Surf these sites: $100 million for iMac ad blitz -- Apple Computer says it will spend a whopping $100 million on the iMac ad parade from now till Dec. 31. [News.com] $400 billion seen in e-commerce -- Despite modest growth in the percentage of Netizens making purchases on the Web, e-commerce revenue is expected to hit $400 billion by 2002, according to a new study by research firm International Data Corporation. [News.com] 15 enter crypto standard race -- The usually staid world of cryptography is abuzz today as 15 companies and universities outline their submissions to become the next standard for encrypting U.S. government data. [News.com] 2 orders for NEC''s supercomputer -- NEC has scored 2 orders for its new supercomputers, said to be the fastest in the industry. [News.com] 24/7 Media goes public -- Web advertiser 24/7 Media announced today an initial public offering of its common stock on the Nasdaq. [News.com] 300-MHz Pentium II notebooks on tap -- A flotilla of new notebooks will set sail on September 9 when Intel releases a 300-MHz Pentium II for portable PCs and cuts prices on the rest of its mobile chip line. [News.com] 31 cities to get Net phone service -- Telecommunications firm ICG Communications today said it had launched long distance telephone service over the Internet in 31 U.S. cities, and it expects to offer the service in 166 markets by year''s end. [News.com] 34,000 workers strike at US West -- About 34,000 members of the Communications Workers of America went on strike early today at US West. [News.com] 3Com cable modems in Argentina -- 3Com will provide cable modems for a high speed Internet access project in Buenos Aires, Argentina, that is slated to become the largest high speed Internet service in South America. [News.com] 450-MHz PII servers coming -- Along with a slew of desktops, vendors will be releasing new servers and workstations based around the 450-MHz Pentium II processor to be released Monday. [News.com] 450-MHz PII servers, workstations debut -- Along with a slew of desktops, vendors released new servers and workstations based around the 450-MHz Pentium II processor introduced today from Intel. [News.com] 450-MHz Xeon delayed again -- Intel will put off releasing the 450-MHz Xeon chip for 4-processor servers until the first part of next year, although the chip for use in 1- or 2-processor workstations and servers will come out later this year. [News.com] 80-gbps cable to span Japan, U.S. -- A unit of Japan''s Kokusai Denshin Denwa today said that it and three other companies had jointly won a $1.15 billion order to build an undersea cable system connecting Japan and the United States. [News.com] @Home suffers local outage -- About 200 @Home subscribers in Tennessee have their Net access back today following a 48-hour service outage caused by a circuit malfunction within a local cable company. [News.com] A view into the Intel machine -- Albert Yu, who is in charge of the crown jewels at Intel --its microprocessor products--likes to stay ahead of the technology curve. Once he even left the chip giant''s employ in the 1970s to jump on his belief that personal computing was the next big wave. [News.com] ACLU sues over student site -- The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against a school district in Missouri, charging that it violated a student''s free speech rights when it suspended him for posting criticism of teachers and administrators on his Web site. [News.com] AEA seeks support for Y2K bill -- One of the largest high-tech trade groups is calling on President Clinton and congressional leaders to back legislation in Congress that would allow businesses to share information on the Year 2000 technology problem and protect them from litigation related to the issue. [News.com] AMD beefs up K6 -- Advanced Micro Devices released a 350-MHz version of the K6-2 processor today, the company''s fastest microprocessor ever, and is promising to ship hundreds of thousands of the chips in its effort to take market share away from Intel. [News.com] AOL aims to speed access -- America Online chose Cisco Systems to supply high-volume network equipment in a bid to speed its subscribers'' access to the Internet, the companies said. [News.com] AOL earnings spark reaction -- Shares of America Online rose at the opening bell and then fell today after the company reported late yesterday that its earnings had topped Wall Street analysts'' expectations. [News.com] AOL plans faster access -- America Online today announced that it would streamline its Internet connections into a leaner pipeline to Web servers in an effort to speed up members'' access. [News.com] AOL quietly tests community site -- America Online this week quietly began a public test of Hometown AOL, a home page site aimed to compete with the likes of GeoCities, Tripod, and TheGlobe. [News.com] AOL takes good with bad -- America Online seems to be on a roll with its multiple portal strategy, Web community plans, and an earnings report for its most recent quarter that beat analysts'' estimates. Nevertheless, a delay in posting its net profits and some additional charges is giving Wall Street the jitters. [News.com] AOL tops 13 million mark -- America Online today said its AOL Internet service has surpassed 13 million members worldwide. [News.com] AOL''s multiple portal strategy -- Three portals are better than none. That''s America Online''s philosophy, according to its president, Bob Pittman. [News.com] AOL, HP enter marketing pact -- America Online said today that it entered a multiyear marketing agreement with personal computer maker Hewlett-Packard. [News.com] AOL, Netscape in portal pact -- America Online and Netscape Communications have unveiled a cross-marketing alliance linking AOL''s online city guides with Netscape''s Netcenter Web portal site. [News.com] AT&T, Lycos let users chat--for real -- AT&T today launched a new version of its Chat ''N Talk service on Lycos, tying together one of the more popular communication features on the Internet with the standard telephone. [News.com] ATI wins GI set-top contract -- ATI has been selected by General Instrument, the largest manufacturer of TV set-top boxes, to provide graphics chips for GI''s next-generation set-top boxes. [News.com] ATI''s Rage in the system -- ATI Technologies announced a new 128-bit graphics processor today as the company seeks to solidify its lead in the fickle graphics chip market. [News.com] ATI, S3 vie for 3D chip leadership -- ATI vaulted to the top spot as a supplier of speedy graphics chips to the computer industry in the second quarter of this year, according to a report from Mercury Research. [News.com] Access to Gates grilling denied -- A federal appeals court today sided with Microsoft and allowed pretrial depositions of CEO Bill Gates and other top executives to begin without the public or the media present in the landmark antitrust case against the software giant. [News.com] Acer Group announces reorg -- Taiwanese computer giant Acer Group today announced a remodelled business structure, aiming to transform Acer into a customer-centric and intellectual property-oriented group. [News.com] Acer cuts ''98 net profit forecast -- Taiwan computer leader Acer trimmed its 1998 net profit forecast by 36 percent to $100 million, but said 1998 sales would edge higher due to waning losses at key subsidiaries. [News.com] Activerse updates messaging -- Messaging software maker Activerse today rolled out the next version of its Java-based instant messaging application. [News.com] AdForce gets new name, funding -- AdForce, a supplier of online ad management technology, today unveiled its new corporate identity, new software, and a new set of heavyweight financial backers, including America Online. [News.com] Adaptec to lay off 100 -- In a move to shore up operating expenses, Adaptec is shedding about 100 employees, or 4 percent of its total workforce, at its Milpitas, California, storage systems division. [News.com] Adobe down on hat trick -- Shares of Adobe Systems fell more than 11 percent today after the company delivered a triple-whammy bombshell yesterday in which it warned that it would fall short of Wall Street''s third-quarter earnings expectations, that three of its top executives--including its CFO--had resigned, and that it will impose layoffs of up to 10 percent of its workforce. [News.com] Adobe seeks silver lining -- Adobe Systems has been a pioneer in helping San Jose reclaim its position as the capital of Silicon Valley. [News.com] Adobe updates Illustrator -- Adobe Systems today rolled out the latest version of its illustration software package which features tighter integration with Microsoft Windows, while adding more designing tools for artists and business users alike. [News.com] Agencies crack down on Net scams -- Three federal agencies today are joining forces to fight firms they allege are deceiving consumers with entertainment-related investment scams, the Federal Trade Commission