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Atari Online News, Etc. Volume 07 Issue 26
Volume 7, Issue 26 Atari Online News, Etc. June 24, 2005
Published and Copyright (c) 1999 - 2005
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:
Greg Goodwin
Patrice Mandin
To subscribe to A-ONE, change e-mail addresses, or unsubscribe,
log on to our website at: www.atarinews.org
and click on "Subscriptions".
OR subscribe to A-ONE by sending a message to: dpj@atarinews.org
and your address will be added to the distribution list.
To unsubscribe from A-ONE, send the following: Unsubscribe A-ONE
Please make sure that you include the same address that you used to
subscribe from.
To download A-ONE, set your browser bookmarks to one of the
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http://people.delphiforums.com/dpj/a-one.htm
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http://a1mag.atari.org
Now available:
http://www.atarinews.org
Visit the Atari Advantage Forum on Delphi!
http://forums.delphiforums.com/atari/
=~=~=~=
A-ONE #0727 06/24/05
~ Yahoo Shuts Chat Rooms ~ People Are Talking! ~ PM Doom Updated!
~ Spain Busts 'P. Power' ~ File-Swapping To Stay? ~ NeoOffice/J For Mac!
~ Google Online Payments ~ Retro Challenge 2005! ~ Jack Kilby Dies
~ AOL Content Now Free! ~ No Media Player Fails! ~ New Flash Drives!
-* eBay Encourages Seller Sites *-
-* Library Web Access Better Than Ever *-
-* Hotmail Takes Tougher Stance Against Spam! *-
=~=~=~=
->From the Editor's Keyboard "Saying it like it is!"
""""""""""""""""""""""""""
What a great week it's been! A nice golf tournament last weekend (nah, we
didn't win!), nice seasonal weather all week, and vacation looming in the
near future. This weekend is supposed to be hot, hazy, and humid - with the
temps pushing 100. I guess I'll be spending a lot of time in the pool! I'm
looking forward to this vacation! It's been quite awhile since I've taken
any significant time off; I need to do some re-charging, and relax. So,
other than regale about the weather and my pending vacation, I don't have a
lot to say this week. It's been fairly quiet, so I'll let it stay that way.
Until next time...
=~=~=~=
Retro Challenge 2005
Introduction
Do you depend upon modern computers, or are you a creative spirit who can
push the limits of your old hardware in order to fulfill your everyday
needs? The Retrochallenge is where you find out. This competition promotes
the use of vintage hardware by establishing up three challenges. You are
encouraged to enter any or all of theses challenges, to judge the creative
works of other participants, or simply join in the discussions on our
mailing list.
What are these challenges? If you enjoy creating original artwork, music,
or programs on your legacy computer, then the creative challenges are for
you. Simply do what you normally do, then submit your work to be judged by
your peers. The second challenge is simply using a qualifying computer
through the month of July, in a competition to see can survive a month
without the latest in gadgetry. The third challenges judges how well you
could communicate with the outside world on a retrocomputer.
So what is the prize? The excitement of participating in the challenge
(everyone gets that one), and the respect of your peers. In order to help
you gain the recognition of your peers, MLAgazine has graciously offered to
publish an article about the winner.
(68000 computers get a x3 modifier compared to the standard '030 computers
which will be a modifier of x1.)
You think you got what it takes? :)
Doctor Clu
--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5
* Origin: FamilyNet Sponsored by http://www.christian-wellness.net
(8:8/2)
pmdoom 0.40
Hello everybody,
I restarted from original Doom code, to have a cleaner base, than the
current 0.31 which was going worse than ever. I also compiled it with
a recent SDL version with many bug fixes.
Now, you have:
- Totally dynamic about resolution choice and changes, no more zoomed
320x200. You really can have Doom in 640x400 (or more). With the GEM
video driver, you can change the window size, and the game follows.
- The engine always draw in 8 bits, then SDL convert it to the screen
format. It should be faster in 8 bits mode with FastRam, because the
screen is entirely built in Fast, then c2p-ized to STRam, so less bytes
transferred from Fast to ST-Ram.
- Many memory leaks fixes with Valgrind/x86 under Linux.
For SDL, there is also support for Centscreen and Blowup resolutions, and
current Screenblaster 3 mode, I need people to test them.
--
Patrice Mandin
WWW: http://membres.lycos.fr/pmandin/
Programmeur Linux, Atari
Spécialité: Développement, jeux
=~=~=~=
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
compiled by Joe Mirando
joe@atarinews.org
Hidi ho friends and neighbors. Well, another week has slipped by, and
it's time to take a look at UseNet messages again.
I know that I almost always end up talking... ranting, actually... about
something other than Atari, but hey, Atari hasn't made a computer in
years and other than niche market machines and a few ingenious add-ons,
there really isn't a hell of a lot to talk about. But this week I'm
going to mention a couple of things Atari-related.
First of all, I want to relate to you a quick story that a friend
related to me.
This friend told me that his town had an 'computer round-up' last week.
The idea is that you can bring all of your old computers and monitors
and dispose of them. They don't like it when you throw monitors and
stuff with lead-bearing solder in the trash anymore. So they have these
pickups from time to time so that everybody's happy.
Well, he had a non-functioning 520ST and a MegaSTE that had been taking
up space for long enough so, with tears in his eyes, he decided that it
was time to get rid of them.
Unfortunately, he was unable to bring them to the collection site and
his wife quickly agreed to do him a 'favor' and drop them off.
Well, she got there and brought the two computers up to whoever it was
that drew the short straw and had to deal with the public.
"I'm sorry," he told her, "we're not taking video games today".
At a loss as to what to do next, she piled the computers back into the
car and brought them back home.
My friend was a bit relieved when he returned home from work and saw his
old computers sitting there on the table, since he'd been feeling pangs
of remorse all day, and asked, "why didn't you bring those to the
recycling center"?
She related the story about their strict prohibition against video
games. After having dealt with the stigma of Atari computers being
"game machines" for years, he finally felt it was time to cut loose.
"THEY'RE NOT GAMES, DAMNIT! THEY'RE COMPUTERS! COMPUTERS, DO YOU HEAR
ME!"
I laughed my butt off when he told me the story, simply because I can
remember being in that situation so many times. Yeah, that was years
ago, but the old feelings still exist. As a matter of fact, every time
I see an ad for the latest incarnation of Atari. Yep, these days Atari
is indeed 'games'.
When I think of the innovation that Atari brought to the computer
market, I often wonder why it stopped. After all these years, I've
gotten no closer to a satisfying answer, but I think it's probably
because Atari never really saw the "whole picture". They made a
butt-kicking machine, but did it by locking themselves into a design.
Then instead of innovating again, they simply dropped the price. Then
they dropped it again.
Now, I'm as in favor of lowering prices as anyone else, but when the
Atari 520ST made its debut, it was ground-breaking technology. The
critics were in awe, the competitors were envious, and the public was
enthralled. But after several years it was dated technology. The rest
of the computer world had caught up. It didn't matter how inexpensive
the computers were now, there were too many other options out there.
There was one thing in Atari's favor, however. Their computers had a....
well, a personality. I've used a bunch of computers over the years, and
I have yet to encounter another computer that I feel the connection to
like I did with each of my STs. I know it's not scientific, hell, it's
not even something that I can put my finger on, but the Atari had a
personality. It wasn't just balancing my checkbook or chatting online
or playing games, it was special in some indefinable way.
Well, I've stayed away from politics and religion for about as long as I
can, so let's get right to the news, hints, tips and info from the
UseNet.
From the comp.sys.atari NewsGroup
=================================
Hallvard Tangeraas asks for volunteers to translate German text:
"A couple of others along with myself are looking into how to upgrade
the Mega STe with a HD floppy drive among other things. I found some
tips and information about this issue in the German "Chips'n chips
version X" Hypertext (HYP) file.
(by the way, I've just uploaded that file (which contains a wealth of
hardware information for all Atari ST computers) and it can be found
here: ftp://gem.win.co.nz/hall/info/chips_x.zip)
Anyway, since my German (and especially technical-German) isn't that
good I could need some help in understanding what it says.
