SECURITY... 

• Microsoft prepares 'critical' Windows patch - Microsoft is scheduled to release two patches for its Windows operating system on Tuesday 13 December. At least one of the patches has a security rating of 'critical' and requires a system reboot, the company said in a security bulletin on its website. In addition to the security patches, Microsoft also plans to release two high priority non-security updates for Windows and three non-security updates for Windows Server. The patch release will be followed by a webcast on Wednesday 14 December at 11am US Pacific Time (7pm BST).
• First Firefox 1.5 expoit made public - Security experts at Packet Storm have published proof-of-concept code that exploits an unpatched flaw in the Firefox 1.5 browser, making the application vulnerable to a denial of service attack. The published code will add a large entry to the 'history.dat' file of the browser, causing the application to freeze or crash the next time it is launched. Mozilla plans to repair the hole when it releases its next regularly scheduled stability build of Firefox. That should happen in late January or early February.
• Sober worm algorithm cracked by F-Secure - F-Secure said that it has cracked that algorithm, allowing it to figure out the URLs the worm variants will attempt to download from. This should allow the hosting providers involved to block the sites, as well as give system administrators a list of sites they should block at the corporate firewall, Hypponen said. The worm uses a list of 15 sites with names that are merely character strings, registered with free Web site providers, one example used being Jan. 5, according to F-Secure. Every 14 days the list will change to a different 15 sites, with the first change on Jan. 6, Hypponen said.
• Airport passcodes leaked from virus-infected PC  - Passcodes needed to enter secure areas at 16 Japanese airports and one in Guam have appeared on the Internet after a virus infected a computer belonging to a Japan Airlines Corp. (JAL) co-pilot, the airline said today.
• Intel Working on Rootkit Detection Techniques -  Intel is working on a research project that would immediately notify PC users if they inadvertently download a rootkit such as the XCP (extended copy protection) software found on certain music CDs shipped by Sony, researchers said Tuesday.
• Oops -- New Sony DRM Patch Insecure - Just one day after jointly announcing a patch to correct a security flaw in the SunnComm MediaMax copy protection included on 27 CDs, Sony BMG and the Electronic Frontier Foundation are urging users not to install it. The update includes a vulnerability similar to the one it attempted to fix. SunnComm's MediaMax version 5 software does not properly protect a directory it installs, opening the door for a privilege escalation attack. Thus, a restricted user account could replace the executables within the MediaMax directory with malicious code, which would then be executed by an administrator upon inserting a CD.
• Google Desktop Tweaked to Avoid IE Flaw - Google Inc. has made an "adjustment" to its Google Desktop application to protect users from an unpatched design flaw in Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer browser

CRIME/LAW...

• Clogger of P2P networks to shut down - A leading service that attempted to dissuade people from using file-trading networks like Kazaa, by planting millions of fake files online, is being shut down.
• Microsoft tackles pirate software firm - A Microsoft investigation into the sale of counterfeit software on eBay has led to the closure of an online operation responsible for the sale of over L3 million worth of fake Microsoft software. The activities of internet trading outfit Zoobon first came to light after Microsoft received a number of complaints from Zoobon customers unhappy with the quality of the products they had been sold.
• Hacker Tries To Sell Excel Flaw On EBay - An unknown security researcher tried to sell a vulnerability in Microsoft's Excel spreadsheet program on eBay, but the online auction site pulled the listing late Thursday.

OFF-TOPIC

• Earth's Magnetic Pole Drifting Quickly - At the present rate, the north magnetic pole could swing out of northern Canada into Siberia. If that happens, Alaska could lose its Northern Lights, which occur when charged particles streaming away from the sun interact with different gases in Earth's atmosphere.

TECHNOLOGY...

