Macromedia unveils MX 2004 line-up

Macromedia has announced a complete overhaul of its Web authoring and development tools, with the unveiling of the MX 2004 range. As well as new versions of Dreamweaver, Flash and Fireworks, the range includes a new application, Flash Professional that, 'enables developers to organise and build applications using a forms-based metaphor as an alternative to traditional timeline development.' Not for the faint-hearted, this software is aimed at developers familiar with programming tools such as Visual Basic. ...more

Google to make web apps work offline

Google has created web software that runs both online and offline, marking a sea change for the internet industry by letting users work on planes, trains, spotty connections and even in the most remote locations. The technology, called Google Gears, would allow users of PCs, phones and other devices to manipulate web services such as email, online calendars or news readers whether online, intermittently connected to the web or completely offline. By bridging the gulf between new web services and the older world of desktop software, where any data changes are stored locally on users' machines, Google is pushing the web into whole new spheres of activity and posing a challenge to rival Microsoft, leader in the desktop software era. ...more

Google loses image battle with soft porn publisher

The 'natural model' site Perfect 10 has won its legal battle against Google over the search engine's use of thumbnail images from the site. A judge in California has ruled that Google infringed Perfect 10's copyright on the pictures by taking copies and storing them on its own servers. Perfect 10 had claimed that Google was damaging its business by freely distributing the pictures it was trying to sell. ...more

World's third-richest man quits MS board

Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates in 1975, is leaving Microsoft's board of directors. Allen will, however, remain an advisor to Bill Gates and is expected to spend a similar amount of time working with Microsoft. He will be concentrating on new technologies and products, rather than business issues. ...more

Google eyes newspapers ads

Google is starting a Print Ads service to extend its business into offline media. It is set to buy advertisements in 50 US newspapers as part of a new a test, the search giant revealed on Sunday. Google said it has invited more than 100 advertisers already buying ads through its Web marketing system to join a three-month test of a Print Ads service that places ads in daily papers including the New York Times and Washington Post. ...more