week, Dai Zovi's bug was thought to lie in Apple's Safari browser, a standard component of Mac OS X. But users of Firefox -- which supports QuickTime on both Windows and the Mac -- are also at risk, Forslof said Tuesday.

Läs mer här.........

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,13114 ... ticle.html

[Okänd]

Vista Security Held Firm Under Attack

Exploits using .ani files that tried to load malware just caused PCs to crash--proof that Windows Vista security works, analyst says.

Microsoft Corp.'s Vista operating system took some of its first punches when a dangerous vulnerability was disclosed earlier this month, but the OS held strong, a security analyst said Tuesday.

At least two exploits were targeted at Vista, trying to circumvent a new security feature designed to thwart malicious software attacks, said Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer for F-Secure Corp. at the InfoSecurity Europe in London on Tuesday.

Microsoft issued an out-of-cycle patch for the vulnerability, which occurred in how Windows processed ".ani" or animated cursor files, which allow Web sites to replace the regular cursor with cartoonish alternatives.

Läs mer här........

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,13113 ... ticle.html

[Okänd]

Intel Is Redesigning the CPU

Intel moves toward system-on-a-chip CPUs based on its x86 architecture, plans 'modular' processors.

For years, the guts of a PC remained largely unchanged. In one product generation after another, Intel Corp. processors connected to a chipset that consisted of a memory controller and an I/O controller. That's about to change.

If Intel has its way, the functions carried out by these chips, and other components inside the PC, will soon end up inside the processor.

"You're going to have a hard time knowing where the processor ends and where the system-on-chip begins," said Pat Gelsinger, senior vice president and general manager of Intel's Digital Enterprise Group, during an interview at the Intel Developer Forum conference in Beijing last week.

Läs mer här..........

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,13111 ... ticle.html

[mcNisse]

Russinovich: Malware will thrive, even with Vista' UAC

Despite all the anti-malware roadblocks built into Windows Vista, a senior Microsoft official is lowering the security expectations, warning that viruses, password-stealing Trojans and rootkits will continue to thrive as malware authors adapt to the new operating system. -  Ryan Naraine, ZDNET

http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=175

[mcNisse]

Burning Issues With Vista, by Richard Rasker

Having heard that Vista's CD/DVD burn utility by default uses a nonstandard format, possibly as a result of yet another one of Microsoft's lock-in schemes, I decided to check things out for myself. That would also give me a nice chance to see what Vista was all about.

http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?stor ... 2083715451

[mcNisse]

The empire strikes back

Yesterday's announcement that Dell would be joining the Microsoft-Novell pact is proof positive that Microsoft is playing the same game it always has - extend, embrace and then extinguish....
Microsoft is by far the biggest player in the industry. It is also the most paranoid. The only way it knows to keep its products on top of the sales list is by knocking off competitors, using any means that will work.  -  Sam Varghese, ITWire

http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/11921/1090/