1. Breaking: Condé Nast/Wired Acquires Ars Technica 11 hours ago   permalink

Michael Arrington / TechCrunch

Condé Nast has acquired popular technology blog Ars Technica (ranked #5 all time on the BloggerBoard), we’ve confirmed. The site will become part of Wired Digital (which in turn is under CondéNet, run by Sarah Chubb). Wired Digital assets include Wired.com and Reddit (acquired in 2006). The acquisition price will not be disclosed, but our [

discussions

Betsy Schiffman / Epicenter :   It's True: Condé Nast Bought Ars Technica

Ashkan Karbasfrooshan / HipMojo.com :   Conde Nast’s Baby Steps

Owen Thomas / Valleywag :   Wired parent buys Ars Technica -- and Webmonkey, too? Mathew / Mathewingram.com/work :   Ars Technica snapped up by Conde Nast MG Siegler / VentureBeat :   Conde Nast rolls up tech blog Ars Technica CNET :   Conde Nast buys Ars Technica Sean P. Aune / Mashable! :   Confirmed: Wired Buying Ars Technica Alan Patrick / Broadstuff :   Ars Brevis, Vita Longa Allen Stern / CenterNetworks :   Ars Technica To Wired For $25 Million Silicon Alley Insider :   Conde Nast Buys Ars Technica For A Reported $25 Million Robert Buderi / Xconomy :   Ars Technica Reportedly Bought By Condé Nast for $25 Million

related items

Digg Breaking: Condé Nast/Wired Acquires Ars Technica   —  Condé Nast has acquired popular technology blog Ars Technica, we’ve confirmed. The site will become part of Wired Digital (which in turn is under CondéNet, run by Sarah Chubb). Wired Digital assets include Wired.com and Reddit (acquired in 2006). The acquisition price will not be disclosed, but our sources say it is in the $25 million range,

Martin Stabe / Martin Stabe TechCrunch: Condé Nast/Wired Acquires Ars Technica   —  "Condé Nast has acquired popular technology blog Ars Technica ... The acquisition price will not be disclosed, but our sources say it is in the $25 million range, which is what Condé Nast paid for Wired.com in 2006."

I4u / I4U News Ars Technica now part of Wired   —  Publisher Conde Nast who owns Wired Magazine just bought Ars Technica. Arstechnica will become part of Wired Digital. TechCrunch's sources say Conde Nast paid $25 million for the 1998 founded technology news site. ... Wired.com / Wired Top Stories Happy Birthday, Lasers: Wired.com's Best Laser Stories   —  : Lasers are like your favorite uncle who can do no wrong. You know, the one who's always hip to the latest technology, does amazing magic tricks at all the family dinners, always photographs well, and has more than once saved baby Med-Tech from a burning house of boring. All the other technologies wish they were he, and Wired.com readers openly ... TG Daily Condé Nast/Wired acquires Ars Technica   —  Condé Nast has acquired popular technology blog Ars Technica, we’ve confirmed. The site will become part of Wired Digital. Wired Digital assets include Wired.com and Reddit (acquired in 2006). The acquisition price will not be disclosed, but our sources say it is in the $25 million range, which is what Condé Nast paid for Wired.com in 2006. Stephen Shankland / CNET News.com Conde Nast buys Ars Technica   —  Ars Technica, a decade-old independent tech news and analysis site, is becoming a part of Conde Nast's Wired Digital group. The acquisition will be announced Monday, sources familiar with the acquisition said, confirming a report Friday in TechCrunch . The price tag was near $25 million, TechCrunch said. CondeNet, the ... Michael / Medgadget AbsorbaTack 5mm Absorbable Hernia Mesh Fixator Goes to Europe   —  Covidien has announced that its innovative AbsorbaTack™ 5mm absorbable mesh fixation device for hernia repair will now be distributed in Europe. The device, designed for a variety of hernia repairs, including laparoscopic ventral hernia as well as a laparoscopic inguinal repair, has already been OK'ed for marketing by the FDA, and the ... Ashley / CyberNet CyberNotes: Geeky Humor Continues…   —  Fun Friday Today we’re kicking back for some laughs and taking a look at a handful of funny jokes from around the web that most of you will enjoy. It’s been a while since we’ve compiled a bunch of jokes, so let the geeky humor continue! Joke #1 - Researching on the Internet Mother: “How’s your history paper [...] Ars Technica Recent job listings on the Ars job board   —  Are you about to lose your fracking mind over that guy who clips his toenails at work? Have you had your lunch eaten for the last time? Has your boss recently informed you of your imminent move to the basement? Do you know where your stapler is? Www.paidcontent.org It’s Official: Cablevision Confirms Newsday Acquisition; Acquiring 97 Percent For $632 Million   —  As expected, Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) has won the Newsday-stakes, and will acquire 97 percent of the Tribune-owned paper for $632 million. Tribune will get another $18 million related to prepaid rent, bringing the total value of the transaction to $650 million. The announcement touts the potential for the Long Island-based Cablevision to ... Amanda Natividad / ContentSutra.com :    Top Headlines Of The Week From paidContent.org, mocoNews And paidContent:UK Amanda Natividad / MocoNews.net :    Top Headlines Of The Week From paidContent.org, paidContent:UK And contentSutra Sam mcloughln / PalmAddicts Andrew at Treonauts thoughts on the Treo 800w   —  Andrew at Treonauts always writes sense and his latest editorial looking at the Treo 800w makes for a good read. "Overall, without having had the opportunity to actually hold the Treo 800w in my hands it’s still hard to categorically bash the shell design. Therefore, at this stage I would simply say that I am disappointed by its looks while ... TechAddress Become a Virtual NewsCopter Passenger on AirFox Live   —  Source:TechCrunch Condé Nast has acquired popular technology blog Ars Technica, we’ve confirmed. The site will become part of Wired Digital (which in turn is under CondéNet, run by Sarah... Dedicated weblog for researching, exploring and announcing new Internet startup companies and technology while researching existing product ... SocalTECH.com Arrowhead Research Hires Three Execs   —  Pasadena-based Arrowhead Research, which focuses on nanotechnology technology and other research, said Thursday that it has hired three new executives to the firm. The company said that it has hired Thomas Haag, Ph.D. J.D. as its Chief Patent Officer; Mark Tilley, Ph.D. as VP of Advanced mAterials, and James Hamilton, M.D. as Vice President of ... TechAddress Confirmed: Wired Buying Ars Technica   —  Source:Mashable! Glubble is a developer of a parental control plugin for Firefox, which aids adults in the ability to watch over their kids internet usage. In their approach is something similar to... Dedicated weblog for researching, exploring and announcing new Internet startup companies and technology while researching existing product ...

