Microsoft Shows Off New 'Windows Live Search'

Posted by Paul Krevs on 08 March 2006 - 14:56 [EST]

Microsoft has released a preview version of what will eventually become the flagship search engine for the Redmond Washington based software giant. Windows Live Search is the cornerstone of Microsoft's new "Live" campaign, which aims to unite all the companies’ web services under a single banner.

View: Microsoft's 'Live.com' | Original 'Live' Service Press Release
View: Neowin Forum Discussion

Source and full story: neowin.net

OpenOffice 2.0.2

Posted by Paul Krevs on 08 March 2006 - 21:48 [EST]

OpenOffice.org 2.0.2 is available today. It is ready now in English; check with the Native Language projects for other languages. The release is recommended for everyone. It contains some nifty new features, fixes many small bugs and resolves numerous issues. For instance, spellcheck dictionaries are now directly integrated into OpenOffice.org and are immediately available after installation; there is no need for extra downloads. The community have also added import filters for Quattro Pro 6 and Microsoft Word 2. As well, other import filters have been improved, so that documents created by other applications can be edited in OpenOffice.org more seamlessly. Continuing with the the push to enhance OpenOffice.org's business functionality, it is now easier to use mail merge. As well, integration with the KDE address book is now possible.

The appearance of the application has also been enhanced, and for Linux users, there are new icon sets for KDE and GNOME. The result of this and the other improvements is not just a prettier OpenOffice.org but a friendlier and more capable suite.

Download: OpenOffice 2.0.2
View: Neowin Forum Discussion

Source: neowin.net

Google settles click fraud suit

Search giant says it will pay $90 million to resolve all outstanding claims back to 2002.
March 8, 2006: 7:14 PM EST

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - Web search leader Google Inc. said Wednesday it had agreed to pay up to $90 million to settle a class action lawsuit over advertising fraud by outside parties on its site, in a bid to put the controversy behind it.

The settlement stems from a lawsuit filed by Lane's Gifts earlier this year in an Arkansas state court and is designed to settle all outstanding claims against Google for fraud committed using its pay-per-click ad system back to 2002, it said.

The $90 million would involve legal fees and credits -- rather than any cash payments -- to all advertisers who apply to be part of the class settlement, once the judge certifies the agreement, Google spokesman Steve Langdon said.

Source and full story: CNN Money

Sony PS3 held up by Blu-ray delay

Platter spat spotted
By INQUIRER staff: Tuesday 07 March 2006, 14:46

SONY CEO, Howard Stringer, has confirmed that the PS3 which was supposed to be in the shops soon, will not now be around until the end of the year.

In an interview with well-known technology rag Variety, Stringer said the delay is due to a hold-up with chips crucial to the success of the console's Blu-ray functions. He said Sony will roll out the PS3 by the end of the year, in time for the Yule-tide binge.

Stringer wants the PS3 to be a vehicle for Blu-ray discs as well as videogames. This suggests the PS3's success may not as important to Sony as getting Blu-Ray off the ground.

It seems the cunning plan is to make the PS3 the killer platform that will knock out HD-DVD and install Blu-ray as the dominant video standard.

Source: INQUIRER

Couple microwave urine-filled fake penis

Attempted drugs test fraud ends in court
By Lester Haines
Published Monday 6th March 2006 15:07 GMT

Here's a cautionary tale if you're a woman planning to use a fake penis filled with someone else's urine to pass a drugs test as part of a job application: don't take it to the local convenience store and ask the clerk to microwave it "so the urine inside would be body-temperature and fool those giving the drug test".

So now you know, thanks to Leslye Creighton, 41, of Wilkinsburg, and Vincent Bostic, 31, of Pittsburgh, who were cited last Friday for "criminal mischief and disorderly conduct in the 23 February incident at the Get Go! gasoline and convenience store in McKeesport, about 10 miles east of Pittsburgh", the Washington Post reports.

Source and full story: theregister.com

Street Legal Jet Powered VW Beetle

posted by TechEMaster on 03.02.06 @ 2:43 am

What can you do with a GE Model T58-8F helicopter turboshaft engine, converted to jet? With Ron Patrick’s custom VW Beetle you can have lots and lots of dangerous fun exploiting all 1350 horsepower. This monster is powered by two engines (original up front, jet in back) and is perfectly street legal since you’re only using the gasoline powered engine in normal driving conditions. But if you’re feeling adventurous, fire up the jet engine - which spins up to 26,000 rpm/13,000 rpm idle - and watch the afterburner come to life. More after the jump.

Source(with more pictures): TechEBlog

Video Collection 3-4-06

Real Life Simpsons Title Sequence - [via SpikedHumor]
Kung Fu Monkey - [via SpikedHumor]
Extreme Jumpers - [via SpikedHumor]
Race Car Pile Up - [via BREAK.com]
My Inner Twin - [via SpikedHumor]
^^^ "A man has a 33 year-old calcified twin removed from his abdomen. All I can say is wow..."

Pentagon to enslave shark-kind

Uncle Sam mobilises remote control fish
By Chris Williams
Published Thursday 2nd March 2006 14:13 GMT

Sinister news has leaked out of the US Department of Defence, where plans are afoot to implant mind control devices into sharks in the hope of using them for underwater espionage.

The DoD engineer-designed implant (developed in lab experiments on rats) will be deployed to harness a squad of shark spies, it was revealed at a meeting in Hawaii last week. Until now, applications for the controversial technology have centred on regaining movement in paralysis sufferers.

Sharks' stealthy movement through water makes them perfect candidates for underwater snooping, able to follow ships and submarines without detection. They are one of nature's most successful predators, having been on the oceanic block for 400m years in a relatively unchanging form.

New Scientist reports that a group at Boston University is already using probes in the lab to steer dogfish, a close shark relative. As the dogfish meanders about, researchers take control by beaming a radio signal from a laptop to an antenna attached to the fish.

Source: theregister.com

Four plead guilty in US piracy case

Pirates smell porridge
By John Oates
Published Wednesday 1st March 2006 11:25 GMT

Four US citizens have pleaded guilty to piracy charges following an investigation by the Department of Justice.

Investigators from Operation Fastlink snared Derek Borchardt (21), Matthew Howard (24) and Aaron Jones (31). All three pleaded guilty of conspiracy to commit copyright infringement as part of the Apocalypse Crew which specialised in pre-release music. A fourth man, George Hayes (31) admitted one count of copyright infringement as a member of another pre-release group called Chromance, or CHR.

The four will be sentenced on 19 May 2006 - they face up to five years in prison and fines of $250,000.

Apocalypse Crew got hold of digital copies of tracks before they were commercially released and made them available on peer-to-peer networks.

Source and full story: theregister.com

Analyst says 360 supply problems easing

Supply expected to meet demand in late March; projects 10-12 million 360s shipped by end of 2006.
By Brendan Sinclair -- GameSpot
Posted Feb 28, 2006 2:59 pm PT

In a research note to investors this week, American Technology Research analyst PJ McNealy indicates that the Xbox 360 shortage that has dogged the platform since its North American launch last November is almost over.

"We surveyed 125 retailers late last week, and 21 percent had at least one Xbox 360 Core ($299 version) console in stock," McNealy wrote. "Most also reported receiving shipments last week and are now seeing a relatively steady flow after stock-outs abounded for most of December and January."

I found this at: neowin.net
Full story: GameSpot