• Microsoft launches Xbox 360 console in Japan - Microsoft is selling only the premium Xbox 360 package in Japan. It is priced at 37,900 yen and includes a removable hard drive that lets owners play games written for the first Xbox.
• Microsoft Introduces Windows Server 2003 R2 - Microsoft has announced Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 R2 is an update release of Windows Server 2003 operating system. R2 includes Windows Server 2003 + SP1 as well as several new components. It will be available in Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Small Business Server and Storage Server editions for x86 and x64.
• $20,000 DVD player makes Xbox 360 look affordable - The New York Times covers a super-hi-def DVD player that costs $20,000. When the Times asks the co-founder of the company that makes it why the heck anybody would want to spend that much money on a DVD player, the chucklehead responded, "In a sense, you should ask, 'What do you get for so little?'"
• IBM Reveals Details of Xbox 360 CPU Design - IBM has made public a Fall Processor Forum 2005 paper that explores the customized IBM PowerPC processor designed exclusively for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system.
• Scratch-Less Disc - If one puts a disc data-side down on a hard surface such as a table, top of the PC or anywhere besides a protective sleeve or jewel case, this makes the disc very vulnerable to scratching. To overcome this, the Scratch-Less Disc uses 'Aero Bumps', with 20 of these placed around the bottom of the disc at the outer and inner rims. As a result, if one of these is placed data-side down, these bumps will prevent the surface from touching the surface below, thus avoiding any scratches from taking place.
• Sony unveils portable music player with 305 hour battery life - Well, Sony is aiming to revive its MiniDisc format yet again with the XM-C37 Hi-MD player, which features a 305 hour battery life in LP4 mode, the longest runtime ever for a portable audio device. This provides enough playback time for close to two-weeks continuous playback. (Ed.note - I bet the player will not support UMS (Universal Mass Storage - plug it in and it is seen by the system as a hard drive) and will require Sony software to load and unload tracks. Anyone who has ever used Sony software knows the kind of garbage it is...)
• AMD stops production of Socket 939 Opterons - According to TheInquirer, the company has decided to stop production of Sempr0n 2500+, 3100+ and Athlon 64 3000+, 3200+ and 3500+, all in Processor-In-Box (PIB) format, and Opterons using Socket 939. Is this a preparation for early Socket M2 launch?

HARDWARE... 