2. Microsoft Joins Effort for Laptops for Children 22 hours ago   permalink

STEVE LOHR / NYT

After years of conflict, Microsoft and the computing and education project One Laptop Per Child have reached an agreement that will put Windows on the organization’s computers.

discussions

David Hunter / Microsoft News Tracker :   Microsoft to offer Windows for OLPC

Brad Linder / Download Squad :   OLPC Sugar OS takes on a life of its own, will anybody care?

TechBlog :   Linkpost | 5 .16.2008 Ars Technica :   OLPC and Microsoft will make Windows available on XO Paula Rooney / Open Source :   WinXP on XO laptops OK as long as Linux runs, too Sam Churchill / Dailywireless.org :   Windows XO LinuxDevices.com :   Microsoft frees poor children from Linux struggles Noreply / Peter O'Kelly :   Microsoft Joins Effort for Laptops for Children - New York Times Kristopher / DailyTech News Feed :   Windows XP Now Available on OLPC XO Notebook David Rothman / TeleRead :   Microsoft e-reading software probable for OLPC machine as XP decision becomes official: DRM coming?

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Www.microsoft.com Microsoft and One Laptop per Child Partner to Deliver Affordable Computing to Students Worldwide   —  REDMOND, Wash., and CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — May 15, 2008 — Today, Microsoft Corp. and One Laptop per Child (OLPC) announced an agreement that will make the Microsoft Windows operating system available on OLPC’s low-cost XO laptops for the world’s poorest children. Through this agreement, trials of the XO running Windows are ... David Hunter / Microsoft News Tracker :    Microsoft to offer Windows for OLPC The Tech Report :    Friday Shortbread Guardian Unlimited :    Microsoft joins One Laptop Per Child project Sam Churchill / Dailywireless.org :    Windows XO Robert Nelson / Gadgetell :    OLPC unveils Windows XP based XO laptop Kristopher / DailyTech News Feed :    Windows XP Now Available on OLPC XO Notebook OSNews :    Microsoft Demonstrates Windows XP on the XO QuickOnlineTips / Quick Online Tips :    Run Windows on OLPC XO Laptop! David Rothman / TeleRead :    Microsoft e-reading software probable for OLPC machine as XP decision becomes official: DRM coming?

Wade Roush / Xconomy Bender Creates Sugar Labs—New Foundation to Adapt OLPC’s Laptop Interface for Other Machines   —  Walter Bender, the former president of software and content for the One Laptop Per Child Foundation, contacted Xconomy this morning to alert us to the creation of Sugar Labs, a non-profit foundation that will work on new versions of Sugar, the learning-oriented graphical interface Bender developed for the OLPC’s XO Laptop. Coming on the ... Owen Thomas / Valleywag :    One Laptop Per Child project proves to be about ego, not education Brad Linder / Download Squad :    OLPC Sugar OS takes on a life of its own, will anybody care? CNET :    Sugar Labs will make OLPC interface available for Eee PC, others

