By Tim Conneally, Betanews

If you're one of the more than 25 million Comcast subscribers, the bill you get next month may be for a service called Xfinity.

Beginning February 12, Comcast will begin rebranding its cable, Internet, and digital voice services in 11 markets under the Xfinity name, which it first debuted in December when the company began the process of acquiring NBC Universal.

At the time, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts told investors, "We basically are creating two Comcasts."

Today, we found out more of what that entails.

In the company's earnings call for today Roberts said, "We are not only repositioning the company technically, we are repositioning the company with consumers." So Comcast the parent company will remain, but Xfinity will be the name the customers see, divorcing the stigmatized Comcast brand from the service.

The Xfinity advertising push is expected to begin during the 2010 Winter Olympics for subscribers in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Hartford, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Chattanooga, and Augusta.

Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2010


Tim Conneally16746313862301274905

Redmond has provided a Release Candidate build of Microsoft Office 2010 to a select group of testers. "Microsoft made a release candidate available to members in the Technology Adoption Program (TAP)," a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed with Ars. "This is one of Microsoft's planned milestones in the engineering process; however they do not have plans to make this new code set available broadly."

Microsoft uses TAP to obtain real world customer feedback on its prerelease products from its partners. These partners have the opportunity to talk to the product engineering team, get help in deploying their Microsoft solutions, get early product education, and of course use feedback to influence the product during its development. The fact that Microsoft is not considering giving this build, or some RC version, to the public is a little worrying given that the company still has four months till Office 2010 is released. Granted, the final build will likely be compiled much sooner, but generally speaking, only providing a single public beta is uncharacteristic of the company. When we asked Microsoft about more public Office 2010 builds, the company refused to reveal anything. "We have nothing additional to share at this time," the spokesperson told Ars.

The Office 2010 beta that Microsoft gave out to the public three months ago was build 14.0.4536.1000 and has already been downloaded over 2 million times. Since then, and even before then, there have been many leaks of other builds; the latest one we've seen is build 14.0.4734.1000, which leaked out only last week:

Wzor.net

Office 2010 is the first release of the productivity suite that will come in 32-bit and 64-bit flavors and on one DVD no less. It is slated to be released in June 2010 with the same requirements as Office 2007 though under a different pricing scheme.

p_emil@hotmail.com (Emil Protalinski)0101444653999860109912564306142697517519

Monday night, Microsoft released a slew of updates for Windows, the majority of which were targeted for the latest versions of the client and server operating systems. None of these are security updates: this wasn't Patch Tuesday and Microsoft is not yet ready to address the 17-year-old Windows flaw. The most important update is just like the first stability and reliability update for the OSes, but smaller: Windows 7 32-bit (1.2MB), Windows 7 64-bit (1.7MB), Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit (1.7MB), and Windows Server 2008 R2 Itanium (2.1MB).

The patch resolves issues that affect some computers that use the Error Reporting service or Microsoft Customer Support Services. Microsoft plans to regularly release Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 stability and reliability updates, and this one builds on those that preceded it, adding the following fixes:

• Keyboard function keys or keyboard shortcuts, such as mute or calculator, may not work correctly
• The notification icon for an application may be moved or lost when the executable application is update
• On a computer that is running Windows 7, you configure the Screen Saver Settings to display the logon screen on resume. Additionally, you configure the computer to go to sleep. However, the computer may not go to sleep after the screen saver starts. Instead, a black screen is displayed. This problem causes the operating system to stop responding. You must restart the computer by holding down the power button.

If you're experiencing the issues described, you can download the updates from the Microsoft Download Center. Otherwise you can just wait till they trickle down via Windows Update—or until Service Pack 1 arrives.

The next update is for an issue that occurs in a very specific scenario: your Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 computer has an NVIDIA USB Enhanced Host Controller Interface (EHCI) chipset, at least 4GB of RAM, and while performing general I/O operations on an external USB device, such as copying data from the computer, either your computer stops responding or the copy operation stops abruptly. The fix is available for Windows 7 32-bit (449KB) and Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit (516KB). Microsoft plans on including this update in SP1.