• CPU - AMD Dual-Core Challenge - Intel No Show!
• Motherboard - ABIT AN8-SLI / Abit AN8 SLI / ASRock 939 Dual Sata2 / ASRock 939S56-M AMD Athlon 64 Socket 939 PCIe / Asus P5ND2-SLI Deluxe nForce4 SLI / DFI Ultra LANParty UT nF4 Ultra-D / ECS KN2 SLI nForce4 X16 / Foxconn NF4SK8AA / Gigabyte GA-K8NXP-SLI
• Complete / SFF Systems -
• Memory - Corsair XMS vs. Value Select RAM Comparison / Corsair Twinx2048 4000 DDR500 / Corsair PC4000 DDR500 TWINX2048-4000PT 2GB / Corsair PC4000 DDR500 TWINX2048-4000PT 2GB Dual Channel / OCZ EL DDR PC-3200 2GB Gold GX XTC(1) / OCZ EL DDR PC-3200 Gold GX XTC 2GB Kit(2) / OCZ EL DDR PC-3200 Gold GX XTC Dual Channel(3) /OCZ EL DDR PC-3200 Gold GX XTC Dual Channel Memory (4) / OCZ PC-3200 Gold Voltage eXtreme Dual Channel DDR / OCZ Technology EL PC3500 GX Gold Edition Dual Channel Memory Kit(1) / OCZ Gold EL PC3500 GX (2)
• Storage - 2.5" Momentus Hard Drives / Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 HDD / Infrant ReadyNAS X6 X-RAID Network Storage / X-Micro DisGo Portable Hard Drive || Enermax Laureate Series Enclosures 3.5HDD and 5.25 CD/DVD || CompactFlash Card Roundup: 1GB Models | Corsair Voyager 4GB Thumb Drive / Crucial Gizmo 2GB Flash Drive / PQI Cool Drive U339 USB Flash Memory || Sony DRX-810UL Dual Format / Dual Layer DVD burner
• Video - Seven of NVIDIA's Latest and Greatest Cards Tested @ THG / ASUS EAX1800XL 256MB & HIS Excalibur X1800 XL 256MB PCIe Graphics Cards / ATI X800 GTO AGP / ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 GPU(1) / ATI Mobility RADEON X1600 (2) / BFG Technologies GeForce 7800 GTX OC 256MB PCI Express / Connect3D X1800XT / EVGA e-GeForce 7800 GTX 512MB / Gainward PowerPack! Ultra/3550PCX GeForce 7800 GTX 512MB/ GeForce 6800 GS / Gigabyte Geforce 6600 GT Silent-Pipe II GV-NX66T256DE / Gigabyte GV-3D1-68GT Dual-GPU Video Card / HIS Radeon X1800 XL 256MB PCIe / Leadtek GeForce 6200 128MB / MSI GeForce 7800 GTX 512MB / MSI NX7800GT / NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT / PowerColor Radeon X1800 XT 512MB / SLI Quadro FX 4500 / XFX GeForce 6800 GS XXX Edition(1) /XFX GeForce 6800 GS(2) /XFX GeForce 6800 GS 256MB XXX Edition (PCIe) / XGI Volari 8300
• Monitor/TV - HP F2105 LCD Monitor / Samsung 970P LCD Display / Samsung HP-R4252 42 Inch Plasma TV / ViewSonic VP930 19" TFT monitor
• Cooling - Arctic-Cooling Freezer 7 Pro / EverCool Copper Man Intel LGA775 Pentium 4 Heatsink / Gigabyte G-Power Pro GH-PDU21-MF Heatsink / NV Silencer on GeForce 7800 GTX 512MB / Thermalright V1 Ultra / Vantec MP4-7015-CF Mach 1 CPU cooler / Zalman Fatal1ty FS-V7 VGA Cooler
• Watercooling - Asetek WaterChill KT03AT-12VX Water Cooling / Big Water SE... The Evolution of a System / Cooler Master Aquagate Mini R80 Water Cooler / PrimeCooler AMD, Intel Water Cooled Heatsink / Swiftech Storm G4 CPU Water Block / Swiftech Apogee - Universal CPU Waterblock
• Case - ABS Stealth ATX Chassis / CoolerMaster CM Media BTX-B260 Case (video-review) / Either Way ATX or BTX Cases / GlobalWin YCC-S27 HTPC Computer Case
• Mods - Logisys Remote Multifunction Panel
• Sound - Believe the Hypex, Class-D DIY Amplifier / ESI MaXiO XD audio / MIDI interface / Turtle Beach Montego DDL Sound Card
• PSU - Antec ATX 12v Power Supply Tester / Antec NeoHE 550 550W PSU / I-Star Nitro AX Full Tower Case / Seasonic S12-330 330W PSU / Thermaltake PurePower PST520W
• Peripheral - A4Tech X-710 4 DPI Shift Gaming Mouse / Bluetake BT510 VS Logitech V400 - Laptop Mouse Comparison / Hiper Cavier Aluminum Alloy Keyboard / Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard / Logitech G5 Laser Mouse (1) / Logitech G5 Laser Mouse(2) / Razer Diamondback (Salamander Red)  / Razer Copperhead / Saitek Pro Gamer Command Unit || Func Industries sUrface1030 Archetype / IceMat 2nd Edition Black Mousepad / QPADR Gamer LowSense AIM & The LowSense Masterpad
• Network - AirCruiserG Game Adapter (GN-MD01) / Freecom FSG-3 Storage Gateway / Infrant ReadyNAS X6 X-RAID Network Storage
• Printer - Canon Pixma MP170 Inkjet Printer / Primera Signature Z1 CD/DVD Printer / Samsung SPP-2040 Photo Printer
• Notebook - Alienware Area-51 m5500(1) / Alienware Area-51 m5500 (2) / Asus V6VA 8004P Notebook (in German) / Fujitsu LifeBook P1510 | Sharp M4000 Laptop || A secret drawer for your laptop / Targus Urban Series Messenger Notebook Bag
• Cameras, MP3/DVD players/recorders - Kodak EasyShare V550 / Nikon D50 + 18-55mm Lens || Dream'eo Enza 20GB Portable Media Center / iRiver H10 / Vantec AVOX Jukebox Multimedia Player / X-Micro Video MP3 400 || LG LRM-519 Digital Media Recorder / NeuNeo HVD2085 high definition DVD player || Four Days with Xbox 360 / Xbox 360 - First Two Weeks Experience
• Misc - Artic Silver ArtiClean
• Phones/PDAs - Palm Z22 PDA

GUIDES...