I've tried a rough word-by-word translation using Altavista's online
translation service, but there are still quite a few things I don't
understand.
Can someone out here help?
Thanks :-)
Here's that text:
-------------------- START -------------------
Trotz HD-Laufwerk und Floppycontroller will der Rechner
nicht?
Es gibt insgesamt drei Boardlayouts vom MegaSTE, diese sind
nicht alle vom Werk aus HD-Diskettenlaufwerk-tauglich!
Hier ein Auszug aus der "Einbauanleitung f·¬r das HD-Floppy
Upgra- de Kit" von ATARI:
AUSZUG Start
Beim MEGA STE muss noch ·¬berpr·¬ft werden, ob eine Verbindung
von U7 (68000 CPU) Pin 32 zu UA02 (PAL20L8) Pin 19 besteht.
Falls nicht, bitte auf der Board-Unterseite einen kurzen
Draht einl·¼ten. Ausser- dem muss das IC UA02 die Bezeichnung
C301901-002 aufgedruckt haben. Falls Sie ein IC mit der
Bezeichnung C301901-001 eingebaut haben, muss dieses
ausgetauscht werden. AUSZUG Ende
Anmerkung des Autors:
Wer zu faul ist, die Platine auszubauen, kann auch eine
Draht- br·¬cke von Pin 19 UA02 zu Pin 10 U8 (Cache Ram)
ziehen. Kommt genau das gleiche bei raus, hat aber den
Vorteil, dass die Platine nicht ausgebaut werden muss. Den
PAL-Chip MUSS man aber zwingend ersetzen, wenn ein
C301901-001 PAL Baustein vorhanden ist!
Es ist egal, ob der Rechner einen DMA-Chip in 40 Pin
Dil-Ausf·¬hrung oder in 44 Pin PLCC-4Ausf·¬hrung hat, die
obengeschriebenen Massnahmen m·¬ssen auf alle F·-lle beachtet
werden! Das Pal geh·¼rt(e) zum Lieferumfang des Original
HD-Floppy Upgrade Kit (incl TOS 2.06, AJAX Chip und EPSON
SMD340 Floppy)
Wenn die 1.44MB Floppy nicht zuverl·-ssig durchformatiert,
kann es am Netzteil des Computers liegen. Die Partnummer
muss mit -002 enden. Wenn es ein -001 Netzteil ist, muss die
mittlere Platinen- Schraube entfernt werden. Ausserdem muss
der Stehbolzen, in den die Schraube gedreht war, gegen die
Platine isoliert werden. Klingt zwar alles merkw·¬rdig, ist
aber tats·-chlich so. Bei der Gelegen- heit kannst du auch
gleich nachsehen, ob der "richtige" Optokopp- ler SHARP
PC111 eingebaut ist. Wenn es ein CNY17 ist, kann der
Bildschirm ein wenig flimmern.
2 Floppylaufwerke am internen Steckverbinder zu betreiben
ist ganz einfach. Einfach das Laufwerk mit einer neu
aufpressten Buchse am Floppykabel verbinden und korrekt(!)
auf Driveselect B jumpern (ein- stellen) oder die
Driveselect Jumper ver·-ndern. Wird ein PC Floppykabel
verwendet welches 4 um 180 Grad gedrehte Adern aufweisst
m·¬ssen beide Floppylaufwerke auf Driveselect 1 (also B)
gejumpert werden, sofern die Laufwerke da mitspielen. Wenn
es probleme gibt, muss das Kabel auf nichtgedrehte
Buchsenbelegung durch aufsetzen einer neuen Buchse
modifiziert werden!
Muss der Blitter aus irgendeinem Grund ausgebaut werden (nur
dann wenn der Blitter (U205) eh gesockelt ist), m·¬ssen
hinterher die L·¼tl·¼cher der Widerst·-nde R224 und R225 mit
Drahtbr·¬cken oder Null-Ohm Wider- st·-nden gebr·¬ckt werden.
Speicherm·-ssig ist ein MegaSTE ohne gr·¼ssere Umbauten bis auf
4 Mega- byte aufr·¬stbar. Mehr Speicher geht nur mittels der
FRAK und der PAK3 Beschleunigerkarte oder ·¬ber die anfang
Oktober 1997 erschie- nene MagnumSTE Karte f·¬r alle MegaSTE
Computer.
--------------------- END ---------------------- "
Peter West jumps in and saves the day when he posts:
"DDP Translations to the rescue! :-) I've left in the original
German, but you may find it easier to read if you delete all lines
starting with the quote chevron. [Editor's note: we've done that for
you]
Despite HD drive and floppy controller, the computer doesn't want
to know?
In total there are 3 board layouts of the MegaSTE, not all of
which are HD floppy drive capable ex-works.
Here an excerpt from the "Installation for the HD floppy upgrade
kit" from ATARI:
EXCERPT Start
With MEGA STE you still have to check whether a connection exists
from U7 (68000 CPU) pin 32 to UA02 (PAL20L8) pin 19. If not,
please solder in a short wire on the underside of the PCB (printed
circuit board). In addition the UA02 IC has to have the legend
C301901-002 printed on it. If you have a built-in IC with the
legend C301901-001, then this has to be substituted.
EXCERPT End
Note by the author:
If you are too lazy to remove the PCB, you can also draw a wire
bridge from pin 19 UA02 to pin 10 U8 (Cache Ram). This has exactly
the same result, but has the advantage that you do not have to
remove the board. However it is ESSENTIAL to replace the PAL chip
if a C301901-001 PAL IC is present!
It is immaterial whether the computer has a DMA chip in 40-pin DIL
format or 44-pin PLCC format, the arrangements described above
must be followed in each case! The PAL belongs(ed) to the package
of the original HD floppy upgrade kit (inc. TOS 2.06, AJAX chip
and EPSON SMD340 Floppy).
If the 1.44 MB floppy does not format reliably all the way
through, then this could be due to the power supply unit of the
computer. The part number must end with -002. If it is a -001
power supply, then the central PCB-mounting screw [presumably of
the power supply board - Translator] must be removed. In addition
the pillar into which the screw fitted has to be insulated from
the PCB. Although all this sounds strange, it is really the case.
While you are at it, you can check whether the "correct"
opto-coupler SHARP PC111 is present. If it is a CNY17, the screen
may flicker a little.
It is simple to connect two floppy drives to the internal push-on
connector. Just connect the drive with a new socket pressed onto
the floppy cable and set the jumper on the drive correctly (!) to
drive-select B, or alter the drive-select jumpers. If a PC floppy
cable is being used that has four wires rotated through 180
degrees, then both floppy drives have to be jumpered to
drive-select 1 (i.e. B), provided the drives go along with that.
If there are problems with this, then the cable has to be modified
to a non-rotated socket connection by fitting a new socket!
If the blitter has to be removed for some reason (only if the
blitter (U205) is socketed in any case), then afterwards the
solder holes of the resistors R224 and R225 have to be bridged
with wire straps or zero-ohm resistors.
Memory-wise a MegaSTE can be upgraded without much work up to 4
Megabytes. More memory is only possible with the FRAK and the PAK3
accelerator card or the new MagnumSTE card for all MegasSTE
computers that first appeared in October 1997.
--------------------- END ---------------------- "
Peter Feddersen asks for info help in identifying his CPU:
"I am investigating the opportunity to upgrade the 68000 CPU on my
MegaSTe - but i cannot find it! Is it not in the same (large) shape
and format as in a normal ST?
As for the HD disks i purchased the ED/HD interface hardware upgrade,
containing both GAL and Clock crystal from www.wbsystemtechnik.de.
However i have not had success in this project - probably because the
manual is in german. The upgrade is complemented with a software disc,
which, unfortunately, also seems rather undocumented.
In a another thread, somebody talks about a magic dip-switch to make
everything work? Where is this?
Can anybody explain the function(s) of the jumpers located around the
motherboard?"
Michael Schwingen tells Peter:
"No. It is a square 68-pin PLCC package, which is BTW clearly labeled as
MC68000"
Hallvard Tangeraas adds:
"It's a PLCC type (square shaped) IC as the one used in the STe.
