Software giant battles activation of unauthorized copies of its new Vista OS.

Microsoft today released an update to Windows Vista that will shut down unauthorized versions of the OS that allow users to skip the product's activation system.

The move comes as pirated copies of Vista are already making the rounds, mere weeks after the product was released to business customers.

Powerful processor will target high-end desktop PCs in an effort to stay ahead of AMD.

Intel plans to launch the third model of its four-core processor in January, continuing its efforts to stay ahead of Advanced Micro Devices on the next-generation processor family.

Intel will launch the Core 2 Quad chip for high-end desktop PCs during the CES trade show in Las Vegas the week of Jan. 8, industry sources said. The new chip follows Intel's launch in November of its quad-core Xeon 5300 for servers and Core 2 Extreme QX6700 for gamers.

Flashy new OS features could drain laptop batteries faster than XP, hardware vendors and analysts say.

Notebook PC users who upgrade to Microsoft's Windows Vista may have to disable some of the new operating system's flashy graphics features to avoid seeing a decrease in battery life compared to when running Windows XP.

Until now, I was convinced that a new Core 2 Duo-equipped Apple MacBook couldn't possibly come out this year. After all, the Apple MacBook Pro (Core 2 Duo) had already been announced, in what I believed was an effort to create more separation from the MacBooks. So much for that theory. One week after the MacBook Pro announcement, Apple launched the MacBook 13-inch (Core 2 Duo) ($1,174 direct as tested), thereby eliminating any differentiation between the two models. Sometimes you just have to scratch your head and move on, I guess. Despite back-to-back announcements, the move is considered perfectly timed for the holiday shopping season, and with Apple's best-selling laptop by its side, a strong fourth quarter is sure to come.

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Company is targeting corporate users with lightweight wide-screen version of ThinkPad T60.

Making an effort to compete with Dell for business users, Lenovo has launched a wide-screen version of its ThinkPad line of notebook PCs.
 

Apple Computer has fixed a number of flaws in the software that ships with its personal computers, including a bug in its AirPort wireless drivers that was disclosed earlier in November.

 

Ready to make the switch to Windows Vista? We'll show you what kind of system you'll need, which edition you should choose, and how to install Microsoft's latest OS.
 

Due for delivery on Nov. 1, new OS may not arrive until several weeks later; Microsoft responds.

PC manufacturers that expected to get their hands on the final version of Microsoft's Windows Vista OS on Nov. 1 may have to wait several weeks for the OS, according to sources familiar with the company's plans.

MySpace users who expressed an interest in patio furniture got more than they bargained for if they clicked on an ad for DeckOutYourDeck.com earlier this month.

Michael La Pilla, an analyst for VeriSign iDefense, was searching MySpace on July 16 when he discovered that a patio furniture ad prompted a file called exp.wmf.

Man pays $2000 for allegedly using Microsoft name to trick consumers into buying ineffective antispyware products.
 
A New Hampshire man has agreed to pay $2000 to settle charges that he misused Microsoft's name to trick consumers into buying ineffective antispyware products, using Google's AdWords program.

New utility does not work with other browsers, including Internet Explorer.
 
In another boost to Mozilla, Google has created a tool that lets users synchronize the settings of their Firefox browsers across multiple computers.

Social networking site is increasingly a target for identity thieves.
 
 A phishing site that harvested the login and credentials of MySpace.com users was removed as of Friday from a California server, a security vendor reported.
 
 A phishing attack involves tricking users into visiting a look-a-like Web page that asks for personal information, which is then sent to a hacker.

One Web-based service provides authentication; another connects P-to-P applications.
 
 Microsoft's Live Labs has launched two security-related Web-based services, one for providing authentication and another for connecting P-to-P (peer-to-peer) applications through network firewalls.
 
 

Security hold could lead to denial-of-service attacks on certain applications.
 
 A new flaw found in Microsoft's software could be exploited to cause a denial-of-service attack on certain applications, although the bug isn't viewed as being severe.

Microsoft reps have denied recent rumors alleging that it has partnered with a number of Japanese consumer electronics companies to develop a device to compete in Japan with Apple's iPod.
 

Proof-of-concept virus uses macros to attack the office suite.
 
The first virus affecting StarOffice was detected today, but so far it isn't being used to infect computers.
 
Since the virus has not been launched with malicious intent yet, a teenager hacker may have written it, said Roel Schouwenberg, senior research engineer for Kaspersky Lab. The virus uses macros to attack the office suite from Sun Microsystems.

German-language e-mail claims to offer World Cup tickets, but instead carries a Trojan horse.
 
World Cup soccer fans should be aware of a new worm being circulated by e-mail with the German-language message "WM-Tickets" or "Weltmeisterschaft," security vendor Sophos warned Wednesday.

The inconvenience is necessary to protect against the latest Trojan horse, company says.

Microsoft is advising people to run its Word application in "safe mode" to help guard against a Trojan horse that surfaced recently, though security experts on Wednesday said there still appears little cause for alarm.

Users are advised to upgrade their client software to fix the problem.

Skype is advising users to upgrade to a more recent version of its VoIP software to fix a security bug reported late last week by a security researcher in New Zealand.
 

Portal to focus on social search, user content, CEO says.
 
In coming years, Yahoo will focus on seeking and adopting new technologies, incorporating user contributions into its services and sites, and extending its reach beyond the PC.

Laptop with 13-inch wide screen runs on an Intel Core Duo processor.

Apple today announced immediate availability of its consumer Intel-based laptop, well in time for the back-to-school shopping season. Called the MacBook, this model equipped with a 13.3-inch wide screen and running on a Core Duo processor replaces the 12-inch G4 PowerBook and all iBooks.

Laptop with 13-inch wide screen runs on an Intel Core Duo processor.
 
Apple today announced immediate availability of its consumer Intel-based laptop, well in time for the back-to-school shopping season. Called the MacBook, this model equipped with a 13.3-inch wide screen and running on a Core Duo processor replaces the 12-inch G4 PowerBook and all iBooks.

New Windows XP-based PC is about the size of a paperback book.
 
TOKYO -- For the first time in two years Sony is updating its Vaio U ultra-compact PC line with a new model that is the smallest Vaio yet developed, the company said today.
 

Operating system faces two to five month postponement, analyst alleges

Windows Vista might suffer another delay in its launch date, analyst firm Gartner has warned in a new research note.