Microsoft marshals Windows Media 9 for battle

Microsoft has announced it is to make sweeping changes to the way it licenses its Windows Media 9 Series technologies, including cutting prices and offering longer terms, to leave it in a better position to take on new markets. The Windows Media 9 Series is offered in its final version today, and alongside this Microsoft is offering cheaper, longer and more flexible licenses to manufacturers and software developers for the audio and video codecs. 'The unmatched audio and video quality of Windows Media 9 Series is now available under the most flexible and attractive license terms in the industry,' said Will Poole, corporate VP of the Windows New Media Platforms Division. ...more

Blu-ray and HD-DVD - no merger in prospect

The backers of Blu-ray and HD-DVD have given up hope of reaching an agreement to merge the two technologies and create a single standard for next-generation, high-definition DVDs, according to a Japanese newspaper. Yomiuri says that both Sony, the main force behind Blu-ray, and Toshiba, HD-DVD's creator, have conceded that even if an agreement could be reached there is no longer sufficient time to develop a single format before the launch of compatible products. 'Late August is the practical time limit,' said Yoshihide Fujii, Toshiba's corporate senior vice president. ...more

Microsoft gives definition to virtual plans

Microsoft has used WinHEC (the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference) in Seattle to flesh out its plans for virtualisation technology, including its intentions to acquire Softricity, a specialist company for application virtualisation. Bob Muglia, Microsoft's senior VP of the Server and Tools Business, has outlined Microsoft's virtualisation roadmap. Highlighted points include Windows Server virtualisation, specifically that its 'hypervisor'-based system (multiple operating systems running on the same computer) is on track to be available with the release of Microsoft Windows Server 'Longhorn'. ...more

NEC-Mitsubishi launch budget-priced TFTs

NEC-Mitsubishi Electronics has introduced a new range of 15in TFT screens starting from ?289 excluding VAT. The three models: the Multisync LCD1550V, Multisync LCD1550M and Multisync LCD1550X replace the LCD1530V, LCD1525M and LCD1525X respectively and are certified to the ISO-13406-2 standard, ensuring a minimum number of dead and faulty pixels. The units also come with a native resolution of 1,024x768 - a lot of detail to pack into a 15in screen - which is why they come ready with LiquidView software, allowing the user to adjust the size of navigational items such as dropdown menus, icons and shortcuts to make them easier to see. ...more

Joint venture to produce organic displays

Samsung and NEC have announced a joint venture worth 500bn Korean won (?288m) to develop low-power screens for use in mobile devices. The new company, called Samsung NEC Mobile Display, will produce organic electroluminescent (EL) displays - a self-emitting light technology - that don't need background lighting and consume less power. It is also claimed to be faster and more compact than current TFT LCD displays. ...more