said. [News.com] Agency warns of Net banking risks -- Banks must take steps to avoid the risks associated with online banking services, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said as it issued a new guide to PC banking. [News.com] AgriBioTech falls on Net chat -- You can''t shout "Fire!" in a crowded theater, but you can write "sell" on an Internet message board. [News.com] Allaire tests public waters -- Web development toolmaker Allaire today filed to go public with the Securities and Exchange Commission. [News.com] Alleged software pirate held -- German customs authorities have seized a large number of illegally copied computer programs, preventing damages of more than $56.6 million, Microsoft executives said. [News.com] AltaVista debuts Discovery search app -- Compaq is continuing where Digital Equipment left off with the AltaVista search site, beefing it up to compete in the cutthroat portal market. [News.com] Altera, Xilinx primed for growth -- In case you haven''t noticed, the entire semiconductor industry has been getting pounded for the last year. According to the Semiconductor Industry Association, the industry is expected to post a 1.8 percent decline in unit sales to $134.7 billion in 1998, due largely to a combination of overcapacity, weak demand from Asia, and a slackening in PC sales. [News.com] Amazon to buy two companies -- Online book and music retailer Amazon.com today announced it is acquiring two Internet companies to strengthen and broaden the services available at its Web site. [News.com] American Software to post loss -- American Software said today that it expects to post a first-quarter operating loss of between 11 cents per share and 17 cents per share on revenues of between $24 million and $28 million because of losses at one of its units. [News.com] American Software''s Net plan -- Enterprise software stalwart American Software is finally hopping on the Internet train. [News.com] Analog Devices earnings short -- Analog Devices today reported sharply lower fiscal third-quarter earnings and forecast a disappointing fourth quarter. [News.com] Analysts mixed on Intel -- Wall Street analysts can''t seem to agree whether semiconductor giant Intel is a good buy or not. [News.com] And now for the real dirty laundry -- If dirty laundry is what Ken Starr is after, that''s exactly what he''ll get from the Net. By the basketful. [News.com] Andersen faces millennium suit -- In one of the first cases related to the Year 2000 problem against a computer consulting firm, a large retail apparel company is seeking reimbursement for the cost of a computer system that Andersen Consulting ordered nearly ten years ago on grounds that the system allegedly will not recognize the year 2000. [News.com] Andersen faces millennium suit -- In one of the first cases related to the Year 2000 problem against a computer consulting firm, a large retail apparel company is seeking reimbursement for the cost of a computer system that Andersen Consulting ordered nearly ten years ago on grounds that the system allegedly will not recognize the year 2000. [News.com] Another rebirth for MSN -- Microsoft today is officially renaming its Internet access service as part of the company''s continuing effort to break down its firewalls and turn itself into an Internet portal. [News.com] Ansoft warns of loss -- Electronic design software company Ansoft today warned of an earnings shortfall for its fiscal first quarter ending July 31, as a slowdown in the Asia-Pacific market hurt its bottom line. [News.com] Antislamming act draws fire -- A House Commerce subcommittee today approved by voice vote the Consumer Antislamming Act, containing controversial provisions aimed at protecting Net users from junk email that antispammers say actually legitimize spam. [News.com] Apple cuts G3 prices up to 33% -- As anticipated, Apple Computer cut prices on some Power Macintosh G3 systems as much as 33 percent over the weekend, as vendors await even faster Power Macs by mid-month. [News.com] Apple extends custom sales -- In a bid to become a more efficient manufacturer, Apple Computer said today that its reseller partners will be able to offer custom-configured Macs. [News.com] Apple peaks on iMac momentum -- Spurred by strong response to its trendy new iMac during the weekend, shares of Apple Computer today hit a 52-week high for the second day in a row, forcing analysts to keep pace with their target prices for the high-flying stock. [News.com] Apple rises in rocky market -- Shares in Apple Computer continue to climb after hitting a new 52-week high yesterday, following the company''s disclosure that it received 150,000 orders for iMacs, which roll out to stores Saturday. [News.com] Apple scrambles to restock iMacs -- The iMac buying spree is going strong, and Apple Computer says it will refill dealer shelves by the weekend. [News.com] Apple soars amid market slump -- Apple Computer shares hit a new 52-week high today, following the company''s disclosure that it sold 150,000 iMacs during the product''s first week of shipping. [News.com] Apple to beef up G3 PowerBook -- Following on the heels of the successful launch of the iMac, Apple Computer will next turn attention to its notebooks by refreshing the PowerBook G3 systems with faster processors and an emphasis on gigantic 14.1-inch displays. [News.com] Apple''s golden marketing ticket -- The film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is proving to be fertile ground for a high-profile marketing scheme for Apple Computer''s iMac computer. [News.com] Application server eludes definition -- Software makers agree: Application servers could be the hottest new product category the software business has seen in years. [News.com] Application server trend grows -- Joining a growing trend among software development tool companies, Inprise and Sybase today announced plans to ship new application server software for building Web-based applications. [News.com] Application servers rolling out -- The Web development software market is hot, and toolmakers are scrambling to beat each other to market with new products. [News.com] Applied Materials cuts back -- Stock in struggling semiconductor equipment maker Applied Materials fell nearly 6 percent today, one day after announcing that it will cut 15 percent of its workforce and post a net loss during the fiscal fourth quarter due to a restructuring charge. [News.com] Applied Materials earnings drop -- Applied Materials said its quarterly profits dropped as the world''s largest computer-chip equipment maker was held back by delayed orders, the Asian economic crisis, and slowing personal computer sales. [News.com] Ascend buys Stratus Computer -- In a bid to move closer toward an era of multimedia telecommunications over the Internet, networking equipment maker Ascend Communications announced today that it will acquire Stratus Computer for about $822 million in stock. [News.com] Asian PC market dips 5 percent -- Personal computer shipments in the Asia-Pacific region fell five percent in the second quarter compared to the same period last year, according to research firm International Data Corporation (IDC). [News.com] Audio Book Club finds home at GeoCities -- Audio Book Club said it signed a marketing and sponsorship pact with GeoCities in which Audio Book will be featured as the recorded book seller on the GeoCities community site. [News.com] Aussie power industry fights Y2K -- The Australian electricity sector is facing costs of more than $120 million as it arms itself to avert power blackouts spawned by the Year 2000 computer bug. [News.com] Autodesk plunges on downgrades -- Autodesk has cut its profit and revenue expectations for the second half of the year because of new signs of weakness in its Asian businesses. [News.com] Autodesk to buy Discreet Logic -- Autodesk announced yesterday that it plans to acquire Discreet Logic, a digital video effects and editing software tools maker, in a deal valued at $520 million. [News.com] Banks may merge to beat bug -- Small and midsized U.S. banks may have to merge with larger rivals for safe haven from the millennium bug which threatens to crash computer systems and bring electronic commerce to its knees on January 1, 2000. [News.com] Barnesandnoble.com to go public -- Barnes & Noble, the world''s largest brick-and-mortar bookseller, today announced plans to spin-off its online unit in an initial public offering. [News.com] Bay pitches wireless intranets -- Will the entry of an established networking player give the wireless corporate market a boost? [News.com] BeOS increases Intel support -- Be, the operating system vendor once courted by Apple Computer, today announced an updated version of its software that boosts support for Intel and Intel-compatible processors and adds some new applications, indicating the company is slowly gaining attention from some significant developers. [News.com] Behind the community boom -- The bevy of technology and service features that