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2006/03/31

Microsoft Support Lifecycle Newsletter - March 2006

Microsoft Support Lifecycle Lifecycle Informational Update for Customers March 2006

www.support.microsoft.com/lifecycle -----

IN THIS ISSUE: 1.0 What this Update Means for Customers 2.0 Microsoft Support Lifecycle Program Highlights 3.0 Product and Service Pack Highlights 3.1 Key Products Transitioning from Mainstream Support to Extended Support 3.2 Key Products Transitioning out of Extended Support to Online Self-Help Support 3.3 Key Service Packs Transitioning out of Extended Support 3.4 Notable New Products and Service Packs 4.0 Lifecycle Calendar 4.1 Products Transitioning from Mainstream Support to Extended Support 4.2 Products Transitioning from Mainstream Support to Non-Support 4.3 Products Transitioning out of Extended Support to Non-Support 4.4 Service Packs Transitioning to Non-Support 5.0 Resources -----

1.0 What this Update Means for Customers

This update is to provide customers with regular, quarterly information and announcements regarding the Microsoft Support Lifecycle (MSL). It includes updates on MSL programs and policies and also provides a forward-looking calendar of products for which support is about to change or end.

As a valued Microsoft customer, this update provides important support information about products you may be using. Please review this update and contact your Technical Account Manager or Account Representative with any questions or for more information. -----

2.0 Microsoft Support Lifecycle Program Highlights

Support Lifecycle Expiration Date Adjustments In response to customer feedback, and to provide customers with better consistency around product expiration dates, Microsoft has announced an adjustment to the Support Lifecycle expiration dates for all current and future products. The following points summarize the changes: -Products will expire on the second Tuesday after the end of the fiscal quarter. This timeline will coincide with the release of the second Tuesday security update release cycle. -Security updates released on the same day a product expires will be supported for 30 days following the release. In the event Microsoft releases a security update on the same day that a product is scheduled to end its supported life, the security update will be supported for a minimum of 30 days.

Over the next three months, every Microsoft product will have its expiration date adjusted in accordance with these changes. Adjusted dates will be posted on the MSL external site http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4742497 and featured regularly in MSL Quarterly Update bulletins beginning in May 2006.

Support Lifecycle Clarification for Consumer Products Please note the following clarification on the Support Lifecycle Policy for Consumer products:

For Consumer, Hardware, Multimedia, and Microsoft Business Solutions products, Microsoft will either offer a minimum of 5 years of Mainstream Support from the date of a product’s general availability, or 2 years of Mainstream Support following the release of the successor product (N+1), whichever is longer. Extended support is not offered for Consumer, Hardware, Multimedia, or Business Solutions products. Most products will also receive at least 8 years of online self-help support.

More information can be found in the MSL FAQ: http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4742498

Java Virtual Machine Support Expiring--December 31, 2007 The MSJVM will transition to non-supported status on December 31, 2007. Customers are encouraged to take proactive measures to stay informed about obsolete software and move away from the MSJVM in a timely fashion. The MSJVM is no longer available for distribution from Microsoft and there will be no enhancements to the MSJVM. Microsoft products and SKUs currently including the MSJVM will continue to be retired or replaced by versions not containing the MSJVM on a schedule to be announced. Additional details can be found at http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4742499. -----

3.0 Product and Service Pack Highlights

3.1 Key Products Transitioning from Mainstream Support to Extended Support General Information on Extended Support and Extended Hotfix Support Agreements (EHSAs): -All paid incident support options continue to be available -Security updates continue to be available throughout this phase -Support is only available at the supported Service Pack level -Warranty support, Software Assurance Problem Resolution Support and Design Change requests are no longer available -Non-security hotfix requests require an EHSA -Non-Software Assurance customers must enroll for an EHSA within the first 90 days of the Extended Support Phase -Software Assurance customers can sign-up for an EHSA at any time and the EHSA program fee is included with their SA benefits

