Manu
09-09-2002, 02:43 PM
REDMOND, Washington (AP) -- Microsoft Corp. plans to release on Monday a packet of upgrades for its Windows XP operating system, including changes to satisfy a proposed settlement with the U.S. Justice Department.
The so-called Service Pack 1 includes the usual software patches to fix security flaws and bugs, most of which have already been released separately, and adds temporary support for the Java programming language.
More significantly, though, it will allow computer manufacturers and consumers to switch off and conceal Microsoft's e-mail, Web browser, Internet audio-video player and other software programs. That gives computer vendors and users the option to select rival software -- instead of Microsoft applications -- as default programs.
The changes are part of a settlement reached by Microsoft, the Justice Department and nine states to resolve the government's landmark antitrust litigation against the software giant, which was found to have used illegal means against its competition.
Nine other states are seeking stricter penalties against Microsoft.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington, D.C., the same judge who will decide whether to approve the federal settlement, also must decide whether to grant the states any or all of their requests.
She is expected to make her decision in both cases within the next several months.
www.cnn.com
The so-called Service Pack 1 includes the usual software patches to fix security flaws and bugs, most of which have already been released separately, and adds temporary support for the Java programming language.
More significantly, though, it will allow computer manufacturers and consumers to switch off and conceal Microsoft's e-mail, Web browser, Internet audio-video player and other software programs. That gives computer vendors and users the option to select rival software -- instead of Microsoft applications -- as default programs.
The changes are part of a settlement reached by Microsoft, the Justice Department and nine states to resolve the government's landmark antitrust litigation against the software giant, which was found to have used illegal means against its competition.
Nine other states are seeking stricter penalties against Microsoft.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington, D.C., the same judge who will decide whether to approve the federal settlement, also must decide whether to grant the states any or all of their requests.
She is expected to make her decision in both cases within the next several months.
www.cnn.com