No Shelter from Windows Exploit, Sneak Peek at Office 12, 32 Notebooks and PCs Reviewed
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-------- WHAT'S NEW NOW --------
Important Stories, Commentary & More from Ziff Davis
By Jim Louderback
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November 22, 2005
Vol. 4, No. 94
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No Shelter from Windows Exploit, Sneak Peek at Office 12, 32
Notebooks and PCs Reviewed
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Internet Explorer Hole Exploited by New Attack
It comes from a UK group called "Computer Terrorism" and it
can infest even fully up-to-date Windows XP systems that use
the default version of Internet Explorer. This nasty exploit
could grant any hacker complete control over millions of PCs
--and it's just been posted to the Net. Our story tells you
what's being done to plug the hole, along with a link to a
benign version of the exploit that simply launches the
Windows Calculator ... but it could have done a whole lot more.
Nasty Exploit Code Attacks Windows:
http://ct.eletters.whatsnewnow.com/rd/cts?d=181-569-1-278-144054-28667-0-0-0-1
How Search Needs to Change in 2006
Sometimes it seems like Google has its finger in every digital
market on the Internet. With high-speed Internet access and
the precursor of its own classified listings, the company
has moved a long way from search. Diversification seems to
be the watchword. Our beat reporter analyzes what happened
in search this year, with a look at what the future may hold.
Search Evolution:
http://ct.eletters.whatsnewnow.com/rd/cts?d=181-569-1-278-144054-28670-0-0-0-1
Skype Says It's Not a Business Tool
At least not for large businesses. As many big companies
start blocking Skype because of vulnerabilities, the eBay
division says its VOIP service is not really meant for the
large business environment. Does this mean Skype's working
on another solution for big business? Unclear, but our story
details what we know and what Skype has to say.
Skype Not for Business:
http://ct.eletters.whatsnewnow.com/rd/cts?d=181-569-1-278-144054-28673-0-0-0-1
Texas and the EFF Go After Sony
This rootkit thing will not die--and the negative headlines
for Sony just keep coming. Now the EFF has filed a lawsuit
against Sony because of the rootkit installed onto users'
PCs by music CDs. The suit doesn't cover the software involved
in the most recent flap, but instead is targeted at a
variation, which affects 20 million CDs worldwide. Texas
doesn't want to be left out--it just sued Sony as well.
What's the rationale? Our stories explore both suits and
plumb the depths of Sony's dilemma.
EFF Sues Sony:
http://ct.eletters.whatsnewnow.com/rd/cts?d=181-569-1-278-144054-28676-0-0-0-1
Texas Sues Too:
http://ct.eletters.whatsnewnow.com/rd/cts?d=181-569-1-278-144054-28679-0-0-0-1
Cisco Buys Scientific Atlanta
I think this is a big deal. The company owns the routing
infrastructure of the Internet, and now Linksys, Cisco's
consumer and small business line, is buying the leading
set-top box vendor in the United States. These TV cable boxes
have sophisticated display and read-write capability,
although they mostly just handle video images rather than
text. These boxes may well be the computers of the future,
making this announcement nearly as earth-shattering as if
the company had purchased Dell or Gateway. Our story gives
details of the transaction, and mark my words--Cisco is not
just a networking company any longer.
Cisco Gets into Set Top Biz:
http://ct.eletters.whatsnewnow.com/rd/cts?d=181-569-1-278-144054-28682-0-0-0-1
Laptop and Notebook Blow-Out: 32 Systems Tested
It's our annual look at the state of desktop and notebook
computers, where we pick out the best at three different
performance and price levels. Looking for a super-fast desktop?
We've found it. What about a great and inexpensive entry-level
notebook? Again, our tests point you to just the right product
for you. If you're in the market for a computer, we've pulled
together 32 of our latest reviews to help you buy the best
one on the market that meets your needs.
Laptop, Notebook Blow-Out:
http://ct.eletters.whatsnewnow.com/rd/cts?d=181-569-1-278-144054-28685-0-0-0-1
First Sneak Peek at Office Version 12
What will the new version of Office look like? We got a
sneak peek at the first beta and returned with a full-on
report and lots of screen shots. What's revolutionary?
