Google launches Docs & Spreadsheets

Google is combining its Writely online word processing tool with its Spreadsheets offering to form a new service, the rather prosaically titled Google Docs & Spreadsheets. This latest graduate of the prolific Google Labs is intended to help users share and store documents across the Web. Working with DOC, XLS, ODF, ODS, RTF and CSV formats, there is the familiar button-driven toolbar interface, and collaborators can be invited to access shared data on the basis of email addresses. ...more

Manufacturer signings for Xbox 2 continue apace

Despite Microsoft adamantly refusing to deliver a black and white statement regarding Xbox 2, it continues to ink deals with companies that focus on the development of 'future Xbox products'. Announced today is an agreement between Microsoft and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) that sees the two expand on previous dealings and the latter given responsibility for providing 'manufacturing services for Microsoft's future Xbox products'. There's that phrase again. ...more

Security developer claims share of Microsoft's Giant acquisition

Microsoft's entry into the anti-spyware business has hit a potential snag. Florida-based security developer Sunbelt Software Distribution claims that it owns part of the software Microsoft bought with the acquisition of Giant Software. Last week, Microsoft bought Giant Software for an undisclosed sum and would be releasing a beta anti-spyware product in the new year for users of Windows 2000 and above. ...more

Real welcomes EU Microsoft decision

Real Networks has welcomed the EU's decision to force Microsoft to release a version of Windows without a bundled media player. In a statement Bob Kimball, Real's vice president and general counsel said, 'This decision is fundamentally significant because the European Commission has formally declared that Microsoft's media player bundling strategy is illegal and has established the guideposts for future bundling cases. This is the first legal review of Microsoft's media player bundling practice. ...more

Comment: Politicians fail the Internet test

Having spent a decade in technology journalism, certain things instantly send my scepticism soaring: press releases proclaiming a new product to be 'truly revolutionary', guesstimates of how many zillions virus attacks cost businesses and anything that's the 'world's first'. But one thing that really brings out the inner-cynic in me is politicians taking an interest in technology. Take this unsolicited email that arrived in my inbox recently, in reaction to Gnarls Barkley's Crazy appearing at the top of the iTunes charts. ...more