You'll find it in front of the power supply. In my Mega STe it's marked
as follows, but I believe different variations of the 68000 were used:
http://home.c2i.net/w-460389/mste_68000.jpg
As far as I know, such an upgrade is completely unnecessary for the Mega
STe as it already has provisions for HD floppy drive support (but not
ED -who uses that anyway?), though not all Mega STe machines have it
enabled.
I have an older Mega STe which I want to use a HD floppy drive with. The
drive has been modified for use in an STe for use with a HD/DD
interface such as the one you have, but the Mega STe just doesn't have
the support for it yet.
From what I've read, if a Mega STe doesn't already have a working HD
floppy drive factory installed you have to:
1) buy a HD floppy drive of course. I'm not sure if just about any
"standard" PC type HD floppy drive will work, or if it has to be
(slightly) modified like mine if you don't use the one that Atari put
into Mega STe machine (I believe it was an Epson something).
2) get a PAL chip marked "C301901-002" replacing the "C301901-001" (note
the suffix) which you most likely already have. It's chip "UA-2" which
you'll find right in front of the power supply.
3) Don't quote me on this as I've (hopefully correctly) translated this
from German, using the information for the Mega STe (old board) section
of the "Chips'n Chips version X" HYPertext file, but I believe the
newer boards (*with* full HD floppy support, delivered with HD floppy
drives from the factory) had a wire-trace between that PAL chip and the
68000 processor which wasn't present on older boards, so a wire has to
be soldered between pin 19 of the "UA-2" PAL chip, and pin 19 of the
68000 processor ("U-7" chip). But again, don't quote me on this! I take
no responsibility of fried or malfunctioning Mega STe boards!!!
4) Not to start that old discussion again, but *officially* you need to
change the disk controller chip (I haven't taken a note of the chip
number, but you'll find it underneath the ACSI/SCSI interface board on
the rear-right hand side of the motherboard. Just remove the small
board's screw and unplug it from the multi-pin connector on the right
hand side.
5) Officially from Atari, you need to replace the WD-1772 chip with an
"AJAX" (I can't remember the numbers on that chip, but that's the
nickname it has) which has been designed for the HD/ED modes. The
WD-1772 was built to handle just the DD mode, but unofficially the
WD1772-02-02 (not the suffix) has a higher tolerance than other WD-1772
versions, and many people here have reported it running fine in HD mode
as well as DD mode.
6) If you want to add a "High density" option in addition to "Single
sided" and "Double sided" format options when choosing to format a
floppy disk from the TOS desktop, you need to flip up the number 7 DIP
switch (you'll find an 8 switch DIP block, which is red in my machine)
close to the TOS ROM/EPROMs in the front-right hand side area of the
motherboard.
I assume you mean the DIP switch I just mentioned. It has nothing to do
with enabling or disabling HD floppy support. It just gives you an extra
format option. By flipping the switch ON you will get that option in
the format window even if you don't have a HD floppy drive, the correct
PAL chip or anything else related to HD floppy support! Of course it
won't format the floppy drive to HD standards.
I think a few of the jumpers are explained in the "Chips'n chips X"
HYPertext file. It's a HUGE HYP file, and you probably need a 4 Mbyte
machine to run it, but I've also read it using a couple of free Atari
ST emulators in Windows ("GEMulator 2000" and "STEem engine", the
latter being the best one in my opinion).
I have the file here, so if it can't be found elsewhere I'll see about
uploading it (not sure if I have enough disk space, but we'll see).
I've just made a photo available, showing the location of the various
ICs concerning the HD floppy drive and the other Mega STe stuff that
I've discussed in different threads lately.
Take a look here: http://home.c2i.net/w-460389/mste_overview.jpg "
Greg Goodwin posts this interesting tidbit:
"From...
http://desnoyers.org/retroch allenge/
Introduction
Do you depend upon modern computers, or are you a creative spirit who
can push the limits of your old hardware in order to fulfill your
everyday needs? The Retrochallenge is where you find out. This
competition promotes the use of vintage hardware by establishing up
three challenges. You are encouraged to enter any or all of theses
challenges, to judge the creative works of other participants, or
simply join in the discussions on our mailing list.
What are these challenges? If you enjoy creating original artwork,
music, or programs on your legacy computer, then the creative
challenges are for you.
Simply do what you normally do, then submit your work to be judged by
your peers. The second challenge is simply using a qualifying computer
through the month of July, in a competition to see can survive a month
without the latest in gadgetry. The third challenges judges how well
you could communicate with the outside world on a retrocomputer.
So what is the prize? The excitement of participating in the challenge
(everyone gets that one), and the respect of your peers. In order to
help you gain the recognition of your peers, MLAgazine has graciously
offered to publish an article about the winner.
(68000 computers get a x3 modifier compared to the standard '030
computers which will be a modifier of x1.)"
Well folks, that's it for this week. 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 - Magna Carta: Tears of Blood!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" The Brain and Violent Games!
Scooby-Doo! Unmasked!
And more!
=~=~=~=
->A-ONE's Game Console Industry News - The Latest Gaming News!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Magna Carta: Tears of Blood Coming This Fall To Playstation 2
A man who despises the Yason...
A woman who loves all living creatures...
Migration to a New Land
600 years ago, a strange disease spread across the land, turning its
victims into stone. A war ensued, raging for several hundred years and
continuing to this day. Tired of the fighting, one group set sail in hopes
of finding a new place to live. After countless weeks at sea, the four
boats landed on the continent of Efferia. The immigrants saw that the land
had been blessed by nature, and so they decided to settle there and begin a
new life-a fresh start for those who had lost faith in humanity.
In Efferia, there was a race-the Yason-that closely resembled humans.
Though not narrow-minded, they were not prepared to welcome these new
settlers with open arms. The Yason and the humans maintained a respectable
distance from each other, and went on with their daily lives. Though as
time passed, they began to intermingle. However, the human population
expanded rapidly, and marginalized the Yason. The Yason's hatred for humans
grew until war finally erupted. Initially, the humans had the advantage
because of their experience with war. But, before long, the physically
superior Yason had turned the tables. After 30 years of fighting, the
possibility for a peaceful resolution had vanished.
Calintz, the leader of a small, elite mercenary unit, the "Tears of Blood,"
took up arms to avenge the destruction of his home. To end the war, the
humans mounted a massive attack on the Yason's base, and Calintz's team
participated. But, once the fighting began, Calintz ran into Reith, who had
lost her memory. Was it fate that brought them together?
Could this chance encounter somehow change the future for all of Efferia?
FEATURES:
* A 50+ hour fantasy that unfolds through amazing CGI cut-scenes and
fully voiced dialogue.
* Unlock the secrets of the Carta System and unleash spellbinding
magical fury!
* Character designs by renowned Korean Artist, Hyung Tae Kim bring the
world of Efferia to life!
* Unique real-time battle system allows you to position yourself
anywhere on the battlefield!
Scooby-Doo! Unmasked
In this action adventure platform game, players will assume the role of
Scooby-Doo as he and the teenage sleuths of Mystery Inc. visit Fred's
cousin Jed, a monster movie set designer. They'll find Jed has disappeared
and his animatronics are out of control, sending mechanical monsters
haywire and making Jed the prime suspect.
Players must stop the creepy costumed characters, unmask the truth and
prove Jed's innocence. Scooby will be able to don Kung Fu, bat and archer
costumes so that he can karate chop, glide and aim plungers at monsters.
The game consists of three sprawling worlds that each feature multiple
levels and mini games with numerous cut scenes and climactic boss battles.
Players will recognize the voice of the original Batman television series'
Adam West as Winslow Stanton, the game's main villain, as well as authentic
Scooby-Doo! cartoon voice actors. In addition, effects from the original
cartoon, such as canned laughter and classic catch phrases, have been
incorporated into the game.
Brain Sees Violent Video Games As Real Life
The brains of players of violent video games react as if the violence were
real, a study has suggested.
Klaus Mathiak at the University of Aachen in Germany studied the brain
patterns of 13 men aged 18 to 26 who, on average, played video games for
two hours a day.