SQL Server™ 7.0 and Exchange 2000 - December 31, 2005 On December 31, 2005, the SQL Server 7.0 products and Exchange 2000 Server products, listed below, transitioned from the Mainstream Support to the Extended Support phase. Customers without Software Assurance must enroll for an EHSA by March 31, 2006. -SQL Server 7.0 Standard Edition, SP4 -SQL Server 7.0 Enterprise Edition, SP4 -Exchange 2000 Standard Edition, SP3 -Exchange 2000 Enterprise Edition, SP3

WindowsÒ XP - Mainstream Support Extension Windows XP was scheduled to end Mainstream Support on December 31, 2006. However, its follow-on release, Windows Vista™, is not scheduled to ship until late 2006. In keeping with Lifecycle Policy, Windows XP will remain in Mainstream Support for two years after Windows Vista’s release. Dates on the external site will be updated once an official release date for Windows Vista is announced.

Office XP - June 30, 2006 On June 30, 2006, the Office XP products listed below will transition to the Extended Support phase. Customers without Software Assurance must enroll for an EHSA by September 30, 2006. -Office XP Developer Edition, SP3 -Office XP Professional Edition, SP3 -Office XP Standard Edition, SP3

Exchange 2000 Conference Server - Mainstream Support Extended Exchange 2000 Conference Server was previously scheduled to enter Extended Support on December 31, 2005. In keeping with Lifecycle Policy, Exchange 2000 Conference Server will remain in Mainstream Support for two years after Microsoft has released a follow-on product.

3.2 Key Products Transitioning out of Extended Support to Non-Support General information about Non-support and Custom Support Agreements (CSAs): -Products in the non-supported phase do not receive support, including phone and incident support, as well as no-charge security updates -Online self-help support (the knowledgebase and support articles) will continue to be available for at least 12 months -CSAs may be made available for certain products

Exchange 5.5 - January 10, 2006 On January 10, 2006, Exchange 5.5 moved out of the Extended Support phase, to a non- supported status. A CSA is available until December, 2007 and will only provide support at the SP4 level.

WindowsÒ 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Me - July 11, 2006* On July 11, 2006, Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition and Windows Me (and their related components) will transition to a non-supported status. After this date, Microsoft will no longer provide any incident support options or security updates. Microsoft is not offering CSAs for these products.

Additional information on Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition and Windows Me can be located at: http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4742500. *Date change to be reflected online and in product calendar by April 2006

3.3 Key Service Packs Transitioning out of Support

WindowsÒ XP SP1 - October 10, 2006* On October 10, 2006, Windows XP Service Pack 1 will transition out of its supported lifecycle. After this date, customers will no longer receive support for XP SP1. To continue to receive support and no-charge security updates, customers must migrate to Service Pack 2. A CSA for Windows XP SP1 will available for one year (until October 10, 2007). *Date change to be reflected online and in product calendar by April 2006

Office 2003 SP1 - October 10, 2006* Microsoft will support SP1 for Office 2003 until October 10, 2006. A CSA will not be offered for Office 2003 SP1. New licenses will be at the SP2 level, and it is recommended that customers with SP1 upgrade their desktops to maintain product support beyond October 2006. A Custom Support Agreement for Office 2003 SP1 will not be available. *Date change to be reflected online and in product calendar by April 2006

3.4 Notable New Products and Service Packs

Windows ServerÒ 2003 R2 and Virtual Server 2005 R2 Under the current Lifecycle policy, derivative products follow the Mainstream and Extended Support dates of the original product. In this case, Windows Server 2003 R2 will follow the original Lifecycle dates for Windows Server 2003. Virtual Server 2005 R2 will follow the original Lifecycle dates of Virtual Server 2005. -----

4.0 Lifecycle Calendar

The Lifecycle Calendar is not available in the text-only version of the newsletter. Please subscribe to the HTML version to receive this information. -----