Www.microspotting.com Dare Obasanjo on the perils of being a Microsoft blogger, and why he actually has to read all that Nigerian 419 spam   —  Dare is just your average program manager, popular Microsoft blogger, son-of-the-former-Nigerian-president. When he recently bailed on his very popular blog, I had to follow up with him on the details. Sarah Perez / Channel 10 :    Microspotting Michael Coates / OpsanBlog :    Have you heard about Microspotting? BusinessWeek Online Microsoft Joins One Laptop per Child   —  The nonprofit organization's alliance with Microsoft will bring Windows XP to the poorest children, and could give OLPC a much-needed boost Andrew G. R. / 901am :    One Laptop Per Child Scales the Gates Infinite Loop $6,800 gets you thicker, heavier MacBook plus XO donation   —  When is a MacBook worth $6,800? When you buy one that is uglified tricked out by a European company that also promises to donate an XO laptop in your honor to undisclosed "governmentally sponsored education programs." Read More... Matt buchanan / Gizmodo :    The Ugliest, Fattest MacBook Ever Is Only $6800 Tony E / Digital Tech News OLPC’s XO Laptop Available with Microsoft Windows OS   —  Microsoft and One Laptop per Child (OLPC) have announced that Microsoft Windows operating system will soon be available on OLPC's low-cost XO laptops. Created the world's poorest children, the original $100 laptop with Linux OS has more than doubled in... Soulskill / Slashdot Microsoft and OLPC Agree To Put XP On the XO Laptop   —  Apro+im points out a NYTimes report which states that Microsoft and the OLPC project have officially agreed to put Windows XP on the XO laptop. While Microsoft has been working toward this for some time, analysts began to think a deal was more likely after Walter Bender resigned from the project and was replaced by Charles Kane. Former OLPC ... Wiki.sugarlabs.org Announcing SugarLabs   —  Cambridge, Mass., May 15, 2008 – Sugar Labs Foundation is being established to further extend Sugar, the highly acclaimed open source “learn learning” software platform that was originally developed for the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) XO laptop. Sugar is the core of the XO laptop's human-computer interface; it provides a fun, easy-to-use, ... Brad Linder / Download Squad :    OLPC Sugar OS takes on a life of its own, will anybody care? Wade Roush / Xconomy :    Bender Creates Sugar Labs—New Foundation to Adapt OLPC’s Laptop Interface for Other Machines Chloe Albanesius / Gearlog OLPC Laptops to Support Microsoft Windows   —  What will help the world's poorest children? A Microsoft-based operating system, of course! The One Laptop per Child (OLPC) organization's low-cost XO laptops will now be available with Microsoft Windows. "The intention is to create a version of the XO laptop that provides the ability to host both Windows and Linux operating systems, giving ... The Tech Report XO laptops with WinXP ready, Microsoft shows its work   —  Last December, we reported that Microsoft had teamed up with the One Laptop Per Child project, and that the two planned to release a Windows-powered version of the XO "$100 laptop" this year. According to Engadget, Microsoft's task is now complete, and Windows XP is up and running... Guy Dixon / VNU Business Publications OLPC to ship with Windows XP   —  Guy Dixon, vnunet.com , Friday 16 May 2008 at 13:30:00 Microsoft teams up with One Laptop per Child project Microsoft has joined forces with the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) project in a bid to provide inexpensive portable PCs to schoolchildren in developing countries.... > Read the full article Al W / Tech Digest Microsoft signs up with One Laptop Per Child   —  Microsoft has announced an agreement with the One Laptop Per Child (OLCP) organisation to bring Windows XP to the company's XO machines, often referred to as the '$100 laptop'... Reuters Windows to run on One Laptop Per Child computer   —  SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp reached an agreement to make available its Windows operating system software for the One Laptop Per Child Foundation's XO Laptop, the company said on Thursday. TG Daily OLPC teams up with Microsoft: Cost of Windows XP only $3   —  The idea of a $100 laptop sounded fascinating, when we first heard about it. When the product actually became available, the $100 goal was gone, the initial hype seems to have faded and several other companies are cashing in on the cheap laptop trend. Microsoft never seemed to be a great match for the device to keep the price down, but market ... Fred Oliveira / Webreakstuff OXPC? Thoughts on Windows XP on the OLPC   —  If you’ve been around Techmeme in the last few hours you probably read about the agreement between Microsoft and One Laptop Per Child about making Windows XP available on the project’s computers. I personally believe it to be a bad decision from both ends, even though I admire both OLPC and Microsoft. Here’s why: The goal [...] Frankarr / Frankarr NYT: Microsoft Is Joining Low-Cost Laptop Project   —  Excerpt from New York Times Article: Microsoft Is Joining Low-Cost Laptop Project After years of conflict, Microsoft and the computing andeducation project One Laptop Per Child, have reached an agreement that will putWindows on the organization’s computers. MY COMMENT: To download ... Gadget Lab / Wired PCs OLPC Will Ship With Windows XP   —  The OLPC is embracing Windows: it will cost $200 (for now) and ship as a dual bot machine running XP and a machine-specific version of Linux. Digg $100 laptop' nonprofit now teamed with Microsoft - AP   —  BOSTON (AP) — The One Laptop Per Child project is about to find out whether Microsoft Corp., a rival the nonprofit group once derided, is the solution to its problems in spreading inexpensive portable computers to schoolchildren. Om Malik / GigaOM Open Sugar & Microsoft: End of OLPC As We Know It?   —  However great an idea it might have seemed when it was first conceived, the One Laptop Per Child project has never been something I’ve been able to wrap my head around. I’ve always felt, despite the backers’ good intentions, that it was being shoved down the throats of emerging economies with more dire needs, such [...] Vasudev / Bink.nu More on Windows XP Service Pack 3...   —  This is what Microsoft Update Product Team Blog says about the "continuous reboot loops" occuring to some customers installing XP SP3:We'd like to provide more information and address... Continue this aticle on Bink.nu Brad Linder / Download Squad Microsoft adds features to Live Search for Windows Mobile   —  Filed under: Utilities , Windows Mobile , Microsoft , Mobile Minute Microsoft has updates its Live Search for Windows Mobile software, adding four new features: 4 day weather forecasts Search the web from the Live Search software without opening a web browser first View maps and locations shared by other Virtual Earth users Take addresses from ... Edit Staff / GigaOM Microsoft Research Silicon Valley Road Show   —  Microsoft will hold its fourth Microsoft Research Silicon Valley Road Show at its campus in Mountain View, Calif., next Thursday, May 22. The event, which will showcase examples of all kinds of cool things the Redmond giant is working on, including an Xbox-based programming game for kids to program a virtual robot, is free to [...] Associated Press / Wired Top Stories OLPC Now Teamed With Microsoft   —  They fought like cats and dogs for a long time but now the OLPC nonprofit that wants to put a $100 laptop in the hands of every poor kid around the world has let Microsoft into the tent. The inclusion of Windows on the meant-to-be Linux box will raise the price (already $188 anyway) but could lead to new hardware design efficiencies that drops ... Michael Arrington / TechCrunch What Windows Might Look Like On The OLPC   —  Google’s Bob Lee creates a much better image to go with our post yesterday about One Laptop Per Child and Windows teaming up. More at CrunchGear. CrunchBase Information One Laptop Per Child Information provided by CrunchBase Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0 Paul Miller / Engadget Displaced by XP, Sugar Labs goes it alone   —  Filed under: Laptops While OLPC tries to wise up to the real demands of the market and build a cheap laptop that people actually want -- which means Windows XP for most -- Walter Bender, OLPC's former president of software and content for the project is taking his open source Linux-based Sugar OS and has started up a new non-profit to aid its ... Jayvee / Cellphone9 FlashBack Friday: The Microsoft oPhone Parody   —  In this issue of FlashBack Friday we look back to one year ago where some guys from Microsoft released the viral video promoting the “oPhone.” One year forward, the Jesus Phone has its share of critics from delayed SDK’s to worldwide release delays (the iPhone is only coming into Asia now, and really, the hype [...] Mike / Searchnewz Yahoo! Shares take a Dramatic Plunge as Microsoft withdraws Bid!   —  Yahoo! Successfully avoided the jaws of Microsoft, but found itself drowning in the share market. Microsoft had to withdraw its takeover bid for Yahoo! as the latter had asked for a higher price of $37 a share against Microsoft's final bid of $33 a share. But this deterrence didn't give Yahoo! CEO Jerry Yang any opportunity to smile. Yahoo! ... Nicholas Carlson / Valleywag Pro-Microsoft shareholders control at least 29 percent of Yahoo -- does that mean the fight's over?   —  $30 billion hedge fund Paulson & Co. has released filings to show it owns 3.4 percent of Yahoo shares and intends to support Carl Icahn's bid to replace the company's board. Combined with Icahn's 4.3 percent share , Legg Mason fund manager Bill Miller's 5 percent share and Capital Research fund manager Gordon Crawford's 6 percent share, at ... Mike / Searchnewz Microsoft Backs Down from Yahoo   —  The web is afire with the news that after its latest bid attempt to takeover Yahoo failed, Microsoft decided to back down. My desktop news widget is going wild with this news... updating every 30s or so with more updates from Wall Street Journal, CNN Money, Forbes, Information Week, CNet News, etc; hot news indeed. Microsoft Backs Down from ... Warp2Search.net Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1   —  Microsoft has released Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1... MBrant / Bink.nu Microsoft removes backup feature in upcoming WHS powerpack update!   —  ChannelWeb is reporting that Microsoft has removed the backup feature from it's upcoming Power Pack 1 update for Windows Home Server! Microsoft isn't making it easy for the any partners... Continue this aticle on Bink.nu Andrew Clark / Guardian.co.uk Technology Yang rallies Yahoo staff against Icahn challenge   —  Jerry Yang, Yahoo's chief executive implored his 14,000 staff to stick to their day jobs in spite of an audacious effort by the billionaire corporate raider Carl Icahn to unseat the internet firm's entire board of directors. Icahn, a 72-year-old New Yorker with a track record of shareholder activism, has fielded a 10-strong slate of dissident ... Chris / Chris Pirillo Microsoft’s Free Astronomy Software   —  Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed Even if you’re not really “in to” Astronomy, you really have to check this out. The things you will see are just amazing. (...) ABC News $100 Laptop Nonprofit Teams With Microsoft   —  In this Dec. 12, 2007 file photo, Renzo, 8, reads on his "XO" laptop in Arahuay, an Andean hilltop... In this Dec. 12, 2007 file photo, Renzo, 8, reads on his "XO" laptop in Arahuay, an Andean hilltop village in Peru. Microsoft and the One Laptop Per Child project on Thursday, May 15, 2008 announced that the nonprofit's green-and-white "XO" ... TIME Microsoft Signs Deal with Hyundai, Kia   —  Microsoft Corp. has signed a worldwide deal with automakers Hyundai and Kia to use its in-car software that allows people to use voice commands to control personal music players and telephones Tom Young / VNU Business Publications EEA and Microsoft to develop online green information portal   —  Tom Young, Computing , Friday 16 May 2008 at 17:01:00 Plan is to develop global repository of information for experts The European Environment Agency (EEA) and Microsoft have announced a new five-year alliance to develop an environmental information portal for more than 500 million citizens across Europe.... > Read the full article Jackson West / Valleywag Adman Alex Bogusky latest Fast Company coverboy   —  Rising ad star Alex Bogusky of Crispin Porter + Bogusky is the subject of the cover feature in the latest issue of Fast Company . The story focuses on Microsoft's $300 million deal with the agency to, in Fast Company's words, "crush Apple." Bogusky will be fighting an uphill battle on two fronts — one against Microsoft's perpetually ... Noreply / Mark Harrison Open XML to DAISY XML Translator download   —  Microsoft has released a software add-in to help those who have difficulty reading printed documents to turn Word documents into audio files. The "Save as DAISY XML" add-in makes it easier to create audio books from text files, and was developed by Microsoft, Sonata Software, and the Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) Consortium as an ... Thomas Ricker / Engadget Atom-based Eee PC 901 pops June 3rd with Bluetooth for $650   —  Filed under: Laptops June's shaping up to be a pretty special month 'round here. In addition to whatever Apple's got up its sleeve and all the new gear set to announce at Computex , Asus will be launching its Atom-based Eee PC 901 just like we heard . June 3rd is the date for "a price below" $650. We assume that means $649.99. DigiTimes ' ... Dustin Burg / Xbox 360 Fanboy April NPD: GTAIV sells like crazy, console sales neck and neck   —  Filed under: News , Console wars It's that time again when corporate execs are held accountable for their actions, sales figures are calculated and the North American "digits" are revealed. It's time for April NPD ! W00t! Last month's video game competition was a heated race between Microsoft and Sony as the Xbox 360 was able to move 188,000 ... Scott Hanselman / Scott Hanselman 11 Top Tips for a Successful Technical Presentation   —  Over five years ago I posted Tips for a Successful MSFT Presentation . Yesterday I watched the video of my Mix Presentation all the way through. It's always very painful to hear one's own voice but it's even worse to watch yourself. I never listen to my podcast and I avoid watching myself. It's like watching a person in parallel universe and it ... USATODAY.com Tech Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope will light your fuse   —  Microsoft wants you to boldly go where you have never gone before right from your PC desktop. The vehicle is the WorldWide Telescope, a breathtaking educational resource that turns your Windows computer into a virtual observatory of space. Digital Trends OLPC, Microsoft Partner for XP on the XO   —  Microsoft Corporation and the non-profit One Laptop Per Child project has announced an agreement that will put Windows XP on the OLPC XO laptop—albeit with a higher price tag attached. OLPC XO's will still be available with the organization's Linux-based operating system and education-centric Sugar interface, but versions will also be ... Site.editor / PC Pro