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Vista support under BootCamp?
by billing 25 May '06

25 May '06

...from: http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/05/18/vista/index.php Microsoft announces Vista minimum requirements By Elizabeth Montalbano, IDG News Service Microsoft Corp. has launched a Web site outlining the minimum hardware requirements for the next version of the Windows OS, Windows Vista. Apple hasn't announced its intentions for Vista and Boot Camp, but preliminary indications suggest that Intel-based Macs will make the cut. The move comes less than a week before the company will host its Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) in Seattle. At the show, which kicks off Tuesday, Microsoft and hardware manufacturers are expected to show how Vista will run on a variety of machines, as well as showcase add-on technology built to enhance the OS. On the Microsoft “Get Ready” Web site, the company has outlined the requirements for running both low-end versions of Vista or higher-end versions that take advantage of the OS’s new Aero graphical user interface capabilities. The company differentiates between the two by calling the former a “Windows Vista Capable PC” and the latter a “Windows Vista Premium Ready PC.” Hardware requirements for a Vista Capable PC are a modern processor with a speed of at least 800MHz, 512MB of system memory and a graphics processor that is DirectX 9 capable. A Windows Vista Premium Ready PC has a good deal more requirements. It must have at least a 1GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor, 1GB of system memory, 128MB of graphics memory, 40GB of hard drive capacity with 15GB free space, a DVD-ROM drive, audio output capabilities and Internet access capability. It also needs a graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, which Microsoft defines as a DirectX 9 class graphics processor that supports a Windows Display Driver Model Driver, Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware and 32 bits per pixel. The graphics processor for Aero also must meet the following requirements for graphics memory: 64MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels; 128MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels; or 256MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304,000 pixels. Windows Vista system requirements have become a matter of particular interest to Mac users since Apple released Boot Camp, a beta program that enables Intel-based Macs to run Windows XP. Apple has yet to comment on its future plans for Boot Camp, but it’s widely assumed that the software will be updated to run Vista once Microsoft releases the new operating system — enterprising users have already gotten development versions of Vista working on the Mac. (http:// www.macworld.com/2006/04/features/winmacfaq/index2.php) The hardware specifications outlined by Microsoft are consistent with Apple’s Intel-based Macs, however. Both ATI and Intel, who manufacture the graphics systems used in the new Intel-based Macs, indicate that their graphics hardware is Windows Vista-compatible. A Mac with upgraded RAM also falls in line with Microsoft’s specifications for a Windows Vista Premium Ready PC. Visit Macworld’s Windows on the Mac: What you need to know for more details about Boot Camp. Microsoft began working with hardware partners several months ago to prepare customers for Vista’s release. In April, PCs with stickers saying “Windows Vista Capable” became available in stores, letting customers know what hardware can be upgraded to Vista once it is available. Microsoft does not plan to do the same with the Windows Vista Premium Ready designation, recommending customers ask a retailer or manufacturer about PCs that meet those requirements. On the Get Ready Web site, Microsoft stressed that purchasing a Windows Vista Capable PC does not mean customers will get discount vouchers for Windows Vista. They still must purchase an edition of the OS for full price when Vista is available. In March, Microsoft said the consumer release of Vista would be delayed until January 2007, though business customers will have access through Microsoft volume licensing to the OS before the end of the year. Since Microsoft is missing the busy Christmas holiday shopping season with Vista’s general release — which had been an important target for selling the new OS — analysts are predicting that the company may release Vista even later than January. --------------------------------------------------- ...and from: http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=66&tag=nl.e622 Vista Beta 2, up close and personal Posted by Ed Bott @ 4:39 am Up in Redmond, Microsoft developers proudly talk of dogfooding the software they write. Running beta software is the only way to learn what works and what doesn’t. A copy of Windows Vista running on a test machine in the corner isn’t likely to get a serious workout. To find the pain points – another popular Microsoft expression – you have to run that beta code on the machine you use every day. In that same spirit, I’ve spent the last three months running beta versions of Windows Vista on the PCs I use for everyday work. February and March were exasperating. April’s release was noticeably better, and the Beta 2 preview – Build 5381, released to testers in early May – has been running flawlessly on my notebook for nearly three weeks. Yesterday, at WinHEC, Bill Gates officially unveiled Windows Vista Beta 2, which means you’ll get a chance to see for youself what all the fuss is about. (The public download should be available within a few weeks... What’s really in Windows Vista? Why should I care? [...]