5.0 Resources

MSL External Site * http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4742501 Frequently Asked Questions * http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4742502 Service Pack Information * http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4742503

© 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Age of Empires, Axapta, BizTalk, Dungeon Siege, Entourage, FrontPage, Great Plains, IntelliMouse, Internet Explorer, Links, MapPoint, MechCommander, Natural, Navision, Outlook, Picture It! , PowerPoint, SharePoint, SideWinder, SQL Server, Visio, Visual C++6.0, Visual FoxPro, Windows, Windows Server, and Windows Vista are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Macintosh is a trademark of Apple Computer Inc., registered in the United States and/or other countries. Bicycle, the Bicycle logo and the Bicycle Ace of Spades are registered trademarks of The United States Playing Card Co. in the United States and/or other countries; trademarks used under license by Microsoft Corp. Scholastic and The Magic School Bus are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other registered trademarks and trademarks are property of their respective owner

Today in the Department of Defense for Apr 01 through Apr 03 2005

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News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Sorenson

TRANSCRIPT from the United States Department of Defense

DoD News Briefing News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Sorenson Friday, March, 31, 2006 - 00:00 AM EDT

GEN. SORENSON: Good afternoon.

I've just been asked to come down here to talk about a few things with respect to some reports that have been in the press. But before I do that, let me make -- and I don't have any formal statement -- but let me just talk a little bit about what we do in the Army with respect to delivering of capability.

We have a very disciplined process that we go through in terms of providing capability and fielding equipment. It's a very disciplined process. It's a very rigorous process. It has stood the test of time. And there are three fundamental aspects of this: the equipment that we deliver to the soldier is safe, it is suitable and it's effective. And we have standards to make sure that all those particular criteria are met. If, in fact, those criteria are not met, then the equipment is not fielded. And I know in some cases there have been advertisements about capabilities that particular companies have that they think is better than what we have, in this case, delivered, but the fact of the matter is they have not met the Army's standard to date.

And I can tell you that I respond to letters on a very frequent basis that either companies or individuals have sent in to Congressional members, that they've got the latest, greatest product and why can't we use it. And all we do is give them the point of contact, who to go to -- who to do see with respect to demonstrating that they can meet the Army's standard. And that's just but the facts of life. I mean, you can meet the Army's standard, we'll field. You can't meet, we don't field. And there is -- that is a red line for us.

So with that, I don't really have anything more to say, but I'm here to answer some of your questions.

Q General Sorenson?

GEN. SORENSON: Yeah.

Q Matthew Cox from Army Times.

Do you believe in the safety message that says that Dragon Skin currently -- the current form of it -- does not meet the Army requirements?

GEN. SORENSON: That's correct.

Q Can you go into some detail as to why it does not?

GEN. SORENSON: Well, I'm not going to go into the specific details, but I'll say this. That particular, if you will, capability right now has basically been a Small Business Innovative Research project that the Army has put close to a million dollars into, and we are encouraging everybody to provide their good ideas.

I can just tell you at this point in time that the standard that we have set for our individual body armor is known to all, and we have an independent lab that does it, so it's not some sort of special Army test, you know, done in a back room where you kind of grade the paper. It's an independent lab that does the evaluation, and they have, at this point in time, agreed to provide some product-representative capabilities sometime in the next few months and we can actually go up and demonstrate a test. But to date, they have not provided production-representative capability for us to evaluate.

Okay. Yes, sir?

Ma'am?

Q General, can you tell us today with certainty that everyone who's serving in Iraq and Afghanistan has the best possible body armor available? Is that -- are you confident they --

GEN. SORENSON: I can say that with -- unequivocally state that we have provided to the field, to theater, effective, I think it was the first part of March here, where we got a response back from Coalition Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC) that we had provided them their requirement in terms of IBA -- basically the outer tactical vest, as well as the SAPI (Small Arms Protective Insert), ESAPI (the plates) whatever is required, that they have satisfied that requirement. And that is currently in theater, that's true.

