Top Items:

Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2 (and more) Available — This evening we released IE7 Beta 2 at http://www.microsoft.com/ie. This release is not the preview or the update to the preview, but the real Beta 2 of IE7 for Windows XP SP2, Windows Server 2003 SP1, and Windows XP 64-bit Edition.
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The Great Microsoft Blunder — Internet Explorer is a dead albatross. — I think it can now be safely said, in hindsight, that Microsoft's entry into the browser business and its subsequent linking of the browser into the Windows operating system looks to be the worst decision …


IE7 Beta 2 Ships — Microsoft just released Beta v.2 of IE7 and announced it on the IE blog. They've also announced toll free phone support and other feedback and support products for users of Beta 2. The English version only was released tonight. German, Finnish, Arabic and Japanese version …
Discussion:
IEBlog, Neowin.net, Windows Connected, Barnako.com, Lifehacker, InfoWorld, Web 2.0 Explorer and Sidebar Geek

Nokia Introduces the Next Story in Video with the Nokia N93 — Digital camcorder and multimedia computer in one easy-to-use compact package — Berlin, Germany and Hong Kong, China - Nokia today introduced the Nokia N93, the ultimate mobile device for spontaneous video recording.
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First 802.11n Products Show Standard's Promise — Review: Linksys products based on the 802.11n draft are the fastest wireless LAN devices eWEEK Labs has tested, but there are issues with legacy networks. — Some of the first products based on 802.11n show the wireless standard's performance potential—and problems.
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Wi-Fi consumers cautioned to wait on new gear — Two different groups testing new wireless products based on a draft standard of next-generation Wi-Fi technology caution consumers against buying pre-standard gear. — On Monday, the Fairpoint Group and the technology trade publication eWeek released results …

Sphere: A New Approach to Blog Search — The blogosphere continues to both fascinate and frustrate, because great content is out there, but it's often drowned in a sea of garbage. Newly launched Sphere aims to change that with a different approach to blog search.
Discussion:
SearchViews
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Sphere, a useful blog search engine — (Update: Oops, Sphere's Tony Conrad had told us it would be up "very early" this morning, but he has delayed it because of some bugs. We'll let you know when it's up.) — Sphere is a blog search engine that goes live today, and based on a first look we think we'll be using it.


The Continuing Fight for Genuine Software — Microsoft's Genuine Software Initiative expands programs to help customers identify counterfeit software. — REDMOND, Wash., April 24, 2006 — For those outside the software industry, it can be difficult to appreciate the scope and impact …
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Microsoft piracy check comes calling — Microsoft is taking its fight against software piracy to the desktop. — Starting Tuesday, the software maker will push out a test tool that checks whether the copy of Windows a PC is using is properly licensed. It will be sent to millions of people …
Discussion:
Microsoft News Tracker

The great Google float — The best business model ever created has to be the float. You hold on to other people's money for them, and you get to keep the interest. It's a beautiful thing. One of my favorite business stories is the tale of how J.C. Fargo, the president of American Express …


Touchstone pacts for mobile spinoff — In a first-of-its-kind meeting of the minds in the interactive space, the three major guilds and Touchstone Television have reached an agreement on ABC's long-stalled "Lost" spinoff for mobile phones. — Actors, writers and directors will earn residuals …
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Google Maps Gets Huge Satellite Update from Google Earth — Last Friday Google updated the satellite data used for Google Maps so it now has the many updates recently made to the Google Earth database. This means the new high resolution data for all of Germany, many places in Europe …
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'World of Warcraft' battles server problems — With 6 million subscribers, each of whom pays $15 a month, Blizzard Entertainment's online game "World of Warcraft" has become a billion-dollar enterprise. — Now comes the hard part: Making sure WoW is always up and running.
Discussion:
Kotaku

Apple Introduces 17-inch MacBook Pro — MacBook Pro with 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo Processor Up to Five Times Faster Than PowerBook G4 — CUPERTINO, California—April 24, 2006—Apple® today unveiled its new 17-inch MacBook™ Pro notebook computer featuring the Intel Core Duo processor …

TiVo Series2 DT hands-on review — We got our chance to have a little private time with TiVo's new 80-hour dual-tuner Series2 (TCD649080) last week. There isn't a whole lot we can tell you about the unit that you didn't already know (dual analog tuners, single digital, no CableCARD, no high def, integrated Ethernet, etc.).

The Ressurection of Al Gore … One evening last December, in front of nearly 2,000 people at Stanford's Memorial Auditorium, Al Gore spoke in uncharacteristically personal and passionate terms about the failed quest that has dominated much of his adult life.
Discussion:
WorldChanging