While MSN Messenger 7.5 just came out, 8.0 is already being worked on and heading towards beta by the end of the year. A third party source whom is said to be from Microsoft has provided us with this information. Here’s a list of possible and rumored features Microsoft is contemplating on going into the IM client:

? Change of Messenger Skins
? Real-time Emotions
? Messenger Built Internal Windows Media Player 10
? Pause/Resumed File Transfers (File Blocked Extension Applied)
? Detailed File Transfer (Download/Upload Speed)
? Animated Display Pictures (.gif .jpg .png (File Support under Consideration))
? Mood Status
? Faster Contact List Loading and scrolling
? Public Profile and MSN Spaces Combined
? More MSN Space features
? New Hotmail and MSN Messenger Integration
? Downloadable MSN Messenger on Mobile
? News Updates according to Location
? Top 10 MSN Music Radio
? New Stylish Notifier Pop-up
? Downloadable Skins for MSN (Contact Window & Conversation Window)
? Complete Integration with Windows XP® & Windows Vista® Codename: Longhorn®
? Offline Voice/Message Machine
? Animated Buddy Icon Helper
? Display Picture Ratings

Source: TheHotFix.com

Google Talk is now in beta, get it here!!: Google Talk

You MUST have a gMail account to use this, if you would like one, sign up at the forums and post and I will invite you.

Yes, it is available for mac users as well!! Just go here to read how: Other Clients

Interested in free stuff? Such as a free 20gb color ipod, ipod shuffle, playstation portable (psp), nintendo ds, money, lcd monitor, and much much more? Well then head over to http://www.myconga.net for more information or visit the forum here.

A few days ago this was released on the net, never got to posting it. So here it is if you have not heard about it.

While it was always possible (although costly and time consuming) to cobble together a PowerPC Mac from old and new parts, hardly anyone did it. Now that Apple has introduced OS X for Intel processors, however, it’s conceivable that you could soon be building your own Mac from scratch.

One user, CEpeep, shopped around and found everything you’d need to build your own Intel Mac for under $200 – no rebates, no refurbs. Sure, the case is a little ghetto, it’s only got a 20 gig hard drive, and it’s no Millennium Falcon in terms of speed, but it runs Quartz Extreme and everything else that Tiger x86 requires. Most of us could actually build one for less with a few spare parts we have lying around. Well, ok. Lying everywhere.

Obviously, there are still many reasons why you’ll want to buy a true Mac ? Apple quality and support (and innovation), the current lack of a legal x86 OS X, etc. But it’s interesting to think that the days of the do-it-yourself Mac may be just around the corner.

The list:

Case – $9.95
Motherboard – $52.99
Processor – $60.77
2x 256 RAM – $38.00
20 Gigabyte HD – $25.95
DVD Drive – $12.00

Total: $199.66

Source: OSx86 Project

It appears you can get Microsoft Student 2006 for Free. So if you ARE a student, then go here and get it! You do not need to entire in any payment information, shipping is free as well.

To get your free copy, while it lasts to get it for free (no one is sure) then go here: https://www.interactservices.com/msstudent

Apple Computer has released what seems to be one of its larger security updates for Mac OS X, doling out fixes for 44 flaws.

Still, only a handful of the vulnerabilities are of major concern, according to security analysts. The package of fixes was released Monday. “This one is a big update. I don’t recall seeing as many updates as we see today,” said Thomas Kristensen, Secunia’s chief technology officer. By comparison, Apple last May released an update for 20 vulnerabilities and in March distributed an update for a dozen flaws.

But Kristensen noted that, with the new update, only a few of the 44 vulnerabilities are of great concern. He also said that 25 percent of the patches involve older vulnerabilities that have yet to lead to exploit code being developed by attackers. Still, Secunia is rating the overall update as “highly critical.” Apple declined to comment on the vulnerabilities and referred all questions to its security update. The flaws affect Apple’s Mac OS 10.3.9 and 10.4.2 operating system software and related server software.

View: Apple OS X Security Update 2005-007
News source: C|Net News.com

This is an updated news article of what I reported previously early this morning.

A fast-moving computer worm Tuesday attacked computer systems using Microsoft operating systems, shutting down computers in the United States, Germany and Asia.

Among those hit were offices on Capitol Hill, which is in the midst of August recess, and media organizations, including CNN, ABC and The New York Times. The Caterpillar Co. in Peoria, Illinois, reportedly also had problems.

A small number of computers in an administrative office at San Francisco International Airport also crashed, but they were not essential to the airport’s operation, spokesman Mike McCarron said.

The FBI said the computer problems did not appear to be part of any widespread attack.

While the worm affects primarily Windows 2000, it also can affect some early versions of Microsoft XP, said Johannes Ullrich, director of the Sans Institute, a network security firm based in Jacksonville, Florida.

Symptoms include the repeated shutdown and rebooting of a computer.

Microsoft has a downloadable patch on its security homepage, Microsoft.com/security, a company spokesperson said. The spokesperson told CNN that Microsoft would not estimate how many users have been affected and described the problem as low-impact.

Source: CNN
View: CNN getting attacked on air: View Screenshot
Patch Your System Now! (only for and effected on Windows 2000)

Microsoft has confirmed that there will be two Xbox 360 packages at launch: one with a hard disk and accessories and one without. The full package details and prices are detailed below. (click read more…)

The Xbox 360 core system — priced at $299.99 in the United States and The Xbox 360 fully-loaded system — priced at $399.99 in the United States.

Source: IGN

McAfee is reporting an outbreak of a new worm that affects Windows 2000 and pre Windows XP SP2 users.

The worm creates 16 threads to scan for infectable systems. The worm targets random class B IP addresses, sending SYN packets to TCP Port 445. When a vulnerable system is found, buffer overflow and shellcode is sent to the remote system, creating an FTP script and launching FTP.EXE to download and execute the worm from the source system.

This worm exploits the MS05-039 vulnerability. There are at least 2 other W32/Sdbot based worms know to exist that also exploit this vulnerability. They may be seen with the filenames pnpsrv.exe or winpnp.exe.

View: Details and FIX Information
View: MS05-039 Bulletin & Fixes

Add TiVo Inc. to the list of companies trying to wed the Internet to television. The digital recording company will soon allow customers to download TV shows to their set-top boxes via the Internet ? even before the shows air on TV.

TiVo has struck a deal with the Independent Film Channel to transmit several of the cable channel’s shows through a broadband connection as part of a trial program. Participating customers will begin receiving the shows next week, said TiVo spokesman Elliot Sloane.

Sloan confirmed that TiVo sent messages to its customers ? later posted on the technology Web log Engadget.com ? offering to transmit three IFC shows beginning Aug. 19, before they aired on the cable channel.

Source: Yahoo News