Q Would you say that these companies that are offering up this other armor -- are they war profiteers, then, or ?

GEN. SORENSON: No, I would not go so far as to say that. Again, what I'm saying is this particular company, Pinnacle Armor, we have -- the Army has invested close to a million dollars in terms of trying to encourage them to work with and develop a different set of body armor, if you will.

I mean, the body armor that we're currently now providing in terms of fielding has gone through seven iterations -- seven improvements, if you will. And so they've basically gone back and taken a look at that and tried to come up with a different way of doing it, and we're encouraging them to do such. But until they meet the Army's standard in terms of what we set for safety, for being effective and suitable, it's not going to be fielded.

Yes, sir?

Q Now, can I just clarify one point that you made and then ask a question? You said that earlier in March you were informed that the amount of body armor was in the field that needed to be there?

GEN. SORENSON: Right.

Q Are you saying that until the beginning of this month, there wasn't?

GEN. SORENSON: Oh, no, no, no. No, let me reiterate what I said. We have continued to provide capability to the theater. We have continued to meet their requirements. The latest iteration, the latest improvement has now been completely fielded to theater. So what I mean by that is, as of March now -- we've actually provided the *latest* capability. Up until that point in time, we just kept evolving over time. So we have met requirements way back, and we can go back and provide that history for you in terms of chronology, when we have satisfied different requirements, but we have satisfied requirements all along. All I'm saying is in this particular case it was the latest iteration of improvements that we basically provided to theater.

Q Was there ever a shortage of -- oh, I'm sorry. You had another question. Go ahead.

Q I just wanted to ask, if a soldier doesn't think that they are being given the best equipment, what's wrong with them using something they buy with their own money that they have confidence in?

GEN. SORENSON: Well, we put out a safety of use message, and we put it out to the commanders. And basically, the safety of use message said that we consider that if there's something other than what we have given and standardized as our IBA standard, that there is a concern that the Army has in terms of death or injury. So it's a pretty significant statement to put out a safety of use message. It's not something we take lightly.

And, you know, if a Soldier is just going to basically disobey, then I'm not sure what -- you know, that's a command issue that has to be taken care of in the theater and within the particular command. So, I don't know if that answers the question.

Q So -- (inaudible) -- they could be disciplined if they're wearing --

GEN. SORENSON: Yes, that's correct.

Q General, was there ever a shortage of body armor in Iraq? And when did it -- when was the problem corrected, if there was a problem?

GEN. SORENSON: Well, I mean, I don't know -- how far are we going back here?

Q Well, since the U.S. troops invaded, and was there a point where there was a shortage, and when was it over?

GEN. SORENSON: I would say this. You know, when we first deployed, yeah, the guys that basically or the people that basically had body armor were essentially the infantry or the armor soldiers -- the ones who were doing the fight. And then after time, you know, we figured out that the fight was no longer just the road to Baghdad it was essentially an asymmetric war, because we had people driving trucks that also became basically like infantry.

And so, yes, we had to ramp up. And was there a shortage over time? Yes. And when we first got started, we didn't have, you know, hundreds and thousands of these sets that we had deployed.

Q Well, what do you have now?

GEN. SORENSON: We have over -- I would say at this -- we have satisfied the requirements, so it's over 200,000 sets in theater.

Q Now, as I understand it, the appeal of this -- some of the alternative body armor that you can buy commercially is, as you're well aware, the number one complaint with body armor is it's heavy.

GEN. SORENSON: Right.

Q And some of this stuff is lighter and more flexible. And isn't there a trade-off in terms of, you know, having more mobility versus having more armor? And if soldiers are looking for something that maybe gives them more mobility, perhaps doesn't give them the same protection, is that not something that people in the field who have to really deal with this ought to be able to take into account?

