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Atari Online News, Etc. Volume 06 Issue 41
Volume 6, Issue 41 Atari Online News, Etc. October 8, 2004
Published and Copyright (c) 1999 - 2004
All Rights Reserved
Atari Online News, Etc.
A-ONE Online Magazine
Dana P. Jacobson, Publisher/Managing Editor
Joseph Mirando, Managing Editor
Rob Mahlert, Associate Editor
Atari Online News, Etc. Staff
Dana P. Jacobson -- Editor
Joe Mirando -- "People Are Talking"
Michael Burkley -- "Unabashed Atariophile"
Albert Dayes -- "CC: Classic Chips"
Rob Mahlert -- Web site
Thomas J. Andrews -- "Keeper of the Flame"
With Contributions by:
Fred Horvat
Kevin Savetz
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=~=~=~=
A-ONE #0641 10/08/04
~ Spyware? Go to Prison! ~ People Are Talking! ~ Halo 2 Finished!
~ Copyright Bill Dies! ~ 'Do Not Call' Stands! ~ CCAG 2004 News!
~ Spam Scam Shut Down! ~ New Mortal Kombat Out! ~ First Spyware Case!
~ Play Games, Win Cash! ~ Raster Music Tracker! ~ CSI Coming for Xbox
-* New Anti-Spyware Bill Passes *-
-* Judge Challenges EU Position On MS! *-
-* Logitron Games Are Released As Abandonware *-
=~=~=~=
->From the Editor's Keyboard "Saying it like it is!"
""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Okay, so we had a couple of near-frost nights this past week, but the
weather during the day has been terrific. Great fall weather as far as I'm
concerned! We were in Maine last week to play some golf, but we were likely
there perhaps a week or two early to see some terrific foliage. It was
beautiful there regardless. Maine has to be one of the most beautiful
states in the country. And yes, I am biased - having been born and raised
there.
So, what's happening out there lately? Spyware and spam seems to dominate
the tech news these days. A couple of tough anti-spyware bills have been
passed this week. That's some good news. Spam - seems to be taking a
beating but just keeps coming back like a bad hemorrhoid. Oh well.
Until next time...
=~=~=~=
Logitron Games Released As Abandonware
Logitron has release their 3 great games under 'Abandonware Licence'!
Now you can download Sheer Agony, Aazohm Krypht, Operation Skuum and more
for free at :
http://logitron.atari.online.fr/liste.htm
It's a french website but games are in English version.
RMT - Raster Music Tracker - New Version 1.17
Changes in RMT 1.17
-------------------
- Menu Track:
* Load and paste to actual track.
* Save actual track as...
* Clear all duplicated tracks, adjust song.
(Note: This function is also included in Song - All size optimizations.)
- New block effect/tool (menu Block - Effect/tools or Ctrl+F or toolbar
button "FX") function: "Modify notes, instruments and volumes".
- Function "Song - Prepare song line with unused empty tracks (Ctrl+P)"
was changed to "Song - Insert new line with unused empty tracks (Ctrl+P)"
and now it insert this new songline into actual song line positions, not
to line below.
- Function "Song - Prepare duplicated song line (Ctrl+O)" was changed to
"Song - Insert copy or clone of song line(s) (Ctrl+O)" and now it shows
new copy/clone dialog for setting of parameters for this very helpful
function.
- Menu Song:
* Put new empty unused track to actual song position (Ctrl+N).
- "File - Export as XEX Atari executable msx" there is possible to:
* define 4+1 lines now. 5th line is showed instead of 4th line if Atari
SHIFT key is pressed.
* define color of rasterline meter.
- "File - Export as SAP file" there is possible to define hexadecimal song
line numbers for more SAP module subsongs. Initial values are prepared by
automatic subsong-detection algorithm, but you can change it at pleasure.
- Added "*.tm8" extension in Import TMC open file dialog.
- New option in Config dialog (menu View - Configuration):
* F1-F8 keyboard layout:
- RMT original keyboard layout.
- Layout 2:
F1=track edit,F2=instrument edit,F3=info edit,F4=song edit
F5=Play,F6=Play from start,Ctrl+F7=Play tracks,F7=Replay tracks,F8=Stop
(This layout is for F5-F8 keys identical with some other renowned
module tracker programs.)
Accessories
- Atari RMT player RMTPL104.XEX (new version 1.04) is in "player" directory.
(There is short description in RMTPL104.TXT file.)
New songs
- Song "hexxagon.rmt" (Hexxagon music & sfx, raster/c.p.u., 2003)
Song "basix.rmt" (Basix, by raster/c.p.u. 2004)
Song "gemx.rmt" (Gem'x song, Atari version by raster/c.p.u. 2004)
in "songs" directory.
(SAP file "hexxagon.sap" with 6 subsongs is in "exports/sap" directory.)
(SAP file "basix.sap" with 9 subsongs is in "exports/sap" directory.)
Bug fixes
- Revision of keyboard control.