Microsoft also released updated versions of the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 32-bit (104.1MB), Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 64-bit (142.0MB), Windows Server 2008 Itanium (32.2MB), Windows 7 32-bit (28.9MB), Windows 64-bit (93.8MB), Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit (93.8MB), and Windows Server 2008 R2 Itanium (16.3MB). The tool was originally released in September 2009 to resolve certain conditions that could cause installing updates and other software not to work. Typically you do not have to manually run this tool (it is offered automatically through Windows Update to computers that have a condition that the tool could resolve). It runs a one-time scan for inconsistencies that might prevent future servicing operations and usually takes less than 15 minutes (though it has been known to appear as if it's stopped at 60 percent when run from Windows Update).

The Windows NT Backup Restore Utility has also been updated for Windows 7 32-bit (599KB), Windows 7 64-bit (669KB), Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit (669KB), and Windows Server 2008 R2 Itanium (1000KB). The tool was originally released in November 2009 and notably no longer included Removable Storage Manager (RSM), used for restoring backups from tape devices. Microsoft has no plans to include this update in SP1.

p_emil@hotmail.com (Emil Protalinski)098000149457828405861409849769274890955101014446539998601099

At one time or another you may have used a rented-out Windows PC, be that at business kiosks or Internet cafés. Technically speaking, though, doing so has never been legal. As of January 1, 2010, the licensing terms for Windows and Microsoft Office have been tweaked so that those that wish to rent, lease, or outsource desktop PCs to third parties with either software can do so by paying an extra fee. Microsoft license requirements for Windows and Office do not permit renting, leasing, or outsourcing the software to a third party. Redmond's solution to this piracy is outlined as the Microsoft Rental Rights Licensing:

Rental Rights are a simple way for organizations to get a waiver of these licensing restrictions through a one-time license transaction valid for the term of the underlying software license or life of the PC. Solidify your role as trusted advisor by helping your customers become compliant using an additive license that fits their business model—without requiring special tools, processes, reporting, or paperwork.

The one-time license fee must be paid for each Windows PC or Office copy that is being rented out. While the new terms were actually posted at the beginning of the year, this was done rather quietly, and was only picked up by media outlets this past Friday by Directions on Microsoft analyst Paul De Groot. According to Groot, the promotional price for Office Professional Plus is $58 versus the standard $83 and is $45 for Office Standard versus $64. Windows is offered at $23 compared to the usual price of $32. This promotional 30-percent-off discount (available until June 30, 2010) is an effort to boost initial sales of the option, though it will be difficult for small businesses to start paying for something that they were previously doing for free, albeit illegally.

p_emil@hotmail.com (Emil Protalinski)0101444653999860109913124397049399929510

Boxee.tv opens the doors to its beta software, a cross-platform program that allows users to access local and streaming media using their TV and remote control.

Originally posted at The Download Blog

Seth Rosenblatt

Mac only: Wine has always been popular among Linux users for running Windows programs, but Wine is available for Mac, too—and now, free utility WineBottler can "bottle" Windows programs into separate application bundles that run as standalone Mac apps.

To use WineBottler, just download a Windows EXE, then drag and drop it onto the WineBottler app. You can install them in a fake C: drive located by default in your home folder, just as you would on Linux, and run them from there easily. However, if you want to create a standalone application bundle (so that you can give a Windows program to a fellow Mac user, for example), WineBottler will create a separate bundle with Wine included inside, so your friend doesn't have to have Wine installed—the app acts just like any other OS X app.

Note that just like in Linux, not all Windows programs work in Wine—so you'll have to see for yourself if the program you want to convert is compatible. (Notepad++ Portable, in the screenshot above, worked great.)

WineBottler is a free download, Mac OS X only. Thanks, Tristan!