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INTEREST: Collision course for Symantec and Microsoft
by billing 25 May '06

25 May '06

...from: http://ct.zdnet.com/clicks?t=2395402-78b1eba5077eeb7815f1ec73cf855414- bf&s=5&fs=0 By Joris Evers, CNET News.com Published on ZDNet News: May 22, 2006, 12:09 PM PT Symantec's trade secret lawsuit against Microsoft is a sign of heightened competition between the two companies, but it's not a declaration of war, analysts said. Last week, Symantec sued Microsoft, accusing it of misappropriating intellectual property related to data storage technology. It is the first time that the Cupertino, Calif.-based security specialist and the software giant have been on opposite sides in a legal case. In the past, the companies have teamed up to take software pirates to court. [...] Symantec is asking a court to bar Microsoft from further developing, selling or distributing software, including Windows Vista and Windows Server "Longhorn," until all of Symantec's intellectual property is removed. Microsoft has described Vista as one of the most important Windows releases in its history. [...] Symantec CEO John Thompson has repeatedly said his company won't compete by going to court or complaining to antitrust regulators. Thompson said it would instead rely on its security wits and reputation to beat Microsoft. "That hasn't changed, said Michael Cherry, an analyst at research firm Directions on Microsoft. The lawsuit is over a contract dispute that Symantec inherited when it acquired Veritas Software, he noted. "Symantec owes it to its shareholders to vigorously protect its intellectual property. I don't think there is a wider significance to this," Cherry said. The complaint involves Symantec's Volume Manager product, which allows operating systems to store and manipulate large amounts of data. Microsoft licensed a "light" version of Volume Manager from Veritas in 1996. In its lawsuit, Symantec accuses Microsoft of violating the license. [...] The analysts agreed that Symantec would not have brought this action if it had not felt sure that it had a case and there was no other way to resolve the dispute. "I don't believe Symantec is the type of company that tries to compete via litigation," Gartner analyst John Pescatore said. ...from: http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-6074778.html?tag=nl.e622 Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer doesn't expect Symantec's lawsuit to delay Vista, a next version of its Windows operating system. Asked whether the case would have any effect on the Vista launch, Ballmer told Reuters: "I wouldn't anticipate any, but that will go to the courts now." Ballmer, speaking in Beijing after a news conference, did not elaborate. [...] But in response to another question about Vista's delay, Ballmer said: "Ultimately, I am the CEO. I am accountable." Vista, Office 2007 and Xbox 360 are central to Microsoft's efforts to revive a stock that has underperformed every major index since the beginning of 2002.

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INTEREST: Intel updates
by billing 12 May '06

12 May '06

...from: http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9584_22-6065708.html?tag=nl.e540 Intel to get widespread restructuring By Candace Lombardi, CNET News.com Published on ZDNet News: April 27, 2006, 8:11 AM PT CEO Paul Otellini said Thursday that Intel will undergo a complete restructuring. "We are taking a tight look at spending and structure," Otellini said at the chipmaker's shareholder meeting. "We are going to restructure, resize and repurpose Intel to adjust to the business realities of today and tomorrow." There was no mention of layoffs. [...] Three new chips, one for each of the Core market segments, will be part of the rollout: Woodcrest for servers in June, Conroe for desktops in July, and Merom for notebooks in August. Because Intel sees the server market as its weakest link, Woodcrest will be launched first, Otellini said. The company is also releasing Broadwater, a new desktop chipset, in an effort to attack a bottleneck of chipset inventory. "Broadwater will be the fastest chipset ramp-up in the company history," Otellini said. Intel's expenses are out of line with its revenue and profit, compared with those of its competitors, TechKnowledge Strategies analyst Mike Feibus said. "Intel is coming off a time when nobody got fired for buying Intel. Their hardware sold at a premium," Feibus said. "We've been watching prices drop like falling rain over the past two years. But the company has a cost structure like the good old days." Feibus said Otellini is making the right move by making cuts now rather than postponing them until problems worsen. "You've got to give Otellini credit for taking the bull by the horns and understanding the environment today," Feibus said. Feibus expected job cuts across the board at Intel, saying design, marketing and other teams all are disproportionately large compared with those of competitors. More info on: Intel's upcoming Core™ microarchitecture: http://www.intel.com/ technology/architecture/coremicro/