NumLock mode is turned off all the time when tracker main window is active,
so that key combinations Shift+NumBlockKeys are working as well as state
of right Shift key can be correctly detected now.
- Internal improvement of TMC import algorithm (better recognition of
identical
tracks arised from other tracks by song shift parameter).
- If tracker window isn't active, MIDI events on channel 0 are ignored.
- Other small corrections and bug fixes.
Enjoy it!
Greetings, raster/c.p.u.
URL: http://www.infos.cz/raster/atari/rmt/rmt.htm
=~=~=~=
->A-ONE User Group Notes! - Meetings, Shows, and Info!
"""""""""""""""""""""""
JagFest Coming to CCAG Show
For Immediate Release.
The CCAG (Classic Computing and Gaming) committee is proud to officially
announce CCAG 2004, held October 23, 2004 from 4:30 PM to 10:30 PM at the
St. Paul's Presbyterian Church in Mentor, Ohio. Based on the list of
confirmed exhibitors, this will be the 4th and best CCAG:
DigitalDinos (http://www.DigitalDinos.com)
FMH Games Alan "Pitfall Harry"
Hewston VideoGame Connection (http://www.VideoGameConnection.com)
Treyonics (http://www.Treyonics.com)
Briel Computers (http://www.VitageComputer.tk)
TI Chips (http://www.members.cox.net/smkee11/tichips/newsletter.com)
Positronix
John Masterson The NUON Dome (http://www.nuon-dome.com)
Kevin Manne of The NUON Dome is also bringing his NUON Dome goodies and the
Atari JagFest with him. That's still not all! With the addition of the
JagFest, Songbird Productions a leading Atari Jaguar and Lynx developer
will have their items available for demo/sale. Now that's definitely
worth the price of admission, which just happens to be free. That's
right FREE attendees and exhibitors! If you want to be an exhibitor,
time is short and exhibitor spots are going quick.
For more information, email info@ccagshow.com today! For the most current
show information, please check out the official CCAG web,
http://www.ccagshow.com/. The web site is updated every weekend with
the most current information and a message board is up 'n running for
all CCAG show goers and exhibitors. Besides the latest information,
there are pictures and reviews from past shows. Don't miss out on this
free event! For more information, visit the official CCAG web,
http://www.ccagshow.com/, or email info@ccagshow.com today!
=~=~=~=
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
compiled by Joe Mirando
joe@atarinews.org
Hidi ho friends and neighbors. Okay, let's get right to my main interest
for the past several months... voting.
I heard on the news a couple of days ago that voter registration here in
the United States is at an all-time high, and that if everyone who
registers to vote this year does so (along with even the average number
of 'repeat' voters), we will have the largest voter turnout by
percentage.
Am I good, or what? Who's da man? That's right, baby, I'm all it!
Hahahaha.
I just want to state for the record that I was out ahead of the pack when
I started preaching and hammering at you about registering. Well, we're
coming up to the finish line pretty quickly, and soon you won't have to
listen to me yak about it.
Now, there are... ummm... one or two international friends who could care
less about voting in the U.S., but most of them vote in their own
countries. A lesson learned from across the ocean is still a lesson
learned.
Hey, look at where we are these days. We're the 'last remaining
superpower', and other countries are telling us that we're 'not doing it
right'. Now, we can get all kinds of indignant and bluster at the
audacity of a former communist country or banana republic, but we could
also take stock and actually learn something. I often find it helpful to
look at things through someone else's eyes.
It kind of reminds me of the early days of the ST, when PC users would
look at our trusty 1040's and gasp. Of course, the only thing constant
is change. PCs got better and the ST stayed pretty much the same. I'm
still a little bit in awe of what the ST was in its day, even though the
machine I'm typing this on now is orders of magnitude faster than my
trust ST was.
But as I've said many times before, even more important than the machine
itself were the people that it allowed me to meet along the way. Some
have wandered off, some waver in and out of newsgroups and such, and
some are always there. Regardless of how often we communicate, there'll
always be that feeling of community that I've never found in any other
computer group. That, along with the fact that my Atari computers always
had their own distinct personalities, made the Atari world special to
me. Now THAT's a vote you can take to the bank.
Thanks to those who asked about my problems with the herniated disc and
related stuff.
Okay, let's get to the news, hints, tips and info from the UseNet.
From the comp.sys.atari.st NewsGroup
====================================
Joseph Place asks about fonts for HighWire:
"I'm wondering what fonts others are using for Highwire? I get a
message something like "font for pre #"" is not monospace, ignored."
Are there some monospaced fonts somewhere that I can install to avoid
these messages?"
Peter West tells Joseph:
"The easiest to use is your screen font, though the Atari one is a bit
ugly. I can think of four others: The most common is Monaco Mono
(which I use as my default screen font). This is a bitmapped font,
available in 8, 9, 10 and 20 pt, and doubled-up (somewhat blocky) as
16, 18 and 40pt; there is also an ISO 8859-1 variant with a different
extended character set in 10pt and doubled 20pt. I'm sure there are
many more - I personally find Monaco the easiest to read.