Wired up to a scanner, they were asked to play a game involving navigating
through a complicated bunker, killing attackers and rescuing hostages.
Mathiak found that as violence became imminent, the cognitive parts of the
brain became active and that during a fight, emotional parts of the brain
were shut down.
The pattern was the same as that seen in subjects who have had brain scans
during other simulated violent situations.
It suggests that video games are a "training for the brain to react with
this pattern," Mathiak says.
The research was presented at a meeting in Canada and reported by New
Scientist magazine.
Whether violent videos make people more aggressive though is hard to prove,
the magazine noted. Studies have suggested players of violent games are in
fact more aggressive but have left open the question of whether the games
made them that way.
=~=~=~=
->A-ONE Gaming Online - Online Users Growl & Purr!
"""""""""""""""""""
Byte Junkies Looking for a Thrill? Come and Get Your Game On!
Fossil and Atari Team Up to Combine Atari's Classic Game Graphics
With Fossil's Watches
Fossil, Inc., a leader in design, development, marketing and distribution
of contemporary, high quality fashion watches and accessories, and Atari,
Inc., a leader in interactive entertainment, have joined forces to create a
line of retro watches that will bring Atari's signature game graphics to
the wrist. The line will feature watches with a vintage style and graphics
based on best-selling 80's games such as Centipede, Breakout and Asteroids.
Atari recognized Fossil as one of the most innovative watch companies in
the market and expects the combination of Fossil's know-how and technology
in watch making, along with the graphics from classic Atari video games,
to appeal to a wide range of consumers. Old school but for every
generation, these Fossil watches are bursting with special effects.
"Fossil has worked closely with Atari, taking our current range of animated
watches to the next level with the addition of Atari's vintage graphics,"
says Karen Schuback, Design Director of Fossil Watches. "As a company,
Fossil is driven by the need to provide our customers with new and exciting
products. We were immediately captivated by Atari's 80's-inspired graphics
to deliver new watch faces incorporating features that our customers may be
familiar with while capturing new customers who are interested in vintage
graphics."
"We are excited to be working with Fossil to bring Atari's classic gaming
icons to consumers," said Wim Stocks, Executive Vice President, Atari, Inc.
"Few other brands have the ability to sell product, style and lifestyle.
Atari is committed to 'mining the vault' for new revenue streams and
innovative ways to bring its classic games and images to consumers."
The watches will be available on fossil.com, all Fossil stores nationwide,
select department stores, jewelry stores and specialty stores and available
worldwide this fall.
=~=~=~=
A-ONE's Headline News
The Latest in Computer Technology News
Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson
Google May Expand Into Online Payments
Hoping to build upon the power of its Internet leading search engine,
Google Inc. is believed to be developing an online payment system that that
would pose a stiff challenge to online auctioneer Bay Inc.'s
industry-dominating PayPal service.
Industry analysts, merchants and investors were digesting reports Monday
that the Mountain View-based company is testing a payment system -
codenamed "Google Wallet" - in hopes of rolling out the service later this
year.
Google declined to comment, but the company's silence didn't muffle the
buzz about a service that would set up a showdown between two Internet
powerhouses.
Investors, meanwhile, appeared to view Google as a formidable threat.
Google's shares gained $6.40, or 2.3 percent, Monday to close at $286.70 on
the Nasdaq Stock Market, where eBay's shares dropped 81 cents, or 2.1
percent, to finish at $37.24.
"It's definitely going to happen; too many people already know about it and
are talking about it," said Chris Winfield, who follows Google's
machinations closely as president of 10e20, a search engine marketing firm.
After talking to a variety of industry sources, American Technology
Research analyst David Edwards also is convinced Google is developing its
own payment system. He believes Google Wallet initially will be tied to
Froogle, the search engine's shopping comparison service.
Google conceivably could use a payment service in many other ways. For
instance, the service might process the money that's exchanged between the
millions of merchants and Web sites participating in its online advertising
network.
A payment service also could make it easier for Google to sell content
through its search engine.
Google already has indicated it will charge visitors to view certain videos
that will be indexed in its search engine. Some analysts also think a
payment service would enable Google to charge a fee on behalf of publishers
looking to cash in on copyrighted or subscription-only news articles.
"This is probably the biggest threat to PayPal that has come along so far,"
said Gartner Inc. analyst Avivah Litan.
PayPal spokeswoman Amanda Pires declined to comment Monday. "It's pretty
hard to talk about a product that doesn't even exist yet."
The first hint of Google Wallet came in March when the company formed
Google Payment Corp., according to documents filed in Delaware. In April,
Google incorporated the same company in California.
If the payment-processing service materializes, it would herald a
significant expansion for Google, which depends upon online advertising for
virtually all of its revenue.
Google's formula has been highly successful so far, generating a $369
million profit on sales of $1.26 billion during the first three months of
the year. But the reliance on advertising has raised fears that Google is
more vulnerable to a financial downturn other companies, such as Yahoo
Inc., that have developed other revenue channels.
Launching a payment-processing service would help diversify Google because
the company would collect a service fee for each transaction it helps
complete.
A payment service also might give Google more insights into accountholder
buying habits - an advantage that theoretically could be used to do a
better job of delivering relevant ad links that would be more likely to be
clicked upon to generate more profits.
Although it ranks among the most potent companies on the Internet, Google's
expansion into payment processing wouldn't be easy, largely because PayPal
has such a huge head start in the field.
Since starting in 1999 with just 24 users, PayPal has grown to 72 million
accountholders. The service processed payments totaling $6.2 billion during
the first quarter, with 71 percent of the activity occurring in eBay's
online auctions.
The service is becoming an increasingly important source of revenue for San
Jose-based eBay, which bought PayPal for $1.3 billion in 2002.
PayPal generated $233.1 million, or 23 percent, of eBay's revenue during
the first quarter.
While dueling with PayPal, Google probably would have to spend heavily to
combat fraud - a chronic problem for payment processing systems.
"If they don't have a good job fighting fraud, Google will lose money on
this," Gartner's Litan said.
Other companies have tried to branch into online payments with little or
no success. Sunnyvale-based Yahoo, for instance, ran a service called
PayDirect to handle transactions on its auction site, but shut down that
free service last year.
AOL Takes Bold Step: Content's Now Free
The walls guarding America Online's proprietary content quietly started to
crumble this week as the company placed most of its news, sports, chats and
other features on the open Internet. That's the culmination of AOL's
18-month-old plan to vie head-on with Google, Yahoo and Microsoft as an
advertising-driven Web portal. The new strategy is a bid to offset the loss
of millions of subscribers.
As part of a test, online users now can access a Web version of AOL's
trademark welcome screen and menu of content channels by going to AOL.com
and clicking on a link called "AOL.com Beta Test." Over the summer, AOL
plans to move the programming directly to AOL.com. "Very quietly, the
walled-garden era has ended," AOL Chief Jonathan Miller said after meeting
with USA TODAY's editorial board.
AOL is still the No. 1 Internet service, but its subscriber base has fallen
to 22 million from 26 million two years ago as customers continue to defect
to cable and DSL broadband providers or discount dial-up services. To stem
the bleeding, the Time Warner unit has remade itself as a top broadband
content company by offering exclusive music concerts and videos, movie
trailers, news clips and sports highlights. But just 5 million subscribers
shell out $14.95 a month for AOL's content in addition to a separate cable
or DSL broadband fee.
So Miller decided to unleash AOL's morsels to the world and try to reap the
benefits of an ad boom that has buoyed Google, Yahoo and Microsoft. "It
stares you in the face," Miller says. "Our competitors are doing great on
the Web."
AOL's flagship service and top Web sites such as Moviefone, Mapquest and
Netscape reached the $1 billion ad-revenue milestone last year, placing AOL
behind only Yahoo, Google and Microsoft. But without its new Web strategy,
AOL would continue to lose market share to those portals, Miller says.
AOL, he contends, can stand out with its music and video offerings. Since
AOL put its music content on the Web in November, monthly visitor totals
have jumped from about 15 million to 24 million.
