Silviu Pascalau

After nearly a year of delays, Microsoft and Yahoo are finally ready to release a combined Instant Messenger (IM) service. As of July 13th, 2006, the two companies have begun to offer a limited beta test to the general public. The new IM service ... connects Microsoft's Windows Live Messenger (the newest version of MSN Messenger) with Yahoo Messenger, using a single user ID. The service is merely an added capability to the Microsoft and Yahoo messengers; all that is needed is to download the latest beta update to either messenger to begin using the new service. The merge will spawn a worldwide ... (view more)

In early June, Google launched its free online spreadsheet program to beta testers. Some say the release of the web-based spreadsheet is a sign of Google's increased exploration into the sector of office software that is currently dominated by ... Microsoft. (Source: macWorld.com ) The spreadsheet service is available to public now that Google has purchased web-based word processing application, "Writely," which delivers an online simulation of a word processor. How it Works Deemed as the "The Web Word Processor", Writely allows users to import Microsoft Word documents along with ... (view more)

Recently, Kaspersky Labs detected a new form of spam email which contains an attachment of a password-stealing Trojan horse. The attached malware, which is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's consent, is ... called "Trojan-PSW.Win32.Sinowal.u" (herein referred to as "PSW"). (Source: viruslist.com ) Senior research engineers at Kaspersky Lab refer to PSW as being "the next-generation Trojan." The variant is part of the "Sinowal" family of password stealing Trojans, which is designed to steal usernames and passwords entered ... (view more)

Nicholas Negroponte, head of the One Laptop Per Child Project (OLPC), is expected to start shipping his "$100 laptop" internationally by mid-2007. Initially, the laptops are expected to cost around $135 when they become available. However, ... Negroponte expects the price will drop to $100 in 2008, and even as low as $50 by 2010. OLPC hopes to ship around 100 million laptops world-wide. (Source: pcworld.com ) One reason for the low price comes from the elimination of a sales and marketing team, which makes up half the cost of a typical laptop computer, according to Negroponte. The other ... (view more)

The struggle of circling around streets to find a parking spot may soon be at an end. These days you can do just about anything online, from paying bills, purchasing movie tickets, and even buying groceries. And soon, the Internet may be the best ... place to look when trying to reserve a parking spot. Internet-based parking services were first introduced in late 2005 at airports, and continued to develop as many companies experimented with the technology. With urban planners estimating 30% of all downtown traffic is a result of drivers looking for parking spots, this new technology should make ... (view more)

Making a call for PC technical support is often not a enjoyable experience. In fact, many customers have voiced complaints about how their PC provider handles technical support, with Dell being at the top of the list. (Source: buzzMachine.com ) Dell ... has realized that many of its customers are unsatisfied by its current technical support and is hoping to silence the criticisms with a new service that allows technicians to remotely troubleshoot a malfunctioning PC over a high-speed Internet connection. Dell announced that all U.S. customers currently under warranty will receive this service for ... (view more)