:::: Recent Computer News ::::

Early Holiday Gifts from Microsoft!!
Microsoft Corp. announced low-cost program to upgrades to Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office release with the purchase of a new Windows Vista Capable personal computer. According to MikeSievert, corporate vice president of Windows Client Marketing at Microsoft, the Express Upgrade to Windows Vista and Office Technology Guarantee programs will make their customers shop a new PC with confidence, and they will have a great experience with Windows XP-based PCs today, and even one when Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office release become available.

Hacker Unlocks Apple Music Download Protection!!!
Jon Lech Johansen, a 22-year-old Norway native who lives in San Francisco, cracked Apple's FairPlay copy-protection technology. Monique Farantzon, managing director at DoubleTwist, said that Jon basically reverse-engineer FairPlay, and it allows other computers to offer content for the iPod. Apple allows only music that were bought from iTune online store to work on Apple products, but music from other online store are not available for iPods. However, his new technology could change Apple's domination. Johansen's achievement could help companies such as Microsoft Corp., Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., which have all announced plans over the past few months for musiownload services combined with new devices to challenge Apple.

:::: Network Neutrality ::::

Network Neutrality, or Net Neutrality, is the leading rule which makes the Internet open and free.
It makes sure every user can accesses the content or uses the programs and devices that they want to. Then, with Network Neutrality, moving data is the only thing that the network has to do. It stops the companies that use the wires from distinguishing against content by source or ownership.
Network Neutrality helps economic innovation, democratic participation on the Internet. And it also made the Internet an outstanding environment for open communications, public participation and free speech.
But, there are some companies that don’t like Network Neutrality. The biggest telephone and cable companies want to be “Internet gatekeepers” that decide which web sites are good or not to access. They want to tell that their own search engines or other services are better.

:::: Three Web Sites ::::

[ Hot Topic ]

http://www.hottopic.com

This is the first web site that I introduce to you! When I was in the states, my host sister often took me to the shop that is called Hot Topic. The shop was a totally new world to me, but I loved it. It had many CDs of my favorite bands, some hot clothes, and other cool things. This is the web site of the shop and you can buy things on this page!

[ MySpace ]

http://www.myspace.com

Ok, this one is one of the biggest web sites that you can meet many people around the world. I have an account on this site and have over 60 friends from the States, Australia, and so on! (I mainly have American friends because I still keep in touch with people who were my classmates.) This site is so neat. You can put your blog, pix, comments, and music you like. Once you get into it, you would not be able to get out of it!!

[ Homestar Runner]

http://www.homestarrunner.com

This is the FUNNIEST web site ever!!! There are cartoons and games that are presented by many characters such as StrongBad, StrongMad, Poopsmith, and Marzipan. There are many characters but there are only two people who are making voices for them. My favorite cartoon is "dragon" on "sb emails." Check it!!!

:::: Computer Gifts to My Family ::::

Wireless Internet for free! USB Memory sticks that have more memory!! And iPod that never break!!! ...wait a second. these are what I want.
Well, well, well. I would like to give one of the newest mice to my nanny because she has the worst mouse in the world. It is a mouse that have a small ball in it, and it doesn’t work well even I clean inside! So, I think she needs a Bluetooth or IR mouse.
To my mother, I would like to give software that contains various kinds of pictures for background of desktop. She likes to set pictures of flowers as background, so I think it would be a good present for her birthday that is in this month.
In my father’s case, I have no idea. He is a computer-otaku like my computer teacher, so he gets everything he needs for his computers. In my house, there are four desktop computers and one laptop and he uses all of them. How crazy! So, I really have no idea what he wants!