Internet portals aggregate on their sites reads like a laundry list of online fads. [News.com] BellSouth stamps out email bugs -- BellSouth spent the morning plugging security holes in its free Web Mail Service. [News.com] Big Blue''s new big iron -- In an attempt to grab a bigger share of the high-end enterprise market, IBM has released a new version of its corporate enterprise server that the company says substantially outperforms its predecessor. [News.com] Big names struggle for ISP email -- Successful corporate email software vendors, like Microsoft, Netscape Communications, and Lotus Development, are having trouble duplicating that success in the ISP messaging and collaboration markets, according to a new report. [News.com] Big sales help Novell''s earnings -- Networking software player Novell beat analysts'' estimates for its fiscal 1998 third quarter by a cent, buoyed by strong third-party sales and sales to large accounts. [News.com] Bristol files suit vs. Microsoft -- A development tool maker today slapped Microsoft with a lawsuit claiming the software giant violated federal antitrust laws by stifling competition in the marketplace. [News.com] British e-commerce heating up -- Britain''s traditional small-town bookshop--cramped, dusty, and run by genteel, bookish types--is under threat. [News.com] British insurance firm sees Net surge -- Eagle Star Direct, a unit of B.A.T.''s large British insurance subsidiary Eagle Star, forecast a 260 percent rise in Internet insurance buying over the next 18 months as it launched its own home cyberpolicy. [News.com] Broadcast.com sees downside -- Broadcast.com, one of this summer''s hottest initial public offerings, today saw its share price fall nearly 10 percent following an analyst''s initiation of coverage on the company with a "neutral" recommendationm, based the stock''s high valuation. [News.com] Buffer-overflow bug in IE -- Microsoft is urging users of its Internet Explorer browser to download a patch for a newly discovered buffer-overflow security bug. [News.com] Bugs? What bugs? -- While software bugs are a prevalent part of the computer industry, several firms are either making about-faces in addressing flaws in their products or denying they exist altogether. Most notably, Microsoft is eschewing the term "service pack" for a Windows 98 upgrade, even though it will patch some bugs. [News.com] Building a faster, richer Net -- Turning the Internet into a full-fledged medium takes only two things: vastly improved technology and new, creative forms of content that have yet to be seen. [News.com] Bulls still like online booksellers -- Wall Street is applauding yesterday''s news that Barnes and Noble plans to spin off its online unit into a publicly traded company. [News.com] Business software to grow 37% -- Despite conventional wisdom, the enterprise resource planning market will not come to a screeching halt when the clock strikes midnight January 1, 2000, according to a new report. [News.com] C&W considers British ISP deal -- Cable & Wireless Communications, which last month bought MCI Communications'' entire Internet holdings for $1.75 billion, is considering entering into a partnership with Telewest Communications and NTL to create a national Internet service provider in Britain. [News.com] C&W in talks with IBM for contract -- IBM is engaged in exclusive negotiations with Britain''s Cable & Wireless Communications to help manage and maintain C&W''s computer network and billing operation. [News.com] CA acquires Realogic -- Computer Associates International said today that it had acquired Realogic, a consulting firm with expertise in corporate networking, software development, and systems integration. [News.com] CA back on buyout roll -- Plan A flopped. [News.com] CA up on CEO''s bullish comments -- Computer Associates shares are up today after chief executive Charles Wang spoke at the annual shareholders meeting and assured investors that the company''s core business and financial fundamentals remain strong. [News.com] CA wins NCI enterprise contract -- Computer Associates International said today that NCI Information Systems, a $100 million network and systems firm, has selected Computer Associates'' Unicenter TNG as the foundation for its new enterprise management center. [News.com] CD-ROMs speed up despite DVD -- AOpen, Asustek, Behavior Tech Computer and Ultima Electronics, among others, are in the process of developing 44X, 48X and even 60X CD-ROM drives, according to Commercial Times, a Taiwanese business publication, as reported by Nikkei''s AsiaBizTech web site. [News.com] CDnow goes to Europe -- Internet music store CDnow said it launched CDnow in Europe, with a European shipping hub serving more than 37 countries in Europe and the Middle East. [News.com] CIH virus real but not epidemic -- A virus that activates on the 26th of each month struck some computers yesterday but doesn''t appear to be widespread. [News.com] CNBC, Quote.com may partner -- Cable television network CNBC and financial Web site Quote.com have held talks that could lead to an investment or even a buyout of the privately held Internet firm, sources said. [News.com] CNNfn to add e-commerce -- CNNfn today announced plans to launch a retail channel on its business news and information Web site, furthering its push to become a one-stop shop for its professional user base. [News.com] CWA: US West, union settle strike -- The Communications Workers of America (CWA) said it settled its 15-day-old strike against US West, the regional Bell telephone company, last night after four days of intensive bargaining. [News.com] Cable firm to Webcast heart surgery -- The cable TV company that showed the first live birth on the Internet said today it would air the first live broadcast of a heart operation. [News.com] Cabletron makes corporate push -- With its stock in the dumps and the potential for a sustained turnaround still looming as a large question, networking hardware player Cabletron Systems will use the fruits of its recent acquisition binge to get back into its core strength: corporate networks. [News.com] Cadence to buy Lucent design unit -- Circuit design software maker Cadence Design Systems and Lucent Technologies today jointly announced an agreement under which Cadence will acquire the Bell Labs Design Automation Group. [News.com] Caldera to MS: Fork over the code -- Caldera executives claim that Microsoft has failed to hand over all of the DOS and Windows source code required by the judge presiding over the antitrust suit it filed against the software giant, and the company now plans to ask the court to force Microsoft to hand over the rest of it. [News.com] California ahead on Net laws -- California lawmakers appear to be leading the way in regulating the Net. [News.com] California law bans Net taxes -- On the day after his 65th birthday, California Gov. Pete Wilson gave Internet businesses a present, signing the California Internet Tax Freedom Act that bars local governments from levying new or discriminatory taxes on Internet companies and transactions. [News.com] California''s big risks are foreign -- California''s chief economist today said the steep slide in global stocks has not altered the fundamentally positive outlook for the Golden State''s economy, but he also warned that the state faces more risks as a result of uncertainty abroad. [News.com] Cambridge Tech to acquire Excell -- Cambridge Technology Partners today said it will acquire systems integrator Excell Data of Bellevue, Washington, for about 1.68 million shares in exchange for all Excell shares. [News.com] Can Netcenter turn Netscape around? -- Netscape Communications'' quarterly earnings report was supposed to provide a clear sign of whether the company is on its way to becoming a top-flight Internet portal, despite entering the space later than many industry players. [News.com] Canon takes aim at Xerox -- Targeting a traditional Xerox stronghold, Canon U.S.A plans to offer printers in three new market segments and a new product in its existing high-speed color printer business. [News.com] Canon, Victor team on new flat TVs -- Canon said today that it would tie up with Victor of Japan in developing and marketing wall-mounted televisions. [News.com] Casahl plans data integration tools -- Casahl Technology later this month plans to rollout a number of new products to boost its family of server-based integration tools. [News.com] Casio camera packs more features -- Casio is expected to announce a new high-resolution digital camera for $799, the latest digital camera from the consumer electronics company. [News.com] Celeron may help PC makers -- Most analysts are betting that sub-$1000 personal computers running on Intel''s new Celeron processor will help, not hinder, the tenuous recovery of some PC makers. [News.com] Cendant adjusts earnings results -- Cendant today announced that it had lowered its 1996 and 1997 earnings results after concluding an investigation into accounting