To drive traffic to AOL.com, the company will place links on its popular
AIM instant-messaging service, Moviefone and other sites. It also has
replaced its proprietary programming language with the Web language HTML
and embedded computer code on its pages so they will be called up by search
engines.
Miller concedes that the change could accelerate subscriber losses. But he
says few members cite content as a drawing card. And key features, such as
AOL email addresses and parental controls, will still be available to
subscribers only.
"It's not going to be easy for AOL to keep up with Yahoo and MSN," says
JupiterResearch analyst David Card. But, "It's a smart strategy."
EBay Encourages Sellers to Build Web Sites
Eager to find new sources of income and keep its sellers from striking out
on their own, eBay Inc. launched a new service Thursday that encourages
small- and medium-sized sellers to build Web stores that operate
independent of the e-commerce powerhouse.
EBay's new ProStores service will allow sellers to design their own
fixed-price e-commerce site with a unique Web address. The service, which
costs $6.95 per month with fees ranging from .5 percent to 1.5 percent of
transactions, will allow users to link their custom-built site to their
eBay site and use PayPal, eBay's popular online transaction service.
The move comes as year-over-year revenue growth slows in the company's core
auction format - particularly in the United States and Germany, where
eBay's market penetration is nearing saturation. The San Jose-based company
has been aggressive about expanding into emerging markets such as China and
India, but it also has experimented with online classified advertisements,
real estate and other new business ventures to try to maintain double-digit
revenue increases in the lucrative e-commerce markets of North America and
western Europe.
For several years, eBay employees have been charged with expanding the
company beyond online auctions - including creating services that transform
eBay into a sort of consulting service for small business owners looking to
build their e-commerce presence, said Michael Dearing, eBay senior vice
president and general merchandise manager.
About one in three of eBay's largest sellers - such as people who sell
entire lines of discontinued clothes from China and computer vendors who
sell millions of dollars worth of equipment each month - operate their own
e-commerce stores. But more than 100,000 smaller sellers, who hawk
everything from handmade sweaters to Pez dispensers, often don't have sites
other than their eBay store, Dearing said.
"We are all about helping sellers succeed online, and we're building
products and services to help them do that," Dearing said. "The marketplace
will continue to be a foundation for a long time, but we know that sellers
are interested in finding buyers all over the place and this can help them
do that.
The new service comes about a half-year after the San Jose-based company
enraged many small-scale sellers with a hefty price hike that threatened
to dent their profits. In mid-January, eBay warned sellers in a terse
e-mail that the monthly subscription fee for people who operate "Basic eBay
Stores" would increase from $9.95 to $15.95, and the fee for a standard
listing of 10 days would double, from 20 cents to 40 cents.
Also on Thursday, CEO Meg Whitman said the company, which ended 2004 with
net income of $778.2 million and cash reserves of $1.33 billion, may offer
a dividend or repurchase some shares. Like many Silicon Valley technology
companies, 10-year-old eBay has never paid a cash dividend, preferring
instead to reinvest profits on research and development, marketing
promotions and other business expenses.
"We aren't averse to returning cash to shareholders when we think we have
a strategic reserve," Whitman said to about 100 shareholders who gathered
in San Jose for an annual meeting. "But you have to be thoughtful of what
you communicate when you do that."
Whitman also brushed aside concerns of one shareholder, who worried about
the company's sliding stock price. EBay shares have declined 40 percent
from a 52-week high in December, trading at $35.63 Thursday on the Nasdaq
Stock Exchange.
"We're bullish about the long term for the company," Whitman said. "Is the
stock market efficient day to day, week to week? Probably not."
Samsung Has Big Plans for Flash Drives
Samsung Electronics hopes that falling prices for flash memory chips will
mean solid-state memory can eventually replace hard drives in laptop
computers and other devices, a top executive says.
The South Korean company recently made its first step towards this goal
with the announcement of a prototype 16GB drive based on flash chips.
Flash memory has several advantages over hard-disk drive storage: it
consumes less power, it has higher resistance to shock, it's more reliable
because there are no moving parts, it can read and write data faster, and
it's silent in operation. But there's a major hurdle to mass-market
adoption: it's much more expensive.
Samsung is betting that price difference will erode if double-digit
percentage price drops in the flash memory market continue and so the
market for flash-based storage will broaden, says Hwang Chang-Gyu,
president and CEO of Samsung's semiconductor business. He spoke to
reporters in a briefing at the company's main chip production complex in
Giheung, South Korea, south of Seoul.
Hwang cites flash memory price drops of around 40 percent in the last year
as evidence that flash is quickly getting much cheaper.
"This will be big once people enjoy how much faster and convenient it is
to use solid-state disks rather than hard-disk drives," Hwang says. "We're
starting with 16GB and expanding to 100GB in a couple of years."
Samsung hasn't announced the price of the 16GB drive yet, but the target
markets for the product - military and industrial computing - are typically
willing to pay a premium for technology. The drive is packaged in a case
the same size as a 2.5-inch hard drive so it can be used as a direct
replacement for these drives. Samsung has also announced 8GB and 4GB
versions that will be a similar size to 1.8-inch drives.
The company has good reason to be championing flash memory. It's the
world's number one producer of flash chips with revenue more than double
that of second-ranked Intel, according to iSuppli. In contrast it ranked
fifth in market share in the hard drive market in 2004, according to IDC.
Coming Soon: MS Office Alternatives for Mac
Major milestones were recently announced for two Mac OS X-compatible
software suites that could provide an alternative to the near-ubiquitous
Microsoft Office. The free NeoOffice/J, an open-source software development
project created by Patrick Luby and Edward Peterlin, has reached its "first
stable release," and South Korea-based Haansoft has announced that it will
ship a Mac OS X version of its ThinkFree Office 3.0 suite close on the
heels of the July release of the Windows version.
NeoOffice/J 1.1 represents the first "final" release of the office suite,
which includes a word processor, spreadsheet and presentation software, and
a drawing application. It also offers improved text handling and bug fixes
to the earlier Final Candidate release.
According to its creators, NeoOffice/J is compatible with most Microsoft
Office files. Unlike some open-source office suites, NeoOffice/J users can
drag and drop as well as copy and paste data to and from other
applications.
In addition, NeoOffice/J uses a standard Mac OS X installer, presents
native Aqua menus, does not require Mac OS X users to install and use X11
software, uses Mac OS X fonts and has native printing support.
However, "NeoOffice/J is not perfect," the developers caution on their Web
site. Support options consist of perusing online forums, such as NeoWiki
and Trinity Forums. This has long been a barrier to corporate adoption, as
many companies prefer to work with software companies that can offer
support contracts.
NeoOffice/J, which is based on the OpenOffice.org code base, is distributed
under the GNU GPL (General Public License), which means that users can
freely create and share copies as long as they include the source code. In
addition, users are encouraged to make and contribute changes, as long as
these are, in turn, released to the public under the same GPL terms.
In contrast, the ThinkFree Office 3.0 suite will not be free, though it
will not cost nearly as much as Microsoft's product; Haansoft has not
released final pricing, but the current version of the suite is available
for $49.95.
According to Haansoft press releases, ThinkFree Office 3.0's main advance
over Version 2.3 will be improved compatibility with Microsoft Office
features and file formats.
ThinkFree Office includes the ThinkFree Write word processor, the ThinkFree
Calc spreadsheet application and the ThinkFree Show presentation
application.
Haansoft also publishes Hangul 2005 and Hancom Office 2005, which are
popular word processing and office applications in South Korea.
Library Internet Access Better Than Ever
Virtually every U.S. public library now offers free Internet access but
most ration it, inhibiting the ability of lower-income families to benefit
from the Information Age.
Libraries in Fresno County, Calif., impose a half-hour limit during peak
periods, but one branch reported that patrons needed two hours or more of
computer time just to fill out online job applications for a new Home Depot
store.
Typically, two to seven people are waiting for a computer to become free at
the main library.
Time limits mean "people can't get to the things that are important to
them," said Karen Bosch Cobb, Fresno's interim chief librarian. "People are
doing grant applications, scholarship, reading their e-mail," she said,
while immigrants use the Internet to stay in touch with relatives abroad
via e-mail and read news about their native countries.
