Business

Just in case you forgot we're in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Dell has released a new, stylish, and very powerful laptop for costing no less than $2,000 (and up). Super light and super thin, many are comparing ... it directly to Apple's MacBook Air. Dubbed "Adamo", Dell's elite line of laptop computers officially launched on St. Patty's Day (March 17th) -- however, discussion surrounding the hardware has been constant since that time and is unlikely to stop any day soon. The issue at heart: is this a better deal than the MacBook Air, and will anyone actually ... (view more)

Could this be the end of the storied relationship between Internet Explorer and Microsoft's Windows operating system? That may just be the case with recent rumors suggesting Microsoft may terminate the popular browser. According to reports surfacing ... last night, Microsoft may make Internet Explorer 8 the last in a long line of dominant browsers. Some are clearly happy about the possibility of a new Microsoft browser, one built from the ground up with, ideally, constant consultation between the software company and users (not unlike the Windows 7 beta). Montreal tech consultant Gerhard Mack is ... (view more)

The California woman suing Microsoft over Windows Vista's downgrade rights has revised her lawsuit to focus on the requirement that users must buy the most expensive versions of Vista if they want to downgrade to Windows XP. Los Angeles resident ... Emma Alvarado repeated her charges that Microsoft violated Washington state's unfair business practices and consumer protection laws by restricting computer makers' ability to offer Windows XP on new PCs after Vista's launch in the amended complaint. Microsoft Took Advantage Of Consumer Demand, Suit Says According to Computer World, the lawsuit says ... (view more)

Just a day after announcing its smallest music player yet, Apple on Thursday released iTunes 8.1, a brand new update to its very popular media player software. Unfortunately, one of its most exciting new features won't be available for several days. ... (Source: thestar.com ) The most anticipated new feature accompanying iTunes 8.1 is the Genius sidebar and playlist tool; however, users are already complaining that it just doesn't work the way it was supposed to. Originally meant to study music, movie, and TV preferences before suggesting songs, films, and shows one might like, a report released ... (view more)

Microsoft has released a study suggesting Internet Explorer 8 is faster than its rivals. The firm used a different testing method than most independent studies, but insists it is a more accurate and realistic way to measure speed. According to ... Microsoft, many testing systems steer clear of using live websites because there are too many variables which can affect speed. For example, the website itself may be experiencing particularly heavy traffic. Thus, most studies concentrate on a particular aspect of loading a webpage, such as how long it takes to receive any javascript information. ... (view more)

In a bid to gain market share in the emerging mobile phone industry, Microsoft has made plans to go live with their new online mobile application store 'Windows Marketplace for Mobile.' The site will be a one-stop source for new mobile applications ... that can be downloaded to Windows Mobile 6.5 devices and earlier models, and will be analogous to the Apple App Store, Microsoft's biggest competitor in the mobile application market. (Source: eweek.com ) Windows Marketplace for Mobile (WMM) will offer mobile applications that can be accessed either directly from a Windows phone or else downloaded ... (view more)

It's "A Beautiful Day" for Research in Motion (RIM), the BlackBerry maker which recently pried rock/pop superstars U2 from the clenched fists of competitor Apple. The band, which has been with Apple since 2004, will partner with RIM to promote its ... upcoming U2 360 Degrees Tour. It was almost five years ago now that world-renowned U2 lead singer Bono and guitarist The Edge stood next to Apple's ubiquitous Steve Jobs in order to promote the tech company's Special Edition U2 iPod. At the time, Apple, U2, and studio Universal Music Group (UMG) promised the triumvirate would deliver "innovative ... (view more)

YouTube has exterminated all legally uploaded music videos viewable to British users. The move, which revolves around licensing disagreements, has sparked a public relations war with the music industry and fans. As of late last night, all music ... videos uploaded legitimately by record labels will be unavailable. The site has fallen out with the Performing Rights Society (PRS), which administers and collects royalties for the music industry in the country. PRS Outraged by Decision The two sides both blame the other for the failure to renegotiate a new licensing deal after the previous one ... (view more)

Not a big fan of Internet Explorer 8? Well, Microsoft's upcoming and highly-anticipated operating system (OS) Windows 7 actually allows you to shut the program off altogether -- along with several other features users might not want loaded on their ... systems. The 'off switch' is actually a security feature at heart. "If a feature is deselected, it is not available for use. This means the files (binaries and data) are not loaded by the operating system (for security-conscious customers) and not available to users on the computer," said Jack Mayo, of Microsoft. "These same files are staged so ... (view more)

Microsoft is attempting to boost use of its Media Center tools by offering a sports channel. The programming kicks off with extensive coverage of college basketball's March Madness. The new channel, which goes live this week, will include footage ... from Fox, MSNBC and CBS. There will be no subscription charge or other costs. The footage is only available in the Vista edition and is not compatible with the Windows 7 Beta. (Source: cnet.com ) To launch the channel, Microsoft will be showing replays of those games in the final stages of the NCAA basketball tournament. The event, known as March ... (view more)