Nintendo has continued its recent console success throughout May, with the DS taking top spot and the Wii in a comfortable second in terms of sales. The Nintendo DS sold an impressive 423,000 units and the Wii 338,000 units, with the PSP next in line with 221,000 units, ahead of the PlayStation 2's 188,000 units. The PS3 and Xbox 360 are continuing to lag behind, with Sony's latest console on just 82,000 and the Xbox 360 on 155,000 units - the PS3 only beat Game Boy Advance figures by a mere one thousand units. Sales in May totalled $815.5 million, up 49% compared to figures from last year - a strong month for the games industry.

In an effort to better reflect the capabilities of IPTV, Microsoft has decided to rename it "Mediaroom." The name change comes along with an upgrade which allows users to share media content with other computers on the network. Users of Mediaroom will also be able to view multiple channels and programs on one screen. Currently more than 18 of the world's largest providers have agreed to offer Mediaroom as part of their digital TV package.

Microsoft has posted its latest security bulletin, offering patches for 15 vulnerabilities in its operating system, Internet Explorer browser (both IE6 and IE7), and other software products. Nine of the 15 flaws are labeled critical. To get the Windows updates and Microsoft Office updates for your home computer or laptop go to the Microsoft Update webpage or click here for direct download link.

Internet search giant Google filed a 49 page document with the U.S. Justice Department and state attorney general charging that Microsoft's Windows Vista impairs the performance of "desktop search" programs that finds data stored on a computer's hard drive. Google believes that Microsoft is not complying with the 2002 antitrust ruling because "The search boxes built throughout Vista are hard-wired to Microsoft's own desktop search product, with no way for users to choose an alternate provider." Microsoft says it has already made more than a dozen changes to address regulators' concerns.

Microsoft Corp. and LG Electronics (LGE) today announced that they have entered into a patent cross-license agreement to further the development of the companies' current and future product lines. Microsoft has focused on patent agreements in the recent past to develop a best-practices model for protecting intellectual property (IP) and respecting the IP rights of others, as well as building bridges with an array of industry leaders, including consumer electronics, telecommunications and computer hardware providers.

Microsoft has released an updated version of DirectX for June, although it isn't clear whether the update is just for DirectX 9.0c or for DirectX 10 on Vista as well. Regardless of this, it is still recommended that Vista users update their systems because Vista will benefit from any DirectX 9.0c fixes when playing DirectX 9 games. The web installer is only for Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 (both 32-bit and 64-bit versions), whilst the redistributable version will also work with Vista. The download links are listed below:

• Web installer for Windows 2000, XP and 2003: download [44KB - 41.4MB]
• Redistributable installer for Windows 2000, XP, 2003 and Vista: download [53.6MB]

Microsoft launched the Zune digital media player in the US in November 2006. It was anticipated that Microsoft will introduce the Zune player outside of the United States in late 2007. Microsoft-chief Steve Ballmer now said in an interview with the German Wirtschafts Woche that the Zune launch in Europe is canceled for autumn 2007. He does not give a new date and blames the delay on the fact that MS is still loosing money on the Zune. In October 2006 Microsoft's Media & Alliance Manager Dene Schonknecht already said in the UK that the Zune might not launch before 2008. Microsoft is also preparing new Zune player models for Christmas later this year.

New betas for the Windows Live Writer blogging tool, Windows Live Messenger IM client, and Windows Live Mail e-mail program have been released. Windows Live Writer is a tool to compose blog posts and publish them on some of the Web's most popular blogging platforms, such as Windows Live Spaces, Community Server, WordPress, and TypePad. In addition to the Writer update, Microsoft also released new betas for its instant-messaging and Web-based mail services this week.

Windows Live Messenger 8.5 is now in official beta and includes a new Windows Vista Aero interface. Windows Live Mail, the successor to Windows Mail that is included in Windows Vista and Outlook Express on Windows XP, also has a new beta release. The new version includes a new UI that is similar to other services in Windows Live and also allows users to sync to their Windows Live Hotmail accounts.

The launch of Microsoft Surface marks the beginning of a new technology category and a user-interface revolution. Surface, Microsoft's first surface computer, provides effortless interaction with digital content through natural hand gestures, touch and physical objects. Surface computing breaks down traditional barriers between people and technology, changing the way people interact with all kinds of everyday information - from photos to maps to menus.