irregularities in some of its businesses. [News.com] Charges over Smith Barney email -- A judge has ordered a former Smith Barney investment banker to appear in court next month on charges of harassing top executives at the firm by electronic mail using the Internet. [News.com] Chat room confessor plans plea -- A man who confessed to his online chat group that he killed his daughter three years ago by setting fire to their house will formally admit his guilt and be sentenced this week, authorities said. [News.com] CheckFree falls on revenue news -- Shares of CheckFree fell more than 45 percent today after the company announced yesterday that it expected revenues for the fiscal year 1999 to be much lower than expected, citing a delay in major banks marketing online banking to consumers. [News.com] Chinese site urges hit standard -- China''s most popular Web destination, Sohoo, today announced steps establishing a national standard that would give advertisers accurate data for traffic on Chinese sites. [News.com] Chip crunch hits Siemens plant -- The decision by Germany’s Siemens to close a semiconductor plant in England just 15 months after opening the facility is the latest in a series of wrenching consolidation moves in the global chip industry. [News.com] Chip inserted into man''s arm -- Professor Kevin Warwick of England claimed on Tuesday to be the first person in the world to have a computer chip surgically implanted into his body. [News.com] Chip slide may have hit bottom -- The semiconductor industry got a break today from the Wall Street bruising that began Tuesday, as market leaders regained some ground while looking forward to a new report that provides evidence of a rebound. [News.com] Chip slump continuing -- Global semiconductor sales continued their slump in June, slipping over 14 percent from the same period a year ago as regionalized economic disruptions continued to drag down worldwide revenues. [News.com] Chipmakers to fund more research -- A consortium of semiconductor companies, their respective trade groups, and the federal government launched a new research organization today that will likely lead to a vast increase in the amount of dollars going toward university research departments. [News.com] Ciena recovers from plunge -- Ciena said last week that potential customer AT&T no longer will evaluate its products, a decision that may cast a cloud over the telecommunications equipment provider''s plans to merge with Tellabs. [News.com] Ciena up, Tellabs falls on merger -- Telecommunications equipment makers Ciena and Tellabs today cut the terms of their proposed merger by more than a third to $4.7 billion, sending Ciena''s shares higher and Tellabs'' stock lower. [News.com] Ciena, Tellabs deal on track -- Telecom equipment provider Ciena shares tumbled 27 percent and its future parent, Tellabs, followed suit on Friday after Ciena warned that its third-quarter earnings would miss estimates. [News.com] Cisco buys land for expansion -- RALEIGH-DURHAM, North Carolina--Cisco Systems said today that it had bought additional land in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, so it can expand its operations there in future years. [News.com] Cisco countersues Lucent -- Data networking leader Cisco Systems today countersued voice giant Lucent Technologies, marking the latest salvo in a high-profile technology spat between the two equipment giants. [News.com] Cisco details routing upgrades -- Seeking to shore up the commodity-oriented side of its routing hardware business, Cisco Systems wrapped a series of new technology enhancements today in the cloak of versatility. [News.com] Cisco income jumps -- Networking giant Cisco Systems posted another profitable quarter and declared a 3-for-2 stock split. [News.com] Cisco patches software glitch -- Cisco Systems attempted to nip a potential problem in its routing software in the bud recently by posting a series of fixes to patch a programming error. [News.com] Cisco rises on earnings news -- Shares of Cisco Systems rose nearly 2 percent at the opening bell today after the company reported late yesterday that its earnings had topped Wall Street analysts'' expectation. [News.com] Cisco to buy American Internet -- Cisco Systems continues to go the acquisition route to purchase the technology it needs to compete in developing markets. [News.com] Cisco, PeopleSoft in alliance -- Business software maker PeopleSoft and networking gear provider Cisco Systems said today they have forged an alliance to tailor PeopleSoft''s applications to take better advantage of Cisco''s routers and other technology. [News.com] Citicorp raises Y2K cost estimates -- Citicorp estimates the cost of fixing and testing its computer applications for Year 2000 compliance will reach about $650 million, a $50 million increase from previous estimates. [News.com] CitySearch guides local market -- When city guides started launching nearly two years ago, they were seen as the Net''s next Holy Grail, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, the magic key that would make the Net hum with bucks. [News.com] CitySearch to merge, stalls IPO -- CitySearch said today that it is postponing its initial public offering--previously planned for this week--because the company has entered into an agreement with USA Networks'' Ticketmaster to merge CitySearch with Ticketmaster Online. [News.com] Clinton, Rubin discuss stock slide -- President Clinton, while on route to Russia, spoke to U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin regarding today''s slide in stock prices and the soundness of the global balance of payments system, the White House said. [News.com] Cognos tool eases selling data -- Pssst! Hey buddy, got some data to sell? Then Cognos wants to talk to you. [News.com] Community First passes Y2K test -- Community First Bankshares said yesterday that it has successfully completed Year 2000 compliance testing of its "mission-critical" computer systems--the primary systems the company uses to provide financial services to its customers. [News.com] Compaq buys AltaVista domain -- It took a few years and a reported $3.3 million, but Compaq today said the news is official: it now owns the coveted domain name "www.altavista.com." [News.com] Compaq cuts flat-panel prices -- Compaq today announced price cuts on its flat-panel and traditional computer monitors, bringing its lowest-priced LCD display under $1,000. [News.com] Compaq delays Alpha stations -- Compaq has put off the release of its first Alpha-processor-based workstations until the fourth quarter, and may push it back further, to clear up performance issues with the system. [News.com] Compaq lights up new monitors -- Compaq today announced a series of low-cost computer monitors as the No. 1 PC vendor continues its push into the market for branded PC displays. [News.com] Compaq sees growth in Europe -- Compaq said today that it expected European PC demand to remain firm in the second half of 1998, with growth rates in the region topping those in North America and Asia. [News.com] Compaq ships Xeon servers -- Compaq and Dell have started to ship four-processor servers based around Intel''s Xeon chip, the first two vendors to get these delayed machines out the door. [News.com] Compaq trims server prices -- Compaq cut prices by as much as 14 percent on select server models, saying it had reached its goal of reducing inventory below four weeks'' supply. [News.com] Compaq unveils new Armada -- Compaq today introduced a new series of slim notebooks, the Armada 7400 line, the latest in a wave of portable announcements expected to continue through September. [News.com] Compaq workstation specs -- Compaq Professional Workstation AP500 • Single or dual 450-MHz Pentium II • Intel 440BX AGP chipset • 128 MB of memory, expandable to 1GB • Gloria Synergy+ 3-D graphics subsystem from Elsa, expandable to PowerStorm 300 graphics • 4.3GB Wide Ultra SCSI hard disk drive • Starting at $3,411 [News.com] Compaq, HP update servers -- Compaq and Hewlett-Packard are offering up new takes on familiar server products. [News.com] Compaq, SCO team on server technology -- The Santa Cruz Operation (SCO) will begin to market clustering technology from Compaq that will allow users to group together Intel-based servers into a cohesive computing whole for backing up corporate data. [News.com] Confab explores DSL, cable -- In the race to provide high-speed data access to Internet users, DSL will win over cable modems, an analyst at a BancAmerica Robertson Stephens conference on the subject said today. [News.com] Confab marks 500 days until Y2K -- Marking the 500th day before January 1, 2000, a leading Y2K bug watchdog will host a conference to discuss the technology problem in an effort to spur global action on the issue. [News.com] Controversy over Win 98 update -- Microsoft is releasing its first update to the Windows 98 operating system, officially calling it a "multimedia update" as controversy over its purpose