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FYI: from Microsoft: Help keep your Windows computer under your control
by billing 26 Apr '06

26 Apr '06

[NOTES: 1) all of this information comes from Microsoft and is aimed at Windows OS users but the information lays out good computing practices which really should be followed regardless of which operating system you use. 2) Step (4) below is "Subscribe to industry standard antivirus software and antispyware software, and keep them current." At the UofM, IST has licenced anti-virus software for all faculty and staff who use the Microsoft Windows OS. The anti-virus software that has been licenced is called Trend OfficeScan. This software, which is provided and updated free to all faculty and staff for office and home machines using Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP, can be found at: http://www.umanitoba.ca/computing/ist/security/index.html Once on this page, just click on the appropriate link for "On-campus location" or "Home install or laptop". Due to the nature of laptop use, they are treated as "Home" machines for anti-virus update purposes. In addition to installing Trend OfficeScan onto your Windows OS partition, you should also, as laid out in step (3) below, make sure your newly installed Windows OS is kept up to date with patches released by Microsoft, usually on "Patch Tuesday", the second Tuesday of the month. (For more "Patch Tuesday" info see http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_Tuesday). I'm assuming you're already doing that for OS X using the built-in "Software Update" feature. ::-= ------------------------------------ ...from: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/viruses/ zombies_and_botnets.mspx Zombies and botnets: help keep your computer under your control Published: March 28, 2006 Online criminals can use a virus to take control of large numbers of computers at a time, and turn them into "zombies" that can work together as a powerful "botnet" to perform malicious tasks. Botnets, which can include as many as 100,000 individual "zombie" computers, can distribute spam e-mail, spread viruses, and attack other computers and servers, and commit other kinds of crime and fraud. Botnets are highly valued by online criminals, and have become a serious problem on the Internet. Two major [Windows OS] viruses (netsky and bagel) were created to compete for control of a large botnet, and botnet-controlled zombie computers have even been found in places such as the United States Department of Defense. How to tell if your computer has been infected The virus that is used to make your computer into a zombie might cause your computer to slow down, display mysterious messages, or work in an unexpected manner. These viruses usually do not disable your computer, because zombie computers must be plugged in and connected to the Internet in order for the botnet to work. [Read detailed information about how to tell if a virus has infected your computer at: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/viruses/ intro_viruses_signs.mspx] What to do if your computer is infected If your computer shows symptoms of virus infection, first make sure that the software on your computer is up to date. Then, run current antivirus and antispyware software to scan your computer and remove unwanted software. Read detailed information about how to help remove a virus. 5 ways to help keep your computer from becoming a zombie 1. Never open attachments in e-mail, instant messages, or mobile messages unless you know exactly what the attachment is, even if it's from someone that you know. Attachments can contain e-mail viruses. 2. Use an Internet firewall. Note: Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) has a firewall already built-in and active. 3. Stay up to date. Visit Microsoft Update and turn on Automatic Updates. Note: If you've installed Microsoft Office 2003 or Microsoft Office XP, Automatic Updates will also update your Office programs. If you have an earlier version of Office, use Office Update. 4. Subscribe to industry standard antivirus software and antispyware software, and keep them current. 5. Use licensed software products. Botnets are often comprised mostly of computers that run illegally copied versions of operating system and productivity software. Unlicensed software can be more susceptible to viruses, and can even come with viruses already installed without your knowledge.