In a study released Thursday, the American Library Association said 99.6
percent of libraries are now connected to Internet, with all but a handful
offering access to the public. That compares with 20.9 percent in 1994 when
the study was first conducted.
"If you look at some of these numbers, some people might have a tendency to
say, 'My gosh, they are connected. They are doing all these things. They
don't need help anymore,'" said John Bertot, the Florida State University
professor who directed the study. "That has me concerned. Public libraries
do still need help."
For the first time, libraries were asked about their ability to meet
demand. Seventy percent of libraries said there aren't enough computer
terminals during peak periods, while another 16 percent said there's always
a shortage.
Shortages are most common in high-poverty and urban areas, the study found.
The El Paso, Texas, library system tripled the number of computers to
nearly 300 "and we still can't keep up," said Carol Brey-Casiano, the
library director and ALA president. "It seems like the more we add, the
more computers we need."
Two-thirds of American adults now use the Internet, according to a March
survey from the Pew Internet and American Life Project. But the U.S.
Commerce Department found in 2003 that 14 percent of Internet users,
including children, have no access at home and depend on libraries, school
or work.
"While most of America's middle class has Internet access at home, there's
still a digital divide among low-income citizens, people with limited
education, ethnic minorities and other groups," said Andy Carvin, an expert
in improving access to technology and the Internet.
Carvin is particularly concerned about lines and time limits, saying it's
not always reasonable to simply ask patrons to come back.
"For students, they have a limited turnaround time to conduct research or
do homework," Carvin said. "For many low-income residents working multiple
jobs just to make ends meet, they lack the flexibility to come during
low-use hours."
The ALA study also found that while most libraries offer training, they
tend to be ad-hoc - librarians offering individual assistance whenever they
have time. Only 28 percent offer regularly scheduled classes - 16 percent
in rural areas.
Forty-two percent of libraries have high-speed connections, but only 34
percent of rural libraries, compared with 73 percent in urban areas.
"If you limit people to a half hour, and they are trying to download large
files (over a dial-up modem), chances are your time is going to be up
before you can do it," Bertot said.
While some libraries reported funding constrains, space is what prevents
others from offering more Internet terminals. Unable to expand, the library
in Prairie du Chien, Wisc., installed Wi-Fi wireless access points so
patrons can connect using their own laptops.
Overall, 18 percent of libraries offer wireless access and another 21
percent plan to do so within the next year.
But many people who depend on libraries for the Internet also do not own
computers, let alone laptops.
The study, conducted with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and its
library grants program, was based on questionnaires administered to a
random sampling of the nation's public libraries from November to February.
Hotmail Takes a Tougher Stance on Spam
Microsoft is throwing the full weight of Hotmail behind its Sender ID
e-mail authentication technology by sidelining incoming mail when it fails
to pass a Sender ID check.
The software maker has begun warning Hotmail users with an on-screen alert
when the sender of an incoming e-mail cannot be verified using its Sender
ID Framework. Mail that fails to pass the test will be placed in a junk
mail folder or could even be deleted, according to Craig Spiezle, director
of Microsoft's Technology Care and Safety Group.
Spiezle laid out the changes in an interview posted on Microsoft's Web site
this week. Microsoft is pushing Sender ID as a system for identifying and
thwarting unwanted e-mail. The technology works by verifying that e-mails
originate from the domain from which they claim to have been sent. It
checks the sending server's address against a registered list of servers
that the domain owner has authorized to send e-mail.
By making all mail received by Hotmail go through the Sender ID check,
Microsoft is not only making a strong play for the technology but also
pushing ISPs and other businesses to publish their sender policy framework
(SPF) records so that their mail does not get quashed. Hotmail reserves the
right to delete mail based on antispam and antiphishing heuristics and on
the sender's reputation, Spiezle says. He did not say how reputations are
assessed.
Organizations should publish their SPF records to "protect their domain and
ultimately enhance their brand name," he says.
Microsoft is not the only major technology player promoting an antispam
technology. Yahoo has an authentication technology called DomainKeys, and
IBM has rolled out a new antispam technology called FairUCE, or Fair use
of Unsolicited Commercial E-mail.
Yahoo licenses out DomainKeys, and recently said it is working with Cisco
Systems to combine their antispam technologies and create a new
authentication system. IBM is promoting its technology with developers,
saying it wants to help them build more effective antispam filters.
Yahoo Shuts Chat Rooms Amid Child Sex Concerns
Yahoo Inc., the most-used Internet site, has shut down all its user-created
Internet chat rooms amid concerns that adults were using the sites to try
to have sex with minors.
The giant Internet media company closed down those chat rooms and the
ability to create new ones "in the past week," said Yahoo spokeswoman Mary
Osako.
Chat rooms created and sponsored by Yahoo itself remain open, Osako said.
The number of user-created chat rooms is variable at any given time and
Yahoo does not track that figure, she said.
The user-created chat rooms in question, where Internet users converse in
real time, had names including "Girls 13 And Under For Older Guys" and
"Girls 13 And Up For Much Older Men" and were all listed under "education
chat rooms," Houston television station KPRC reported.
"We are working on improvements to the service to enhance users' experience
and their compliance with our terms of service," Osako said. "Yahoo
condemns the use of Internet tools for illegal activities."
KPRC reported last month that major advertisers including PepsiCo Inc.,
Georgia-Pacific Corp. and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.
removed their ads after the station found the ads were appearing on Yahoo
user-created chat rooms that were aimed at sex with children.
"As soon as we found out we pulled our ads," said Pepsi spokesman Dave
DeCecco. "We were totally unaware our ads were associated with those chat
rooms - and that was back in April."
Pepsi continues to advertise on other parts of Yahoo's site, mostly in
sports and music sections, but pulled all its ads in user-created chat
rooms.
"They were down the same day we found out about it," DeCecco said,
referring to the ads on user chat rooms.
"We were horrified to find out we were on those sites," said
Georgia-Pacific spokeswoman Robin Keegan. "As soon as we found out, that
day we pulled that advertising."
A spokesperson for State Farm was not immediately available to comment.
The concern over online safety for children using the Internet has surged
with the number of people using the Internet, which allows for anonymous
and sometimes hard-to-trace communication and content.
It's also not the first time that Yahoo has faced the issue of users taking
advantage of its free services to lure young children.
A minor and his parents in May filed a $10 million lawsuit against Yahoo
and a man who once operated a Yahoo Groups site where members traded child
pornography.
Many attorneys argue that the Communications Decency Act shields Web sites
from responsibility for material posted by users.
But the lawsuit, filed on May 9 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern
District of Texas, charged that Yahoo breached its duties by allowing
co-defendant Mark Bates and others to share child pornography on a site,
called Candyman, that Bates created and moderated via the Yahoo Groups
service.
A child pornography investigation led by the U.S. Federal Bureau of
Investigation and dubbed Operation Candyman targeted Yahoo Groups users and
ultimately resulted in the arrest of more than 100 people in the United
States.
Windows Minus Media Player Not Big Seller
In Microsoft's new operating system - Windows XP N - the "N" stands for
"Not with Media Player." But it might as well stand for "No Thanks." PC
makers and distributors are holding back from buying the new alternative
version of Windows XP that Europe's competition commissioner ordered
Microsoft Corp. to offer as part of the punishment in the software maker's
long antitrust battle with the European Union.
Windows XP N was released to distributors last week in English, French,
German, Italian and Spanish and will be available to the public in the next
few weeks. Versions in 10 additional languages will be released in July.
The world's largest software maker had to change its Windows operating
system after EU antitrust regulators ruled last year that it abusively
wielded its Windows monopoly and locked out competitors. Microsoft was
fined a record euro497 million ($608 million).
But computer distributors and manufacturers are so far showing little
interest in the new product, which compels consumers to choose their media
player and download it from the Internet.
And that raises questions over the effectiveness of the media player
component of the antitrust ruling.