persists. [News.com] Copyright bill hits Net broadcasters -- An amendment to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, passed today by the House, could spell big financial changes for Internet radio stations and other Webcasters. [News.com] Creative ends year with a thud -- Multimedia firm Creative Technology can expect weaker revenue growth this year despite the launch of a new Sound Blaster Live product, analysts said Friday. [News.com] Crypto back in court -- A Silicon Valley man being investigated for posting software that uses strong encryption on his Web site will have to testify before a grand jury next week, after testimony scheduled for today was delayed. [News.com] Cutting-edge PalmPilot pondered -- The next-generation PalmPilot is expected to hit stores by the end of 1998, but handheld observers already are citing features slated for the new device. [News.com] CyberCash adds merchants -- CyberCash said today that the number of merchants using its Internet commerce software and services topped 7,000, a sharp increase from 280 merchants at the end of 1996. [News.com] CyberCash moves to thin wallet -- CyberCash, creator of the first wallet software for making purchases on the Web, announced today that it will forsake that bulky software this fall for a new technology, designed so shoppers can make repeat purchases at multiple Web stores with a single click. [News.com] CyberCash sees consolidation -- The Internet electronic payment industry is heading for consolidation which could see more mergers, Bill Melton, president and chief executive officer of CyberCash, said today. [News.com] CyberCop 3.0 guards servers -- Network Associates today rolled out the newest version of its intrusion detection server. [News.com] CyberGuard plunges on bad news -- It''s only Tuesday, but it''s already been a long week for CyberGuard. [News.com] DOJ probe turns to Wintel -- Renewed charges of Microsoft pressure on chip partner Intel point up stark disparities between the two halves of the Wintel juggernaut. [News.com] DOJ probes Microsoft-Intel ties -- The U.S. government is investigating whether Microsoft has used its market muscle to force Intel to shelve new technology efforts that conflicted with Microsoft''s ambitions, according to reports. [News.com] DOJ to add to Microsoft case -- The Justice Department and 20 states suing Microsoft plan to turn up the heat on the company this week by pressing new allegations of predatory and monopolistic business practices, according to reports. [News.com] DOJ: No appeal for Microsoft -- The Justice Department agrees with Microsoft on one thing: It doesn''t like a rarely enforced law that could allow public access to chairman Bill Gates''s deposition. [News.com] DRAM doldrums ending -- The plunge in the price of the latest generation of memory chips will soon run its course, an increasing number of market observers say, according to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Japan''s largest business daily. [News.com] Data access bug affects Jet -- A bug affecting Microsoft''s Access database also affects a widely used database engine known as Jet, the company confirmed today, dramatically expanding the potential scope of the problem. [News.com] Data bug in all versions of Access -- Microsoft executives are acknowledging that a data access bug discovered last week affects more versions of its Access database than it originally thought. [News.com] Data bug infestation -- A recently discovered bug seems to be multiplying, at least from Microsoft''s step-by-step concessions. On successive days this week, executives admitted that the Access problem exists, that it affects all versions of the popular database, and that it is more deeply infested in other products. [News.com] Data, voice-in-one race continues -- Upping the ante in the race to provide technology for a converged networking future, data player Ascend Communications has looked to a veteran provider of high-end server computers for help. [News.com] Date rollover bug in Windows 98 -- Microsoft confirmed Friday the existence of the first known Windows 98 bug. [News.com] Dell looks out for No. 1 -- With its strong market growth, stable margins, and growing brand name cachet, Dell Computer appears to have a chance to take the No. 1 position in the U.S. PC market, although observers caution the window of opportunity will stay open for only so long. [News.com] Dell offers online buyer security -- Dell has introduced an online shopping security guarantee for its online customers in the U.S. [News.com] Dell starts Web sales in China -- U.S. computer maker Dell Computer is launching its popular direct sales strategy in China, training its sights on an explosive market that will fuel its growth in Asia, company executives said today. [News.com] Dell to open plant in Brazil -- Computer maker Dell will open a manufacturing and customer center in Alvorada, Brazil, that will employ more than 250 employees within two years, the company said today. [News.com] Demand grows for DVD players -- Sony, Matsushita Electric, and other consumer electronics makers plan to increase production of DVD (digital versatile disc) and MiniDisc (MD) players to meet growing demand, according to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Japan''s largest business daily. [News.com] Deposition day for Gates -- Microsoft chief executive Bill Gates is set to be deposed today and maybe tomorrow as well in the antitrust lawsuit filed against the software giant, according to a spokeswoman for New York Attorney General Dennis Vacco. [News.com] Digital TV not ready for prime time -- The federal government, worried that technical and political imbroglios are stalling critical aspects of next-generation television, is calling on the consumer electronics and cable industries to ensure the transition from analog to digital technology. [News.com] Digital cameras focus on simplicity -- Digital cameras are evolving and becoming the latest gadget to have, but don''t expect them to replace regular cameras any time soon. [News.com] Digital divide an income gap -- Despite posturing by government officials and others about the importance of a ubiquitous Net across all segments of society, low-income communities have much less access to the network than the wealthy, a new study says. [News.com] Direct Hit aims to refine searches -- For all their community features, aggregated content, and other bells and whistles, a portal is only as good as the search engine that is its backbone. [News.com] Direct gains for Dell -- Dell Computer beat Wall Street expectations yesterday by reporting net income of $346 million or 50 cents per share for its second fiscal quarter, and also declared a 2-for-1 stock split. [News.com] Do you know about Oracle''s ads? -- Do you know that Oracle is launching a massive marketing blitz to blanket the media in order to boost sales in its sagging applications division? [News.com] Domain name accord a step closer -- The Internet community appears to be a step closer to reaching consensus on how to run the complicated and powerful Internet domain naming system. [News.com] Dow Jones archives hit the Web -- In a move to expand its reach to a wider audience, Dow Jones Interactive Publishing has entered into agreements with several general-interest Web sites and Internet services to provide free searches of archived content within its proprietary service. [News.com] Dow and Nasdaq plummet -- The stock market took a nose dive today, continuing its recent weakness. [News.com] Dow recovers, Nasdaq surges -- The Dow ended higher today, with blue chips still a bit hesitant after their headlong 299-point plunge on Tuesday, while the Nasdaq stormed to its third-largest point gain ever. [News.com] Dow sees modest loss -- Wall Street posted modest losses after putting the brakes on today to stop a sharp decline early on in which the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell as much as 135 points, mirroring the slide of global markets as investors faced renewed fears about Russia''s economy and political instability. [News.com] Dow, tech stocks enjoy upside -- After racking up its fourth largest gain of the year yesterday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average continued to surge today, taking technology stocks along for the ride. [News.com] Downloads up for Real -- Streaming media firm RealNetworks today announced 3.5 million users downloaded its RealPlayer software last month. [News.com] Drug distribution firm sues SAP -- The bankruptcy trustee appointed to oversee the liquidation of FoxMeyer and Foxmeyer Drug has sued the companies'' software supplier, SAP, for $500 million for alleged "gross negligence." [News.com] Dutch step up child porn fight -- The Dutch justice ministry, stung by criticism over its handling of child pornography on the Internet, is to increase the number of investigators working on it and boost cooperation between Dutch authorities. [News.com] E*Trade does