GEN. SORENSON: Well, I'll say this, that's true. I mean, but in some cases here we have not seen that this capability has done anything with respect to preventing -- providing any level of force protection that we evaluate as even standard. So from that standpoint, it's -- I'm not sure wearing it provides anything more than what they're wearing with the SAPI plates -- with the -- rather the OTV vest or something of that nature.

So I mean, it's not --

Q Do you think it even provides minimum protection?

GEN. SORENSON: Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I mean, there is particular evidence to state that we're not really sure what it provides, and it has not demonstrated it can provide up to standard.

Q General, put aside the question of war profiteering. This company has made claims about this body armor that have been repeated and repeated, and have certainly raised expectations, you know, among families of soldiers that are deployed and among the soldiers themselves.

Is that unhelpful that they have raised these expectations? And have they made false claims about their product?

GEN. SORENSON: Well, again, I don't want to label anything here with respect to that particular connotation, but what I would say is the following: I think the mothers and the fathers that are currently having soldiers deployed, whether they're female or male, ought to feel comfortable with the fact and know from the standpoint that we have provided the best body armor that is available anywhere in the world. All these other claims that are being made are essentially at this point in time, that's exactly what they are -- claims. They have not been tested. They have not been evaluated. They have not passed the rigor that we put into standards determining whether something is safe, effective and suitable. And until such time that they can do that, we will not give them, if you will, the good housekeeping seal of approval. Okay?

So from that standpoint, you know, if soldiers are doing this, they're doing it at their own risk. And quite frankly, it's probably not advisable because we have not found that the protection provided by these other particular systems is anywhere near what the soldiers have today.

Q General, can you say -- does this weaken your argument at all that the other services have not followed suit, and/or that DOD has not sort of issued this directive in a blanket way to cover all of DOD, but the other services obviously allowing other armor to continue?

And then just secondarily, Pinnacle has said that they are going to provide this equipment for testing in May. Once that is done, is there an opening here to allow that, if it passes the test?

GEN. SORENSON: Let me -- let me address the first point.

First of all, the requirement that -- or the standard that has been satisfied at this point in time for the Army is the same for the Marine Corps. So the Marines and the Army are basically doing the same thing.

Now, I will say that there is another service that has procured this type of capability, but has recently recalled it because it did not meet standards.

So I don't know, you know, if the other service -- I can't speak for the other services, like the Air Force and Navy -- I can't even speak for the Marine Corps, other than to say that I do know we have the same requirement. But what they decide is acceptable and suitable for their soldiers and airmen and sailors is essentially up to them.

Q Do you mean --

GEN. SORENSON: But let me get to the next question.

Your second question was, if they come in fact and show that they can demonstrate the capability, would we consider buying it? And I would say at the same point in time, the answer would be yes.

Q Or allowing soldiers to wear it, if they so choose to buy it themselves?

GEN. SORENSON: If they can provide the capability that satisfies the test which, to date, anything that they've delivered has not satisfied the test.

Q General Sorenson, I understand there are about 3,000 of these, according to the company, that are in theater now. It's kind of an unusual issue because it's sort of like saying you can purchase whatever weapon you want if you think it works better than the one you're issued.

Is there any question that having a couple of soldiers -- this isn't something I've heard anyone mention -- garbed in something that appears different is possibly a blue-on-blue issue? Because if you've got one guy who looks different from other soldiers and you're in a split-second sort of situation where people have to decide whether someone's a friendly or not, could that possibly be hazardous to that soldier?

GEN. SORENSON: Well, it could be. But I'm not sure that the -- I wouldn't even hesitate to suggest that that would be a possibility here. I mean, it may look different, but with everything else the soldiers are wearing, I'm not sure it's going to materially show. Okay? I mean it is -- I guess I would say this, could that be a potential scenario? The answer is yes. Is it likely? I'm not sure, okay?

The fact of the matter is -- I get back to what I said earlier -- we want these soldiers to have the best equipment, and that equipment is safe, suitable and effective. And to date, safety measures are predominant with everything we do. And we have received various reports back from soldiers who have been saved -- you know, obviously with their plates and so forth, and that's what we've basically focused on.

