By the Drobe news desk

A new RISC OS MSN chat client was released for free tonight for brave punters to test drive. Dubbed Parmesan by developer Christian Ludlam, the software allows people to chat to each other in real-time over the Internet - ideally enabling RISC OS punters to converse with buddies using Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and other computer platforms.

In a covert announcement earlier this evening, Christian said: "I'm looking for beta testers to trial a new MSN client I've written for RISC OS. If you have an MSN account, please try it."

Although the freeware software, pictured, gets stuck at the "Setting online status" point on drobe's RISC OS 4.42-powered A9home, the client at least reportedly works on a vanilla RISC OS 4 RiscPC and a RISC OS 5 Iyonix. Christian's client even supports nudges, allowing online chatterboxes to wobble the other person's Parmesan windows to grab their attention.

Continues here: »www.drobe.co.uk/riscos/artifact2052.html

Trend Micro has spotted a new variant of WORM_SDBOT. This variant, detected by Trend as WORM_SDBOT.EXT, has been observed to spread copies of itself via MSN’s instant messaging application.

By Matt Mondok

On Monday, Microsoft launched a new version of its MSN Mobile web site. Besides fitting nicely inside a mobile browser, the site offers most, if not all of the content that comes with MSN.

Redmond's attempted YouTube killer, MSN SoapBox, has returned, after having slipped back into to Private Beta in March. Microsoft claimed that they pulled the plug on SoapBox to find a way to protect the intellectual property rights of content owners who might find their material on the video sharing site.

Televisionpoint.com Correspondent

BBC World Service and MSN India, have teamed up to make the news content from the BBC Hindi website, bbchindi.com, available to users of MSN India's Hindi portal, MSN Hindi.

Vineeta Dwivedi, India Business Development Manager, BBC World Service, said: "This is a really exciting development. Thanks to our partnership with MSN India, more Hindi-speakers around the world will have the opportunity to enjoy top-quality news and information from bbchindi.com."

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By: Priyanka Pradhan

MSN today unveiled a new, enhanced LiveEarth.MSN.com Web site, as the exclusive online media partner for LiveEarth . MSN is now offering internet users, a free downloadable song by Madonna, written exclusively for the Live Earth concert series available on MSN.com.

By SETH SUTEL

For Microsoft, getting aQuantive could jump-start its online advertising business, which lags far behind Google and Yahoo Inc. due to the lower traffic on its own destination Web site, MSN.

Hot on the heels of the Yahoo Green launch, MSN has unveiled its own online community dedicated to combating the climate crisis, MediaPost reports (via Environmental Leader). Chevrolet has signed on as the site’s first global sponsor.

Mike Shields

MSN announced several plans to expand its commitment to developing original content during Microsoft’s Strategic Account Summit held last week in Seattle.

The portal said it would extend the partnership initiated a year ago with the production firm Reveille by launching several new branded entertainment vehicles. They include Driving School, a comedic, driver’s-ed-themed video series due this summer that will be sponsored by Volvo, as well as an international luxury travel series The Good Life, which will be sponsored by Chivas.

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By Brier Dudley

The marriage of Microsoft and Yahoo! didn't happen as the tabloids predicted, but I wonder if the aging Internet giants will try a domestic partnership instead.

I've been thinking this since I met with Scott Moore, the former head of Microsoft's online-content group, who left two years ago to run the Yahoo! news and information group.

Also nominated were MTV News segments on the Oct. 8, 2005, earthquake in South Asia, as shown on Overdrive.com; and National Geographic's four-part Webcasts on Katrina, as shown on Microsoft Corp.'s MSN.com.

The award, eligible for programs that do not appear first on television or elsewhere, will be presented by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences on Sept. 25 in New York.

Full article @ Post-Gazette

by Joanne Oatts Brand Republic 5 Jul 2006

LONDON - MSN has launched 'The Consumer in Control', a report which explores the shift in power from the media to its consumers and the need for interactive advertising.