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INTEREST: one author's view of Apple's "Boot Camp" Windows environment
by billing 26 Apr '06

26 Apr '06

(...from: http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/ More and more people are buying and loving Macs. To make this choice simply irresistible, Apple will include technology in the next major release of Mac OS X, Leopard, that lets you install and run the Windows XP operating system on your Mac. Called Boot Camp (for now), you can download a public beta today.) ...from: http://www.macworld.com/2006/04/firstlooks/bootcampfl/index.php? lsrc=mwweek-0410 Signing up for Boot Camp Apple software simplifies XP installation By Rob Griffiths One word kept coming to mind Wednesday, as I sat down to install Apple’s Boot Camp public beta on my Mac mini Core Duo—simple. Using the software to install Windows XP on my machine? A very simple process. Choosing which OS to boot? Also simple. Installing the necessary drivers? At the risk of repeating myself, simple, simple, and did I mention simple? [...] From start to finish, while working on the daily hints [column] updates at the same time, the whole process took me maybe 40 minutes. I spent most of that time in the XP installer; the preparation steps took only about 10 minutes. Most important, you don’t need access to a PC in any way to do this; that alone makes installing Windows XP on a Mac much more doable for many people. [...] Native video support The difference in XP’s speed with native video drivers is very noticeable. You can quickly drag windows—their contents display and scroll very quickly, and the overall interface just feels more responsive. But nobody cares about the user interface. What everyone really cares about is gaming, of course! With DirectX and OpenGL support, the whole world of PC gaming is suddenly available for Intel- based Mac users. I installed a few games from my PC collection to see how they’d fare on my 512MB Core Duo—I had to return the 2GB RAM upgrade I had previously installed for replacement, so I was testing a worst case scenario for the Core Duo. This is especially true for games that require a ton of texture memory, as that would have to come from system memory, dragging down the whole system. Here’s a summary of what I found: - Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006: This game was basically perfect running at 1280x1024 resolution. The frame rate was more than fast enough to keep up with the animated water, moving trees, and in-flight ball tracking. - Far Cry: This first person shooter was Game of the Year back in 2004, due to its amazing visuals, set amidst lush jungles and islands surrounded by animated, semi-transparent water. It puts quite a load on a machine and was just barely playable at 1,024-by-768 on the mini. I suspect that performance will improve greatly when I get the mini back up to 2GB, as Far Cry’s visuals require a lot of video card RAM. - Combat Flight Simulator 3: In addition to seeing how well this game played, I wanted to make sure Windows XP worked with my Saitek flightstick. Sure enough, I plugged it in, and the Game Controllers Control Panel saw the stick and let me calibrate and test it. Everything worked fine. The frame rate in the game was fine, but I had an odd problem with the graphics sort of “jumping” around. It was sort of like a minor visual earthquake was constantly occurring, displacing things just enough to be annoying. And making it very hard to shoot an enemy plane down. Given enough debugging time, I think I could resolve this issue. - Motocross Madness 2: This highly unrealistic game was one of my faves on the PC. It's older, sure, but it’s still a hoot to play. And on my Core Duo mini at 1,280-by-1,024, it works amazingly well. I connected my gamepad, which also worked as expected, and was very impressed with how smoothly Motocross Madness ran. Frame rates were very high, and the audio was perfect. Overall, I was impressed with how well the mini handled games on the built-in graphics chip. I intend to do more testing, especially once I have the system RAM back up to 2GB. But machines like the MacBook Pro and iMac, which have better graphics cards and faster CPUs, should make even better gaming platforms. [...] Installing XP on an Intel Mac is no harder than installing it on a new PC yourself—you might even say that it’s simpler. Other related articles: http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/04/05/bootcamp/index.php? lsrc=mwweek-0410

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INTEREST: U.S. government DARPA funding "rootkit" research...
by billing 26 Apr '06

