Three new patches from Microsoft

Microsoft has issued three new software patches, including fixes for the MSN Messenger instant messaging program, Windows Media Services, and the Outlook e-mail client.

PC World reports none of the vulnerabilities was rated critical and only one of the security holes, in Outlook, could allow attackers to run malicious code on affected computers.

The report says Microsoft released a patch for Office XP Service Pack 2 and Outlook 2002 Service Pack 2. It fixes a problem with the way Outlook handles URLs that used to allow Web page authors to insert links on Web pages that launch Outlook or other e-mail clients.

A software patch detailed in MS04-010 addresses a security hole in MSN Messenger versions 6.0 and 6.1 that could allow an attacker to secretly view information on a user`s hard drive.

Finally, MS04-008 fixes a security vulnerability in Windows 2000 Server Service Packs 2, 3, and 4. A problem with the way Windows Media Station Service and Windows Media Monitor Service process TCP/IP connections could allow an attacker to send specially formatted TCP/IP packets that shut down either service.

Geek.com reports that Microsoft`s TBox prototype can turn a car into a Microsoft connected car, offering drivers the ability to interact with their Bluetooth-enabled PDA or cellphone through their car`s audio system, all via voice command.

The software in the TBox allows users to place calls from their Bluetooth-enabled phone or have their calendar or e-mail read to them from their Bluetooth-enabled PDA. Navigation information can be read from other Microsoft services such as MapPoint or the MSN Autos website.

An Associated Press report says people are increasingly ignoring encyclopaedias as a source of information and turning instead to the Internet.

The report says even digital versions of encyclopaedias are losing in the competition with online sources of information.

Joe Esposito, former chief executive of Encyclopaedia Britannica and now an independent consultant for digital media, says full sets are still printed, but mostly for institutions only. He says the encyclopaedia companies are now targeting consumers with more concise and less expensive reference books.

Fujitsu Computer Systems is shipping its first blade server based on Intel`s Xeon DP processor, says PC World

The dual-processor Primergy BX600 slides into a custom enclosure that can house as many as ten blade servers. Each of the servers can support as much as 12GB of memory and two UltraSCSI hard drives. The BX600 is available with 2.8-GHz, 3.06-GHz, or 3.20-GHz Xeon DP processors.

Blade systems are typically slimmed-down servers that slide into a custom enclosure like books into a bookshelf. Industry research firm Gartner expects 358 000 blades to ship in 2004, a jump of 105 percent from the 175 000 that shipped last year.

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies will soon announce a massive hard drive designed to store corporate data or record about 400 hours of video for consumers, reports CNet

The new drive has a capacity of 400GB, spins at 7200 revolutions per minute and uses advanced technology attachment (ATA) interface technology. Dubbed the Deskstar 7K400, the drive is being tested by manufacturers and could be in digital video recorder (DVR) products later this year.