Q Well, what about soldiers and their families --

GEN. SORENSON: Let me just -- let me just get back here.

Q I'm wondering if the Army has done any studies of casualties that would show that there is, you know, a significant incident of casualties that occurred with people wearing body armor that's the commercial variety, you know, the kind that you want --

GEN. SORENSON: Well, there again, we do not use the theater of operations as a test case. So in some cases -- in other words, what I'm saying, we're not just out there -- "You try this and see if it works, and if it doesn't work, 'sorry, you had a bad day.'"

Q But they are using it in the field, right? I mean --

GEN. SORENSON: Again, to my knowledge, I do not know. I mean, the claims are such -- we have not been able to verify those claims. Every particular issue and statement that we sent out to the theater or as anybody wearing this, we have not received comments back that they are, so I do not know who has it. But I can tell you Army soldiers at this point in time, based upon the safety of use message that was sent out, are prohibited at this point in time from wearing it, and commanders -- it's a command requirement to basically take care of that.

Q General --

GEN. SORENSON: Yes, sir.

Q -- there have been reports that soldiers have complained about the weight of their personal body armor, especially in Iraq in the summertime. I assume that must something you all are addressing, trying to reduce the weight.

GEN. SORENSON: Yes. Yes.

Q Is that one of your big efforts right now --

GEN. SORENSON: Right. And like I said, this company was -- this Small Business Innovative Research was essentially awarded on that particular behalf that maybe they've got a different solution that we can take a look at and clearly making it to the point that it satisfies the standard and making it lighter is clearly what everybody is interested in.

But we have continued to examine all types of composites, all types of materials. So this is just a constant evolution. And if someone finds the Holy Grail, then we'll be right there to back up the dump truck and buy it!

Q But you haven't certified this armor? That's the main --

GEN. SORENSON: That's actually correct. It has *not* been certified.

Q Well, what about soldiers and their families who bought commercially available armor in good faith, thinking that it would be something that would be useful, and now they're stuck with it? Is there any means for them to be reimbursed? I remember hearing something about legislation about reimbursement. What's the status of that? Is there any reimbursement for people who put their own money out back when they thought they needed it?

GEN. SORENSON: You know, I think I'm going to have to -- I don't really know that I can answer that question, Jamie, entirely because I'm not sure exactly where that is.

I know at one point in time -- I think what we decided with respect to the safety of use message that was sent out on this particular system, the safety of use message essentially said we'll go ahead and pay for the shipping cost to bring it back, but we will not at this point in time reimburse for the procurement of that particular system.

But on others, I think there is basic legislation that essentially says at a point in time when we did have a gap, when we weren't able to provide the armor, those that basically procured armor can at this point submit a claim; that claim will be evaluated. If found to be valid, they will then be reimbursed.

STAFF: One more question, please, because we've got to --

Q General Sorenson --

Q General --

STAFF: This gentleman right here.

Q First of all, a quick question: Why did you specify one company specifically in that safety message, for question A?

GEN. SORENSON: Sure.

Q And for question B, could you be more specific about the money that you say you invested in the development of that specific body armor? Because company officials claim that the Army never invested any money and that they developed this system in 1998, before -- and brought it to the Army.

GEN. SORENSON: Well, whether they developed it in 1998 -- I can't really address if in fact they have. I can tell you for a fact that we have a contract with them for Small Business Innovative Research, that we have provided something less than a million dollars -- and it's close to a million dollars. And that is -- I mean -- (coughs) -- I'm sort of coughing -- excuse me -- because I'm "shocked" that they would say that.

Q Did that -- (off mike) -- then purchase the 30 vests, the vests --

GEN. SORENSON: Because they have a contract.

Q Right.

GEN. SORENSON: Now, if they want to go ahead and have us take the money back off the contract we can *easily* do that. (Laughter.)

