Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Microsoft Loses S. Korea Patent Case

South Korea is again proving to be a thorn in Microsoft's side, as the company over the weekend lost a patent battle in the country concerning its Office software. The decision could force the Redmond company to halt sales of the popular productivity suite in South Korea.

The country's supreme court rejected attempts by Microsoft to have a patent surrounding technology to automatically switch input modes between Korea and English thrown out. The patent had been awarded to Lee Keung-Hae, a Hankuk Aviation University professor, in 1997.


Lawyers representing Lee are asking for copies of Office software with the technology to be pulled from store shelves, and feel that the decision strengthens their fight to win monetary damages, which they estimate at 70 billion won ($75.11 million USD).

Friday, November 24, 2006

Friday, November 17, 2006

Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu




Mongolian model murder

A dishevelled and unshaven Abdul Razak Baginda showed no emotion as he was charged with abetting the gruesome murder of a Mongolian model. If he is found guilty, the prominent political analyst faces the death penalty.

Abdul Razak's wife, Mazlinda Mahzan was far more emotional.

She shouted: "My husband is an innocent man! Why do this to him, he's a good man. The police killed her."

She was only allowed back into the court after she had calmed down.

His 19-year-old daughter Rowena, hugged him and whispered: "Be strong, no matter what happens."

The victim, 28-year-old Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, is believed to have been shot twice and her body blown up with C4 explosives to hide the crime.

Two policemen — Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Constable Sirul Azhar Umar — were charged on Wednesday with the murder. The policemen, both part of an elite unit tasked with protecting VIPs in Malaysia, also face the death penalty if convicted.

Prosecutors have not said how Abdul Razak knew the policemen or what their motive was for killing the model.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had pledged a thorough investigation and the police chief had said there would be no cover up.

The murder of the model has gripped the nation. With talk of an affair, extortion, police involvement and a top analyst tied to the deputy prime minister, the case has all the ingredients of a salacious scandal and the media are making the best of it.

"It has the three Ss going for it: sensationalism, sex and scandal. The public likes to read (this kind) of news," said Mr M Krishnamoorthy, the chief reporter of Malaysia's largest-circulated English newspaper, The Star.

Newspaper and TV reporters have been chasing clues and lurid details to piece together the sordid tale of an alleged extramarital affair gone sour.

On the political front, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar yesterday assured the Bangkok-based Mongolian ambassador Yachii Bauuri that the rule of law will take its course in the investigation.

Meanwhile, Ms Shaariibuu's father, uncle and cousin held a prayer ceremony yesterday at the site where her remains were discovered. — AP, with additional reporting by fawziah selamat
Abdul Razak charged with abetting in model's murder

Source

Police call centre

Microsoft Office Live Launches in US

Microsoft on Wednesday officially removed the "beta" tag from Office Live after nine months of testing and launched the service in the Unites States. Beta versions will debut in Japan, France, the U.K. and Germany on November 21.

According to Microsoft, nearly 160,000 businesses tested out the service's various features, and through that feedback it has made several changes for the final release. The company has also inked deals with Toshiba and Sony to provide links to Office Live on the manufacturers' desktop and notebook computers. Three levels of service will be available, ranging from free to $39.95 USD per month.