Dell Download Store Now Offers Microsoft Software

Dell announced that its download store would begin to offer Microsoft software for sale. That’s mean the Dell Download Store becomes the first non-Microsoft site where people can go to download Microsoft software such as Word, Excel and Outlook.

“With everyday savings plus on-demand access, the Dell Download Store addresses our customers’ two main concerns: price and immediacy. In addition, downloading is a more environmentally friendly way to purchase and distribute software because there’s no need for packaging material.” — Geoff Surkamer, general manager, Dell Global Digital Distribution.

Dell’s service offers software for various user categories, including business and office, video and music editing, home security and more. The Dell Download Store offers its customers a “digital locker” from which they can download previously purchased titles at no extra charge if they lose their downloaded copy.

It launched in January and Dell estimates that about 10,000 people visit it each week. That makes this online environment a good choice for providing its customers with some of the most popular applications for computer systems. Such applications include Microsoft’s Office Home and Student 2007, which is available for a price of $129.99, compared to the MSRP of $149.99. The Dell Download Store also offers software from Intuit, McAfee, Webroot, VA, and AVG.

Microsoft to Launch Morro Antivirus Soon

Microsoft is set to launch its own free security service called Morro. The new antivirus software will be out in the second half of 2009.

Amy Barzdukas, the senior director of product management for Microsoft’s online services stated, “this new, no-cost offering will give us the ability to protect an even greater number of consumers, especially in markets where the growth of new PC purchases is outpaced only by the growth of malware.”

Morro will be available as a separate download and offer malware protection for the Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems. The security offering will provide comprehensive protection from malware, including viruses, spyware, rootkits and trojans. All four attacks are different at their own level and it would require serious coding for malware detection at the lowest level in an operating system. Microsoft has said previously that Morro will be suitable for use on low-cost, low-powered netbooks that are growing in popularity in emerging markets.

MSN Web Messenger to be retired on June 30, 2009

Microsoft has finally decided to phase out MSN Web Messenger; the service will be officially retired on June 30, 2009. It is being replaced by the already available new IM in Windows Live Hotmail. The service has offered access to their popular instant messaging network through a web browser for the past five years.

The new web messenger service is available directly from Hotmail inbox. They no longer have to access the MSN Web Messenger for the purpose. Customers can still catch their Messenger friends by signing into Messenger from the Windows Live People page which is also called as ‘your contact list’.

A blog on the Windows Live team website said, “With new web-based instant messaging (IM) now available in Windows Live Hotmail worldwide, we are preparing to retire MSN Web Messenger. The old MSN Web Messenger experience will end on June 30, 2009.”

It’s just the MSN Live Messenger site that’s retiring. As Ars points out, Microsoft Money, Microsoft Encarta and Windows Live OneCare are also all set to be discontinued from June 30.

C-DAC unveils ISM V6 language software

The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) has introduced special software using Graphics and Intelligence based Script Technology (GIST), making it easy to use the Microsoft Office in 19 different languages. The newly developed intelligent script manager, ISM V6, has features to present an error free document through spell check, synonyms and a dictionary for publishing industry.

ISM V6 is UNICODE compliant and supports Open Type fonts. Additionally it comprises of ISM Office, ISM Publisher and ISM Soft, which will cater to diverse user requirements from word processing, database applications, web based applications, publishing and even custom built software.

Very helpful in the publishing industry, the software will work exactly as Microsoft Office tools work, but in 19 various languages. Speaking to TOI, Mahesh Kulkarni, head of the GIST group said, “ISM V6 will cater to diverse user requirements from word processing, database applications, web based applications, publishing and even custom built software. Whatever applications are available in Microsoft Word, will be available in Indian languages with this software.”

By using a virtual keyboard named as ‘Easy Phonetic’, users can now type Indian Language words as conveniently as they do in English while chatting or composing emails. Floating keyboard with transparent effect is added so that user can type on any editor using floating keyboard and also can see the editors behind floating keyboard at the same time.

It also has a rich collection of designs and clip arts. It also include an enhanced spellchecker for Open Office and MS Word macros like Find-replace, keyboard shortcut, convert macro, spellchecker, synonym dictionary and Official language dictionary available for documents in open type font.

It is possible to convert data in any fonttype (like Bi Web, BI, and MONO) to Unicode and make it available globally using Convert macro. ISM Installer automatically modifies the settings necessary for Indian Language typing in the word processors as well as operating system. With Date and Time, user can generate any number, date or time in Indian language in different formats. It is also possible to transfer those numbers, dates and time generated to any editor in Unicode format on single click.

With official language dictionary it is possible to transfer, display data in Unicode format. It is possible to add words after typing in Unicode in personal dictionary.

Besides English the ISM V6 supports 19 Indian languages such as Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telegu, Manipuri, Nepali, Konkani, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili, Dogri.

10.1-inch Apple Tablet in Early 2010?

More rumors and details point that Apple will launch Tablet in Q1 next year

As we last noted that the Apple Tablet is due next year, in comes an analyst's opinion stating that production of the Tablet will begin in February. Yair Reiner, a research analyst at Oppenheimer, stated that Apple's upcoming Tablet would have 10.1-inch LCD screen in a note to investors. This Apple Tablet is anticipated to be launched in March or April next year. He also added that Apple has been talking with book publishers for content offering as well.

The device would sport LTPS (Low Temperature Poly Silicion) LCD

technology based 10.1-inch display. Apple would take at least five to six weeks for building up the inventory.

Reiner added that Apple has been approaching book publishers with very attractive proposals to the book publishers for distributing their content. His notes stated, "It should also make eBooks more relevant for education by simplifying functions such as scribbling marginalia." But do we really need yet another eBook reading device which is bound to come a premium price? The average sales price of this tablet is presumed to be $1000, which is as much as the 13.3-inch MacBook Pro.

One must consider that Apple has recently taken over the Tablet Mac trademark from Axiotron, the MacBook modding company. Probably the Tablet Mac is indeed in the making or at least a prototype is being tested. We can't say for sure if Apple Tablet really exists until some grainy photo is leaked or Apple confirms it.