News Items

RAVEN Professional adds Specification Builder and Specification Checker to their tools for converting plain English to UML.

Microsoft is building into the new operating system a tool that will rate a PC based on how well it is running and on how much it can take advantage of Vista's capabilities.

No, not that it kills the Back button. Adobe has confirmed that version 8 of Flash has multiple critical vulnerabilities. An update is available for download.

Service pack 1 for Visual Studio 2003 .NET is currently targeted for release in June of 2006. A customer beta period for Visual Studio 2003 SP1 begins March 24, 2006 and will continue through April 24, 2006. SP1 for Visual Studio 2005 is currently targeted for release in Q3 of 2006. The schedule for the beta will be posted when it has been finalized.

Why not?

Law enforcement officials in New Jersey have arrested 14 people in connection with a crime spree that has forced banks across the nation to replace hundreds of thousands of debit cards.

News for Wednesday, March 15 2006

Astronomers have discovered a new "super-Earth" orbiting a red dwarf star located about 9,000 light-years away.

Uses Google Maps to graphically show you the route taken by an email message.

Google will have to provide some data to the US DoJ, but not the amount previously requested.

Google buys 3D software maker, @Last. Where did that one come from, and what are they thinking?

Coming soon to movie theatres: consoles that will allow you to order concessions from your seat, or play multiplayer games on the screen before the movie. Of course, the only game is The Last Starfighter.

New Small Business Server 2003 R2 now available, and loans for small businesses available as Microsoft tries to get the attention of small and medium businesses (SMBs).

Store all the data you want in Amazon's cloud. Only 15 cents (US)/MB per month (20 cents/ GB of transfer). Waiting for the copyright lawsuit.

A low tech fix for low battery life?

Seeking an answer to the little usage of the .NET Framework in Windows Vista.

News for Tuesday, March 14 2006

Software design legend Steve McConnell says agile programming, like CASE before it, is a good idea that hasn't quite lived up to expectations.

Peptides injected into hamsters' brains helped restore vision. Research has implications for stroke and trauma recovery as well.

A new Trojan making the rounds has found a new angle: Cryzip encrypts the data into a password-protected file, and demands a $300 ransom to extract the files.

Google says it will soon sell full-text versions of books at the request of its book publishing partners. First up, Harper Collins and Random House will be available.

New Microsoft site 10 is a place for people who use technology. Featuring Laura Foy and Tina Wood (formerly at G4 TV).

Poor Steve, isn't it time for a merit increase?

October 18-21, San Francisco CA. Learn PHP from the source.