Common Speedo vector fonts include various Couriers (10 Pitch and
SWA) and Monospace 821. In TrueType there is Courier and Lucida
Console. All of these are available in virtually all sizes. Again,
there will be many more, such as OCR-A and -B ..."
Lonny Pursell adds:
"You can assign the "system" font, but it will not look so hot.
Or if you have NVDI it includes at least one font called "Monospace 821".
Not sure where you would get additional fonts."
Joseph tells Lonny:
"Thanks! That seems to be working fine for now (system font). I
previously tried the "Monospace 821" but it caused a crash for some
reason."
Tim Anderson plays "Name... That... Game":
"I can't for the life of me think of the names to two games that I used
to play, nor can I find the disks.
The first one was played on a grid where you had to place "atoms" into
squares and when they were full they exploded taking over the opponents
"atoms"
And the second one was some kind of space thing, t'was a first person
perspective where you had a floor that was made of tiles and you had to
rotate the view to keep the tiles at the bottom of the screen, the aim
was to go between planets and there were things like shops and stuff on
the way."
Ronald Hall tells Tim:
"Hmm, the first one sounds vaguely like "Atomino", if I remember
correctly."
'Chris' adds:
"Sounds like PLOP, I used to play that a fair bit, even wrote a falcon
version of it."
Andrew Carpenter jumps in and interjects:
"Oh yes, I remember PLOP. It was great fun!"
Tim replies:
"Ahhhhh, I've managed to find the first one :-) it was Chain Reaction.
Still no idea on the 2nd one though, I seem to remember I had it on a
cover disk so it was probably on one of the ST Format ones.
Is there a catalogue of cover disks anywhere? maybe I could find it on one
of them.
Little Green Desktop has all the mags and guess the games has come to an
end. <grin>
The game in question was Psyborg, now where to get it?"
Andy Ball asks about MiNT:
"What's the current version of MiNT?
Is TOSWIN (or something similar) still available for it?"
Mark Duckworth tells Andy:
"The current version is 1.16.0 beta. Toswin2 is very mature and is
available. I use it daily for my cli activities now that I discontinued
my use of vconsoles.
http://www.sparemint.org "
Janez Valant adds:
"I can't live without vconsoles. So I still use 1.16 from February
rather than new version."
Andy replies:
"I hadn't realised that virtual consoles had been added to
MiNT. Is there a reason that they're not in the 1.16.0
beta?"
Mark adds:
"I highly recommend easymint. It'll help you get setup. When the setup
is all finished, toswin2 will be installed and ready to use. Search
google and you'll find where to download it."
Janez explains about vconsoles:
"Virtual consoles are part of MiNT for ages, but they weren't added to
EasyMiNT distribution, since they make some probs with applications
running in supervisor mode (aka Apex media and such) making keyboard
input not working in those apps if vconsoles are active. Vcons are not
part of kernel, but as separate driver. MiNT 1.16.0 freezes in matter
of minutes with vconsoles driver, i guess due to changed interrupt
handler maybe. 1.16 alpha from late January works fine. Between January
and official beta release i didn't compile kernels, so i don't know when
exactly problem occurred.
By the way, I did make easy to install vconsoles package for EasyMiNT, so
they aren't hard to add, and they are switchable in /etc/rc.d/rc.local
so they can be switched off."
Well folks, that's it for this week. I know it's short, but my neck is
still giving me some trouble, and sitting at the keyboard is a bit of a
challenge sometimes. Tune in again next week, same time, same station,
and be ready to listen to what they are saying when...
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
=~=~=~=
->In This Week's Gaming Section - Work On 'Halo 2' Finished!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Robotech: Invasion!
Gamers Battle for Cash!
And much more!
=~=~=~=
->A-ONE's Game Console Industry News - The Latest Gaming News!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Work On Halo 2 Game 'Finished'
The sequel to the best-selling Xbox Halo game is finished, say its makers.
Developers Bungie said it had handed over the code to Microsoft for final
testing.
"There are still many steps between now and the game's arrival on shelves,
including the not-insignificant process of actually manufacturing millions
of copies of the game," said Bungie.
Halo 2 is due to go on sale on 9 November in the US and two days later in
the UK.
The original Halo: Combat Evolved won universal acclaim when it was
released for the Xbox in 2001.
The first-person sci-fi shooter went on to sell more than four million
copies, making it the biggest Xbox blockbuster yet.
Fansites and specialist game websites have been buzzing with rumours as the
sequel nears release.
Barring any unexpected shenanigans, Halo 2 is done and dusted,
simultaneously, for every region it will be released in worldwide Bungie
posting
Halo 2 has already won several game awards, even though work has only just
finished on the title.
"We are basically done making Halo 2," said Bungie in a posting on its
website.
"Seriously. Barring any unexpected shenanigans, Halo 2 is done and dusted,
simultaneously, for every region it will be released in worldwide."
