MS Bows To Google Pressure

San Francisco (dBTechno) - Microsoft will make changes to its Vista operating system to prevent potential litigation after Google accused it of violating a 2002 antitrust agreement reached with the Justice Department, the company said Wednesday.

The change will affect the desktop search feature that Google complained violated the anti-trust agreement because it is difficult to disable and makes Google’s desktop search product slow to a crawl.

Google’s 49-page complaint had been rejected by the Justice Department but was viewed favourably by several states, including California. It came as the two companies are locked in a fierce competition and after Microsoft asked anti-trust regulators to examine Google’s 3.1 billion dollar purchase of online ad service DoubleClick Inc.

Microsoft denied Google’s anti-trust charges but said it will change the way Vista’s search product behaves when it releases the first software upgrades for before the end of 2007. The alteration will allow users to select a default search programme, just as they can with Web browsers, media players, and security programmes, while maintaining the general ability of Microsoft’s Vista search to search from within the Start Menu.

Microsoft also will make information available to developers to optimize the performance third-party search products.

“We’re pleased we were able to reach an agreement with all the states and the Justice Department that addresses their concerns so that everyone can move forward,” Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith said in an e-mail.

“This agreement - while not perfect - is a positive step towards greater competition in the software industry,” California Attorney General Edmund G Brown Jr said in a statement. “It will enhance the ability of consumers to select the desktop search tool of their choice.”

Nintendo Has More Exclusive Title In The Works

Boston (dBTechno) - The gaming console war is always ongoing — but for now — Nintendo may have the upper hand.  Nintendo and the Wii appear to have the most exclusive games in development over the PS3 and Xbox 360.

A new report has come out via Gaming Target which stated that the NIntendo Wii has the most exclusive games in development than any other console.

The report stated that the Wii has 113 exclusive games ind evelopment while the Xbox 360 has 96 and the PS3 has 47. Up until Monday the Xbxo 360 held the lead for the last 10 months or so since the tracking began back in October 2006.

The number of games which are exclusive to the Wii have risen significantly thanks to games which were announced at the E3 event in Santa Monica, California.

Gaming Target stated that the game sare console exclusive meaning that they cannot appear on any other home system. The only difference is that it is allowed for the games to appear on the PC or on a handheld. Downloadable games were also not factored into that number.

NYC Cabbies Threaten To Strike Over GPS

New York (dBTechno) - New York City taxi and limousine drivers are threatening to strike over new GPS systems to be installed.

The New York Taxi and Limousine commission wants each of the city’s 13,000 taxis to install GPS systems as well as touch-screen panels placed n the back seat of the cabs. The new technology will also allow people to pay by credit card and map a route as they are riding through the city.

The New York Taxi Workers Alliance which represents about 8,000 drivers stated that they may strike over the new gear. The driver’s worry that the new GPS route-mapping will make passengers backseat drivrs and will also allow cab owners to spy on drivers.

The commission stated that another bonus is that it will allow for GPS tracking to find lost of stolen property.

Square Enix Chooses Nintendo Over PS3 and Xbox 360

Boston (dBTechno) - Square Enix has come out and stated that the Nintendo DS handheld is dominating over all consoles including the PS3 and Xbox 360.

This is backed up by the fact that the next installment to the Dragon Quest series will be an exclusive game to the Nintendo DS platform.

The past Dragon Quest games appeared on the PlayStation as well as the PlayStation 2.

Square Enix stated though that they chose the Nintendo DS due to its massive installed user base.

They continued by saying that “There is a new breed of gamers in the market - we have to make games for all kinds of people. In the old days we could just focus on the PlayStation or the Game Boy, but the environment has changed completely.”

Changed it has as they stated that the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 does not have the demographic for their games. “there are too many specs and you also need a high-definition TV, broadband connection, and a deep knowledge of gaming - these consles are mismatched to today’s environment.”

Square may be choosing the handhelds for now, but they did state that in the future the PS3 and Xbox 360 may do better.