MS knocks Linux

As the unveiling of Windows 7 approaches, Microsoft is distributing literature to American retailers claiming Linux works with few peripherals or online services, offers limited software capability, affords no authorised support, does not work with games "your customers want", and cannot use video chat on any of the major IM networks, says The Register.

"What most customers want" is Windows, the literature says, not Linux.

The claims are not unlike those Microsoft has made in the past, and it has acknowledged the materials are authentic. "Microsoft works with its partners to help them prepare to sell our products in a competitive marketplace," a company spokesperson told The Register.

Hasbro has unveiled a live version of its Monopoly game with Google Maps serving as the game board, reports PCWorld.

Google anti-trust jokes notwithstanding, the Monopoly City Streets game is managing to build a steady buzz in the blogosphere this week. The official game Web site calls it the "biggest live game of Monopoly in history".

"A world of property empire-building on an unimaginable scale will be launched," the site proclaims. "Own any street in the world. Build humble houses, crazy castles and stupendous skyscrapers to collect rent. Use Monopoly Chance cards to sabotage your mates by building hazards on their streets."

Yahoo has introduced three mobile applications as the company continues to focus more on developing specific applications for the iPhone and other select smartphones like the BlackBerry, states CNet.

The most widely publicised application to be unveiled is Flickr for Mobile. This application is only available for Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch. It's free from the iTunes App Store. And it allows users to upload, share, and tag photos and videos.

Yahoo also created two new mobile applications for a few BlackBerry models. Yahoo Finance for Mobile works on the iPhone and iPod Touch, as well as the BlackBerry Bold, Tour and 8900 series. This free application allows users to track companies, market indices and news.

The UK is yet to register in the top 10 European nations for rolling out fibre-optic broadband to households, according to research, reports Computing.co.uk.

The survey by the Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council estimated year-on-year growth of the technology in Europe was 18%, suggesting the recession has had little effect on FTTH roll-outs.

Top of the adoption league is Sweden, followed by Norway, with Slovenia third. France, Germany and the UK do not appear in the top 10.