The team said the game was now in Microsoft's hands for final testing,
adding this was "just a matter of routine".
This would suggest that the game is on course for its release in the US on
9 November, to be followed by a launch across Europe on 11 November.
Bungie has had a team of 55 people working on the game for at least 16
hours a day to make sure it was ready in time.
Now it seems they are planning to take a short break.
"Folks are taking off on vacation," said Bungie.
"Most people will take a week or two, some up to a month, but almost
everyone will be back here in time for the game launch, to witness it first
hand."
In an interview with the BBC, Bungie studio manager Pete Parsons said the
team were looking to do something different after Halo.
Robotech: Invasion Ships For Playstation 2 And Xbox
Global Star Software, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software,
Inc. announced today that Robotech: Invasion for the PlayStation 2 computer
entertainment system and the Xbox videogame system from Microsoft is now
available in stores across North America.
"Robotech: Invasion is the game anime fans have been waiting for," said
Christoph Hartmann, Senior Vice President of Publishing at Global Star
Software. "It blends classic first person shooter gameplay with the
universe that has captivated Robotech fans worldwide for nearly 20 years."
"The Robotech license provides a great platform for creating exciting and
compelling games," said Eric Peterson, President of Vicious Cycle Software.
"From the beginning, we wanted to create an immersive game that was packed
with characters, locales and events from the show. Fans will be able to
recognize the effort that has been taken to integrate the game into the
Robotech universe, while newcomers will get an intense first person shooter
experience."
Developed by Vicious Cycle, Robotech: Invasion embarks players on an
original adventure that takes place during the latest timeline of Harmony
Gold's animated series, titled 'Robotech: The New Generation.' Players can
strap on their transformable Cyclone armor and fight alongside Robotech
forces in 15 single player missions, as well as with friends in
head-to-head online multiplayer, with support for up to eight players on
both PS2 online and Xbox Live.
Robotech: Invasion is rated 'T' for Teen and is available now for the
PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and Xbox videogame system from
Microsoft, each at a suggested retail price of $39.99. For more information
on Robotech: Invasion please visit http://www.globalstarsoftware.com.
Midway Set to Revolutionize Fighting Genre as
Mortal Kombat: Deception Ships to Stores Nationwide
Midway Games Inc. announced that Mortal Kombat: Deception, the latest entry
in the company's best-selling Mortal Kombat franchise, has shipped for the
PlayStation2 computer entertainment system and the Xbox video game system
from Microsoft. The game will be backed by the most extensive marketing
campaign in Midway's history. The multi-million dollar marketing support
for Mortal Kombat: Deception includes television, cinema, print and online
advertising, innovative point-of-purchase materials and specialized events.
"Midway, along with the millions of MK fans around the globe, is extremely
excited about the release of Mortal Kombat: Deception," said Steve Allison,
chief marketing officer, Midway. "The Deception team has worked diligently
over the past two years to ensure that this MK title will be the best yet.
Not only will it be the first ever 3D fighter to be playable online via
both the PlayStation 2 and Xbox Live, but the team has also succeeded in
meeting a goal that some thought wasn't going to be possible...they made a
fighting game that plays as responsive online as it does offline. To
support these ambitious efforts and hefty accomplishments, we are backing
Mortal Kombat: Deception with the most extensive marketing campaign in
Midway's company history."
Mortal Kombat: Deception pushes martial arts-style fighting and the Mortal
Kombat franchise to new heights with an innovative fighting system,
unparalleled depth and brutally intense action that will appeal to
long-time Mortal Kombat fans as well as next-generation gamers. The game
features lightning-fast, hand-to-hand and special weapons combat, secret
and returning characters, new moves and combinations with death-dealing
battles and all-new life-threatening environments.
Building upon the successful formula of the 2002 Midway release, Mortal
Kombat: Deadly Alliance (on pace to eclipse 3 million units sold by year's
end), Mortal Kombat: Deception is set to deliver the most ambitious
fighting game to-date. Including four independent gameplay modes, multiple
new fatalities per character, as well as being the first-ever 3D fighting
game playable online both via PlayStation 2 broadband and Xbox Live, Mortal
Kombat: Deception has quickly become one of the most anticipated titles
this 2004 holiday season.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Coming To Xbox This Fall
Ubisoft is pleased to announce that its popular PC franchise CSI: Crime
Scene Investigation, based the hit CBS TV series, will soon make its
console debut on the Xbox by Microsoft. A combination of Ubisoft's top
selling PC-CD ROM titles, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and CSI: Dark
Motives, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation for the Xbox offers twice the
content.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation for the Xbox is a first-person adventure
game that puts the fate unsolved mysteries into the hands of the console
gamer as they examine crime scenes, question witnesses and analyze evidence
utilizing the latest in forensic equipment.
The adaptation of television's No. 1 show, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
for the Xbox includes all ten cases from the previous two PC releases and
all the in-depth evidence examination and interactive lab functionality.