26 Apr '06

1) what is a "rootkit"? ...from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rootkit A rootkit is a set of software tools frequently used by a third party (usually an intruder) after gaining access to a computer system. These tools are intended to conceal running processes, files or system data, which helps an intruder maintain access to a system without the user's knowledge. Rootkits are known to exist for a variety of operating systems such as Linux, Solaris and versions of Microsoft Windows. A computer with a rootkit on it is called a rooted computer. The word "rootkit" came to public awareness in the 2005 Sony CD copy protection controversy, in which Sony BMG music CDs placed a rootkit on Microsoft Windows PCs. 2) why should I know about rootkits? while the incidents of exploits by viruses, trojan horses, malware, and rootkits is low in the OS X world, with the advent of Apple's BootCamp (http://www.apple.com/ macosx/bootcamp/) in addition to such "virtualization" software as Parallels (http://www.parallels.com), more Macintosh users will also be running Windows operating systems - the target of most exploits these days. Without the proper due diligence (keeping updates current, great caution with email attachments, etc.) any operating system can be exploited. [NOTE: simply put, "virtualization" in the computer world refers to "the ability to run more than one operating system at a time". For example, you could be simultaneously running OS X and it's available applications, Windows XP and it's available applications, as well as LINUX and it's available applications. For more information on "virtuallization" please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Virtualization.] ------------------- Now, having given some background, forward to the DARPA related article.... ...from: http://www.baselinemag.com/article2/0,1540,1952802,00.asp Symantec's LiveState product combines with CoPilot and Gamma to restore the system to its original state. Government-Funded Startup Blasts Rootkits By Ryan Naraine A startup funded by the U.S. government's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is ready to emerge from stealth mode with hardware- and software-based technologies to fight the rapid spread of malicious rootkits. Komoku, of College Park, Md., plans to ship a beta of Gamma, a new rootkit detection tool that builds on a prototype used by several sensitive U.S. government departments to find operating system abnormalities that may be linked to malicious rootkit activity. A rootkit modifies the flow of the kernel to hide the presence of an attack or compromise on a machine. It gives a hacker remote user access to a compromised system while avoiding detection from anti- virus scanners. The company's prototype, called CoPilot, is a high-assurance PCI card capable of monitoring the host's memory and file system at the hardware level. It is specifically geared towards high-security servers and computers. Gamma, meanwhile, is a separate, software-only clone of CoPilot that will target businesses interested in a low-assurance tool for protecting laptops and personal computers. Komoku launched quietly in 2004 with about $2.5 million in funding and rootkit detection contracts from DARPA, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Navy. The company has its roots at the University of Maryland, where computer scientist William Arbaugh worked on what he calls a "unique approach" to finding rootkits. Microsoft says it is becoming impossible to recover from sophisticated forms of malware. Click here to read more. "Security technologies depend on the correctness of the system they're actually checking," said Arbaugh, who now serves as president of the five-employee outfit. "If something changes the system at the operating system level, it can't be reliably detected via the OS itself or through applications running on the system," he said in an interview with eWEEK. "We have this notion of what the operating system is supposed to look like and we look for deviations [from] that. We aren't initially looking for the rootkit; we look at the side effects of the infection." Komoku has partnered with security vendor Symantec to handle disinfection and restoration after rootkits and other sophisticated forms of malware are detected. Jamie Butler, a renowned rootkit researcher who works as Komoku's chief technical officer, said Gamma will have limited clean-up capabilities because it is software-based and susceptible to direct attack, much like any application running on the operating system. "Clean-up is a very difficult goal while maintaining a running system. When you find a rootkit, you essentially have several choices. The easiest choice is to halt the system. But, that means that you'll lose any evidence that might be in memory. It also means that the services provided by that system are made unavailable," Butler explained. Another choice might be to eliminate the effects of the rootkit, but this could be very difficult because of the complicated nature of an operating system. A third choice would be to allow the rootkit to remain active while you attempt to discern its motives, Butler added, noting that both Gamma and CoPilot will allow all three of these choices. The plan is to have both the hardware and software versions collect forensic data when a compromise is detected. Butler said products are able to capture hidden malware in memory and send it back to a central management station where the products are running in enterprise mode. -------------------------- ...for more information on rootkits and efforts being undertaking for their detection, please see: http://www.phrack.org/phrack/63/ p63-0x08_Raising_The_Bar_For_Windows_Rootkit_Detection.txt