marketing deals -- In an attempt to increase the number of users in an increasingly competitive arena, E*Trade Group, an online investing service, today announced that it has expanded its marketing and commerce agreement with Web portal Yahoo and has also signed an exclusive marketing and content agreement with ZDNet, Ziff-Davis''s Internet site. [News.com] E*Trade warns of losses -- Online brokerage E*Trade Group expects to add one million accounts to its current base of 460,000 over the next four to eight months, senior vice president Rebecca Patton told investors today. [News.com] E-commerce for Singapore -- Netscape Communications and Singapore Network Services (SNS) signed a partnership agreement today to provide electronic commerce software to businesses in Singapore and the region. [News.com] E-commerce to boom in India -- Electronic commerce in India will climb sharply to $160 million by calendar 2001 from a negligible $2.8 million in 1997, market research firm International Data Corporation said. [News.com] E-rate issue still on table -- The heavily debated e-rate is back before Congress, as FCC chairman William Kennard says hearings will be held to discuss the disparity in online access among poorer communities. But opponents across the political spectrum are slamming the Net access discounts as an unfair tax. [News.com] EDS chief exec to retire -- EDS announced that chairman and CEO Les Alberthal informed the company''s board of directors that he has decided to retire. [News.com] EU clears French ISP deal -- The European Commission said today that it had cleared a French Internet service provider joint venture between Cegetel, Canal Plus, America Online, and Bertelsmann. [News.com] EU privacy plan lacks support -- The White House has been scrambling to ensure that U.S. Web sites aren''t hindered by a strict European Union electronic privacy directive set to hit this October. [News.com] Earnings to speak for Netscape -- Netscape Communications navigates under the spotlight again today when the software company, which is revamping its business strategy, posts its third-quarter results. [News.com] EarthLink looks out for No. 2 -- The sky''s the limit for national Internet service provider EarthLink Network. At least that''s what founder and chairman Sky Dayton likes to think. [News.com] Education official: E-rate must survive -- It''s not enough that Congress, presidential hopefuls, high-tech CEOs, and parents want schools and libraries plugged into the Net. [News.com] Email bug found in Eudora -- Strike three for email programs. [News.com] Email outage on MSN -- Spammers aren''t the only ones the Microsoft Network has been blocking since it spam-proofed its servers. [News.com] Entrust Technologies goes public -- Entrust Technologies, a vendor of certificate authority software, announced today an initial public offering of its common stock on the Nasdaq market. [News.com] Euro chipmakers slug it out -- European semiconductor makers are engaged in a fight for survival in which billions of dollars of cash are needed to stay ahead in a technological rat race. [News.com] Even break for Netscape -- Netscape Communications eked out a $88,000 profit for the third fiscal quarter in posting its earnings today, citing "strong momentum" in its enterprise software and Web site businesses. [News.com] Even without PC, email finds you -- Email is like getting a telephone call without ringer. The drawback of is that it''s often hard to tell when a new message has arrived. [News.com] Exchange, Notes vie for email lead -- Microsoft''s Exchange messaging server is chipping away at the huge chunk of the corporate email market that Lotus has enjoyed for years, but threats from outside players may leave them both in the lurch. [News.com] Excite localizes free email in U.K. -- Leveraging the tremendous popularity of free Web-based email in the United States, Excite has introduced the service for users in the United Kingdom to further beef up its localized offerings overseas. [News.com] Excite readies community builder -- Excite is expected to launch a community builder service powered by recently acquired Throw, giving the portal an early jump on a landscape characterized by fast followers, CNET News.com has learned. [News.com] Excite takes taste of Peapod -- Online grocer Peapod said today it signed a multiyear Internet marketing alliance with Excite. [News.com] Excite tests new communities -- Excite today launched a beta version of its end-user community builder resource as expected, marking another addition of services geared toward cultivating a more consistent and loyal audience base. [News.com] Excite, IDT in Net telephony pact -- Internet company Excite said today that it has signed a two-year agreement with Net2Phone, a division of telecommunications company IDT, to bring Internet telephony to Excite customers in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden. [News.com] Execs divesting in weak market -- Cisco chief executive John Chambers and several Cisco directors have filed plans to sell a sizable number of their shares in the company, at a time when its stock has been flat for weeks. [News.com] FAA ahead on Y2K fixes -- WASHINGTON, D.C.--The Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday it had so far renovated over two thirds of its air traffic control computers to cope with the Year 2000 computer problem. [News.com] FAA ripped for Year 2000 reports -- The Federal Aviation Administration was severely criticized yesterday by members of the House Subcommittee on Technology for not telling the whole story on the status of its efforts to prepare its computer systems for the Year 2000. [News.com] FCC aims to fix e-rate -- With critics lambasting the e-rate program as too bureaucratic, the Federal Communications Commission is readying a plan to streamline the administration of the discounts for school and library Net access. [News.com] FCC to hold hearings on e-rate -- Federal Communications Commission chairman William Kennard said yesterday that public hearings would be held later this year on community access to communications. [News.com] FCC: Bells lost billions in gear -- A preliminary audit by the Federal Communications Commission has found that the regional Bell telephone companies cannot locate an estimated $5 billion worth of communications equipment that they claim on their accounting books, according to reports. [News.com] FCC: Let Bells build networks -- Striving to speed up the Net, the Federal Communications Commission today proposed lifting restrictions on Baby Bells to spur their investment in high-speed networks. [News.com] FTC unopposed to Nortel-Bay deal -- Federal Trade Commission regulators will not oppose the pending merger of Bay Networks and Nortel, the companies said today. [News.com] FTC, GeoCities settle on privacy -- In what the Federal Trade Commission is calling its first case involving Internet privacy, the agency announced today that it has agreed to settle charges with Net community GeoCities. [News.com] Fake Viagra selling online -- Fake copies of the impotence drug Viagra reportedly are being manufactured in Thailand and India and sold around the world via the Internet. [News.com] Faster Celeron PCs due this month -- A slew of new PCs will emerge on August 24 when Intel releases two new versions of the low-cost Celeron processor and a 450-MHz Pentium II. [News.com] Faster, cheaper workstations here -- Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, and Intergraph rolled out new workstations today that highlight pricing differences between Intel''s growing number of Pentium II and Xeon processors. [News.com] Fed Reserve stocks cash for Y2K -- Will tense Americans want to stuff their pockets with extra cash on December 31, 1999? [News.com] Fee voids Sun''s Java suit, MS says -- Court papers filed by Microsoft argue that Sun Microsystems'' May 1998 acceptance of a $3.75 million licensing fee voids claims that the software giant has breached its license for Sun''s Java. [News.com] Feisty at Quark, frothy at Adobe -- In a David-and-Goliath battle, desktop publishing software maker Quark said sales are way up, after disclosing its proposal to buy or invest in graphics software company Adobe. The overtures by the much-smaller Quark were rejected by Adobe, notwithstanding the latter''s continuing financial turmoil. [News.com] Firewall market to hit $1.8 billion -- Sales of firewall software, the programs that protect computer networks against unauthorized users or viruses, are projected to grow to $1.8 billion by 2002, according to a report by research firm International Data Corporation. [News.com] Firm launches pop-up ad network -- Though many Net users hate them, pop-up ads are growing in popularity among advertisers who are constantly seeking new and innovative ways to bring attention to their products. [News.com] Firm offers certified email -- Certifiedemail.com today launched a service aimed at keeping important email messages