news Windows arrives on OLPC laptop   —  Microsoft has reached an agreement to make Windows XP available on the One Laptop Per Child Foundation's XO Laptop. BusinessWeek Online Microsoft Joins One Laptop per Child   —  The nonprofit organization's alliance with Microsoft will bring Windows XP to the poorest children, and could give OLPC a much-needed boost Electronista OLPC XO to have Windows XP option by fall   —  Microsoft tonight revealed that the highly talked-about OLPC XO ñ a laptop initially designed for students in developing countries ñ will ship with Windows XP as an option in August or September, with some countries to get the low-cost ultraportable ... TechSpot Microsoft and OLPC join forces   —  Microsoft has had their eyes set on low cost laptops for a while, telling the world they would work hard to get Windows XP functioning on the infamous XO units made by the OLPC project. Now, after a lot of controversy from both sides of the fence, Microsoft and the OLPC project are teaming up. The leader and founder of the project, Nicholas ... Brian Bergstein / SFGate $100 laptops to be loaded with Windows for an additional fee / Nonprofit group offers option under deal with Microsoft   —  The One Laptop Per Child project is about to find out whether Microsoft Corp., a rival the nonprofit group once derided, is the solution to its problems in spreading inexpensive portable computers to schoolchildren. Microsoft and the laptop organization said... Walaika Haskins / TechNewsWorld XO Goes XP   —  The One Laptop Per Child project and Microsoft have come together to make the software company's Windows XP operating system available on the OLPC's low-cost laptops, the XO. Sugar, a Linux-based user interface, will also be offered on XO computers. Although OLPC had hoped to ship millions of the low-cost computers to schoolchildren in developing ... RSS Can OpenOffice 3.0 finally replace MS Office?   —  If you think that you always get what you pay for, the just-released beta of OpenOffice 3.0 should convince you otherwise. This free, open source software suite provides most of what anyone could want in an office suite, including a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation program, database, drawing tools, and math equation editor. Although it ... Daniel Fleshbourne / Neowin.net :    Can OpenOffice 3.0 finally replace MS Office? Brian Scarbeau / Geekswithblogs.net Great news from Microsoft!   —  No, it's not another product or a new sales figure or them buying out another company. More importantly, the company has joined OLPC. OLPC is the one laptop per child program that Nicholas Negroponte started in 2005. The mission of One Laptop per Child (OLPC) is to empower the children of developing countries to learn by providing one connected ... MSNBC.com '$100 laptop' nonprofit now teamed with Microsoft   —  The One Laptop Per Child project is about to find out whether Microsoft Corp., a rival the nonprofit group once derided, is the solution to its problems in spreading inexpensive portable computers to schoolchildren. Computerworld Ex-OLPC exec forms group to promote Sugar UI on XO laptops   —  Former OLPC executive Walter Bender formed a nonprofit organization to promote the open-source development of Sugar, the user interface found on XO laptops. Silicon Alley Insider Yahoo Joins WPP In Deal To Sell Web Ads   —  Yahoo (YHOO) is linking up with ad giant WPP Group in a deal that will make it easier for the ad conglomerates' various agencies to place ads on Yahoo and its partner sites. The deal joins Yahoo's ad auction service, Right Media, with WPP's ad targeting firm, 24/7 Real Media. WPP's clients will get access to data and inventory from Right Media, ... Erica Ogg / CNET News.com Sugar Labs will make OLPC interface available for Eee PC, others   —  Former One Laptop Per Child President Walter Bender has formed a nonprofit called Sugar Labs, which will advance the Sugar graphical interface he originally created for the low-cost computing project. Sugar Labs will partner with developers of Sugar-compatible applications and other hardware makers that want to use the user interface ... Robert Nelson / Gadgetell Carl Icahn sends open letter to Yahoo! Board of Directors   —  Section: News , Web , Websites In a recently published open letter to the Yahoo! Board of Directors, Carl Icahn makes things pretty clear, he wants to dump the entire current board. He is not very happy with the way the current board acted with Microsoft’s offer of $47.5 billion and feels the $33 per share price was a “superior ... Andrew Thomas / The Inquirer OLPC goes with XP - official   —  Andrew Thomas the Inquirer , Friday 16 May 2008. 13:32:00 Giving up sugar AFTER FALLING OUT BIG TIME with Intel a few months ago, the One Laptop Per Child project has signed up with Microsoft to make Windows XP available on the OLPC. The move will only bump up the price of the low-cost device by $3, says Microsoft.... Sam Churchill / Dailywireless.org Windows Mobile to Dominate?   —  Microsoft expects sales of its Windows Mobile platform products will account for 40% of the global smartphone market in fiscal 2012 (July 2011-June 2012), according to Eddie Wu, managing director of Microsoft ODM embedded devices, Asia, Daniel Shen and Steve Shen report for DigiTimes. “Microsoft currently focuses its efforts on promoting ... Marc Gardette / TechNet Blogs L’Interoperability Executive Customer Council – comment Microsoft écoute ses clients sur les questions d’interopérabilité   —  L’Interoperability Executive Customer (IEC) Council a récemment été mentionné lors de publications sur l’interopérabilité, à l’annonce des principes d’interopérabilité du 21 février notamment. Je vais tenter de clarifier le rôle et la contribution de ce groupe formé par Microsoft en juin 2006 en résumant les mots de Kamaljit ... F-Secure Antivirus Research Team (mailto:weblog\ / F-Secure Antivirus Research May's Microsoft Updates   —  It's time once again for monthly updates from Microsoft. Microsoft Office Word and Publisher reportedly have Remote Code Execution vulnerabilities which could be exploited by remote attackers. Various Office versions are affected. The three vulnerabilities are highly critical and we recommend users to apply the latest updates. Microsoft Malware ... Silicon Alley Insider Yahoo-Microsoft-Icahn: What Happens Next   —  The next move in the Yahoo-Microsoft-Icahn saga is Carl Icahn's. As Yahoo (YHOO) wisely pointed out in its rebuff letter, there's no bid for Yahoo on the table right now, so it's hard to accuse Yahoo's board of doing anything worse than blowing the original negotiations. The truth, of course, is that Icahn doesn't actually want to get Yahoo's ... JobsBlog / Microsoft Innovation at Microsoft   —  It's Friday again! And that means it's time for another video. This one's all about innovation at Microsoft. Enjoy and have a great weekend! Video: Innovation at Microsoft Computerworld Microsoft pulls Windows Home Server backup feature   —  Microsoft has yanked parts of a backup feature from a major upgrade to its Windows Home Server software scheduled for release later this year. Site.editor / PC Pro news The week in your words: Microsoft seige, Linux fightback and ants   —  In a week that saw Microsoft lay siege to low-cost laptops, Linux launch the fight back and ants eat Houston, we take a look back to see what our readers have made of it all. Kara Swisher / BoomTown Will Microsoft Respond to Yahoo Letter to Icahn?   —  Throughout this new series of developments in the Yahoo takeover circus, Microsoft has been unusually quiet about billionaire investor Carl Icahn's efforts to take over Yahoo's board via a proxy fight and then turn around and make a deal to sell the company to the software giant. But will that last, especially considering a letter that Yahoo ... Renay San Miguel / Gadgetell Gates lifts a finger, demos new Touch Wall   —  Section: Computers , Hardware , Gadgets / Other , Lifestyle , Miscellaneous It’s his last time to host a Microsoft CEO Summit as company chairman before answering philanthropy’s call, so Bill Gates decided to use the opportunity for one more demonstration of Microsoft Research prowess. Gates allowed the high-profile executives ... Podcast / Between the Lines XP meets XO: Will Linux get an equal shot?   —  Updated: The One Laptop Per Child program will put XP on its XO laptop and children in the developing world will have a choice between Windows and Linux. On the surface, a little choice isn’t going to kill anybody. In fact, choice is good. And if some poor kids can get a laptop, learn a bit [...] Alexander Sliwinski / Joystiq Wii could surpass US Xbox 360 install base this month   —  Filed under: Nintendo Wii , Microsoft Xbox 360 It's a good thing that Microsoft got its gloating in about selling 10 million units in the US, because the Wii will not only hit that number, but probably surpass it this month. Deutsche Bank analyst Jeetil Patel did the math and found that the Wii currently sits at about 9.5 million units in the US. Kristopher / DailyTech News Feed Microsoft Gets Touchy-Feely With TouchWall   —  Microsoft loves to touch and it thinks you will too... MSNBC.com Icahn to Yahoo board: Sell to Microsoft or leave   —  Yahoo Inc. Chief Executive Jerry Yang spent months fending off Microsoft Corp.'s unsolicited takeover bid. Now he may only have a few weeks to persuade the software maker to revive its last offer of $47.5 billion, or risk being fired in a shareholder mutiny led by activist investor Carl Icahn. Matt Asay / The Open Road Negroponte passes the Windows "virility test"   —  Wow. Some things are better left unsaid, but since Nicholas Negroponte, embattled founder of the One Laptop Per Child project, said it, I'll quote it : When I talk to people and tell them we can run Windows, they are very impressed. You pass a sort of virility test. Until you're emasculated by ceding control of the project to Microsoft, which ... TheStar.com Yahoo fight puts Microsoft in driver's seat   —  Two weeks after Microsoft Corp abandoned its pursuit of Yahoo Inc, a proxy fight launched by activist investor Carl Icahn has put Microsoft in the driver's seat. Steve / The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs Borg launches sinister plan to bring even more misery to Third World children   —  How will they do it? By shipping Windows XP on a poorly built, underpowered, unreliable laptop. As Monkey Boy said in a statement: "At Microsoft we believe that everyone in the world should have equal access to blue screens and freeze-ups and viruses. We hope this program helps prepare kids around the world to become frustrated, annoyed and ... Ubergizmo OLPC XO to ship with Windows   —  Microsoft has allowed its Windows XP operating system to ship as an option in the $100 OLPC XO laptop, and this will happen sometime in August or September. Perhaps Windows XP might even replace the current Sugar front-end that is available in all XOs, although OLPC has not released a statement to support or counter that theory. Windows XP won't ... BetaNews.Com OLPC hopes Windows is its sales savior   —  Representing a major alignment shift, the One Laptop Per Child project announced Thursday it had come to an agreement with Microsoft to put Windows XP on its XO Laptop. Daniel Fleshbourne / Neowin.net HP begs AMD PC owners to put XP SP3 on ice   —  Hewlett-Packard has told customers not to install Windows XP service pack three (SP3) on AMD-based desktops until Microsoft and HP cough fixes to the endless reboot snafu that has wreaked havoc on PCs. Microsoft confirmed yesterday that it was scurrying to patch the problem after hundreds of angry XP customers first grumbled about the sizeable **** Tpws / TP Wire Service Laptop Program, Microsoft Team Up   —  The struggling One Laptop Per Child Project has signed a deal with Microsoft to use Windows on its machines in an effort to stage a turnaround. The agreement has sparked outrage among some of the project's founding members. ( Subscription required ) Martin / GHacks technology news Microsoft Security Updates May 2008   —  Microsoft released four security updates for various applications and operating systems that they produce. Three of the four updates are regarded as critical while one has a moderate risk level. To break it up further: Two patches are updating Microsoft Office 2000, Office XP, Office 2003 and Office 2007, one Windows XP, Windows 2000 and [...] Jason.pontin / Technology Review Feed OLPC Laptop Gets Windows   —  One Laptop per Child inks a deal with Microsoft to put Windows on the "100-dollar" machine. SANS Internet Storm Center Microsoft office file block & MOICE,   —  Microsoft introduced the ability to block file formats to the different programs in office and safer ways to open suspect files about a year ago. The file blocking is not based on the file extension but on the actual format (so renaming a rich text file (.rtf) to a .doc won't get around the restriction). Unfortunately it's set by making changes ... Dave Hayden / David Hayden Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1 Download - Windows Server 2008, Vista SP1 and XP SP3   —  “Use Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 to run multiple operating systems at the same time on the same physical computer. Switch between virtual machines with the click of a button. Use virtual machines to run legacy applications, provide support, train users, and enhance quality assurance. Daniel Fleshbourne / Neowin.net Microsoft Cuts Backup From Home Server Update   —  Microsoft has quietly removed a key backup feature from an upcoming update for Windows Home Server, much to the frustration of channel partners who've been touting this particular feature of the product to customers. In January at CES, Microsoft announced Home Server Power Pack 1 and said it would not only fix a number of minor issues in the ... Use_contact_form_via_main_page / Infopackets Windows (All Channels) Feature Article: Schools Agency Plans To Teach Microsoft A Lesson   —  Article snippet: " Microsoft could be in even more trouble with European Union competition regulators after a complaint by a British government agency. The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA), which oversees computer purchasing in schools and colleges, says Microsoft Office doesn't work smoothly enough with other ... Paul Adams / Wired XP on OLPC Like Fish on Bicycle, But More Crash-Prone   —  According to the stated principles on the web site of the One Laptop Per Child project: "There is no inherent external dependency in being able to localize software into their language, fix the software to remove bugs, and repurpose the software to fit their needs. Nor is there any restriction in regard to redistribution; OLPC cannot know and ... Proudly Serving My Corporate Masters Breaking Training   —  Yesterday I took an all-day training course based on Barry Oshry's theories on organizations. This is the same stuff that Steven Sinofsky blogged about a few years ago: the idea that organizations have tops, middles, and bottoms. Tops "own" delivery of something, bottoms do the actual work, and middles are those who are neither tops nor bottoms. ... SANS Internet Storm Center May 2008 black tuesday overview,   —  Overview of the May 2008 Microsoft patches and their status. # Affected Contra Indications Known Exploits Microsoft