Microsoft terminates Internet Explorer for Macs

Microsoft is to cut adrift Internet Explorer for the Mac. From the end of next month, the venerable browser will not be available for download, and support for existing installations will cease 31 December 2005. Microsoft is recommending Apple's Safari as an alternative. ...more

Microsoft moves towards open licenses

Microsoft has stepped closer to the Free Software movement with the announcement of three new licences under its shared source initiative. The three new licences are referred to as the Microsoft Permissive License (Ms-PL), Microsoft Community License (Ms-CL) and Microsoft Reference License (Ms-RL), with the first two also comprising modified versions restricting use to the Windows platform. The Permissive version allows the viewing, modification and redistribution of code for commercial use or other. ...more

COMMENT: Farewell iMac mark 2

Introduced to much acclaim in January 2002, the Jonathan Ive-designed flat-panel iMac was expected to make as big a mark on the computer history as the original, multi-coloured version. In fact it proved to something of a millstone around Apple's neck, its appeal and price never quite right. The iMac was never expensive per se, even in 2002 the entry model was a mere ?1149 falling to ?999 for a much higher spec when last upgraded in November 2003. ...more

Apple planning flash ultra-portable laptop - analyst

Apple is planning to expand its use of Nand flash memory by using it as the basis for a 'subnotebook' ultra-portable computer, according to American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu. Wu said in a note to investors that he has received more than one indication that Apple is building a lightweight laptop that will use flash, rather than a hard disk drive, as its main memory. However, its release is dependent on a fall in Nand flash prices. ...more

Consumer demand 'skyrocketed' Windows - Microsoft

Computer manufacturers overwhelmingly chose Microsoft products because they were 'innovative, affordably priced and in high demand by consumers', the company's attorney argued yesterday as he continued his opening statement in the Iowa antitrust court case. David Tulchin spent the second full day of Microsoft's opening statement showing the jury documents and depositions from customers and competitors that he said showed that it was the high quality and low prices of the company's software that drove consumer demand. Among those quoted in Microsoft's evidence was an unnamed executive at WordPerfect who said his company was 'scared to death' by Microsoft's Office suite and a former executive who described Microsoft's prices as 'an unbelievable deal'. ...more