Q So that would -- (off mike) -- purchase of 30 vests -- (off mike)?

GEN. SORENSON: No. No, no, no, no.

Q No --

GEN. SORENSON: No, that money is, again -- the Small Business Innovative Research is a science and technology effort --

Q Okay.

GEN. SORENSON: -- where we encourage many companies that are small. If they've got good ideas, they go through a process and they go through a -- you know, showing what their capability is, and then we make an award. Okay. And they have gone through phase one, which was basically awarded in 2001. Phase two is to complete here in -- I think July 2006. So they've gone through two phases.

Now, if they started this prior to that, that's fine. Maybe we just added to it in order to help, you know, push them along.

Q What are you asking them to do? What is it --

GEN. SORENSON: Again, to demonstrate a capability. And all we said is, we would go ahead and actually pay for 30 sets of something coming off their production line that we can then take through our basic, you know, test phase that we do with everything else that we've done. And all these seven improvements that we've done on IBA have gone through the same test process. It's been demonstrated to stand the -- it has stood the test of time. It works. It's effective. Everybody knows what it is. And they know what it is as well.

So when they show up with their stuff, we'll test it. Depending upon what the test results show, we'll buy it. Okay.

Q General, thank you.

Q I have one more question. I understand that the production of ESAPI plates has been reduced, and I'm wondering why that is and when that happened and by how much.

GEN. SORENSON: No, let me be clear about that. We had an immediate need to go ahead and satisfy theater requirements. We pushed to satisfy those theater requirements. We have not reduced the quantity with respect to how much ESAPI we are going to buy.

Now, at some point in time, mathematics are once you equip the entire Army, then you get into a sustain phase. So while we've ramped up to buy a lot of stuff with a lot of companies, we may have to back off just to get to sustainment. But we are still working to satisfy the, if you will, total Army requirement.

Q So you haven't transitioned into that sustainment phase yet?

GEN. SORENSON: Not that I'm aware of, no. No. Because it was an indefinite in order quantity contract. And so nothing at this point in time has been reduced.

Thank you very much.

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New Commander Takes Charge of Task Force Guantanamo

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA American Forces Press Service

NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba, March 31, 2006 - A Navy admiral assumed command today of Joint Task Force Guantanamo, the force responsible for detainee operations and intelligence gathering here.

Navy Rear Adm. Harry B. Harris assumed command from Army Maj. Gen. Jay Hood, who has commanded the task force since March 2004.

Harris, who most recently had been the director of the information, plans and security division for Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael G. Mullen at the Pentagon, said he is honored to take command of a force that plays such an important role in the war on terror.

"I'm very impressed by the people that work here," Harris said in an interview yesterday. "The dedication that I've seen with the military folks and the civilians that are here - I think they're doing a great job. I think their country is lucky to have them down here, and I'm very lucky and fortunate to be asked to take charge."

The mission of Joint Task Force Guantanamo is complex and challenging, but Harris is extraordinarily qualified, Army Gen. John Craddock, commander of U.S. Southern Command, said at the change of command ceremony. The chief of naval operations personally chose Harris, Craddock said, and the members of the task force are lucky to have him.

Hood, the outgoing commander, also expressed confidence in Harris's leadership. Harris's talents, coupled with the dedication of the servicemembers and civilians of the task force, will ensure the task force's mission continues at a high standard, Hood said.

"Our mission here at the joint task force is about protecting America from terrorists," Hood said to the task force members assembled at the ceremony. "(The terrorists) have underestimated your courage, your character, and your commitment to do what's right."

Harris said his goal is to maintain focus on the mission of providing safe and humane custody to detainees and continuing to gather intelligence valuable to the war on terror. The work of the task force is heavily scrutinized, he acknowledged, but he said he welcomes the scrutiny.

"The light of day is a useful thing," he said. "I hope that the American people will be given a chance to understand just how fortunate they are that young men and women in the armed services and the civilian agencies that are down here - that they're working their butts off in support of the American people."

