Internet Doomsday That Never Was | Tempo - News in a Flash

Manila, Philippines ? Last week, I suddenly felt much younger. Without warning, I found myself reliving the last few days of 1999.

Yes, last week felt like it was Y2K again. A d?j? vu it certainly was.

Although at a more minuscule scale, the DNSChanger scareware has nevertheless a huge impact on the online world. I for one took the time to check my home computer?s DNSChanger status on at least a couple of occasions.

I guess, what I felt upon seeing those green stripes when I accessed those FBI-sanctioned DNSChanger status-checking Web sites must have approximated what some people do when they see a single stripe appear on those pregnancy-test kits they buy from their favorite drug stores.

Anyway, media reports indicated that only an insignificant portion of the Internet population has been affected by the virus.

Indeed, very Y2K.

Microsoft Confidence

After its well-received announcement of the Surface tablets, Microsoft has been on a roll, in a manner of speaking.

Gone is that ?are you embarrassed by your own products? demeanor that for so long has characterized Microsoft?s product launches and announcements. In its place is the self-assured, almost boastful mien that the software giant exudes when it unveils new products and technologies.

At its Worldwide Partners Conference in Toronto, Microsoft confirmed that hardware products running its next-generation computer operating system, Windows 8, will hit store shelves in late October. The company also said it has agreed to purchase Perceptive Pixel, a tech company that specializes in huge, multitouch displays.

The software company also said it is launching its Office 365 Open, which gives its partner vendors another source of revenue.

Several market analysts noticed Microsoft?s recently rediscovered gung-ho attitude, with some of them concurring that indeed great things are in store for the world?s largest software company. Ballmer, for example, forecast some 375 million new Windows PCs will be sold in the following year.

Microsoft has regained its mojo. And finally learned to make its own Kool Aid.

Microsoft?s Perceptive Deal

Let?s take a closer look at Microsoft?s announced deal to acquire Perceptive Pixel, the company that created those huge interactive screens that CNN used during its coverage of the 2008 American elections. Those screens looked like a tablet computer on steroids.

At first glance, the deal does not make any sense. After all, most tech companies are obsessed with coming up with their own bestselling tablet computers. And of course, Microsoft is one of the more notorious among the bandwagon jumpers.

Apparently, Microsoft intends to integrate Perceptive?s technologies with its business productivity tools and products. But before we get carried away and picture ourselves editing our Word documents or revising Excel formulas on those huge screens, I think we should realize that Microsoft is thinking more about applications, such as teleconferencing.

Hmm. Should we expect a Microsoft-Perceptive display to appear in a starring role in a future episode of the hit series NCIS?

That?s all for the meantime, folks. Join me again next time as we keep on watching IT. (ALLAN D. FRANCISCO)

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Source: http://www.tempo.com.ph/2012/internet-doomsday-that-never-was/

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