Zune users should be happy to know that subscribing to podcasts is now quick and easy: just click a Zune icon or chicklet graphic on a Podcaster’s website. The single click will launch the new Zune Marketplace software, assuming it is installed (else will prompt to download the software), and place the podcast subscription in the user’s collection. Most importantly, the podcast feed does not need to be in the Zune Marketplace for the link to work. The format is as follows (spaces between words in the PodcastTitle will work):

zune://subscribe/?PodcastTitle=PodcastRSSFeedURL

News source: Zune Insider

Amid reports that Windows Live OneCare changes settings in Windows Update to allow for automatic installation of important updates, the official word from Microsoft is that this is by design. When first installing OneCare, the setup informs the user that proceeding will change computer settings to automatically download and install important updates from Microsoft Update. Settings for recommended and optional updates are not changed. Even during Tune-up, OneCare checks, and then prompts the user if there are missing software updates or if Automatic Updates settings have been changed.

“OneCare is built for people who don’t want to worry about protecting and maintaining their PC. This behavior is by design and is not unique to the latest version of OneCare. It helps ensure that your computer continues to receive important updates as soon as possible after they are released. We are evaluating user feedback and will be revisiting how we communicate the installation details of Windows Live OneCare as we are continually working to improve that experience. In addition, OneCare was built with privacy in mind, and Microsoft takes that very seriously – every new feature or setting change is reviewed and approved by Microsoft’s privacy experts.”

News source: WLOneCare Blog

With the recent security issues and patent infringement suit with AT&T, internet phone company Vonage needs all the good news it can get. The company announced today that it has settled a patent lawsuit brought by Verizon Communications Inc. for a maximum of $120 million, though the exact amount of damages will not be decided until a rehearing takes place. Previously, Vonage had placed $88 million in escrow after a jury held that the company had infringed on three patents and awarded Verizon $58 million in damages, plus a royalty on future revenues. A court appointed escrow agent would distribute the money in the account as required. However, the new settlement seems to eliminate the royalty on future revenues and places a cap of $32 million in additional damages on top of the $88 million, leading to a maximum of $120 million in payouts.

“This settlement removes the uncertainty of legal reviews and long-term court action and allows us to continue focusing on our core business and customers,” said Sharon O’Leary, Vonage’s chief legal officer. If Vonage wins a rehearing on either of the two patents at issue, its total payout will be only $80 million.

View: Full Story on SiliconValley.com

Microsoft Corporation has announced a revenue of $13.76 billion for the quarter ending on September 30, 2007, a 27% increase over the same period of the prior year. Microsoft’s businesses of Client, Microsoft Business Division, and Server and Tools grew combined revenue in excess of 20%, and experienced robust demand for Windows Vista, the 2007 Microsoft Office system, Windows Server, and SQL Server. “Customer demand for Windows Vista this quarter continued to build with double-digit growth in multi-year agreements by businesses and with the vast majority of consumers purchasing premium editions,” said Kevin Johnson, president of the Platform and Services Division at Microsoft.

Customers of Alltel Corporation and Verizon Wireless can now access AOL’s popular instant-messaging service by using cell phone text messaging. To activate, users can simply send a blank text message to “AIMAIM”. The service makes it possible to send messages with commands to sign on, view buddy lists or change an “away” greeting. Signing out from the mobile version is not automatic when signing on elsewhere, unfortunately. This means you can receive tons of text messages despite being at the computer.

AOL, a unit of Time Warner Incorporated, also unveiled an “AIM Buddy Finder” tool for cell phones with global-positioning capabilities. Users can let friends see their location on MapQuest, another AOL service. However, the traveler must periodically refresh the location and there is a necessary $3-a-month Where service available through Alltel and Sprint Nextel Corporation’s Sprint and Boost Mobile brands.

News source: MSNBC

Following on from yesterdays post “Dell No Longer Supports Vista x64…and Other Rants”, Neowin is happy to report that Dell have responded to our reader Morpheus Phreak blaming the whole issue on a “web site glitch”. Lets not forget however that Morpheus had already pointed out to Dell support about their contract obligations to both Microsoft and the Customer to which the Supervisor responded “Our legal team are working on that”.

The Windows Logo Program states “OEMs using x64 implementations must have signed drivers available to end users if shipping a 32-bit version of Windows Vista on the system.” This applies to [Dell] systems using a Windows Vista logo on the case. They must of come to the conclusion to add back the missing drivers!