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Official Support for booting MS-Windows XP
by Doug Hamilton 05 Apr '06

05 Apr '06

Today Apple announced a pubic-beta of a software package "Boot Camp" which can facilitate the booting of MS-Windows XP on Apple's Intel based computers. See this link for details: http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp Its a good thing they didn't release this software on their 30th Anniversary (April 1st), nobody would have believed them. Regards, Doug ------------- Doug Hamilton, BA, MA, APP Senior Computer Consultant Computers-on-Campus; Univ. of Manitoba 204-474-6196 (Ph.) 204-474-7556 (Fax) http://www.umanitoba.ca/bookstore/

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FYI: treating your ATA hard drive S.M.A.R.T.ly (pardon my grammar)
by billing 03 Apr '06

03 Apr '06

What is S.M.A.R.T.? =============== ...from: http://pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1879485,00.asp By Bruno Sonnino 10.31.05 S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) is a technology, developed by major hard disk manufacturers, included in most modern hard disks. This technology monitors and logs many events while the disk is running. Analyzing the data allows us to know the drive's reliability and predict its [possible] failure. [...] When we talk about failures, we must differentiate between two types: predictable and non-predictable. Predictable failures are those that don't happen suddenly, they can be caused by failure in the disk mechanics or damaged disk surface. The problem gets worse, until the disk crashes. Non-predictable are those failures caused by sudden events, like a sudden power surge or an electronic failure. S.M.A.R.T. can only help to detect predictable failures. How does this help me? ================= There are two ways of checking your ATA drive's S.M.A.R.T. status (Note: S.M.A.R.T. is not currently available on fireware, USB, or SCSI connections. For more information, see the SMARTReporter documentation listed below.): use Apple's Disk Utility or use a freeware utility called SMARTReporter. If you launch Apple's Disk Utility it will automatically check the S.M.A.R.T. information and report on it. SMARTReporter is a freeware utility that will launch on log in and periodically (every 60 minues by default) check your ATA drive's S.M.A.R.T. information. SMARTReporter puts in icon into the menu bar: green drive, OK; grey drive, S.M.A.R.T. info is non-deterministic of drive status; red drive, S.M.A.R.T. status shows drive may fail shortly - back up information and report problem to drive manufacturer. SMARTReporter can also be configured to send an email message to an address you specify indicating a problem may be about to occur. Regardless of which utility you use, if the S.M.A.R.T. information indicates a possible failure, the drive's manufacturer should replace any on warranty drives. Apple's Disk Utility can be found on any OS X installation in the Macintosh HD:Applications:Utility folder. The latest version of SMARTReporter along with documentation and a FAQ list can be downloaded from: http://homepage.mac.com/julianmayer/

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FYI: your iPod and your ears...
by billing 03 Apr '06

