February, 2008 Issue

GOOGLE SITES, which launched today, is basically an online Intranet, for creating team collaborations.

The European Commission has fined US computer giant Microsoft for defying sanctions imposed on it for anti-competitive behaviour.

With Microsoft's pursuit Google...I mean Yahoo... going into the end game, some are questioning the wisdom of plunking down about $45 billion on such a prize. Last week, Robert Breza, an analyst with RBC Capital Market, made the case for Microsoft chipping away at Google's search/ad lead in a less desperate manner with its adCenter platform, and instead investing the billions in business applications and social networking. Michael A. Cusumano, professor at the Sloan School of Management at MIT, recommends that Microsoft stay closer to its business software roots and acquire SAP. This advice won't provide much relief for Yahoo CEO and co-founder Jerry Yang.

SAN JOSE--Microsoft will likely face an antitrust fight in Washington for its proposed $44.6 billion buyout of Yahoo, according to California Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren.

European regulators say they'll keep tabs on how Microsoft delivers on its promise of transparency.

Microsoft made major concessions on Thursday that should make it easier for open-source software to dovetail with or even replace Microsoft products, but a major caveat means the company's legal threats remain alive and well.

The most impressive aspect of Microsoft's statement on Thursday in favour of caring and sharing wasn't in anything the company said. It was the speed at which the world, or that part of it not in a commercial relationship with Microsoft, digested the information and replied: Heard it before. Not good enough.

Although multimedia devices are clearly out there in households today -- and so are home networks -- multimedia home networking isn't exactly commonplace yet, observed analysts at In-Stat, concurring with views expressed by some other analyst firms, as well.

A pink MacBook, a computer repair shop, an internationally renowned actor, and eight female pop stars are at the center of what is being described as the biggest Internet sex scandal in China.

PALO ALTO, Calif.--Bill Gates is willing to pay a lot for engineering talent.

As with other companies serious about being viewed as virtualization players, Sun has found that one size cannot be made to fit all. Thus, Sun's early religion around the operating system containers built into Solaris 10 has given way to more of a toolbox approach that most notably also includes its Xen-based xVM Server.

Yahoo announced Tuesday that it has snapped up online video platform provider Maven Networks, in a $160 million deal.

Hacking tools nick nicked data

AV boss has bone to pick with The Guardian

First update since announcement of mobile phone SDK includes new user interface, support for additional file formats in Android media player, and more

Google search will be added first to new Nokia multimedia phones, then roll out to other handsets.

With Yahoo issuing a resounding "no" to Microsoft's current buyout bid, the latter has one of two levers it can pull, analysts, investors and proxy solicitors have said.

In response to what it claims is "popular demand", Microsoft has introduced a standalone version of its contacts and email package, Outlook, the company announced on Wednesday.

A crackdown will be targeted at companies in Glasgow after the city was pinpointed as being a hotspot for illegal software.

Google sees mobile as its future, but the company's success in the mobile realm may not be a given.

Maybe Carl Icahn was right about Motorola.

Nortel Networks is looking to the next generation of employees to shape the workplace of tomorrow, and high on its agenda is exploring the role of Web 2.0 technologies and virtual worlds such as Linden Lab's Second Life.

Yahoo looks for alternatives to Microsoft's unsolicited $44.6 billion takeover bid, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.

3D Realms' Scott Miller finally commits to a Duke Nukem Forever release date.

Microsoft says it can find $1 billion in cost cuts by combining Yahoo's business with its own Internet services operation, however CEO Steve Ballmer says the Yahoo name isn't one of the things on the chopping block.

Online auction site eBay has said it plans to overhaul its feedback system and will ban sellers from leaving negative comments about buyers.

Four men who run one of the most popular file-sharing sites in the world have been charged with conspiracy to break copyright law in Sweden.

Google is using its Postini acquisition to offer security features for any e-mail system.

Maybe a roller-coaster ride is just the distraction Disneyland-bound Googlers need to get their minds off the company's falling share price.

Across the Universe by the Beatles will become the first song ever to be beamed directly into space next week, US space agency Nasa has announced.

Sometimes change--any change--is good.

Google's top three executives pledged to work together for 20 years in a pact they made shortly before the company's initial public offering in August 2004, Fortune magazine has reported.

Russian fixed-line operator Comstar-UTS said on Thursday it had started to build a mobile broadband network in Armenia using WiMax technology.

NEW YORK--Right before Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama addressed the MySpace-MTV "Closing Arguments" event via videoconference from Minneapolis, one of the young studio audience members whispered, "He's the whole reason why we're here."

The European Commission will wait for Microsoft to notify it of any deal it hammers out to acquire Yahoo.

Microsoft's $44.6bn (£22.6) bid to buy Yahoo could backfire if not executed properly, according to analysts — but the phenomenal price may be worth paying to fend off the challenge from Google.

When you look at the cultural differences between Microsoft and Yahoo, you don't need to look much further than a floor plan.

Below is the text of the letter that Microsoft sent to Yahoo's board of directors: