Bill Gates giving up chief software architect position

Bill Gates announced on Thursday that he will gradually relinquish his current role while remaining a full time employee for the next two years. After that he will become a part time employee and chairman.

Microsoft's Chief Technical Officer Ray Ozzie will assume the role of chief software architect right away.

Gates decided that wants to devote his attention to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which helps needy people around the world.

Full Story

New virus attacks Yahoo E-mail

There is a new virus called the Yamanner worm that exploits a Javascript vulnerability in Yahoo E-mail.

The Yamanner worm targets all versions of Yahoo Webmail except the latest beta version. Yahoo Mail users might be able to protect themselves by upgrading to the latest test version.

The worms sends itself to users with the subject header New Graphic Site. Once the mail is opened, the computer becomes infected and the worm spreads itself to other users on the Yahoo e-mail address list.

Full Story

New Windows Vista Beta available for download

Microsoft had just released its first public trial version of its new Windows operating system, Vista to the public. It's called Windows Vista Beta 2 and you can download it and try it out.

It is one of six of the future releases of the latest version of Windows.

Only download this if you have a fast internet connection since it is 3 gigabytes in size. And if you are not good with computers including troubleshooting this may not be for you.

Full Story

Firefox web browser having security issues

Mozilla recently issued an update for their Firefox web browser to repair about a dozen security vulnerabilities in Version 1.5, bringing the total to 43 so far this year.

There is a new version of the web browser available for download that includes the fixes for the security issues of which some are considered critcal.

Firefox now has nearly 200 million users or about 10 percent of the browser market covered.

Full Story

Symantec will compete with Microsoft for consumers' security business

Symantec will offer its new Norton 360 security software to compete with Microsoft's Windows Live OneCare service.

Norton 360 will include antivirus, antispyware, antiphishing, and antikeylogger protection, as well as a firewall, PC tuneup utilities, backup, and Web site authentication tools.

Symantec says that the new Norton 360 will be released before the end of the company's fiscal year in March 31, 2007.

Full Story

Microsoft releases new Windows and Office Betas

The Beta 2 versions of Windows Vista and Office 2007 were released this week. People who are signed up for Microsoft's Customer Preview Program are eligible to test the software. Microsoft expects some two million people to participate in the tests.

There are still some glitches in the new software including screens not redrawing properly and some applications not running correctly. It may not be reliable enough for users to use on a daily basis yet.

It may take Microsoft up to 12 months after the release of Beta 2 to launch Vista.


Full Story

Vista getting delayed...again

The new Microsoft Windows operating system most likely will be getting delayed again by at least three months.

It has been reported that the new Vista operating system is too complex to be able to meet Microsoft's targeted November release.

Microsoft disagrees and says its still on track to meet its current launch dates.

Once production finally starts, it usually takes between 6 and 8 weeks for Computer manufacturers to load the operating system onto new computers.

Full Story

Microsoft teaming up with Yahoo to take on Google

Microsoft has held discussions to buy a stake in Internet media company Yahoo Inc. to compete against Google Inc. as pressure grows from shareholders to perform better against Google.

Microsoft could also sell its MSN online network to Yahoo and take a minority stake in the Yahoo Internet portal.

Microsoft had also been in talks with AOL to use its search technology, which would have given the software giant's fledgling paid-search business a big boost.


Full Story