"We don't see any interest at all in the product for the consumer," said
Lionel Jarlan, computer buyer at France's Fnac department store chain. Fnac
will be testing the product in a limited range of stores. They are
expecting a first delivery at the beginning of July.
Many stores say they will not bother stocking the product.
"We'll continue to sell the old version because it's obviously better value
for our customers," said Gina Jones, spokeswoman for PC World, Britain's
leading PC retailer.
Microsoft is offering Windows XP N for the same price as the standard
version of Windows XP.
Spanish online computer store Publinet has not ordered the product.
"We'll first see how it sells. I heard that this version would be cheaper,"
said Jose Cabeza, technical director for Publinet. "If it isn't, logically
the market will decide about it. I don't see why a client on the street
would choose a lesser product."
Several PC makers said they had no plans to install the new version of
Windows XP because they did not expect a demand for it.
"This comes down to resources in terms of changing over as well as little
evidence from consumers asking for 'N' specifically," said Ken Chan,
portables product manager for Toshiba.
Sony and Dell said they did not intend to install the new product in their
computers.
"From our experience, customers purchasing computers expect them to come
equipped with the capability of playing back digital media files," said
Dell spokesman Liem Nguyen.
Changes to the version of Windows XP without Media Player came after EU
regulators were not convinced the Windows version the company was forced
to produce without Media Player was technically up to standard.
Microsoft and the EU are still negotiating its compliance with another EU
order - that the company share Windows' source code with competitors who
make server software so their products can better communicate with
Windows-powered computers.
The EU can fine Microsoft up to 5 percent of its daily global sales for
each day that a decision is not applied to the EU's satisfaction.
Microsoft initially wanted to call the new version of its consumer
operating system "Windows XP Reduced Media Edition" but EU regulators said
that name would discourage sales.
"We have made these products available to our standard distribution
channels, as the EU commission outlined. Now its up to computer
manufacturers, distributors and customers to decide whether to order the
product," said Derek Delmartino, spokesman for Microsoft in Brussels. Sales
could not be calculated for at least a month, he added.
Software buyers said clients for the new product would have to be extremely
well-informed.
"I think they'll be a minority of clients, maybe product developers, but a
minority who will buy the product," said Stefan Decque, a software buyer at
Surcouf computer store in Paris.
Jarlan pointed out that it is easy to uninstall Media Player from the
complete version of Windows XP if clients want to avoid it.
"It's a militant act for a customer to buy the new version," he said.
Sneak a Peek at the New AOL.com
AOL on Tuesday launched a beta version of its new free Web portal, designed
to put the site on par with other Internet jack-of-all-trade sites like
Yahoo.com and Microsoft's MSN. A link on the AOL site will lead users to
the new portal in progress.
"The new AOL.com is a next-generation portal that really begins to fulfill
the promise of the Internet in terms of bringing real video assets to the
users' fingertips-users can actually consume things - it's not a question
mark as to whether this video will really play," AOL.com Vice President and
General Manager David Liu said.
"Also, being able to have very timely programming-news and also the best
of what's happening on the Web-all in one place is really unique," he said.
The new site will offer features that were once only available to America
Online Inc. subscribers, and several new extras-fulfilling the company's
ultimate goal of creating a hub where consumers can use AOL's communication
services and have easy access to news and information from a variety of
sources, which will include partner Time Warner Inc.'s People, InStyle and
Real Simple magazines.
The portal will also lead users to the widely used AOL Instant Messenger,
the AOL Journals blogging
service and the AOL Picture service for storing
and organizing photos.
Aside from the polyglot of information and services, the real push seems to
be to provide instant access to music and video to a degree not seen on the
Web before.
The new site will have a comprehensive AOL Radio on demand with 200
channels, and after the beta-testing period ends, will also be host to 20
XM Radio channels. XM subscribers will, alternately, have access to over
90 satellite radio channels.
"It's the best in class in terms of breadth of content and satellite radio,
in addition to the fact that we're always up-to-date in keeping the
channels fresh," Liu said about the new AOL.com music features.
The existing AOL Session and Music Live programming will also be brought
to the forefront. These have been a coup for AOL in terms of its connection
to the industry and to consumers. Liu said after AOL made these programs
available to non-subscribers the site's traffic increased by 60 percent,
and that most major musicians will cut a session or kick off a tour via
AOL. Most recently, AOL Music Live aired video of Coldplay playing at NYC's
Beacon Theater.
For video, the company seems to be letting out all the stops. In addition
to adding a Video Search to the site's new search capabilities, visitors
will eventually be able to access AOL's new Video Hub to watch music
videos, movie clips and trailers, full-length video features, news and live
feeds from various outlets.
Users will also be able to watch a Web-only reality show titled "The Biz"
in which AOL visitors can enter to become the head of their own record
labels. All video will be delivered through a new AOL video player.
"Video on demand and video search are an important part of AOL.com's
programming," an official company statement said. "Nowhere on the Web will
consumers find a video and audio experience like the one that will be
offered through the new AOL.com portal."
The new portal will also bring together AOL's disparate Web properties
under an all-inclusive Search function, powered by Google. The site aims
to make it easy for consumers to use AOL Yellow Pages, MapQuest,
Moviefone.com, and travel search engine Pinpoint Travel.
It's been no secret that AOL has been losing a grip on subscribers,
dropping from a high of 26.7 million subscribers in 2002 to 21.7 million
at the end of March 2005. Arguably, the drop can be attributed to dial-up
customers moving over to broadband, which AOL does not currently offer.
Earlier this month, the company laid off its message board administrators
and moved its once-active message boards out of the limelight. Now, critics
have said that with AOL focused on giving away its exclusive content to
everyone on the Web, there will be less incentive to keep subscribers
around.
On the upside for the company, online advertising has been booming. Reports
say that in the first quarter of 2005, AOL's advertising revenue increased
45 percent, and its subscription intake fell 8 percent. With those figures
in mind, it makes sense that the company has decided to decrease membership
services and move to portal status, with an advertising model to keep
things afloat.
"When we decided to go with the audience strategy, we had to be very clear
about what members cared about and what they were paying for," Liu said.
"Most said they weren't paying for content and were paying for connectivity
and the bundled suite of features."
He added, "The new site brings a lot of what people are asking for today to
the forefront - a timely site for all of the AOL portals that blends human
programming with computer programming."
The test version of the new portal will not contain all of the planned
features, but most of them will be rolled out over the next month. Liu said
he expects the full site to launch at the end of July.
Spain Arrests Web Code-cracker "P. Power"
Spanish police said they had arrested "P. Power", one of the most renowned
code-crackers on the Internet, following a nine-month inquiry.
Armed with a simple modem connection to the World Wide Web, a decrepit
computer and standard software "P.Power" broke security codes and hacked
his way into costly professional computer programmes, the interior ministry
said.
Spanish authorities have not released the identity of "P. Power," known
only by his Internet pseudonym, but they did say he was a 26-year-old
engineer.
After meticulously unassembling programmes, analysing their weak points and
then stripping them of their protection, the hacker broadcast messages to
the Internet saying that he was the unique code-cracker and was sending out
the codes for free, according to the interior ministry.
The ministry added it was impossible to put a price on the damage caused to
firms using the programmes pirated or how many Internet users had
downloaded the codes for free.
Unlike code "crackers," web "hackers" break into protected programmes of
organisations such as NASA, banks or the FBI.
File-Swapping May Be Here to Stay
Four years after it shuttered the original Napster with a legal assault,
the recording industry is taking a different approach to online
file-swapping: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
Recording companies have begun taking steps to legitimize the peer-to-peer
technology that lets computer users share songs, video and other files with
one another online.
However the U.S. Supreme Court rules in a file-swapping decision expected
as early as Thursday, the technology appears irrepressible.
In the last few months, major record labels have signed licensing deals
with companies working to field file-swapping services that would block
unauthorized files from being traded online.
"There's only two options here," said Michael Goodman, an analyst at The
Yankee Group market research firm. "You either license it - and you find a
way to license it and monetize it - or you don't license it and it gets
traded anyway."
Some 330 million tracks were purchased online last year from online stores
such as Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes. But around 5 billion were downloaded
from free file-sharing networks, he said.