In a Dell Support representative email response he pledged to restore the missing updates by saying “Dell does provide both 32-bit and 64-bit Vista drivers for the XPS 410. Checking our website it appears that the option for XP and Vista 64 are missing, I can get those added back.” he goes on to say “Luckily most of the drivers posted for Vista 32-bit also cover Vista 64. Some of the drivers like the network driver and most of the applications are limited to 32. For those exceptions, the drivers are available on the Resource DVD and you can locate the drivers using the search feature (a difficult procedure at the moment, I’m afraid).” without explaining exactly why it’s difficult, he finishes up the email with “Andy and I will work on getting the 64-bit OS selection added back.”

It appears after many emails back and forth Dell are finally doing what they are good at, Customer service. God forbid they forget exactly who it is that put them on a pedestal and who can just as easily knock ‘em off!

Morpheus had this to say ->

Quote -

Woohoo, Dell has caved.

Chalk up a win for the little guy who wasn’t afraid to stand up to the multi-billion dollar corporation.

UK’s computer agency Becta has advised schools not to sign a licensing deal with Microsoft over anti-competitiveness practices. The agency has also filed a complaint with the Office of Fair Trading; saying that Microsoft has not resolved any “fundamental concerns” over academic licensing of Windows Vista and Office 2007.

Computers in schools is essential, with many schools spending huge sums over buying, installing and maintaining equipment and software.

Becta is advising schools that already have a licensing deal with Microsoft that they reconsider renewing it after the compliant has been heard. It is also advising schools not to use Office 2007 until “interoperability with alternative products is satisfactory.” This meaning that Microsoft needs to support the international ODF (OpenDocument) file type.

According to a report released today by VoIP security firm Sipera Systems, Internet phone service company Vonage may be vulnerable to attacks by hackers through a variety of different means including eavesdropping, spam, spoofing and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. The security company stated that it had informed Vonage of the problem more than a month ago, but that the company had not responded to the warning. Vonage spokesman Charles Sahner declined comment.

The Sipera VIPER Lab determined the Vonage VoIP Motorola Phone Adapter (VT 2142-VD) and Vonage service implementations leave users vulnerable to a form of VoIP identity theft, allowing hackers to take over a user’s phone service with a “registration replay attack” and then make and receive calls while impersonating the victim. Incomplete security practices, such as not encrypting traffic, open Vonage users to eavesdropping on private voice and video communications. Hackers can also send multiple SIP INVITE messages to a user, an Internet version of “ringing the phone off the hook” which creates a DoS attack. Leveraging these vulnerabilities, remote attackers can also send malicious messages directly to Vonage users, subjecting them to spam, social engineering and VoIP scams.

News source: Reuters
View: Sipera Press Release on TechWeb
View: Sipera VIPER Labs

Microsoft Corp., a company which needs no introduction, beat out rival Google Inc. on Wednesday in a battle to invest in socializing Web site Facebook, agreeing to pay $240 million for a roughly 1.6 percent stake in the Web phenomenon and expand a deal to sell advertising. Microsoft and Facebook stated that the $240 million investment valued Facebook at $15 billion, which analysts said was a steep price and a bet the young company would be able to transform itself into a hub for all sorts of Web activity. “The only way this works is if Facebook becomes sort of the users’ operating system on the Internet — everyone logs into Facebook every day to get in contact with their friends and use a multitude of future applications that will be developed for it,” said Morningstar analyst Toan Tran.

Microsoft said it would be the exclusive third-party advertising platform for Facebook, which has more than 49 million Internet users. That extends a previous deal into Facebook sites outside the United States. Forrester Research analyst Charlene Li said that Microsoft was a better strategic fit for Facebook, since it knew how to work with software developers and build computing environments — such as its Windows operating system. “Microsoft is a company that knows how to build platforms, knows how to develop relationships with developers. Microsoft developed the network that is the biggest, most vibrant one out there,” she said. “Frankly, Google didn’t bring as much to the deal.”

View: Full Story on Reuters

Apple is set to enforce restrictions to customers who want to get the iPhone, limiting them to 2 per customer and by card (most likely a SIM Card).

An Apple spokesman quoted by the AP news agency said that to “ensure that there are enough iPhones for people who are shopping for themselves or buying a gift.” Kind of lame, but this move is mostly linked to the iPhone being unlocked.

The iPhone has sold 1.4 million to date; with that number to increase after the number of sales of the iPhone in Germany, UK and France. Australia’s release date and which carrier will it be on hasn’t been announced.