rating ISC rating(*) clients servers MS08-026 Multiple vulnerabilities allow code execution when opening a malicious file. Files opened with word and edited with word in outlook are of particular concern. Replaces MS08-009. Office ... Eric Brown / LXer Linux News Microsoft frees poor children from Linux struggles   —  Microsoft has announced an agreement with One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) that will make Windows XP available on the non-profit's low-cost laptops for third-world children. Thank goodness third world children will no longer have to struggle to learn Linux, one tongue-in-cheek commentator observes. Noreply / Peter O'Kelly Laptops for poor to run Windows XP - The Boston Globe   —  See the full article for more details on this timely reality check The One Laptop Per Child Foundation, of Cambridge, will next month start distributing a version of its XO laptop that will run Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system. While the move has long been expected, it represents a major shift for OLPC, which has relied on the free ... Yahoo! News Microsoft Open Source, Standards Chiefs Tout 'Openness'   —  TechWeb - InformationWeek - Interviews with Sam Ramji and Tom Robertson reveal Microsoft is strong on building open source business models and community as well as interoperability and industry standards. Guardian Unlimited Please don't let me be misunderstood: Microsoft pleads for Vista   —  What do politicians do when they've had a substantial kicking from their electorate? Go on the radio and tell people that the problem is that the populace doesn't understand their policies, because if they did then obviously they would all vote for them. ABC News Icahn to Yahoo Board: Bring Back Microsoft   —  Carl Icahn hopes to revive Microsoft takeover by ousting Yahoo's board. Podcast / Between the Lines News to know: XP meets XO; Yahoo; Facebook; Verdiem; DIY phishing   —  Notable headlines: Mary Jo Foley: It’s finally official: XP is coming to the XO. Christopher Dawson: Sugar-free Windows, as predicted Microsoft cuts backup from Windows Home Server PowerPack Larry Dignan: Icahn launches Yahoo proxy fight; Mark Cuban’s return? Yahoo to Icahn: You misunderstand Mary Jo Foley: The real question: Is ... Sam Varghese / LXer Linux News OLPC: one virile Windows laptop per child   —  The news that Windows XP will be made available on the One Laptop Per Child's XO laptop is now official. When the project began, a move such as this would have been dismissed out of hand by any of those involved. What has changed to make the OLPC just another seller of Windows laptops? Andrew G. R. / 901am One Laptop Per Child Scales the Gates   —  Microsoft, along with the One Laptop Per Child project, have announced that the XO laptop will be available in both Linux and Windows. The Windows-powered XO will be released in approximately six countries starting next month. Expect a wider release later in the year. The agreement, which has been rumored for quite some time, guarantees a [...] RSS Bender forms group to promote OLPC's Sugar UI   —  Former One Laptop Per Child president of software and content Walter Bender has launched Sugar Labs, an organization that will promote the development of the open source user interface originally developed for the XO laptop. Sugar Labs Foundation will refine the development of Sugar, a UI (user interface) for the Linux OS that provides ... Matt Asay / The Open Road Can Microsoft be beaten in the cloud?   —  Roy Schestowitz apparently uncovers a subversive strategy Microsoft is using to block Linux from motherboards everywhere. How? By fighting its longtime partner, Phoenix Technology, which had developed a Linux-friendly virtualization technology (HyperWave) to allow a Linux operating system to run even when Windows fails: The basic concept is that ... Gouravd / TechNet Blogs Function Calls and the conventions - Steps towards effective debugging   —  Hello Guys, How often has it happened, that we do things without really knowing why we are doing so. I can hear you speaking to yourself... Its not a fault (or a "trap" :P ). Many a times we end up doing that, since most often, the work needs to be completed, period. Learning a certain thing (a big thing), is often like solving puzzles. Its only ... Tech Dispenser Home Page Feed Windows XP versus Windows Vista – Usability   —  4sysops – For Windows Administrators – We have seen three rounds so far, and Vista clearly won two of them (Security, Manageability) with knock outs and lost the last one (Reliability) on points, mostly because the old champion XP just picked up lots of experience in its countless fights over the last 7 years. Let’s see if the old ... SecurityFocus Vulnerabilities Vuln: Microsoft Windows Kernel Usermode Callback Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability   —  Microsoft Windows Kernel Usermode Callback Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability Jay Kinker / Geekswithblogs.net Free resources for learning Microsoft Technologies   —  Here are some excellent FREE resources for BizTalk Server , SharePoint and other Microsoft technologies:     BizTalk Server Code Samples:   BizTalk Server 2006 Documentation:    PDF format - ; ... Noreply / Peter O'Kelly Amazon.com: Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft Plans to Stay Relevant in the Post-Gates Era: Mary Jo Foley: Books   —  I finished reading Mary Jo Foley's new book yesterday. I consider it required reading for anyone interested in Microsoft's past/present/likely future. It's an in-depth and, imho, refreshingly objective assessment from a top-tier tech journalist who has been closely tracking Microsoft for a couple decades. Check it out at Amazon.com . Amazon.com ... Don Reisinger / The Digital Home What Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo don't get   —  Each other. Too simple? After seeing yesterday's NPD numbers and hearing about them from all the companies, each has their own spin on what went down last month. Nintendo (rightfully so) chose to gloat about how well the Wii is selling. According to NPD, the Wii outsold the 360, PS3, PS2, and PSP during April. Even better for the company, it ... Editor / SearchEnterpriseLinux Novell extends interoperability with Microsoft   —  Novell will create open source extensions to Microsoft, and mixed shops stand to benefit. But Red Hat may lose out, as Novell outpaces Red Hat's interoperability efforts. MAKE XP on the OLPC   —  Here's a video of the OLPC running XP, it's from Microsoft - looks like the OLPC might be a win based system now via Engadget - post up in the comments with your opinions! [Read this article] [Comment on this article] Michael stephenson / Geekswithblogs.net Implementing scheduling requirements in BizTalk solutions   —  Written by: Michael Stephenson ( ) The Scenario This is a common scenario with potential BizTalk solutions. You are implementing a process which needs to be triggered at specific points. The problem you have is that BizTalk doesn’t really do scheduling. There are service window features in BizTalk ... MacInTouch Security: Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.4.2   —  "This security update resolves several privately reported vulnerabilities in Microsoft Word that could allow remote code execution..." Ina Fried / Beyond Binary Former Microsoft lawyer Neukom to head SF Giants   —  William Neukom, the Microsoft lawyer best-known for his role in the landmark antitrust case against the software giant, is now set to take on a bunch of Pirates (and Dodgers and Cubs). Neukom, according to a report Friday in the San Francisco Chronicle , is set to become managing general partner ...

