Thursday, January 9, 2003

QuickTime 6.1 delivers a number of quality and performance enhancements for audio, video, and full screen playback. Enhancements include the following: MPEG-4 video provides more accurate rate control and improved visual quality. AAC includes new encoder controls and new bit rate options. DV includes significant encode and decode performance improvements. QuickTime Pro users will enjoy enhancements in full screen playback, including newly enabled keyboard shortcuts for movie control, faster entry and exit, and improved playback performance. 1:32:47 PM

Windows Servers' identity crisis. Microsoft changes the name of its high-end server software for the third time. Windows Server 2003 is scheduled for an April release. [CNET News.com] 10:20:04 AM

Old British Newsreels Find New Life Online. British Pathe has put more than 3,500 hours of its old newsreels online, allowing users to receive low-resolution clips at no charge. By Jeffrey Selingo. [New York Times: Technology] 10:15:16 AM

Automated Avatars Take the Strain Out of Animation. Several software developers have been working on tools to make animation cheaper, more automated and less of a drain on processing power. By Matt Lake. [New York Times: Technology] 10:12:30 AM

No 'Smoking Guns' Found in Iraq, U.N. Weapons Inspector Says. Arms inspectors have not found any "smoking guns" in Iraq, Hans Blix said today before briefing the Security Council. By The Associated Press. [New York Times: NYT HomePage] 10:11:33 AM

MS dumps .NET tag in latest Windows Server name change. Consistent naming policy. Consistently confusing, that is... [The Register] 10:07:21 AM

Voodoo economics: The sequel. Bush's vast tax cut will fatten the piggies in their starched white shirts and create huge deficits. But the spineless Democrats don't have the will to stop it. [Salon.com] 10:05:48 AM