Key features demonstrated in the videos included:

• Multi-touch ability.
• Recognition and syncing of wireless devices by placing on touch panel
• Ability to identify non-digital devices, such as a drink glass, based on shape.
• Hand gesture system to further interact with the touch panel.
• New, non-windows based interface.

The videos really speak for themselves. According to the website, Surface technology will be
available in Winter 2007.

Microsoft Live Search Maps will today begin offering three-dimensional, photo-realistic views of New York City buildings and landscapes, with perspectives that few people - apart from Superman - have ever seen. The free online service will provide a unique look at many of New York's iconic locations, along with local listings, ratings and reviews and driving directions to help people easily find, discover, plan and share relevant location information that is important to them on the Web.

As everyone knows Microsoft is planning to attempt to merge PC gaming and Console gaming. This plan will without a doubt fail miserably and ONLY to create tensions between console gamers and PC gamers. Why will it fail you ask? Really it's quite simple. As every PC gamer knows PC gamers have several distinct advantages over Console Gamers ...

At this week's WinHEC 2007 conference in Los Angeles, Microsoft gave the final name of what was previously known only as Windows Server codename "Longhorn." Windows Server 2008, which recently reached the Beta 3 milestone, is expected to be available in four different editions: web, standard, enterprise, and datacenter. Windows Server 2008 builds on the improved reliability, security and manageability of Windows Server 2003 R2 to help alleviate pressures on IT professionals today by adding enhancements to further automate daily management tasks, tighten security, provide a more extensible platform for hosting and Web applications, improve efficiency, and increase network availability. The final version of the operating system will be released later this year.

Microsoft's new operating system, Windows Vista, sold 40 million copies in 100 days making it the fastest selling operating system in history. Premium Edition accounts for 78 percent of sales. Chairman Bill Gates credits an accelerated consumer shift to the digital lifestyle. Windows operating systems run on more than 95 percent of the world's computers.

The conflict continues between software giant Microsoft and the open source community. Lawyers for Microsoft say the Linux kernel violates 42 patents, the Linux GUI another 65 while Open Office infringes upon 68 of its patents. Email programs as well as other various software rounds out a grand total of 235. Microsoft has yet to seek royalties from these alleged infractions and would face tough opposition from the open source community.

Microsoft on Tuesday released patches for 19 security flaws as part of its monthly patch cycle. The fixes cover security holes in Windows, Office and Internet Explorer. Two of the updates are for Microsoft's newest operating system Vista. Microsoft recommends all users to upgrade through either Automatic Updates within Windows or the Windows Update website. You can read Microsoft's security bulletin detailing all the patches here.

Microsoft Corp. and Novell Inc. today announced that Dell Inc. is the first major systems provider to join the business collaboration that was formed by Microsoft and Novell in response to customer demand for greater interoperability and intellectual property (IP) assurance. As part of the agreement, Dell will purchase SUSE Linux Enterprise Server certificates from Microsoft and establish a services and marketing program to migrate existing Linux users who are not Dell Linux customers to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.

Microsoft Corp. today announced that Windows Live Hotmail, the successor to MSN Hotmail, is launching globally in 36 languages. Windows Live Hotmail will deliver a safer, more powerful and productive e-mail experience than previous versions with flexible access via the Web, on a mobile phone or with an e-mail client. As Windows Live Hotmail begins rolling out on May 7 and continues over the coming days, consumers will be able to visit www.hotmail.com to sign up for a new Windows Live Hotmail account. Current MSN Hotmail customers can also update their existing account to Windows Live Hotmail by logging into their account and clicking on the green Join Windows Live Hotmail button. Later this month Windows Live Hotmail customers will also be able to access their Windows Live Hotmail e-mail and contacts for free using Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 or Office Outlook 2007 via the new Microsoft Office Outlook Connector beta.

Although Microsoft certainly isn't in any financial difficulty, it's no secret that (much like Sony and the PS3) the company is making a loss on each Xbox 360 console it sells. However, Microsoft's president of Entertainment and Devices, Robbie Bach, has now said that the firm's gaming division "will be profitable next year". However, this money still won't be coming from the console itself, but more likely software licenses, Xbox Live and peripheral sales. When it comes to the actual Xbox 360, although Bach suggested that the company does expect that future profits will eventually compensate for the early losses once production costs fall, it sounds unlikely that it will ever make any real cash for the company. Microsoft's gaming division has failed to make a profit in the six years since the firm Xbox was launched, with Nintendo the only major console manufacturer profiting from current sales.

