CD anti-piracy firm vows openness

The company behind controversial anti-piracy software installed on some music CDs says it will work to end security flaws found in its products, reports the BBC.

SunComm`s MediaMax software has been discovered covertly installing itself and can leave PCs vulnerable to attack.

The company has published a list of all CDs that use the software, and has pledged to make it easier for users to refuse installation, or to uninstall. SunComm has now agreed to submit all future versions of MediaMax for independent security testing in an effort to weed out any further vulnerabilities.

Google was set to launch Gmail Chat yesterday, which will let users send instant messages with one click from their e-mail account, see when contacts are online and save the chat history like an e-mail message, reports CNet.

Gmail Chat is available on Internet Explorer 6.0 and higher, and Firefox 1.0 and higher, and in the US English interface only. While the chat functions of Google Talk are integrated into Gmail, users must download the Google Talk client application to make voice calls.

A Novell poll asking Linux users which Windows or Mac applications they`d most like to see running on their machines, currently names Photoshop as the software of choice, reports The Register.

According to DestopLinux.com, the Novell CoolSolutions editor, Scott Morris, said since the poll began in the first week in January, more than 10 000 votes have been cast. Also high on the list were Dreamweaver and iTunes.

Two smart phones coming from Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications in the second quarter will support an array of push e-mail systems including Microsoft`s Exchange ActiveSync and Research in Motion`s BlackBerry Connect, reports PC World.

According to Microsoft, users will be able to synchronize both the P990 and the M600 handsets with Exchange Server 2003 to view e-mail, contacts and calendar entries. Enterprises using Service Pack 2 of the server software will be able to deliver the latest e-mail to employees via Microsoft`s Direct Push technology.