An wholesome new look included with new features makes Windows Live Messenger into a real competitor for Yahoo!Messenger.As usual,one can send instant messages,call a computer, dial a phone number, post a mobile message or send an e-mail. Editing of status display and starting a video chat with friends is possible. Skins and emoticons are some of the new features included in Windows Live Messenger. During installation , users are also prompted to install the Rhapsody Music Service which enables one to play and share music from the Rhapsody catalog.

The main features include that we can create custom emoticons by choosing an image on our computer which will be automatically resized. Additional best features of Microsoft Live Messenger are the Whiteboard, Remote Assistance and Application Sharing.

A major drawback is ,when we receive a file,it will be saved in the default directory instead of prompting to the user to choose the location yourself.The Web Calling service is available for long distance calls for selected countries.The important offline messages feature is not working at all.

Reports are being evolved that there has been several security problems in Internet Explorer.Several computer users out there use Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. So it’s a genuine drag that there may be a serious security flaw in the browser.The public is being urged to use other browsers while this security flaw is fixed and Microsoft prepares a suitable patch to fix this issue.

The entire network of people using the internet is at risk. This problem is extremely serious as it could give opportunities to criminals to tap into your computer and steal your password which could be disastrous.

Until now , what this flaw has managed to steal are game passwords, but it’s clear what the hackers intentions are.Several experts are suggesting users to find alternate browsers to overcome security risks but this is what John Curran, head of Microsoft UK’s group said “I cannot recommend people switch due to this one flaw.”

Microsoft Corporation has chosen NAVTEQ to supply map data for Microsoft’s Live Search Map in India.NAVTEQ is the leading global provider of digital map india ideally for vehicle navigation and location based solutions.Live Search Maps from Microsoft allows people to locate and share local information which is important on the web.

As updated in a blog are the the various features of Microsoft Live Search Maps which includes Business Lookup,Category Browsing,1-Click Directions which provides instant directions to a destination from most major routes and the capability to share maps and direction through Microsoft Office Outlook.

Google has added magazines to its list of books in their site books.google.com.The magazines include a wide variety ranging from Popoular Science to Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.The best part of this addition is that we get to read the latest issues of every magazine.

Let us focus on the various features magazine addition. One can browse different covers of a magazine or move into a particular issue and turn the scanned pages.Searching within an issue is done easily. It is also possible to subscribe to these magazines.An interesting concept added is this…When we glance at the page with the covers,the places which occur in various issues of Google is mentioned in the Google maps.And the location in the map is linked to the actual location.

Google and MySpace are combining to combat FaceBook Connect.This is made possible by combining MySpace ID with Google Friend Connect.Though MySpaceId is still in development,Google Friend Connect has been released. With Google and FaceBook releasing their web services and data portability being the trend on the web,this was a much predictable move.Also with Myspace’s huge collection of user base and Google’s popularity and excellent services,this combination turns out to be interesting.

My Space has been facing heavy competition from FaceBook for a long duration.The best option they had was to combine with Google and to compete with FaceBook.We need to wait and see to view the outcome of this deal.

Ben Turner, the programmer of Mozilla has informed that the second Beta version of firefox 3.1 would be released soon.The biggest change is the inclusion of “Web Workers”, which allows the browser to process tasks in the background.This is a great leap as it gives multicore computers to utilize their processors abilities. The release also includes performance and stability fixes.

As published in a blog,here is one illustration of Web workers…Running a JavaScript program that emulates a decades-old processor design, the 8080. One thread emulates the processor in the background while another handles user interaction such as checking for typing on the keyboard.

Microsoft filed lawsuits against online auctioneers in 12 countries who sold pirated copies of MS software on sites including its own MSN shopping network.Nearly 63 lawsuits have been filed until now including countries like US,Gemany,France,Japan,Mexico,Argentina,UK etc.The most targeted software is the product windows XP.

In a blog, Microsoft ass. general counsel David Finn in a statement said “Dishonest auctioneers are too often using these online auction sites to sell counterfeit and illegal copies of Microsoft software, taking advantage of unsuspecting customers around the world.”

Users who download or upgrade Java for Internet Explorer will be prompted to install a MSN search bar that will set Microsoft’s search engine as the predefined one.The deal announced by Microsoft for US surfers only, will enable several users to shift from Google in a couple of days.

Those who are installing the Java Runtime Environment for the first time will get a prompt to download and install the MSN and to make Microsoft the default choice for their browsers; those users who have previously installed Java on their personal computers will instead get the same prompts from the Java update interface.

The deal between Sun Microsystems and Microsoft is one of their very first on the the consumer side. However, there are some who suspect that the deal may not have such a big impact,as most users would still revert back to the very old Google.

Microsoft Corp is taking up a new management team to take control of Yahoo Inc.’s Internet search business and sign a partnership deal following its failed takeover attempt.

Microsoft will put up $5 billion to back Jonathan Miller, the former chief executive officer of AOL, and Ross Levinsohn, a former president of Fox Interactive Media.

Microsoft is seeking ways to revive its online advertising business as the global recession stifles spending and Google Inc. wins more search users. For Sunnyvale, California-based Yahoo, which spurned Microsoft’s bids of as much as $47.5 billion this year, a deal may help shore up revenue after losing out on a partnership with Google.

The terms would give Microsoft a 10-year operating agreement to manage Yahoo’s search business, plus a two-year option to buy it for $20 billion. Senior directors of the companies have agreed to the outline of the deal, the newspaper said, without citing anyone.

However Levinsohn denied the report, according to a blog post by the Wall Street Journal’s All Things Digital.

Source:Google News