The No. 1 selling PC crime-adventure series returns with the latest release
in the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation series by Ubisoft. Inspired by the
hit show on CBS, CSI: Miami gives players the opportunity to experience
forensic investigation first hand.
CSI: Miami includes all of the show's characters and exclusive voice-over
by the cast. Play as Horatio Caine, Calleigh Duquesne, Tim Speelde, Erik
Delko, Medical Examiner Alexx Woods, Detective Yelina Salas or Valera in
the lab.
Forensic reconstructions taken directly from archived CSI: Miami footage
puts players 'in the show'. Re-enactment cut scenes graphically portray
key events as they are uncovered by the player. Customizable gameplay:
Customizable gameplay options allow players to adjust settings to suit
their skill level. Get help through a selectable 'hints' option that can
help find hidden evidence and suggests the most suitable forensic tools for
crime-solving.
Both games are due for release in November 2004. CSI: Crime Scene
ToCA Race Driver 2 Roars Into Stores For Playstation 2
Codemasters, a leading global publisher of interactive entertainment,
announced that its acclaimed racing simulation game, ToCA Race Driver 2,
has shipped to North American retail outlets for the PlayStation 2 computer
entertainment system, complete with online play.
"As ToCA Race Driver 2 has become a must-have for Xbox and PC racing fans,
we're thrilled to bring this title to PlayStation 2 users," said Marc
Bennett, North American President, Codemasters. "With head-to-head online
play, stunning graphics and a huge variety of motorsports, we expect ToCA
Race Driver 2 for PlayStation 2 to stack up well against other top racing
titles this season."
Whether online or offline, players can compete in a multitude of motorsport
events against a host of deadly rivals, all out to claim victory for
themselves. In ToCA Race Driver 2, it's all about winning and there's no
room for Sunday drivers on these circuits. Drivers must fulfill their
team's objectives to earn a place in the next event; with each success,
drivers will unlock more tracks, vehicles and competitions.
Plus players can take it online and compete in races with up to 8 players
simultaneously. The game's online multiplayer modes lets players devise
their own championship for others to join, or search specifically for the
kind of competition they want; alternatively drivers can just jump straight
into the racing action. Players can judge their skill using the global
rating system, or maintain a Friends List of favorite competitors. Full
voice support allows all 8 players to talk with each other at any time,
with no restrictions.
With more than 50 global racing circuits, ToCA Race Driver 2 comes to
PlayStation 2 with extra content including an additional circuit, Spain's
Catalunya, and an enhanced Championship structure that allows for 99
additional car and track combinations. Drivers will start as professionals
- there are no boring 'tests' to take before playing the game - the first
car is the awesome Ford GT!
Featuring more motorsports than any other racing game, ToCA Race Driver 2
is now available for PlayStation 2. Fans can get a taste of life in the
fast lane with images and videos at the game?s dedicated website at
www.codemasters.com/tocaracedriver2
ToCA Race Driver 2 Key Features:
* ToCA Race Driver 2 is a real simulator: real performance cars, real
damage, real physics and real driver AI created by Codemasters' renowned
motor racing game studio.
* The most diverse range of motorsports in any one game - 15 different
racing styles over 33 championships.
* Start as a professional: get the top supercars from the start and drive
the best.
* 52 circuits - more real life and accurately modeled circuits than ever
before.
* High detail car models, each with individual realistic handling.
* Realistic damage - you can't have a 'simulator' without damage.
* Go beyond ultimate - PS2 hardcore 'Pro-Sim mode' for total realism!
* Race your friends - head-to-head online gameplay for up to 8 players.
* Global Rating System - gain or lose championship points depending on your
results.
* Full voice support - talk to everyone at once with no restrictions.
* Friends List - invite your friends to race or join their races when
they are online.
World's Top Game Players Battle for Cash
For the world's best video game players, getting the high score is no
longer enough.
With total cash prizes of about $400,000 spread out over eight tournaments,
this year's World Cyber Games championships adds big money to the test of
fast reflexes and superhuman eye-hand coordination.
The event, a culmination of national competitions held around the globe,
pits teams of players against each other in first-person shooters including
"Counter-Strike: Condition Zero," "Unreal Tournament 2004" and "Halo."
In the world of virtual mayhem, these competitors are king.
"My parents didn't like it at all at first, but when I started traveling
and making money out of it, they realized that I'm actually not just
wasting my time on this," said gamer Michael Korduner of Stockholm.
The 20-year-old is among 700 players from 62 countries in the five-day
competition, which ends Sunday with the winners crowned.
There's certainly no shortage of cash in the gaming industry today: The
business rakes in $10 billion annually in the U.S. alone.
The winning team in the five-on-five "Counter Strike" competition gets
$50,000, the runner-up team half that.
But Hank Jeong, president and CEO of International Cyber Marketing, which
is putting on the competition, said the money takes a back seat to the
bragging rights.