WineBottler

Whitson Gordon11422489053262679286024857996643510323950597975236764471651017678532429935004192044627323576633172840987997728686824923612812045112787004969146119642839016625010910143433951743618700349923678007780278160679110781214313140477246881236483339700620650031163643755013783629228250439200465916854473225366302337963130092926628175451753144311500251008643768473440204905371939227037554894065935931212885797721402395737857439135904557405907962233843182391515863085231071500157386701734453212424180753280023234015385535389818672230132266578614999977512162493830434179100179279190905898961800897398293167112934317624062710923618434168839427664351442451495304020131405127504570443857947197706042228332154798968200055828857697001820413663179497081186995102990814309078569050052071365246904202109745267346842718664024933618644598977260797770653827990900905841958425042691603010369699285847729880429061474861552344812999466221181650263035120732810360514891170594493624414555507937500685357262374061575019810698619630560856576656820000701058726096188651751110470373132684948551543729826386063217204530814351127471728032723096614332704710023928317277932080614846313215421287081042132191637625233490338921414807593932006183717648096895637032823834700294337870169958084799293076718180696974608707274059156196573276263690124805364301959722300842867450607946617046679476949150362870725330266649848422802803813250855760845119149769839450541261557931531910881778606128482727861634623116600782720863289051393353660677986583912135813852582076897043342923983953631041321772944812287870914439597350659869888075411825932075200180992915848038863736803142441575414086608084215626764612445591091069299366378261201458803566949015797016499727350088057960028188919075176411811224466181161839182032482357268427795001348522186864163909317379080138041887580120173208436855195781302962018360038392810443345534301057683103259089985484357050402723327893286816114747471189817126247008730849163868158010386051688150212514816092704656904227521

For some head-scratching reason, Skype didn't mention a major upgrade to its recent Windows beta when it dropped in early December. That would be the ability to make 720p, HD-quality video calls if your video hardware supports it.

No word yet on a Mac (or Linux) release with HD calling yet, and PC World guesses they wanted to make the announcement at the Consumer Electronics Show, next to news about HDTV integration. I discovered the video boost, in hindsight, after recording a recent TV news appearance, so I can testify to the beta being worth an early upgrade.

Skype's 4.2 beta is a free download for Windows systems only. If you're seeing HD-quality video on your Skype beta setup, tell us what camera is giving you the good stuff in the comments (I was using this Adam-recommended Logitech 9000 during my brief video interview).

Skype [via PC World]

Kevin Purdy10888366699930496107023379631300929266280830305580158179640215835440548890645348125002737739613875831804730732694447708515096059339798309527105206031267098315271686792557985843623101484044539669731902095560990844213649641609270465690422752108612977286050864261165968331867351801471844132099280051200606530593897548659125107384812116954478381604206554585238217406947507505228527571063561405704707882371581635147421539799715059743631233809618154464886997314692940781108757524751073501259254496314763779093416113899864318371512376346451522030808259517347565573942066821969282627151670911669465074401687817932511027922998561116327512184004634681243870679544232144312358223453660908542049641168668214164830088946889758226185906356698961462925184094241903082360945501308896340797045763204166993636538581874180951777516477520071797161243352815635908031590662036649182

Software maker offers two sets of prices, one for those buying a full boxed copy and a lower one for those just buying a product key code.(author unknown)

Company's free online phone service will be embedded in Internet-connected HDTVs from Panasonic and LG Electronics.(author unknown)

This post is part of the IT Innovation series, sponsored by Sun & Intel. Read more at ITInnovation.com. Of course, the content of this post consists entirely of the thoughts and opinions of the author.

Ah data centers. They may seem like a rather boring concept, but Data Center Knowledge recently put together a rather long list of some of the coolest data center video tours including Google's infamous data center: As well as a "James Bond" data center buried 100 feet beneath Stockholm in a former military bunker, with backup power from submarine engines and which has waterfalls and a glass-enclosed conference room that appears to "float" above the colo floor. I have to admit, suddenly data centers seem a lot cooler. Anyway, those are just the top two. The Data Center Knowledge link has a bunch more.

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Mike Masnick15340445436466473745010737655837822881050958675035519933720802550605553760053339059244293389274689780301264173610671138315776054887436828122013159682880970390471594596530477246856116162264327367100954

Search giant issues the first beta versions of its browser for Mac OS X and Linux. Maturity could spread adoption, and the stable version is due in a month.(author unknown)

Microsoft has issued a reminder this week that it will stop providing support for Windows 2000 and Windows XP Service Pack 2 on July 13, 2010. After this date, public support for these products ends and Microsoft will no longer provide any assisted support or security updates. On the same day, Windows 2000 Server will move out of Extended Support while Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 R2 will move from Mainstream Support to Extended Support, which will end on July 14, 2015. For most of its software, Microsoft provides Mainstream Support, followed by Extended Support, and finishes with just Self-Help Online Support.

emil.protalinski@arstechnica.com (Emil Protalinski)010144465399986010990626155600046106616100714467432689270321

Google search results will now display information from news organisations, blogs and Twitter as soon as it is published.(author unknown)010733523730007995460350020458122651237315167483014983511547

Comcast's long-awaited bandwidth meter is finally here, though it will be limited to those in the Portland, Ore., area.

