Longer haul likely for Longhorn

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has indicated that the release of the next version of Windows, code-named Longhorn, is likely to be 2006, and not next year as scheduled originally.

PC World reports that at Gartner`s Symposium in San Diego yesterday, Gates stopped short of setting 2006 as the year for Longhorn, but said industry speculation about the final release being in 2006 was "probably valid".

Gates also said Microsoft will release an alpha version of Longhorn later this year. The company`s goal is still to come out with a Longhorn beta this year, but the report says Microsoft plans to release an alpha version of the operating system before then.

US telecommunications company AT&T has launched a do-it-yourself voice over IP (VOIP) service that will allow customers to add a VOIP phone to an existing broadband connection, reports ExtremeTech.

The AT&T solution enables users to access the service from anywhere in the country by plugging an adapter into the Internet connection provided by DSL or a cable modem, allowing calls to be made to any phone. The adapter can also be unplugged and moved from place to place, allowing mobile VOIP connections from locations that have wired broadband access.

Apple is attempting to patent the interface for its iPod music player in the US, reports PC World.

The report says Apple filed the original application more than a year ago, but the US Patent and Trademark Office made the patent filing public only last week. The application covers the graphical user interface.

The application is still pending and is open to challenges from other organisations that may contend the technology is not unique and deserving of a patent.

ComputerWorld says Gluecode Enterprise Server 3.5 is designed to provide an open source business automation server application that can be custom-configured to meet customer requirements.

The Gluecode Enterprise Server combines business process management, security management and an enterprise portal in an integrated suite that uses open source applications from the non-profit Apache Software Foundation as its starting point.

The report says Gluecode takes Apache open source applications and "glues" its own code on top of them depending on customer requirements.

Gluecode says it is following an industry trend toward rapid software standardisation on languages and protocols that make it easier for applications to work together.

Google has unveiled a new tool that allows people to make their Web searches more personal, reports SiliconValley.com.

Google Personalized Search, available for testing at the Google Labs page, allows users to create a profile of their interests, which is then used to filter their search results, using up to 216 areas of interest.

The report says the ability to tailor search results to the individual is considered an important goal of search technology, but the fact that few search companies have achieved that goal is an indication of the complexities involved.