Gone are the standard set of menus; instead there's a
tabbed dialog area--much like a Web page--that leads you to
regularly used functions. The company has also put a lot of
energy into improving collaboration, such as adding better
links to SharePoint. If you use Office, you'll drool over our
slideshow that offers a glimpse of the future of your favorite
--or most reviled--daily set of applications. David Coursey
also got his hands on the new Office, and he shares his
first impressions as well.
Sneak Peek at Office 12:
http://ct.eletters.whatsnewnow.com/rd/cts?d=181-569-1-278-144054-28688-0-0-0-1
Coursey Explores Office:
http://ct.eletters.whatsnewnow.com/rd/cts?d=181-569-1-278-144054-28691-0-0-0-1
Dvorak Senses a New Round of Microsoft Meddling
He calls them dirty tricks and suspects that Microsoft has
invented a whole new online litany of them to promote the
new Xbox 360 gaming console. The premise may sound odd, but
I'll try to summarize. John suspects that MSFT may have
created a phony Xbox-bashing site, so off the wall as to be
incredible, as a way to make the 360 look good by comparison.
John's done some digging, and the site appears to be run by
someone hiding his or her identity, whether it be Sony or
Microsoft. Is this a tempest in a teapot? Read John's
analysis, check out the site he's concerned about and
decide for yourself.
Dirty Xbox Tricks?
http://ct.eletters.whatsnewnow.com/rd/cts?d=181-569-1-278-144054-28694-0-0-0-1
Get JetBlue and Song-Style TV in Your Car
All right, it costs $2,300. But if you already have DirecTV
at home, the monthly cost is just $5 more. With this nifty
dome-shaped product, you can add DirecTV to your car. But it
doesn't always work, alas. We experienced signal drop-off in
our tests, especially in the Northeast. It works better for
those long, long drives through the middle and southwest
areas of the United States. If you drive a lot and want
satellite TV on the road, this is the way to get it. Check
out our review for more. And speaking of satellite
entertainment, we just took a look at the new Sirius
satellite radio with a built-in 44 minute buffer--which lets
you replay what you just heard! It's not TiVo yet, but it is
getting better.
DirecTV for Your Car:
http://ct.eletters.whatsnewnow.com/rd/cts?d=181-569-1-278-144054-28697-0-0-0-1
New Sirius Satellite Radio:
http://ct.eletters.whatsnewnow.com/rd/cts?d=181-569-1-278-144054-28700-0-0-0-1
See Xbox 360 and HDTVs In Action on DL.TV
Want to see the brand-new Xbox 360 in action? Don't miss
Tuesday night's episode of DL.TV, when Patrick Norton and
Robert Heron join special guests from ExtremeTech and 1Up.com
to evaluate the new box. Plus, Thursday's episode will focus
100% on HDTV. Learn how to buy an HDTV unit, what to look for,
what to watch and which HD DVR is best--TiVo, Motorola or
something else.
IT all happens at DL.TV--the best darn tech show on the Web!
Live, on demand and in living color!
DL.TV Focusing on Xbox 360 and HDTV:
http://ct.eletters.whatsnewnow.com/rd/cts?d=181-569-1-278-144054-28787-0-0-0-1
That's it for today's What's New Now. Remember, you can
always read the same stuff online at the blog:
http://ct.eletters.whatsnewnow.com/rd/cts?d=181-569-1-278-144054-28703-0-0-0-1
Or subscribe to the RSS feed:
http://ct.eletters.whatsnewnow.com/rd/cts?d=181-569-1-278-144054-28706-0-0-0-1
--Jim Louderback
mailto:jim_louderback@ziffdavis.com
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Job Search
http://ct.eletters.whatsnewnow.com/rd/cts?d=181-569-1-278-144054-28709-0-0-0-1
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The Channel Insider
http://ct.eletters.whatsnewnow.com/rd/cts?d=181-569-1-278-144054-28712-0-0-0-1
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DevSource
http://ct.eletters.whatsnewnow.com/rd/cts?d=181-569-1-278-144054-28715-0-0-0-1
posted by Victor Lloyd Smith @ 4:49 PM
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