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Net Xpress: Microsoft and Yahoo! reach agreement on IM

October 17, 2005|SHEILA J. CLARK

Instant messaging ranks among the top 10 most popular activities of online users. Last week, Yahoo! and Microsoft announced they finally have agreed to allow their instant messenger users to communicate with each other. For years, this capability has been one of the most requested features from users of both services.

This agreement will enable Yahoo Messenger and MSN Messenger users to send instant messages to each other and check if their friends are online on either service. They also will be able to add contacts on their clients from either service and exchange emoticons between each other.

Read more about the agreement between the two here and here.

Windows update

Microsoft's security updates for October total a whopping nine.

The updates include three critical updates for Windows and Internet Explorer, four updates rated important and the final two are rated moderate.

Learn more.

Net buzzz

* American Online has decided to change its company name to simply AOL, according to CEO Jonathan Miller at the recent Web 2.0 conference. The name change helps the company as it looks to venture into foreign countries. See the video footage.

Note: The name change subject matter comes towards the end of the video footage.

* Apple plans to release a new iPod with video later this month. The iPods will come in black or white in 30GB and 60GB models, with prices starting at $299.

The iPods will be able to play Pixar short films, music videos and ABC TV shows made available for a fee on iTunes. Read more.

Artist spotlight

Ricky Martin is back and he's got a new CD out called "Life," which was released Oct. 11. This is Martin's first English album since 2000.

His new album feeds on the world cultures that he has experienced in his travels during his time away from the business. He still has every ounce of his Latin spice but this time it's combined with all kinds of genres, including reggaeton, street sounds and more.

Martin is more than just your usual superstar; he is a man who gives and cares about the welfare of our future - the world's children.

He started a non-profit foundation called The Ricky Martin Foundation at www.rickymartinfoundation.com or www.rickymartinfoundation.org to help children in need. One of the foundation's projects is called People for Children, which aids in fighting against trafficking and sexual exploitation of children.

Read more about Ricky Martin at www.rickymartin.com, www.rickymartinmusic.com or www.columbiarecords.com.

Free online courses

CNET's Help.com is offering a "Save Video Home Movies to DVD" class beginning Monday through Nov. 4. The free course will teach you how to convert your analog VHS tapes to digital format to burn onto DVDs.

You will learn how to connect your VCR to an analog-to-video converter, how to connect your analog-to-video converter to your PC, how to configure your video-editing software and how to capture the video.

You also will learn how to edit the video and the audio in your video, and then how to burn your edited video to DVD. Learn more or sign up.

MSN Live chat events

Oct. 17: Pink Floyd's Roger Waters chats at 7 p.m. Go.

E-mail me at sheila@amnews.com; fax me at (859) 236-9566; or write me snail-mail at The Advocate-Messenger, P.O. Box 149, Danville, KY 40423-0149.

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