XP pirate checks dropped

Microsoft has dropped big brother-style plans to track pirated copies of Windows XP, dumping elements of its Windows Genuine Advantage notification after it ignited a firestorm of controversy, reports Australian IT.

The stealth application, introduced with auto updates in Australia in April as part of a pilot scheme, "phoned home" every time the computer was booted to confirm that the operating system was genuine.

If the software was pirated it triggered a series of warnings. Microsoft has reacted to user anger by switching off the boot-up check.

Microsoft is going to end support for several of its older Windows versions. This leaves about 70 million users without security updates, reports Nestor.

The affected versions are Windows 98, Windows 98 Special Edition and Windows Millennium Edition. The policy takes effect on 11 July. Microsoft first planned the action for January 2004, but delayed to give users time to upgrade.

An estimated 48 million computers were still running licensed versions of Windows 98 at the end of 2005, with 25 million still using Windows ME, says Al Gillen, an analyst at IDC.

Taiwan`s largest dynamic RAM (DRAM) manufacturer, Powerchip Semiconductor, will collaborate with Macronix International to develop 100nm manufacturing technology, Earth Times reports.

Chips are measured in nanometres with the smallest size being the best, so 100nm does not signal anything revolutionary. However Macronix develops NOR flash memory chips, which are extensively used in mobile phones, so the partnership does make good business sense for the concerned companies.

Samsung is to ship its BlackBerry-like SGH-i320 Windows Mobile 5.0-based phone in Europe later this month, the South Korean giant promised.

The 95g handset measures 11.1 x 5.9 x 1.2cm and will support Windows Mobile 5.0`s own push e-mail extensions, along with the usual telephony, PIM and media playback and recording facilities and a 1.3MP camera for still shots and videos, The Register reports.

The i320 ships with 120MB of memory - there`s a MicroSD slot for more - and has Bluetooth on board. As a phone, it`s a tri-band (900/1800/1900MHz) GSM/GPRS device with EDGE support.