03 Apr '06

...from: http://www.apple.com/sound/ http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2006/mar/29ipod.html Apple Provides Volume Limit Setting for iPod Sound travels in waves, produced when an object — such as a stereo speaker — pushes on the air around it, causing small changes in air pressure. To describe sound waves, acoustic experts refer to concepts such as frequency and amplitude. [...] Sound and Your Ears You can hear because your ears convert the vibrations of a sound wave in the air into signals that your brain interprets as sound. When the vibrations of a sound wave enter your ear, your eardrum and a set of tiny bones in your ear (the well-known hammer, anvil, and stirrup) amplify those vibrations. In your inner ear, these amplified vibrations move tiny hair cells that then convert the vibrations into nerve impulses sent to your brain. Your brain then interprets these nerve impulses as sound. If you expose your ears to excessive sound pressure, you can harm those small hair cells in your ears. And if harmed, those hair cells can lose the ability to transmit sound to your brain. As a result, you could experience noise-induced hearing loss. Symptoms can include distorted or muffled sound or difficulty understanding speech. While you can experience noise-induced hearing loss as a result of a one-time exposure to an extremely loud sound — like a gunshot — noise- induced hearing loss can also occur as a result of repeated exposure to loud sounds over time. CUPERTINO, California—March 29, 2006—Apple® today announced a software update for the iPod® nano and fifth generation iPod, allowing customers to easily set their own personal maximum volume limit. The software update also gives parents the ability to set a maximum volume limit on their child’s iPod and lock it with a combination code. “As the leading provider of digital music players, Apple continuously brings iPod customers innovative and easy to use solutions,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing. “With the increased attention in this area, we want to offer customers an easy to use option to set their own personal volume limit.” The new software update 1.1.1 is available immediately as a free download for the iPod nano and the fifth generation iPod from www.apple.com/ipod/download. The new Volume Limit feature works with any headphone or accessory plugged into the iPod headphone jack as well as the iPod Radio Remote. For further information on safe listening with iPod, please visit www.apple.com/sound. [...] Press Contacts: Tom Neumayr Apple (408) 974-1972 tneumayr(a)apple.com Natalie Kerris Apple (408) 974-6877 nat(a)apple.com

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INTEREST: Australia forces ISPs to attack spam; US government intercedes for Microsoft
by billing 31 Mar '06

31 Mar '06

...from: http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-6055378.html?tag=nl.e622 By Will Sturgeon, Silicon.com Published on ZDNet News: March 29, 2006, 8:32 AM PT Australia, which already has antispam legislation in place, has introduced a code of practice that will force Internet service providers to be more proactive in stamping out unsolicited bulk e-mail. The Australian Communications and Media Authority is building on the relative success of the country's 2003 Spam Act to ensure that businesses and consumers are protected from a deluge of unwanted e-mail. "The phenomenon of spam...continues to materially impact on e-mail as a communications medium," states the conduct code document, released on Wednesday. Although many countries have recognized spam as an issue, few have been able to react to it effectively. However, it's long been suggested that Internet service providers, which carry much of the e- mail, could solve the problem of spam overnight. "Since senders of spam require the services of service providers in order to send their spam, enlisting the support of those service providers has the potential of being an efficient and also a more proactive way of addressing the spam problem," according to the code document. As such, ISPs serving the Australian public must proactively scan traffic for open relays and botnets, networks of compromised PCs used for sending spam. In addition, spam filters must be offered and clearly advertised by each Australian ISP. ISPs must include clauses in all contracts that allow them to disconnect a user if they are knowingly or unwittingly relaying spam, once the ISP has taken "reasonable steps to notify the subscriber of the breach and (provided) reasonable assistance," the code says. They must also restrict inbound connections to any service that allows forwarding of e-mail on behalf of third parties. [...] ========================== ...from: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/business/worldbusiness/31soft.html? th&emc=th U.S. Asks European Union to Be Fair in Microsoft Case By PAUL MELLER Published: March 31, 2006 BRUSSELS, March 30 — The United States government has intervened in Microsoft's antitrust dispute with the European Commission, urging it and the 25 national governments in the European Union to be fair to the company, American diplomats and European officials said on Thursday. Microsoft has complained frequently in recent months that it has been denied the right to a fair defense in the continuing antitrust case with the European Commission. It has also accused the commission of collaborating with its rivals in the software industry and denying it access to what it contends are vital documents it needs to prepare its defense. A memo written by unidentified government officials in Washington stated that Microsoft's complaints raise "substantial concerns" about the way Microsoft is being treated, according to a person close to the commission who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the memo. The memo was distributed this week through embassies in Europe and through the United States mission to the European Union in Brussels. United States diplomats visited the offices of three European commissioners earlier this week. Jonathan Todd, the spokesman for the competition commissioner, Neelie Kroes, confirmed that her close aides met American diplomats this week and received the memo. He declined to comment on its content. [...]

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