Jeong has erected an extravagant cyber city full of gaming machines, PCs
and ethernet cable near City Hall where the competition will play out.
The World Cyber Games began in 2001 and included competitors from 37
countries in its first year. This year is the first time it has been held
outside of Korea, and from now on organizers plan to hold it at different
cities around the world, including Singapore next year.
In addition to the popular shooting titles, competitors will play "Need For
Speed: Underground," a racing game with exotic cars, and "FIFA 2004," a
fast-paced game of cyber soccer, played on PCs.
Matija Biljeskovic, a 20-year-old from Rockford, Ill., specializes in "FIFA
2004," and practices about 30 hours a week.
"My favorite aspect of FIFA 2004 is to see the way world-class, intelligent
players adapt from one opponent's style of play to another," said
Biljeskovic. The Yugoslavian immigrant said he grew up pooling pocket
change with his friends just to rent a Nintendo machine.
Members of the U.S. national "Halo" championship team who were boarding
planes for San Francisco on Tuesday morning said they were eager to exact
a little payback for their early ouster from last year's championship in
Seoul, Korea.
"I played in the same tournament last year and got knocked out, so I'm
hoping for a little revenge," said Stephen "Proxa" Booth, an 18-year-old
"Halo" team member from Bothell, Wash.
In Halo, aliens known as the Covenant try to wipe out the Earth's
interstellar empire. The player and his teammates become marooned on the
ring-world Halo and engage in guerrilla warfare against the Covenant.
When asked what his specialty was on the team, Booth sounded a little
clandestine, looking to keep any secrets close to his vest.
"Let's just say it's important to control maps," said Booth, revenge firmly
in mind.
On the Net:
http://www.worldcybergames.com
=~=~=~=
A-ONE's Headline News
The Latest in Computer Technology News
Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson
Judge Challenges EU Position on Microsoft
A top European Union judge challenged the EU executive's reasoning in its
antitrust court battle with Microsoft Corp. Friday, questioning why it
opposed the U.S. software giant's setting industry standards.
Bo Vesterdorf, president of the European Union's Court of First Instance,
threw down the challenge during the second day of hearings on Microsoft's
request to suspend penalties levied on it while it pursues an appeal that
could take years.
At the end of the day Vesterdorf said he would decide soon whether to
freeze the penalties.
The EU decision requires Microsoft sell a version of Windows without
audiovisual software and forces it to provide information so rival makers
of servers can compete more easily.
The Commission found in March that Microsoft abused its operating system
monopoly to hurt competitors. Microsoft, which must show "irreparable harm"
to overturn that finding, says offering a degraded system would damage its
good name.
Vesterdorf said the Commission had acknowledged that if Microsoft's media
player were not available on all copies of Windows, then developers would
face increased costs should they choose to write for both Windows Media
Player and its rivals.
Commission lawyer Per Hellstrom said those increased costs would be
balanced by the public interest in competition, which would lead to
innovation and consumer choice.
Vesterdorf asked how the Commission would react if all of the major players
in the field got together and agreed on industry-wide standards for
audiovisual software.
"I have dreamed about that, about an open standard," replied Hellstrom.
"But you oppose an industry standard because it is brought about by the
largest company on the market?" asked Vesterdorf.
When Hellstrom said a standard set by a Microsoft would preclude
competition, the judge replied:
"Isn't there a fault in your reasoning? Microsoft does not enter into
exclusive agreements with (original equipment manufacturers)."
Hellstrom, who is Swedish, said the computer manufacturers effectively had
no choice, since they were obliged to take Windows Media Player, and had
no incentive to add other media players.
Windows Media Player cannot be removed by consumers. Windows Media Player,
RealNetworks' RealPlayer and others are software that play CDs, DVDs and
formats streamed across the Web, such as MP3.
Earlier the Commission said Windows Media Player was near a "tipping point"
in usage that would cripple rivals such as RealPlayer in the same way that
Microsoft illegally wrested away the Web Browser market from Netscape in
the 1990s.
The Commission said RealPlayer once dominated the field, but Microsoft now
has a 60 percent share, just as Netscape once dominated but now has 5
percent to Microsoft's 95 percent.
"If Microsoft secures another dominant position ... it will have the power
of life and death over digital formats that can be used not just on
computers but also on mobile phones and hand-held devices," said James
Flynn, a lawyer for the Computer and Communications Industry Association.
Microsoft lawyer Jean-Francois Bellis said Microsoft should not be forced
to break its flagship product into fragments.
"Microsoft is forced to create an adaptation of Windows that it would never
consider creating otherwise, and it must label it with its valuable Windows
trademark," Bellis said.
"It strikes at the very heart of Microsoft's business model and design of
Windows."
RealNetworks presented a demonstration showing Windows would work even
without a media player, but Microsoft showed video demonstrating Windows
would "break" in that situation, with media files not playing properly.
Vesterdorf said Thursday that he believed it was possible Microsoft could
win when the main case finishes years from now. And in weighing the balance
of interests, as he must, he feared consumers could find the modified
product confusing.
