Cody Taylor

CWmike writes “A post-beta version of Windows 7, Build 7022, leaked to Internet file-sharing sites also includes an updated version of IE8, according to searches at several BitTorrent trackers. With Microsoft halting new Windows 7 beta downloads on Tuesday, and blocking all downloads as of noon (EST) today, users are again turning to illegal sources to get the new operating system.”

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alphadogg writes “The spreading Conficker/Downadup worm is now viewed as such a significant threat that it’s inspired the formation of a posse to stop it, with Microsoft leading the charge by offering a 0,000 reward to bring the Conficker malware bad guys to justice. The money will be paid for ‘information that results in the arrest and conviction of those responsible for illegally launching the Conficker malicious code on the Internet,’ Microsoft said today in a statement, adding it is fostering a partnership with Internet registries and DNA providers such as ICANN, ORG, and NeuStar as well as security vendors Symantec and Arbor Networks, among others, to stop the Conficker worm once and for all. Conficker, also called Downadup, is estimated to have infected at least 10 million PCs. It has been slowly but surely spreading since November. Its main trick is to disable anti-malware protection and block access to anti-malware vendors’ Web sites.”

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Program offering free or low-cost upgrades from Vista could kick off in July, sources say. While it won’t say so publicly, Microsoft is pushing to have PCs with the new OS for the holidays.

Microsoft is happy to avoid the naysaying it saw with the last operating system. However, all that happy Windows 7 talk has made it harder to convince businesses to move to Vista.

Despite licensing the proprietary ActiveSync Exchange Server protocol from Microsoft for use with the iPhone, Apple is building its own Push Notification Server for messaging services in both the iPhone and Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server using open, interoperable standards.

willclem writes “According to Reuters, it seems that Cuba has launched it’s own variation of Linux in order to fulfill its government’s desire to replace Microsoft operating systems. “Getting greater control over the informatic process is an important issue,” said Communications Minister Ramiro Valdes, who heads a commission pushing Cuba’s migration to free software.”

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