from getting lost in the cyberspace abyss. [News.com] Firm searches for domain conflicts -- If you don''t know what''s in a domain name, just ask a company like Compaq, which reportedly paid $3.3 million for "altavista.com" for its popular search engine by the same name. [News.com] Firms battle over term "e-media" -- A new multimedia industry news magazine will launch on Monday under the cloud of possible trademark infringement lawsuit. [News.com] Firms partner to cache streams -- Inktomi and RealNetworks today announced they are developing a system to cache streaming media using RealNetworks'' products. [News.com] Firms unclear on Year 2000 needs -- U.S. companies are failing to assess the extent of the Year 2000 technology bug on their desktop computers because they lack the technology to adequately track hardware and software inventories, according to a new study. [News.com] Firms unclear on Year 2000 needs -- U.S. companies are failing to assess the extent of the Year 2000 technology bug on their desktop computers because they lack the technology to adequately track hardware and software inventories, according to a new study. [News.com] First Int''l gets big NEC order -- Taiwan''s First International Computer said today it has received a big order worth more than $289 million under which it will make notebook computers for NEC of Japan. [News.com] First iMac glitches surfacing -- Apple Computer''s new iMac is getting its own site for technical support and information just as word of the first few minor glitches are surfacing. [News.com] Five Excite insiders to divest -- As Internet portal stocks have seen some softness since their sharp rise earlier this summer, five Excite executives have filed to sell more than $9 million in stock. [News.com] Floodgates open for patent cases -- The rain of recent technology patent actions has turned into a downpour. [News.com] Foes hammering away at e-rate -- Defending federal Net connection discounts for low-income schools and libraries is becoming a full-time job for the Federal Communications Commission. [News.com] For music, the next front is Europe -- Online music retailers appear to be looking toward Europe for the near-term future of their businesses. [News.com] Fore makes gigabit bet -- Can you teach an old dog new tricks? [News.com] Fore to buy Berkeley Networks -- Fore Systems stock fell more than 22 percent today, one day after the company said it would buy Berkeley Networks in a deal that could be worth $250 million. [News.com] Former Disney exec tries start-up -- Richard Wolpert, the former president of Disney Online who last month abruptly left the media giant''s Internet department, has resurfaced as a partner in an Internet start-up. [News.com] Fox Sports Online beefs up -- Just in time for football season, Fox Sports Online is planning to kick off a newly designed site, in an effort to keep its rank in the crowded but lucrative online sports field. [News.com] Framatome to buy Berg Electronics -- Connector and cable assembly supplier Berg Electronics said today that it has agreed to be acquired by French connector firm Framatome Connectors International in a deal valued at $1.85 billion, including assumption of debt. [News.com] Free email''s pest problem -- Hotmail is once again in the hot seat, as yet another security hole comes to light following last week''s epidemic. [News.com] Free emailers scramble to gauge risk -- Hotmail may not be the only one with a security problem. [News.com] Free site offered with groupware -- US West Enterprise Networking and start-up Changepoint have their own take on the hot rent-an-app groupware market: removing the rent. [News.com] Free tool evaluates Y2K issues -- Software and services provider Accelr8 Technology today debuted a free scanning tool designed to get companies started on Year 2000-related computer fixes. [News.com] From the world to Wall St. -- Political and economic turmoil in Asia and Russia is sending shivers throughout U.S. markets. The Russian crisis has yet to affect technology stocks, though Asia continues to batter the sector, with Autodesk being the latest casualty. However the uncertainty isn''t putting a damper on tech IPOs, which are expected to ramp up this fall. [News.com] Fujitsu screens new technology -- Fujitsu has developed a new technology for plasma display panels suited for high-definition television sets, the company said today. [News.com] Fujitsu''s Java workflow system -- Fujitsu Software may not be well known in the Internet technology game but it''s ready to take on Netscape Communications with a new Java-based workflow system. [News.com] Fujitsu, Philips to develop flat TV -- Fujitsu and Philips Electronics will jointly develop a new low-cost plasma display panel (PDP) for flat television sets for home use. [News.com] G3 notebook dearth decried -- While Apple Computer races to build enough snazzy iMacs to meet the 150,000 orders it says are in hand, the supply of another curvaceous Macintosh product remains tight. [News.com] Gap searches for interactive mate -- Clothing retailer the Gap is searching for an interactive agency partner to help expand its online marketing efforts, a company spokeswoman said. [News.com] Gartner, ICSA check security risks -- Gartner Group and the International Computer Security Association will unveil a new security service tomorrow that gives customers an in-depth analysis of their Internet security risks, including both business practices and technical aspects. [News.com] Gates answers Nader''s challenge -- Microsoft chief executive Bill Gates has responded to consumer activist Ralph Nader''s challenge to the world''s richest man, but sidestepped Nader''s invitation to convene a conference on wealth disparity. [News.com] Gates called to court -- A federal court has ordered Microsoft to make CEO Bill Gates and 16 other top executives available for deposition in the Justice Department''s antitrust case and required it to release the source code of Windows. Microsoft is expected to file a motion on Monday to dismiss the case altogether. [News.com] Gates deposition called evasive -- In a boardroom at Microsoft headquarters, chief executive Bill Gates yesterday gave his deposition in the pending antitrust case against the software giant to attorneys from the Justice Department and the New York attorney general''s office, in much the same fashion that he delivered his earlier testimony before a Senate committee. [News.com] Gates depositions open to public -- The news media and the public will be allowed to attend the depositions of Microsoft chief executive Bill Gates and other top executives, a federal judge ruled today. [News.com] Gates gives browser decision date -- In a possible preview of his testimony in a government antitrust lawsuit, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has pinpointed the date the software giant decided to combine its Internet browser and Windows operating system. [News.com] Gates, Allen file to sell stock -- Microsoft cofounders Bill Gates and Paul Allen have announced plans to sell a total of 2.5 million of their common shares in the software giant. [News.com] Gateway debuts $1,999 PC-TV -- Gateway said it is now offering a system that combines a PC and 27-inch television monitor for just under $2,000 in an effort to remove barriers inhibiting the growth of the market for PC-TV convergence devices. [News.com] Gateway picks Colorado for IT center -- Gateway has selected Lakewood, Colorado, as the site for its new information technology (IT) development center. [News.com] GeoCities doubles on first day -- Despite a market downturn, GeoCities'' initial public offering ran up almost 120 percent on its first trading day. [News.com] GeoCities keeps climbing -- After rising almost 120 percent in its first day of trading, GeoCities continued to climb today, rising another 21.94 percent in early trading. [News.com] GeoCities prices high -- Reflecting investor enthusiasm, GeoCities today set its initial public offering price at $17 a share--exceeding the high end of its pricing range--and said that it expects to raise $80.75 million. [News.com] GeoCities updates watermarks -- GeoCities is launching initiatives focused on keeping its existing users on its site, while also trying to draw in new users with the allure of easy home page building. [News.com] German Net use exploding -- The number of private Internet users in Germany soared 60 percent to 6.6 million adults this year compared to 1997, according to a study released today. [News.com] German leader plans Net debut -- Chancellor Helmut Kohl is to take to the Internet for the first time to answer questions from the public ahead of Germany''s general election in September, his Christian Democrat party said today. [News.com] German phone war moves online -- German telephone rivals today took their price war to a new front, unveiling offers that could significantly cut the cost of surfing the Internet. [News.com] Goldman: Y2K will sting