• Holiday Gift Guides - The Under $100 Techie Holiday Gift Guide / Holiday Buying Guide 2005 @ ShackNews / Christmas Gift Guide @nVNews / Top 10 Holiday Gadgets 2005 @ FiringSquad / December Value Buyer's Guide @ SharkyExtreme
• Digital Camera Buyer's Guide - 7 Insider Tips - Whether you go the feature/function route or not, there are 7 insider tips that can help save you money and avoid buying the wrong digital camera for your purposes.
• Desktop Graphics Card Comparison Guide Rev. 9.6 - Currently covering over 240 desktop graphics cards, this comprehensive comparison will allow you to easily compare 15 different specifications for each and every card
• How To Connect Your PC to Your Home Stereo or Home Theater - Learn how to hook your PC to your stereo or receiver in order to enhance you audio experience while playing games, watching videos, listening to music or even editing audio.
• SATA v PATA - DVD Writing Burn-off - Is there any tangible benefit from moving to a SATA optical drive? Bit-Tech decided to find out by pitting the SATA Plextor against a venerable stalwart of the DVD burning club, the Pioneer 110D on PATA: "We've found that the Plextor was slower in almost every test - it's one thing to be faster and more expensive, but it's rather another to be more expensive and slower. The one thing the Plextor has going for it is the SATA connection. This connection is undoubtedly more stylish and practical than IDE, but does it justify worse performance and a higher price? We don't think so, unfortunately for Plextor. The Pioneer has great performance, and an astounding price - we wouldn't recommed you look anywhere else. "
• Chipset Serial ATA and RAID Performance Compared -  The nForce4 looks like a superior RAID platform for desktop systems. The nForce4's performance in the majority of their FC-Test and iPEAK tests is better than that of the ICH7R, and in single-user tests, NVIDIA's RAID 5 implementation is less crippling than Intel's.
• Xbox 360: Ripping CD's only way to store music on HDD - GameSpot has posted a short overview of the digital media experience one can have with this device: "Get used to ripping tracks from audio CDs because that's the only way we could get music onto the 360's HDD. The console could recognize and play MP3 songs from USB devices like memory sticks and portable media players, but we couldn't transfer songs over to the HDD. Similarly, the system could play songs from a data CD that contained MP3s, but we couldn't transfer the music directly to the system's HDD. The 360 can stream music from USB devices and data CDs, but it won't let you copy any songs from those sources."
• Windows XP: WXP CC User Guide - This document is the Microsoft Windows XP Evaluated Configuration User Guide that was used in the completion of the Windows XP and Server 2003 Common Criteria Evaluation
• Catalyst 5.12 Comparison - check it out (in German)

SOFTWARE...