Meanwhile, recording companies have sued 11,700 computer users for
file-swapping. Of those, 2,500 cases have been settled, typically for about
$3,000 each.
The Supreme Court is considering whether companies behind unrestricted
file-sharing services - Grokster and Morpheus - should be liable for
copyright infringement. The case's outcome could speed the way for licensed
peer-to-peer services.
Even so, it remains to be seen whether those industry-endorsed alternatives
can attract people who now tap open file-swapping networks using such
programs as eDonkey, BitTorrent and Kazaa.
"When it comes down to it, why is somebody going to pay for something they
can get for free?" said Mac Padilla, 21, a student who lives in Los
Angeles.
The industry may know the answer at least in part as early as next month,
when Peer Impact, one of the licensed file-swapping services, is slated to
launch.
Its software can be used to find and purchase tracks from an initial
catalog of a half-million songs from all the major labels, said Gregory
Kerber, head of Saratoga Springs, N.Y.-based Wurld Media Inc., the firm
behind the service.
After a user buys a song from Peer Impact, future buyers get it from that
member - or others who have gotten it in the meantime - instead of from a
central server. Users have to pay for each track they download, but sharing
songs they've purchased from Peer Impact earns them credits they can spend
on the service.
At launch, at least, Peer Impact will not let users share songs from their
own collections.
Another company to sign licensing deals with major and independent record
labels is Snocap Inc., which was founded by Napster creator Shawn Fanning.
The company's software is designed to track songs being swapped online and
notify record labels when someone tries to share a song that hasn't been
licensed for free distribution. Snocap also has a deal with file-sharing
software maker Mashboxx to block unlicensed tracks from moving through its
network.
Mashboxx is set to launch a beta test version next month, said Wayne Rosso,
chief executive for the Virginia Beach, Va.-based company. Rosso, who once
headed the company behind the Grokster file-swapping software, says
Mashboxx users will be able to search for tracks across peer-to-peer
networks, upload them and share those that are not restricted by record
labels using Snocap's software.
Through Snocap, the labels will be able to assign usage rules for each
track, deciding whether users on Mashboxx or other peer-to-peer networks
can listen to a track a few times before they must purchase it, or what
sort of copy restrictions each file will have, for example.
Rosso claims Mashboxx users will be able to swap millions of tracks - such
as concert bootlegs and other recordings - on which record labels have not
applied restrictions.
That would help unsigned bands that use peer-to-peer networks to build
their audience and established acts like Wilco that encourage their
audiences to record their concerts and share bootlegs.
"If the content is not identified and registered in the database, then we
can't be held responsible for it," Rosso said. "It's highly unlikely that
any Mashboxx user is going to be sued."
Still, Rosso adds, once a record label finds that a bootleg recording or
other track is being swapped, it can move to restrict it from being shared
- or set up limited listens before purchase.
Privately, record label executives say they remain circumspect over how a
licensed peer-to-peer service would actually fare in the marketplace.
Mashboxx has yet to announce licensing deals with the major labels, though
it's been reported that Sony BMG Entertainment has agreed in principle to
license its music.
Meanwhile, Microsoft Corp. is testing file-sharing technology of its own
that one day could be integrated in the company's dominant Windows PC
operating system.
The project, dubbed Avalanche, is supposed to improve on the speed of other
file-sharing distribution systems, such as BitTorrent, while also
preventing unlicensed content from being traded. For now, the company says
it has no plans to release Avalanche or include it in future products.
If Microsoft develops its own peer-to-peer software, it could help boost
the number of music fans using licensed file-sharing services, said
Goodman, the Yankee Group analyst.
"They have the opportunity to integrate it into the operating system ...
so you get large-scale adoption," Goodman said. "That would make it
attractive to content companies."
Microchip Pioneer Jack Kilby Dies at 81
Nobel laureate Jack Kilby, whose invention of the integrated circuit
ushered in the electronics age and made possible the microprocessor, has
died after a battle with cancer. He was 81.
Kilby died Monday, according to Texas Instruments Inc., where he worked for
many years.
Before the integrated circuit, electronic devices relied on bulky and
fragile circuitry, including glass vacuum tubes. In the late 1950s, there
was considerable interest - especially in the military - in making devices
smaller.
Kilby's fingernail-size integrated circuit, a forerunner of the microchip
used in today's computers, replaced the bulky and unreliable switches and
tubes.
It was during his first year working at TI in Dallas in the summer of 1958
that Kilby set out on a course that would forever change how electricity
is used to efficiently and reliably power everything from vacuum cleaners
to supercomputers. Using borrowed equipment, he built the first integrated
circuit in which all the components were fabricated in a single piece of
semiconductor material half the size of a paper clip.
"TI was the only company that agreed to let me work on electronic component
miniaturization more or less full time, and it turned out to be a great
fit," Kilby wrote in an autobiography for the Nobel Committee in 2000, the
year he won the prize for physics.
Today, integrated circuits can be found in all manner of digital devices,
from TVs to microwave ovens. Sales of integrated circuits totaled $179
billion in 2004, supporting a global electronics market of more than $1.1
trillion, according to TI.
The contributions of Kilby - who also co-invented the handheld calculator
- are hard to overstate, according to technology experts.
"Today's trillion-dollar market for integrated circuit-based electronics
is just the tip of the iceberg," inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil said.
"The exponentially expanding powers of information technology are
transforming every industry and facet of life from the making of music, the
enhancement of human communication through the Internet, to our growing
mastery of our own biology through computer-based simulation."
According to his 2000 Nobel citation, Kilby "laid the foundation of modern
information technology."
"In my opinion, there are only a handful of people whose works have truly
transformed the world and the way we live in it - Henry Ford, Thomas
Edison, the Wright Brothers and Jack Kilby," TI chairman Tom Engibous said
in a statement Tuesday. "If there was ever a seminal invention that
transformed not only our industry but our world, it was Jack's invention
of the first integrated circuit."
Kilby's more than 60 U.S. patents included one filed in 1959 for an
integrated circuit made of the element germanium.
"It was kind of a string-and-chewing-gum gadget that just showed you could
use semiconductors to make all the bits and pieces. But it was far from
something that you could do on a practical basis," said Gordon Moore, who
co-founded Intel Corp. in 1968 with Robert Noyce, an inventor who a few
years earlier had received a patent for a similar but more complex circuit
made of silicon while at Fairchild Semiconductor.
"Kilby may have built the first one," Moore said. "Noyce's approach was
how to do it on a practical basis. They really complemented one another."
Moore, who worked with Kilby over the years, said he admired Kilby's
creativity, inventiveness and modesty.
"He was always coming up with creative ideas. I remember way back before
people considered it important, he was inventing a gadget that used silicon
to turn solar energy into hydrogen. It was kind of ahead of the problems we
are looking at now," Moore said.
After winning the Nobel, Kilby said of his invention, "I thought it would
be important for electronics as we knew it then, but I didn't understand
how much it would permit the field to expand."
In 1970, in a White House ceremony, he received the National Medal of
Science. In 1982, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Kilby spent his later years as a consultant to TI, working on industry and
government assignments throughout the world. A few years ago, Dallas-based
TI named a $154 million research and development complex in his honor.
Known by colleagues as a humble man of few words, the 6-foot-6 Kilby said
he never craved fame or wealth.
"I think it just happened," Kilby said in a 2000 interview with The
Associated Press. "It wasn't deliberate. I didn't say, `Inventors are nice
and I want to be one.' I just think if you work on interesting projects,
invention is kind of a natural consequence."
Jack St. Clair Kilby was born in 1923 in Great Bend, Kan. His father was
the owner of a small electric company, and Kilby became interested in radio
tubes while listening to big band radio in the 1940s. He earned degrees in
electrical engineering from the universities of Illinois and Wisconsin, and
began his career in 1947 with the Centralab Division of Globe Union Inc. in
Milwaukee, developing ceramic-based, silk-screened circuits for electronic
products.
Kilby is survived by two daughters, five granddaughters, and a son-in-law.
=~=~=~=
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