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This story was printed from Anchordesk,
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MS protecting your privacy?... New Mozilla... Tech's gender divide
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| By Sylvia Carr: Senior Editor, AnchorDesk |
| Wednesday, August 28, 2002 |
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Is Microsoft finally willing to protect your privacy? Based on the new Windows Media Player, it looks like that may actually be the case.
In other news: The latest Mozilla Web browser is chock full of improvements. And--surprise, surprise--men still far outnumber women in the upper echelons of communications companies.
The stories:
New MS Media Player protects your privacy
In an apparent nod to Microsoft's recent settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, the beta version of Windows Media Player 9 Series goes to great lengths to protect your privacy. When you first use the program, it presents the company's privacy policy and then gives you the option of choosing how much information you want to send or receive over the Internet. It's one of the few products out there to offer this level of opt-in privacy. Earlier this month, as part of an FTC settlement, Microsoft agreed to implement changes across its product lines to better protect the security and privacy of its users' personal information. That settlement came in response to a complaint filed last year by consumer and privacy groups, who alleged that Microsoft's Passport authentication service violated the Federal Trade Commission Act.
Go to the full story by Joe Wilcox.
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New Mozilla browser is faster, easier to use
The new Mozilla browser is out--and it has enough improvements to keep the browser wars alive. Mozilla 1.1, the latest version of the open-source Web browser, comes just two months after the release of 1.0. It offers improved stability and Web-page compatibility, along with better application and rendering performance. A number of minor features have been added, too, such as an improved Download Manager, better drag-and-drop capabilities, and distinct icons for various Mozilla apps. These improvements won't only benefit Mozilla users. The technologies developed for Mozilla are also used in Netscape's browser, and in open-source browsers such as Galeon.
Go to the full story by Matthew Broersma.
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Men still far outnumber women in tech boardrooms
Despite the many advances women have made in the working world, males still outnumber females in the boardrooms of communications companies--by more than five to one. A new study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center found that, though women are courted as customers of the entertainment, publishing, and telecom firms the Center examined, they are underrepresented in the upper management ranks of those same companies. Still, recent financial scandals could be a boon for female execs. As boards look for more independent members, women--with their outsider status--could stand a greater chance of being chosen.
Go to the full story by Lisa M. Bowman.
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MORE NEWS WORTH NOTING:
Do you trust Microsoft with your personal info? Why or why not? TalkBack to me!
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