• AVG Anti-Virus Free 7.1.371 Build 699 - AVG Free Edition (download) is the well-known anti-virus protection tool. AVG Free is available free-of-charge to home users for the life of the product! Rapid virus database updates are available for the lifetime of the product, thereby providing the high-level of detection capability that millions of users around the world trust to protect their computers. AVG Free is easy-to-use and will not slow your system down (low system resource requirements).
• Rootkit Revealer 1.6 - RootkitRevealer is an advanced patent-pending root kit detection utility. It runs on Windows NT 4 and higher and its output lists Registry and file system API discrepancies that may indicate the presence of a user-mode or kernel-mode rootkit.
• Software and Tools roundup - On ocinside.de is a new roundup with dozens of small Tools and programs to tune the PC hardware.
• 7-Zip 4.31 - 7-Zip is a file archiver with high compression ratio. The new version improves speed and adds support for # LZH, # CHM, # Multivolume CAB.
• phpMyAdmin 2.7.0 final - phpMyAdmin can manage a whole MySQL-server (needs a super-user) but also a single database. To accomplish the latter you`ll need a properly set up MySQL-user who can read/write only the desired database.
• BitTorrent 4.2.1 Final - A new BitTorrent client v4.2.1 is available for download (changelog) and there's the latest beta 4.3.1
• WinMerge 2.5.0.3 Experimental Build - WinMerge (download) is a Win32 tool for visual difference display and merging, for both files and directories. Unicode support. Flexible syntax coloring editor. Windows Shell integration. Regexp filtering. Side-by-side line diff and highlights diffs inside lines.
• SpamPal 1.73c  - SpamPal (download) is a spam filtering system whose main aim is to separate spam from the mail you really want to read, by filtering the spam into a separate spamtrap folder. SpamPal works as a POP3/IMAP4 mail proxy server, in other words, SpamPal sits between your email program and your ISP's server.
• FreePOPs 0.0.96 - FreePOPs is an easily extensible program, which allows access to the most varied resources through the POP3 protocol.
• Fasterfox 1.0.0 - Fasterfox includes performance and network tweaks for Firefox. It will Prefetch Links, Tweak Networks, Block Popups and includes a Page Load Timer.
• Real Alternative 1.46 - Real Alternative will allow you to play RealMedia files without having to install RealPlayer or RealOne Player from Real Networks. Supported are: RealAudio (.ra .rpm), RealMedia (.rm .ram .rmvb .rpx .smi .smil), RealText (.rt) and ReadPix (.rp). It also supports RealMedia content that is embedded in webpages. The very user-friendly installation is fully customizable, which means that you can install only those components that you want.
• QuickTime Alternative 1.67 & 1.55 - QuickTime Alternative 1.67 is based on QuickTime 7.0.3.50, which adds support for H.264 and more, but it does not support Windows 95, 98, 98 SE, ME and NT any longer.
• Winamp 5.120 - Nullsoft Winamp (download full / lite) is a fast, flexible, high-fidelity media player for Windows.
• Mp3tag 2.34d - Mp3tag can rename files based on the tag information, replace characters or words from tags and filenames, import/export tag information, create playlists, and more.
• VideoLAN 0.8.4 - VideoLAN is an excellent multimedia player with it's own plugins for playing different formats, so it doesn't need any codecs to be installed. It works great for previewing partially downloaded files too.
• FFDShow MPEG-4 Video Decoder 20051208 - FFDShow MPEG-4 Video Decoder is a DirectShow decoding filter for decompressing DIVX movies, picture postprocessing, and show subtitles.
• HyperSnap-DX 6.01.00 (shw) - HyperSnap-DX 5 (download) is a screen capture and image editing tool for MS Windows. It captures screens from standard desktop programs and even those hard-to-grab DirectX, Direct3D, 3Dfx Voodoo and Glide mode games.
• Hmonitor 4.2.3.1 - Hardware sensors (download) monitor utilizes sensor chips on smart motherboards to track system and CPU temperatures, voltages and cooling fans.
• EVEREST System Diagnostic Tool v2.5 - The new release ($14.50) includes support for HD DVD-ROM drives, the IA SSE4 instruction set, chipset information for Intel i975X, and many other advanced technologies. The Corporate and Ultimate Editions can be purchased at a discounted price through January 31, 2006.
• BenQ 1640 firmware BSNB -  BenQ has released a new firmware for BenQ 1640, version BSNB.
• Nvidia Unified (nforce 2/3/4) 8.22 (Remix)  - A remix set is a collection of NFORCE files that are are publicly available on the internet somewhere or another.
• The Catalyst Uninstaller - This tool is used to uninstall ATI related files from your system.
• Radeon Omega Drivers 2.6.87 (Cat 5.12) - Omegadrive has released a new version of his popular modified driver. These drivers are based on ATI's catalyst drivers 5.12 and they include a customized version of ATI Tray Tools instead of Radlinker.