economy -- The Year 2000 computer bug could shake up the U.S. economy as much as the 1994 Los Angeles earthquake, say economists at Goldman Sachs, though it is not likely to cause a worldwide recession. [News.com] Gov. Wilson pushes tech labor bill -- California Gov. Pete Wilson urged President Clinton not to veto a bill that would allow more highly skilled foreign workers to come work for U.S. technology companies. [News.com] Group feels need for Web textures -- The Web is accepting donations of fox furs, mowed lawns, sidewalk pavements, bright shiny chrome, viscous fluids, and fish scales. [News.com] Group seeks structure for Linux -- Linux originator Linus Torvalds''s recent photo shoot for a Forbes magazine cover was just the latest in a surge of publicity on the man behind the booming Net-based software movement. [News.com] Group takes on tech regulation -- A group of technology companies has joined forces to combat what it considers undue government interference in the high-tech industry, arguing that recent actions against Microsoft and Intel are "symptomatic of the growing trend toward government over-regulation of technology." [News.com] HDTV clicks with Matsushita -- Matsushita Electric will begin making digital television sets in the United States and United Kingdom in preparation for November''s much-anticipated launch of high-definition digital TV broadcasting. [News.com] HK Telecom warns of Y2K fears -- Hong Kong Telecommunications said today that it would be millennium compliant by the end of this year but was afraid many of its clients would not be ready by 2000. [News.com] HP Yugoslav sales booming -- Yugoslav distributor Comtrade Group said today that it almost doubled domestic sales of Hewlett-Packard computers in 1997, the best growth rate of any of the company''s European agents. [News.com] HP exceeds estimates -- Hewlett-Packard, battered by PC pricing pressures and Asia''s economic woes, today surprised Wall Street by posting third-quarter earnings that were stronger than expected. [News.com] HP offers $599 color-faxing device -- Hewlett-Packard today introduced its newest all-in-one device that features color faxing, a novel feature and one that is not yet widely supported. [News.com] HP offers stripped-down $799 PC -- Continuing its effort to reach the cost-conscious customer, Hewlett-Packard today released a new series of "microtower" computers that start at $799, as well as a $2,199 400-MHz Pentium II machine with a recordable CD-ROM drive. [News.com] HP rolls out new printers -- Hewlett-Packard today announced new low-priced printers, as well as a DeskJet Web site to support the new products. [News.com] HP rolls out speedy recordable CD -- Hewlett-Packard today announced a new line of rewritable CD (CD-RW) drives, capable of reading and recording data twice as fast as previous models. [News.com] HP to report profit decline -- Hewlett-Packard today is expected to report a decline in third-quarter profits, marking the second consecutive quarter in which the computer giant''s year-over-year profits have fallen. [News.com] HP to revamp workstation line -- Hewlett-Packard will refresh its Kayak PC workstation line this coming Monday with new machines that incorporate the 450-MHz Pentium II chip and come with a broader array of graphics subsystems. [News.com] HP to tighten belt -- A day after reporting better-than-expected third-quarter earnings, Hewlett-Packard said today that it will make every effort to keep costs down but that it is not anticipating taking any drastic measures to do so. [News.com] HP workstation specs -- HP Kayak XA PC Workstation • Single processor: 350-MHz, 400-MHz, or 450-MHz Pentium II • Intel 440BX AGP chipset • 64MB of memory, expandable up to 768MB • Graphics: 2D Matrox G200 graphics subsystem or Gloria Synergy+ 3-D graphics subsystem from Elsa • 4.3GB Wide Ultra ATA hard disk drive • Starting at $1,900 [News.com] Hack raises flags about small ISPs -- Ever since network administrators at a small Midwestern Internet service provider discovered unauthorized visitors in their system, the company has spent nearly $100,000 and many sleepless nights trying to close its security holes. [News.com] Health privacy rules proposed -- The federal government is seeking public comments on proposed rules to protect the privacy of medical records transmitted on the Internet. [News.com] Healtheon files to go public -- Healtheon, the Internet health-care firm cofounded by Netscape chairman Jim Clark, filed to go public. [News.com] Heavy hitters want Primestar -- News Corporation and an affiliate of Tele-Communications Incorporated are in talks to explore a way to buy a stake in direct broadcast satellite company Primestar Partners, sources close to the talks said. [News.com] Help for voice recognition mess -- Lernout and Hauspie announced today that two U.S. patents have been granted for technology in its consumer voice recognition software, L&H Voice Xpress. [News.com] High-tech execs drubbed -- As tech stocks led today''s 512-point collapse in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, it''s no surprise that option-holding high-tech executives were drubbed on Wall Street. [News.com] Hitachi, doctors in research project -- Computers capable of predicting how drugs will react and move through the human body are the target of a collaboration between Japanese electronics group Hitachi and a team of Irish academics announced on Thursday. [News.com] Home pages to unite families -- In an effort to capitalize on the hot home-page market, online community developer KOZ today launched a service that aims to unite extended family members into one locale on the Web. [News.com] Hospital Netcasts open-heart surgery -- In another first for the Internet, a Seattle hospital today broadcast live images of a woman having open heart surgery. [News.com] Hot IPOs don''t equal huge gains -- IPOs that soar on their first days of trading often post the least impressive results over the next six to twelve months, according to a new study by data-research firm CommScan. [News.com] Hotmail bug fix not a cure-all -- Microsoft''s free Web-based email service Hotmail last night implemented a partial fix for a JavaScript security problem. [News.com] Hotmail flaw exposes passwords -- Microsoft''s free Web-based email provider Hotmail says it is working "feverishly" to fix a security breach that lets malicious JavaScript programmers alter the Hotmail user interface and swipe user passwords. [News.com] Hotmail plugs security hole -- Microsoft''s Hotmail today claimed victory over the security holes that have put the free email firm on the hot seat this week. [News.com] Hotmail to expand beyond U.S. -- Microsoft''s free email firm Hotmail is looking beyond the U.S. market to garner a huge number of new users. [News.com] House clears copyright act -- In a landmark move, the House passed legislation today to safeguard copyrights for music, software, and written works on the Internet and to outlaw technologies that can crack devices protecting this property. [News.com] How the Web is killing DCE -- A grand scheme introduced in the early 1990s as a way to link disparate computer systems is being usurped by Web technologies popularized through the Internet''s ubiquity. [News.com] Hyundai: Talks with Intel off -- Hyundai Group''s talks with Intel on a $1.15 billion joint venture to use the Korean company''s semiconductor chip plant in Scotland have broken off, Hyundai said today. [News.com] IBM adds Zip to new PCs -- Iomega today announced that IBM will distribute IBM-branded Zip drives for its new commercial desktop computers. [News.com] IBM ends Olympic sponsorship -- IBM has decided to end its 40-year sponsorship of the Olympics after the Sydney 2000 Games, a company executive said today. [News.com] IBM expands deal with Comdata -- IBM will announce today that it has won an expanded multiyear deal to provide computer technology services to Comdata, a top supplier of financial services to the U.S. trucking industry. [News.com] IBM forms new software division -- Big Blue is getting bigger. [News.com] IBM hits 350 MHz with K6 box -- IBM refreshed its Aptiva consumer computer line with a 450-MHz Pentium II system aimed at users itching for performance and released a more cost-conscious desktop built around the new 350-MHz K6-2 processor from Advanced Micro Devices. [News.com] IBM in financial services pact -- IBM said it and financial institutions in Asia have formed an interactive financial services alliance to create a secure framework for online banking in the region. [News.com] IBM offers free management tool -- Furthering its aim to make PC and server management more accessible for administrators, IBM released a free piece of agent software that offers more detailed information concerning the state of a machine and also allows managers to access systems via the Web. [News.com] IBM readies secret weapon -- IBM aims to upset the sleepy conformity of the consumer personal comp