Thursday Vesterdorf heard arguments over whether Microsoft should be
compelled to disclose information to help rival makers of server software
connect more easily with other servers and to Windows desktops.
House Passes Tough Computer Anti-Spyware Bill
The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to crack down on
deceptive "spyware" that hides in users' computers and secretly monitors
their activities.
By a vote of 399 to 1, the House moved to outlaw a range of aggressive
advertising and surveillance activities that have outraged consumers over
the past two years.
Spyware can sap computing power, crash machines and bury users under a
blizzard of unwanted ads. It can capture passwords, credit-card numbers and
other sensitive data.
Spyware can end up on users' computers when they become infected by a
computer virus or download games or other free programs off the Internet.
Texas Republican Rep. Joe Barton said computers used by his Energy and
Commerce Committee were found to have been carrying roughly 60 different
spyware programs.
The bill approved by the House would require software makers to get
consumers' permission before loading programs on their machines that can
collect information about them.
It would also prohibit a number of practices often associated with spyware,
such as reprograming the start page on a user's Web browser, logging
keystrokes to capture passwords and other sensitive data, and launching
pop-up ads that can't be closed without shutting down the computer.
Violators could face millions of dollars in fines.
"I am confident we have drafted a bill that protects consumers without
impeding the growth of technology," said California Republican Rep. Mary
Bono (news, bio, voting record), the bill's sponsor.
Congress must settle minor differences with other anti-spyware bills before
any of them can become law.
The House is expected to vote Wednesday on an anti-spyware bill backed by
members of the Judiciary Committee that would stipulate jail time for
violators.
Negotiators did not have time to combine the two measures into one bill, a
spokesman for the Judiciary Committee said.
Barton said at a press conference that House lawmakers would work to
combine those two bills with one working its way through the Senate,
hopefully by the time both Houses recess for the election at the end of the
week.
The fact that the issue is relatively noncontroversial is a good sign, he
said.
"Where there's a bipartisan will, we can do things," he said.
Bill Imposes Prison Time Over 'Spyware'
The House on Thursday passed the second bill in three days that would
outlaw "spyware," irritating software that quietly monitors the activities
of Internet users.
It would add penalties of up to five years in prison for people convicted
of installing such programs without a computer user's permission.
The bill, known as the "Internet Spyware Prevention Act," passed 415-0. It
would give the Justice Department $10 million to crack down on companies
and others that secretly install spyware and those who attempt to trick
victims into disclosing personal details and financial information in
e-mail scams popularly known as "phishing."
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said such problems were
growing and serious. Offenders under his bill would be sentenced for up to
five years for secretly installing spyware to break into someone's computer
and commiting another federal crime.
Anyone caught installing spyware to change a computer's security settings
or steal a victim's personal information - such as an e-mail address,
telephone number or bank account number - could be sentenced up to two
years in prison.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., said spyware was "quickly becoming one of the
biggest threats to consumers on the Internet." She cited estimates that up
to 90 percent of computers contain some forms of spyware. Lofgren said her
daughter was recently victimized by electronic thieves in a phishing scam,
persuading her in a forged e-mail to disclose personal information.
"Her thumb hit the send button and she thought, 'Oh, my goodness, what have
I done!' We had to call and cancel all the credit cards and the like,"
Lofgren said. "This is something that preys upon people."
The House on Tuesday voted 399-1 to pass the "Spy Act," sponsored by Rep.
Mary Bono, R-Calif., which would add hefty civil penalties over the use of
spyware.
Lawmakers were widely expected to combine both proposals for a final vote
by year's end.
The House bill passed Wednesday is H.R. 4661. The related bill approved
Tuesday is H.R. 2929.
First Suit Filed Against Internet 'Spyware'
The U.S. government has sued a New Hampshire man in its first attempt to
crack down on Internet "spyware" that seizes control of a user's computer
without permission.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Thursday asked a federal court to shut
down an operation that it said disables users' computers in an attempt to
bully them into buying anti-spyware products.
Internet users unwittingly download the software when they visit Web sites
that contain certain banner ads, the FTC said.
The software exploits a hole in Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer Web
browser to work its way onto computers without users' knowledge, according
to the lawsuit.
A Washington consumer group, the Center for Democracy and Technology, had
demonstrated the software to Reuters before it filed a complaint with the
FTC in February.
The software hijacks Web browsers, causes CD-ROM trays to mysteriously
slide open and slows down computers or causes them to cease working
altogether.
A torrent of "pop up" messages urges consumers to buy programs called Spy
Wiper or Spy Deleter to clean up the mess.
The FTC has taken action against companies that redirect browsers before
but has never sued a company for secretly installing software.
Spyware comes in many forms - from keystroke loggers that can capture
passwords, credit-card numbers and other sensitive data to relatively
harmless programs that deliver pop-up ads.
Currently there are no national anti-spyware laws on the books, though
several states have them. The House of Representatives passed two
anti-spyware bills this week and another is pending in the Senate.