3. Data Portability: It’s The New Walled Garden 23 hours ago   permalink

Michael Arrington / TechCrunch

The scuffle today between Facebook and Google has very little to do with user privacy and everything to do with user control. A huge battle is underway between Google, MySpace and Facebook around control of user profiles and, therefore, users themselves. And their three new products, Data Availability, Facebook Connect, and Friend Connect, are ...

discussions

Timothy Lee / Techdirt :   Facebook Disconnects Google: Protecting Users... Or Itself?

Mathew / Mathewingram.com/work :   Facebook blocks Google, for your own good

CNET :   Social graphs just wanna be free, but will they ever be? Guardian Unlimited :   Facebook bans Google's Friend Connect over privacy issues Marc Canter / Marc :   Report from the Data Sharing Summit #2 Oliver / Oliver Thylmann :   Who to entrust your social network Drupad Sil / SearchViews.com :   Begun, the Data Wars Have Michellelentz / Bub.blicio.us :   Get Your Message Out: Pingercast Messaging

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TIME Google Wants to Facebook Friend You   —  A new pilot program from Google would allow you to add Facebook-like apps to your site Nicholas Carlson / Valleywag Facebook caters to CollegeHumor with greasy apology   —  Due to "PR concerns" — or rather, new COO Sheryl Sandberg's excessively grownup attitude — Facebook bailed on a scheduled game of beer pong against CollegeHumor. The people at CollegeHumor, an IAC subsidiary, were certainly nonplussed. But Facebook is flush with cash . Sure, it's supposed to go toward server upgrades, but sometimes ... Nicholas Carlson / Valleywag How to avoid being a Facebook shill like VC David Sze   —  Greylock Partners VC David Sze is no doubt thrilled to have been caught endorsing Blackberry via Facebook . Such "social ads" are the very reason his firm invested in the social network. If you're more chary of inflating Facebook's valuation while giving a thumbs-up to its advertisers, here's how to keep Facebook's endorsement ads from appearing ... 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