Business

Following in the footsteps of other Linux distributors, Mandriva is publicly rejecting Microsoft's advances for a patent protection deal. In the past, Microsoft has signed agreements with Linux firms like Novell, Xandros, and Linspire. The Windows ... developer claims that open-source applications violate many of its patents. However, with these treaties, Microsoft promises (in writing) not to sue the companies for patent infringement. Wait a sec...who's Mandriva? Mandriva is an open source company associated with Linux. Its headquarters are in Paris, where it acts as a founding member of the ... (view more)

Maybe they're just getting a little older at Nvidia. The company that carved out a name for itself in the video game market is now switching gears, producing a new line of super-powerful graphics chips for use by geoscientists and molecular ... biologists. Until now, Nvidia has made its fortune as the graphical muscle behind consoles like the Xbox and PlayStation 3. The incredible sunsets that peak over canyon horizons in Motorstorm may be credited to Nvidia's hard work and impressive technology. (Source: wikipedia.org ) It only makes sense that they'd bring these tools into the scientific world ... (view more)

Two of Google's Antiphishing and Antimalware employees have announced that the company is releasing its Safe Browsing API to the public. Meaning? The public will be able to access Google's updated blacklist of suspected phishing and malware-infected ... websites. Brian Rakowski and Garrett Casto explain that developers could use the API to prevent users from posting phishing links on a blog, or to notify users that links lead to sites with malware. "The API is still experimental, but we hope it will be useful to ISPs, web hosting companies and anyone building a site or an application that ... (view more)

After a haze of uncertainty further blurred by the acquisition of YouTube, Google Video is beginning to resemble a legitimate video search engine. When Google Video was first announced, its plans and purpose remained a mystery; not only to the ... public, but also to Google. Even Google co-founder Larry Page admitted, "We're not quite sure what we're going to get, but we decided we'd try this experiment." (Source: outer-court.com ) However, the ambiguity was cleared up in January, when Google announced its plans to mould Google Video using one of the company's definite strengths: search. Months ... (view more)

...continued from Part 1 and Part 2 . Every year Microsoft introduces the "latest technology", bent on revolutionizing computers or their software. Anyone who's familiar with Microsoft is naturally suspicious when "new" technology is introduced -- ... and for good reason. Web TV, Microsoft TV and WinCE smartphones, Xbox, various versions of Media Center PCs, Watches, Media2go, Xbox 360, and the Zune (to name a few) are all products that either went away rapidly or lost billions of dollars. This year it's Windows Vista, Longhorn Server and a new Computer Table called "Surface" with a hefty price ... (view more)

... continued from Part 1 (of 3). Recently, I laid out some of the reasons why Microsoft's marketing offensive for Windows Vista has overextended the supply lines of reality. Although it looks great and might have potential, there are only a handful ... of reasons to upgrade now. So, what are those flashy features being pushed by Microsoft? Let's take a look at some of the new tools that the company believes make purchasing Vista worthwhile. BitLocker BitLocker is a security enhancement and works by encrypting the data on your hard drive using a hardware key and pass phrase -- but is only ... (view more)

Flashback to late January 2007 -- Microsoft releases Windows Vista consumer versions of their "latest and greatest" new operating system (OS) with the marketing hype of "the wow is now". The Vista web site even offers 100 reasons you'll be ... speechless. The top reason? "It makes using your pc a breeze" (provided your computer runs once you've installed Vista). Your chances of effectively using Vista improve if you purchase a new computer with the finicky operating system already loaded. Upgrading older computers is a waste of time and money. Unfortunately for Microsoft, their marketing tactics ... (view more)

Microsoft has admitted that many customers are reluctant to switch to Windows Vista because of its sub par reputation, and the company is now trying to convince customers that there is no need to worry. In a newsletter, Microsoft said, "some ... customers may be waiting to adopt Windows Vista because they've heard rumors about device or application compatibility issues, or because they think they should wait for a service pack release." Although Microsoft will be releasing a Service Pack later this year, the company is anxious for users to adopt the new operating system now. (Source: slashdot.org ... (view more)

In an effort to increase market shares and regain losses suffered because of falling prices, Toshiba recently announced plans to more than double their monthly production of NAND flash memory chips. The company intends to increase its monthly output ... of NAND chips by using 300-millimeter wafers and hopes that the total monthly production will reach 210,000 chips by June 2008. (Source: sfgate.com ) This would be an increase from only 100,000 total memory chips produced this past March. NAND flash memory chips have become a major source of income for Toshiba. The abundance of rival companies and ... (view more)

Sony now has a new enemy: God. Well, sort of. The Church of England has accused the company of using Manchester Cathedral in its first-person-shooter (FPS) video game, "Resistance: Fall of Man." Sony, of course, denies the charges. The Church has ... requested a formal apology and removal of the game from store shelves. Is Sony likely to comply? Probably not. "It is game-created footage, it is not video or photography," Sony spokesman David Wilson said to The London Times. "It is entertainment, like Doctor Who or any other science fiction. It is not based on reality at all. Throughout the whole ... (view more)