The FTC used deceptive-business laws to go after New Hampshire resident
Sanford Wallace and his two companies, Seismic Entertainment Productions
Inc. and SmartBot.Net Inc.
The FTC asked the court to shut down Wallace's operations and force him to
return any money he has made.
Wallace could not be reached for comment.
"We're glad to see that they've taken some action; it was a really
egregious case," Center for Democracy's Associate Director Ari Schwartz
said.
The FTC was expected to discuss its suit at a press conference on Tuesday.
An FTC spokeswoman declined to comment.
Court Hits 'Spam' Envelope-Stuffing Scam
A U.S. court has temporarily shut down an operation that used "spam" e-mail
to drum up customers for a fraudulent work-at-home scheme, the U.S. Federal
Trade Commission said on Tuesday.
Gregory Bryant and Nadira Bryant of Florida promised recipients of their
unsolicited e-mail that they would earn $4 for each envelope they stuffed
and mailed as long as they paid $24.77 for a start-up kit, the FTC said.
Those who paid for the kit instead got a CD-ROM explaining how to get
others to pay money for an envelope-stuffing kit, the FTC said in a
complaint. They were charged another $24.95 after a 30-day trial period.
The two defendants, who operated under a variety of business aliases, did
not honor refund requests, the consumer-protection agency said.
The two violated an anti-spam law because they faked return e-mail
addresses and used deceptive subject lines like "Info You Have Requested"
to trick recipients into opening them, the FTC said.
The scam also violates deceptive-business and telemarketing laws, the FTC
said.
The operation has been temporarily shut down by a U.S. court in Florida,
and the FTC said it would press to shut it down permanently and return
profits to consumers.
The defendants could not be reached for comment.
Copyright Bill Dies in Senate as Others Advance
A bill that would make it easier to sue online file-trading networks like
Kazaa appeared on Friday to have died a quiet death, but other copyright
bills sought by the entertainment industry continued to advance.
The Senate Judiciary Committee declined late on Thursday to take up a bill
that would hold liable anyone who "induces" others to reproduce copyrighted
material, a move observers said all but assures it would not become law
this year.
The bill, known as the Induce Act, is designed to target online
file-trading networks, which courts have so far shielded from entertainment
industry lawsuits on the grounds they do not commit copyright infringement
but merely make it possible.
The bill drew opposition from public-interest groups and
consumer-electronics makers who said makers of digital-media players like
Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod could be targeted as well.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Orrin Hatch postponed work on the bill
last week and directed both sides to the negotiating table, but talks had
stalled by Wednesday.
"We have come a long way, but have not yet reached a successful
resolution," said Mitch Bainwol, CEO of the Recording Industry Association
of America.
Though the committee declined to take action against file-trading networks,
it did approve a measure that would direct the U.S. government to devote
more effort to chasing down individual file traders.
Peer-to-peer users who share more than 1,000 songs or other copyrighted
works would face up to three years in prison under the bill. U.S. copyright
investigators would be able to file civil suits, which require a lower
standard of proof than criminal cases, echoing tactics already used by the
recording industry.
Those who secretly videotape movies when they are shown in theaters or
distribute movies before their release date would face up to 10 years in
prison.
The bill also designates the oak as the national tree.
Many of these provisions have already passed both the Senate and the U.S.
House of Representatives, but a staffer said they must be approved again to
iron out differences.
Congress is scheduled to adjourn in the next few days but must come back
after the November elections to finish up work on spending bills needed to
keep the government running.
U.S. Supreme Court Backs Do Not Call Registry
The U.S. Supreme Court Monday let stand a ruling by the United States Court
of Appeals for the 10th Circuit upholding the constitutionality of the
Federal Trade Commission's national Do Not Call Registry. The Supreme Court
provided no additional commentary with its decision.
In May, three marketing groups, The American Teleservices Association,
Mainstream Marketing Services, and TMG Marketing, appealed the lower
court's ruling. They argued that the Do Not Call Registry infringed upon
their right to free speech, that it unfairly exempted political and
charitable calls, that consumers already had less restrictive means to
block unwanted calls, and that the imposition of fees on telemarketers
represented an unfair tax on protected speech.
In their Petition to the Supreme Court, the marketing organizations argued
that "this case arises from a recent trend among governmental entities to
restrict commercial speech discriminatorily in the name of privacy."
In February, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Do Not Call
Registry represented a valid commercial speech regulation because it
advanced substantial government interests while being narrowly tailored
and that the fees telemarketers must pay to access the list are allowable
because they defray the cost of lawful government regulation.
The Do Not Call Registry opened in June 2003, for the purpose of making it
"easier and more efficient for consumers to stop getting telemarketing
calls they do not want." By June 2004, consumers had registered 62 million
phone numbers and had reported 428,000 possible violations. Some 200
companies have had more than 100 consumer complaints filed against them.
The program remains popular with the majority of consumers.
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