The World Cyber Games (WCG), the premier competition for the interactive video game industry, announced that Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 and Games for Windows will sponsor the global tournament through 2008, providing hardware, software, and marketing support for the events.  Microsoft's sponsorship will encompass all WCG events including three pan-regional championships: the Korean Championship, the USA Championship and the Grand Finals in Monza, Italy (October 18-22). International Cyber Marketing, Inc. (ICM) has designated Microsoft as the premier sponsor of the WCG.

Under the terms of the alliance, Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 will be the exclusive gaming platforms for the PC and console. Microsoft will provide games, consoles, Xbox Live(R) online game service, and peripheral equipment for all WCG events. Microsoft will also supply players with state-of-the-art consoles at WCG events.  The 2006 WCG Grand Finals will be held from October 18-22 in Monza, Italy, a city famous for its Formula 1 racing tradition. National Championships featuring online and offline preliminaries are scheduled to start in April and will be held in participating countries.

*****

Beatles Songs to be Released Online
Apple Corps, the music company formed by the Beatles has confirmed plans to digitally remaster the band's entire catalog and, for the first time, make it available for download via online stores.  Apple Corps has confirmed the company is in talks with various Internet music services, but said there was no firm timetable.

Whether the songs will be available on iTunes is still up in the air due to an ongoing case.  Apple Corps claims that Apple Computers's iTunes is violating a 1991 settlement in which the computer company agreed not to go into the music business.

*****

Google Unveils Calendar Service
A free, web-based calendar service that enables users to access, manage and share important appointments and special occasions in one place, has been released by Google.  Google Calendar, in conjunction with Google accounts, allows users to add events and invitations, share events with friends and family, and search across the web for other activities.

Google Calendar was developed using the open iCal and XML standards, enabling other calendar applications to directly interact with it.

*****

Mozilla Fixes Bugs in FireFox
Mozilla Foundation issued a software update that repairs a number of bugs in its open source Firefox browser.  The update addresses several bugs which, for instance, can cause applications to crash when users load Gmail in another tab or when accessing the Yahoo Mail beta.

Vulnerabilities found in Firefox can be exploited by malicious people in conducting cross-site scripting and phishing attacks, bypassing certain security restrictions, disclosing sensitive information, and potentially compromising a user's system.

*****

RedHat Acquires JBoss
RedHat announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire JBoss, an open-source middleware.  By acquiring JBoss, RedHat expects to accelerate the shift to service-oriented architecture (SOA) by enabling the next generation of web-enabled applications running on a low-cost and open-source platform.

RedHat will acquire JBoss for approximately 0million in initial consideration, plus approximately million subject to the achievement of certain future performance metrix.  The transaction consideration is composed of approximately 40% in cash and 60% in RedHat common stocks.  The acquisition is expected to be completed around May 2006.

*****

AMD Subpoenas Microsoft In Intel Anti-Trust Case
Chipmaker Advance Micro Devices (AMD) sent a subpoena to Microsoft to disclose actual or perceived collaboration with AMD, Intel's reaction or response to the said collaboration, documents relating to advertising, and internal discussions or other communications on the subject matter.

Microsoft is also asked to produce documents written by or on behalf of Microsoft concerning the capitalization, financing, valuation or financial viability of AMD, and other discussions or documents comparing it to Intel on price, quality, performance, or from any other standpoint among other things.

The Microsoft subpoena is in relation to the anti-trust case filed by AMD against Intel.

*****

Baidu and Intel in Development Deal
Intel China Ltd., a subsidiary of Intel Corporation, and Baidu, the leading Chinese language Internet search provider signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for cooperation in the development of Internet search and related applications in China.

According to the MOU, the two parties will cooperate in advancing Internet search applications for laptops, handsets and PCs in the digital home environment, coupling Intel's server platform with Baidu's backend search systems to achieve optimized performance and operational stability.

*****

QUAKE 4 Invades Macintosh — Intel and PowerPC
Aspyr Media, Inc. announced that it has begun shipping QUAKE 4, a Mac OS X Universal application, developed by Raven Software and produced by id Software, for Macintosh. QUAKE 4 will run natively on both PowerPC- and Intel-based Macintosh computers.  Built on id Software’s revolutionary DOOM 3 technology, QUAKE 4 also features fast-paced multiplayer competition modeled after the speed, style and feel of QUAKE III Arena.

The game is rated “M” for “Mature” by the ESRB. QUAKE 4 is available now through Aspyr’s Website, http://www.aspyr.com/games.php/mac/quake4/. For more information, fans can visit www.quake4game.com.

*****

For your questions, comments, suggestions, press releases and stories, simply email techtvhost@yahoo.com .  Visit www.infochat.com.ph for more news.  God Bless us all!

*****