Good news for Windows XP users, the Windows XP Service Pack 3 is now available to download. Windows® XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released updates for the operating system. This update also includes a small number of new functionalities, which do not significantly change customers? experience with the operating system. This white paper summarizes what is new in Windows XP SP3. Microsoft is not adding significant Windows Vista functionality to Windows XP through SP3. However, SP3 does include Network Access Protection (NAP) to help organizations that use Windows XP to take advantage of new features in the Windows Server® 2008 operating system. Further, Windows XP SP3 does not include Windows Internet Explorer 7.
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Yahoo is entering a critical week as it prepares to report quarterly results on Tuesday and faces a Microsoft-imposed deadline to accept the nearly $43 billion offer. The software maker has cast doubt on whether Yahoo is even worth that much with a weakening U.S. economy and general slowness in the ad industry. Google’s strong showing could help its rival Yahoo stand firm on a higher takeover price on hopes Web marketing is more durable in a downturn. Industry analysts say Yahoo’s first-quarter results are going to be a major swing factor in its talks with Microsoft.

“The one thing that can really change Microsoft’s thought process on valuation is if they can come in with good results,” said Ross Sandler, analyst at RBC Capital Markets. “We think there is a decent likelihood of upside from Yahoo this quarter.”

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Microsoft has given Yahoo three weeks to accept its US$31 a share cash-and-stock offer or it may lower the bid and take its offer to Yahoo investors directly. In a letter addressed to Yahoo’s board of directors on Saturday, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said that “now is the time” to negotiate the final terms of the deal, which, valued at more than US$40 billion, would mark the biggest-ever takeover in the high-tech industry.

“If we have not concluded an agreement within the next three weeks, we will be compelled to take our case directly to your shareholders, including the initiation of a proxy contest to elect an alternative slate of directors,” Mr Ballmer wrote.

The letter marks the tightening of the noose in a classic Wall Street bear-hug merger strategy, wherein Microsoft aims to convice Yahoo directors to negotiate a friendly deal or face a battle for their jobs at Yahoo’s next annual meeting. Yahoo’s board is reviewing the letter, said a person close to the company. Its directors have rebuffed Microsoft’s original offer, saying the bid undervalues Yahoo and that it is seeking alternatives.
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Microsoft has confirmed that the upcoming Windows after Vista, Windows 7, will be released in 2010. Officially, the Redmond company has only been saying that Windows 7 development would take an estimated three-year timeframe. However, Microsoft always failed to specify the moment when the three-year timeframe started. The debut of Windows 7 development was indeed connected with the release of Windows Vista, but this aspect only contributed to the confusion because the latest Windows client was launched to businesses in November 2006 and to the general public in January 2007. So in this context, the finalization of Windows 7 could just as easily be aimed for the end of 2009, as well as 2010.
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Yahoo Inc’s board has rejected Microsoft Corp.’s $44.6 billion takeover bid after concluding the unsolicited offer undervalues the slumping Internet pioneer, a person familiar with the situation said Saturday. The Wall Street Journal had quoted an unnamed source as saying Microsoft’s offer of $31 per share was an attempt to “steal” the company and that Yahoo was unlikely to consider anything under $40 per share — double its price in January. At $40 per share, the value of the cash and stock deal would be worth $51.1 billion.

Alternatively, Microsoft could sweeten its bid. Many analysts believe Microsoft is prepared to offer as much as $35 per share for Yahoo, which still boasts one of the Internet’s largest audiences and most powerful advertising vehicles despite a prolonged slump that has hammered its stock.
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In the high-stakes battles for the big bucks of the US online advertising market, Microsoft made an eye-popping hostile attempt to take over giant search engine Yahoo. Chief Executive Steve Ballmer announced an unsolicited take-over bid for Yahoo at US$44.6 billion, saying he is prepared to pay US$31 per share in cash or stock, or a 62-percent premium above the company’s closing stock price on Nasdaq on Tuesday (29 Jan 2008). News of the proposed deal sent Yahoo stocks soaring pre-market, ahead of trading.

Among the numbers at stake is a US$40 billion a year online advertising market, of which Yahoo currently commands just 9 percent, compared to rival Google’s mammoth 75 percent. In Europe and UK, Google almost monopolizes the market with an 80 percent share, with Yahoo having to share the rest with smaller operators.
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With new unique RED branding, Dell, together with Microsoft have teamed-up to fight AIDS in Africa. Dell will offer the unique RED branded personal computers and a printer, mostly with a touchup, at a premium price. With each purchase of a RED branded Dell PC, Dell and Microsoft will make a combined contribution of $50 to $80, depending on the PC purchased, to the Global Fund. And purchase of a Dell RED printer generates a $5 Dell contribution. One hundred percent of the funds contributed go to Global Fund-financed grants in Africa.
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Microsoft buys Logitech? There has been a talk, as reported from Reuters that Logitech, whos m-cap is around $6.3 billion, would receive a takeover bid at 48 francs per share from Microsoft. This would represent a premium of 38 percent to Wednesday’s closing price of 34.80 francs and value the firm at 9.16 billion francs. A Logitech takeover would make the software leader the world’s largest maker of computer mice and other peripheral devices as well.
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Popularity: 11% [?]

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