Originally posted at Web Crawler

Josh Lowensohn

One of the ways Microsoft plans to push Internet Explorer 6 and Internet Explorer 7 users to upgrade to Internet Explorer 8 is convincing them the latest version is much more secure, which it is. Dean Hachamovitch, general manager of Internet Explorer, last week posted a story on the IEBlog about how IE8 managed to block a malicious webpage he was linked to by one of his close friends on Facebook. What we found more interesting though, was when Hachamovitch put this feature a bit more into perspective: "IE8's SmartScreen now blocks malware sites over two million times a day."

emil.protalinski@arstechnica.com (Emil Protalinski)098610103789995369850371277510975579680511069297295941724976125111182794436414370908114081425592838601014446539998601099159445591267907163681387558133956389836714277959740030693687

Avid bicyclist Ethan wanted to mount his GPS-enabled phone to his handlebars, but found the retail solutions both unstable and far too accommodating to opportunistic thieves. His $5 solution turns a flashlight mount into a sturdy and convenient smartphone dashboard.

The project might actually cost a bit more than $5, given that Ethan had a very cheap silicone phone case he was willing to sand down and attach part of the flashlight mount to. Still, it's fairly cheap ($2 or so, based on a link) to find a cellphone case you don't care too much about, and the flashlight mount is less than $3. The hardware hacking required is very minimal, and mostly consists of sanding things down to ensure a firm grip and smoothing over the finished product.

With his smartphone mount, Ethan can track his progress via GPS, get turn-by-turn directions in unfamiliar neighborhoods, and even take phone calls—audio or video—from his handlebars. If you had an Android phone, you could utilize the fitness data dream of My Tracks, or give RunKeeper and Fitnio a go on the iPhone.

Got your own bike-mounted phone solution? We're eager to see the evidence in the comments.

DIY: $5 bicycle dashboard and GPS [Angered Brackets]

Kevin Purdy11373336058798664433158354405488906453481842385284630364614706914581414388634022112781908281396955010637743084455275723306629425254016152559107513294716021101240909894218217124963210443345534301057683079669121328444473460312352281807027830703050461477836335824133032842859675713200616288615555439409216704579976368784134110202835332754697670408999036909927354406912659379457001100054618699339643019411270718900187347526304090052530375203533042764206000826708650234946900131916784104326849012567025230116510122539268344300091045471180466251310255269683103153070061797901420900044041298760244477470329205794914528932941072077161442250207025520137197391741529710211630343412174571612065704591866429059990282573414257292963401126326385639574511144574730461099046991570729107120241038515728902593054502822034548425114046160781223644908662693107608431215894687335437

The world's biggest particle accelerator is in full operation after a year of repairs.(author unknown)

When a Salt Lake City router went offline, only government telecom contractor Harris knew that the backup card was not immediately available and one technician had access to where it was kept. Meanwhile, hundreds of aircraft and thousands of passengers were thrown off schedule as the lack of an FAA filing system left pilots submitting flight plans manually.
- When the Federal Aviation Administration's national flight-plan filing system went down for 4 hours the morning of Nov. 19, disrupting the takeoffs of hundreds of commercial flights and throwing hundreds of thousands of travelers off schedule, it wasn't yet known that the culprit was one faulty ...

(author unknown)

It might come as a surprise, but the country singer is endorsing Microsoft's Internet Explorer 8 and its Web Slices feature. Yup, you read that correctly.(author unknown)

The landmark discovery comes from data from NASA's smashing of two lunar probes near the moon's south pole in October. The discovery could potentially help sustain future lunar exploration.
- NASA threw water on the theory that the moon is a dry, desolate place Nov. 13 after revealing that preliminary data from October's bombing of the moon indicates that significant amounts of water have been found at the moon's south pole. The landmark finding quot;opens a new chapter in [scientist...

(author unknown)