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Mozilla and Google — Exchange Killers At Last? 336

Posted by Zonk from the so-happy-together dept.
phase_9 writes "The latest version of Mozilla Thunderbird may still only be in beta but already the user community have started creating an extensive set of viable Exchange killers. One such example is the latest mashup between Thunderbird and Google Calendars, providing bi-directional syncing of calendar information from both the client and internet. How long will it be before open-source software can provide a complete, accessible office suite for a fraction of the cost that Microsoft current imposes?"
XBox (Games)

Submission + - Microsoft "admits" problems with Xbox-360

Submitted by owlstead
owlstead writes: The Dutch consumer show "Kassa" has devoted a broadcast to problems with the Xbox-360. Besides the information as displayed below, they also mentioned the probable techninal cause of the scratches. The experts in the broadcasts think that Microsoft deliberately downplays the problems. They mentioned the huge (PR) problem it would cause if it was shown that millions of machines may be broken.

The following text is a small part of this page translated to English.

—
Microsoft admits scratching by Xbox-360

Kassa devoted attention to the Xbox-360 at the end of January. The game console of Microsoft can cause scratches on games. Thousands of people came to us to complain, and according to all messages on the Internet there are worldwide many more people that suffer scratched Cd's.

The Kassa Scratching Test:
Despite the thousand complaints, and the many messages on this issue on the Internet, Microsoft kept by their statement: "an Xbox cannot scratch the disks if they have been placed on a stable platform". So Kassa went to work: during tree days we tested — in a lab situation with the help of three gamers and in a living room setting at a later stage — the scratch resistance of the Xbox. The test results show that even if an Xbox on a stable platform can cause scratches on different games.

From the information known to Kassa, it can be concluded that the problems occur specifically to Xboxes that have been produced at the end of 2006, using the infamous TSST-drive.

The response of Microsoft Nederland:
Xbox owners who think that their disks have been scratched in a similar manner as displayed by Kassa, should contact us. We shall examine the console and, if necessary, repair it to full working order. Besides that, we shall inform Xbox owners on how to obtain replacement disks, should they need them.
—

Seems to me that they are still reluctant to say that something is wrong with certain models of the Xbox.
Music

Internet Blackout Threat for Music Thieves in AU 244

Posted by Zonk from the that-seems-a-little-harsh dept.
An anonymous reader writes "News.com.au is reporting that the ARIA [Australia's Version of the RIAA] is making plans to have ISPs cancel or terminate the accounts of those who download music illegally. If the user is on dialup, that's not a problem: their telephone line will be disconnected. 'Fed up with falling sales, the industry — which claims Australians download more than one billion songs illegally each year — has been discussing tough new guidelines with internet service providers (ISPs) since late last year. The music industry is lobbying for a three strikes and you're out policy to enforce their copyright. Under this system, people who illegally download songs would be given three written warnings by their Internet service provider. If they continued to illegally download songs, their internet account would be suspended or terminated.'"
Security

Submission + - Valve customer credit card details hacked

Submitted by appregator
appregator writes: It seems Valve's security is under fire once again, this time a hacker by the name of MaddoXX has gained root access to their servers. After exposing customer information, including several full credit card numbers, and Valve bank account details, the hacker threatened to release more in an apparent attempt to extort Valve. The screenshots posted by the hacker show their total assets to be at around 9.2 million USD. When users began reporting the leak on the steampowered forums their threads were quickly deleted. Why on earth was such personal information being stored on a web server? Screenshot of hackers website at http://i17.tinypic.com/2e0irza.jpg (masking CC numbers), taken by the steampowered forum user.

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