The report indicates that future advertising needs to be more engaging, interactive and more relevant if it is to succeed.

Julian Smith, senior marketing and advertising analyst at Jupiter Media, who authored the foreword for the report, says that today's empowered consumers are now active participants in their media consumption.

Continues @ Digital Bulletin

June 29th, 2006
RealityTVWebsite.com

MSN Presents the Ultimate in Online Rock ŒnŒ Roll: ROCK STAR: SUPERNOVA Premieres July 5 Only on MSN

Exclusive online programming and special live events mark the return of the hit CBS series.

MSN today announced the premiere of online programming for ROCK STAR: SUPERNOVA, the new season of the hit reality series returning to CBS in a special 90-minute broadcast on Wednesday, July 5 at 8 p.m. EDT/PDT. Before its broadcast premiere, ROCK STAR: SUPERNOVA -- produced by Mark Burnett Productions and seen last season by more than 6 million TV viewers each week -- will premiere only on MSN(R) the morning of July 3, available on demand at the official series Web site (»rockstar.msn.com/ ).

Continues @ Reality TV Website

First Up for MSN Originals Is an Interactive Unscripted Series That Allows the MSN Audience to Manage a Minor League Baseball Team.

REDMOND, Wash., June 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MSN today announced an alliance with LivePlanet, the Los Angeles-based production company behind the three-time Emmy-nominated multiplatform series "Project Greenlight" for HBO and Bravo.

As founder Bill Gates steps back to concentrate on his charitable works, Microsoft faces an uncertain future, with its growth stagnating, its internet arm misfiring and Vista, the new version of Windows, years late. Paul Durman reports:

Microsoft has just lost the services of a man who, over the past couple of years, has done more than almost any other to transform the reputation of the software giant.

By TODD BISHOP
P-I REPORTER

Qwest Communications says it will include some of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Live programs in its broadband Internet access offering, as part of a renewed deal between the companies.

The programs, including the new Windows Live OneCare PC security and maintenance program, will be available to Qwest broadband customers at no extra charge, the telecommunications company said.

by Michelle Alexandria
May 26, 2006


WASHINGTON, May 24, 2006 (UPI) --

Microsoft's Windows Live is conducting an educational Tech Buzzwords 101 program to teach consumers about today's latest jargon, and, to show that while these buzzwords may sound complicated, they're actually not as difficult as they seem, and can actually make communicating with your friends and family easier, and more fun.

These days technology advances so quickly that most Americans feel they can't keep up! In fact, 57 percent of adults in the United States feel that they are not knowledgeable about the latest Tech Buzzwords. But once you get past the unusual words and strange acronyms you'll be surprised at how these seemingly strange technologies can make it easier -- and more fun -- to stay in touch with friends and family.

Continues @ Post Chronicle

By Charlotte Wolter
Posted on: 05/24/2006

The Microsoft Corp. pay-as-you-go personal computing initiative aimed at developing countries, which the company has been testing in Brazil, also could be a boon for VoIP in those territories.

Microsoft's MSN service has launched an initiative, called "MSN Originals," which it says will allow "top brands [to] tell their stories beyond standard media through in-content integration." As part of the initiative, MSN has signed content partnerships with independent Hollywood production and distribution company, Reveille (note: programs produced by the latter include NBC's "The Office" and "The Biggest Loser," FX's "30 Days," and MTV's "Date My Mom"), and with Be Jane, Inc., a company that produces multimedia content and operates a Web community focused on encouraging women to involve themselves in the traditionally male sphere of home improvement. MSN says that MSN originals will draw on content and services provided by these and other partners to provide consumers with video, interactive community features and multimedia-rich editorial.

Continues @ ITVT

New Survey Says Things Are Looking Up For Consumers Online

By John C. Dvorak
PC Magazine

Aug. 26, 2004— The annual customer satisfaction index for various online sites was released today and shows marked improvement in all categories. Google, in particular, looks very good in this survey.

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