Microsoft has settled its anti-trust case with the US state of New Mexico, which will get its legal costs paid by the company. The state along with 17 others and the US government has been battling the software giant for four years for its infringement of federal competition laws. The news may spark other states to make out-of-court settlements with the company - analysts say Microsoft is attempting to split the coalition of states making the challenge. New Mexico withdrew from the challenge on Friday after Microsoft said last week it was backing down on its insistence that its products must be installed on PCs along with its operating systems.
Manufacturers will now be able to display competing software - such as Netscape - more easily on desktops. The change will be implemented for the October 25th launch of Microsoft's latest operating system XP, the company says. Last month a US court overturned an earlier ruling that Microsoft must be split up for breaking monopoly laws. Meanwhile the company said it will report a $2.6 billion investment loss in the fourth quarter, but expects to beat revenue expectations.
Offline: A US court has ordered Napster to remain offline, but the company has vowed to appeal. The service has been inaccessible since July 2nd when it ceased its file-swapping system to implement software filters that would keep some 800,000-plus copyrighted songs off the network. Napster believed it would be allow to stay live with the blocking of most songs, but the court wanted 100 per cent compliance with an earlier ruling that the website was infringing copyright laws. Meanwhile it was announced on Thursday that Napster has settled with heavy metal rock band Metallica and hip-hop music legend Dr Dre.
No more: Baltimore Technologies founder Mr Fran Rooney became the latest high profile victim of the tech slump last week, by resigning as CEO of the Irish Internet security firm. Mr Rooney's resignation was seen as a confidence-building measure for the company, shares of which hit rock bottom following announcements of major restructuring and job cuts. Mr Rooney - whose personal fortune has been slashed - will pursue "other interests" including board positions he has been offered, including the role as chairman of an unnamed e-learning company.
Net cost: USA.net is to begin charging for its web-based e-mail service because advertising revenue isn't covering its costs. By the end of the month its 4 million e-mail users will have to decide whether to discontinue service or begin paying $29.99 a year. New subscribers will pay $49.99 annually.
Yahoo? Web search giant Yahoo! reported net revenues of $182.1m for the second quarter of the year - $89.9 million less than the same period last year. However, the loss is less than was expected by Wall Street and is partly due to a $45 million restructuring programme. Over the course of the second quarter Yahoo! saw the number of unique users touching the 200 million mark for the first time in its history, averaging 1.2 billion page views per day globally.
Joint the gang: A new computer virus, advocating the legalisation of cannabis, is spreading across the Web using Microsoft Outlook address books.
"W32/Marijuana", which arrives with the subject line "check this out", changes system settings to launch a daily invitation to "toke up". Opening the e-mail attachment puts an icon of a marijuana leaf on the desktop.
Wireland: Dublin is one of only 46 "technology hubs" in the world, a UN report published last week says. The UN Human Development report also places Ireland 13th in its Technology Achievement Index (TAI). The list comprises 72 countries and is topped by Finland. Ireland, however, beats its European neighbours Belgium and France and Austria. The report also shows an increase of 44 per cent in the number of mobile phones in use in the State since 1990.
Taking the mickey: A Japanese security firm has unveiled a robot guard which can greet people and play quiz games with children. Sogo Keibi Hosho Co Ltd revealed the 48-inch tall GuardRobo C3, equipped with a camera, a touch panel and wheels. The prototype moves between floors of a building on a memorised map and will eventually be able to speak 1,500 phrases.