Got Windows? Then get
the latest flaw patches
Just when you think you've got
your computer protected and up to date, another Windows warning comes
along. Yesterday Windows producer Microsoft issued eight new patches
marked for issues deemed “critical” and warned users that they should
install them quickly. The vulnerabilities the patches address could allow
attackers to take complete control of systems. Seven of them deal with the
Windows operating system and related software. The last one is for Office
XP business software. Microsoft issued an additional four patches for
vulnerabilities that aren’t as much of a threat.
Cheat on 'Housewives' with AOL's new recaps
If, heaven forbid, you miss an
episode of ABC’s "Desperate Housewives," help is on the way.
The network has partnered with America Online to provide weekly show
recaps on aol.com. Every Monday morning, the day after “Desperate
Housewives” airs, AOL will post a 3-4 minute video recap of the previous
day’s episode along with a preview of the next week’s episode. The
clips will be archived through September. At some point in the season, AOL
will also offer best-of videos featuring the show's top moments.
"Housewives" is the highest-rated new show of the season and
behind only Fox's "American Idol" and "CSI" among
total viewers.
Study: Online gambling is lucrative, if still illegal
They may lack the ringing machines and bright lights
of traditional casinos, but online casinos are still raking in major
profits, even though the gaming is illegal in the United States. More than
2,000 gambling web sites will make about $10 billion in revenue this year,
mostly from U.S. consumers, says new research from Christiansen Capital
Advisors. The casinos' profit margin will increase by 40 percent from
2004. Almost all gambling sites are offshore,
where they are exempt from U.S. law. Credit
the recent TV poker craze for some of the increase. Gaming site
CasinoCity.com reports that poker revenue will probably double to more
than $2 billion and attract 1 million players a month. Americans can play
at 266 web sites, up from 53 in June 2003. Peer-to-peer technology and
advancements in broadband have also helped make this gaming more realistic
and attractive to users.
Look
out, Mapquest, here comes Google Maps
In its never-ending quest for worldwide web
domination, Google has been introducing new
tools at a rapid pace lately. Among them is a new mapping service that
began yesterday. Google Maps, which is in test mode, uses map data from
digital mapping companies TeleAtlas and Navteq and combines local search
results with maps and driving directions. Available only through the
Google Labs web site, Google Maps gives step-by-step driving directions
and displays the route on a map just like competitors Mapquest and Yahoo
Maps. Users can navigate a map by clicking and dragging the mouse across
it.
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