After losing out to Google in a bidding war to buy online advertising company DoubleClick, Microsoft could be about to acquire Yahoo!, a site best known for its search capabilities. The deal is being reported to be worth as much as $50 billion, and would allow Microsoft a stronger market position to compete with Google in the growing business of online searching. Earlier this week Yahoo! announced that it would be buying a further 80% share in advertising firm Right Media for a sum of $680 million, leaving it in full control of the company, a move which probably increased Microsoft's interest in such a deal. Yahoo!'s shares rose to $32.25 from $28.18 after news of this merger, which could change the face of online searching over the coming years - and may have a significant impact on free online email services considering that Microsoft is in control of MSN Hotmail.

For over three years, dedicated Halo fans have been waiting for the next installment of the Halo series to finally hit the PC. Whether or not it is an ugly port like the last one was, here are the official system requirements for Halo 2 on the PC.

• Windows Vista
• 2 Ghz Pentium 4 class processor
• 1GB RAM
• 7GB hard disk space
• DX9 graphics card: WDDM driver, PS 2.0/32BPP, At least nVidia 6000 or ATI x700 or above
• DVD-ROM drive
• Internet connection for online play

Those of you who have an Xbox 360 and want to buy an Xbox 360 Elite (or already have) will want to transfer the content from their "old" 20GB HDD to your new 120GB HDD on your Elite. But you you're out of luck ... well, until now.

Microsoft decided to give out free data-transfer accessories to those who have both, an Xbox 360 and a Xbox 360 Elite. Until now only those who have purchased a 120GB HDD for their Xbox 360s have gotten a transfer accessory with the HDD.

But to get the accessory for free you have to go through some annoying bureaucracy. First, you have to download, print, and fill out an authorization form with both consoles' serial numbers. Said form must then be sent via standard US mail to a redemption center in Indiana, which will then send out an Xbox 360 data-transfer accessory kit, for free.

Anyone who's bought the version of the Xbox360 with the 20GB hard drive knows the underwhelming collection of free stuff pre-loaded on the hard drive. The Xbox 360 Elite will have much more free content pre-loaded on it. For the extra money it would cost to get an Xbox360 Elite, you get three game demos, free episodes of popular television shows, and some movie previews. The three game demos are Burnout Revenge, Kameo, and Tomb Raider: Legend. There will be eight videos on the Xbox 360, including one full length episode of Justice League. All this free content sums up to one thing: Microsoft is trying to show off how their machine is more than just a gaming platform.

After year s of pouring money into Windows Vista and Office 2007, the work has finally paid off with Microsoft reporting record profits for the quarter ending 31st March 2007. Microsoft's closest rival, Apple Inc, yesterday reported that it managed a turnover of $5.26 billion and profits of $770 million from software and hardware sales, but Microsoft has maintained its dominance with revenue of $14.40 billion and a net income of $6.59 billion. Much of this has been thanks to strong sales of the company's newly released OS, with Kevin Turner (Microsoft's chief operating officer) commenting "This quarter marked the consumer launches of Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system, and we are delighted with the positive customer response these products have received. We continue to deliver on our compelling product cycle and build upon strong field sales and marketing execution in order to drive revenue and profit growth for the company." Read on for the full press release.

In a figurative triple play, the Delaware Multimedia Patent Trust (MPT) is suing three technology giants for large sums of money. They are claiming that they own patents to Lucent technologies, and the right to sue for past infringements. The MPT is suing over patents regarding an "adaptive non-linear quantizer", "optimized scanning of transform coefficients in video coding", and "video coding with optimized low complexity variable length codes". The MPT wants a lot of money to cover damages, costs, and expenses.

Microsoft released its next-generation Windows Server "Longhorn" software for public testing on Wednesday and said the product is on track for a debut in the second half of 2007. The company said it expects hundreds of thousands of information technology workers to download the Beta 3 version of the next server operating system code-named Longhorn. Longhorn, which will replace the current Windows Server 2003, is the server operating system equivalent of Microsoft's new Windows Vista PC operating system with an emphasis on many of the same features such as better security. The download is available at www.microsoft.com/getbeta3.