Joint Task Force Guantanamo is vitally important to the war on terror, Harris said. To protect national security, America's enemies captured on the battlefield need to be detained somewhere, he noted.

"What we're about here on Guantanamo, is we are about defending our nation," he said. "We're doing it here in Guantanamo, because that's where our nation has called us to serve."

Hood moves on to be a special assistant to the commander of U.S. Forces Command at Fort Meade, Md.

Biography:

Gen. Bantz J. Craddock, USA [http://www.dod.mil/bios/craddock_bio.html]

Related Sites:

U.S. Southern Command [http://www.southcom.mil/]

Joint Task Force Guantanamo [http://www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil/]

Related Articles:

Commander Leads Gitmo Guard Force Through Challenges [http://www.dod.mil/news/Mar2006/20060331_4670.html]

Outgoing Commander Reflects on Guantanamo Mission [http://www.dod.mil/news/Mar2006/20060331_4667.html]

_______________________________________________________ NOTE: View the original version of this web page on DefenseLINK, the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2006/20060331_4677.html.

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==================================================== Visit the Defense Department's Web site for the latest news and information about America's response to the war against terrorism: "Defend America" at http://www.DefendAmerica.mil.

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ISP-Planet Daily Text Newsletter for March 31, 2006

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ISP-PLANET DAILY NEWSLETTER http://www.isp-planet.com March 31, 2006 The Intelligence Center for the ISP Community

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Contracts for March 31, 2006

CONTRACTS from the United States Department of Defense

No. 264-06 FOR RELEASE AT Mar 31, 2006 Media Contact: (703)697-5131 Public/Industry(703)428-0711

_CONTRACTS

_DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

AmeriQual Group, LLC, Evansville, Ind., * is being awarded a maximum $200,300,600 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for Meal Ready to Eat (MRE) and Humanitarian Daily Ration (HDR). Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. There were 3 proposals solicited and 3 responded. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is December 31, 2006. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM3S1-06-D-Z103).

SOPAKCO Packaging, Mullins, S.C., is being awarded a maximum $182,811,400 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for MRE and HDR. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Federal civilian agencies. There were 3 proposals solicited and 3 responded. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is Dec. 31, 2006. The contracting activity is the DSCP, Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM3S1-06-D-Z104).

The Wornick Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, is being awarded a maximum $163,811,000 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for MRE and HDR. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Federal civilian agencies. There were 3 proposals solicited and 3 responded. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is Dec. 31, 2006. The contracting activity is the DSCP, Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM3S1-06-D-Z105).

Wolverine World Wide, Rockford, Mich., is being awarded a maximum $6,837,360 firm fixed price contract for Navy for men's and women's dress leather shoes. Other locations of performance include Jonesboro, Ark., Big Rapids, Rockford, and Cedar Springs, Mich. This is an indefinite quantity/delivery type contract with base year and four 1-year options. Proposals were Web-solicited and 6 responded. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is March 31, 2007. The contracting activity is the DSCP, Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM100-06-D-0351).

_NAVY

L3 Communication Flight International Aviation LLC, Newport News, Va., is being awarded a $41,843,207 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-02-D-3157) to exercise an option for airborne threat simulation capabilities to train shipboard and aircraft squadron weapon systems operators and aircrew on how to counter potential enemy electronic warfare and electronic attack operations in today's electronic combat environment. Work will be performed at Norfolk, Va. (45 percent); San Diego, Calif., (45 percent); and various locations located across the United States (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2007. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Portsmouth, R.I., is being awarded a not-to-exceed $38,684,965 firm-fixed-price/cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-6324) for five AN/AQS-20A sonar mine detecting, Low-Rate Initial Production systems and associated engineering services. The mission of the AN/AQS-20A sonar mine detecting set is mine-hunting in direct organic support of the Carrier Strike Group and Expeditionary Strike Group through deployment on the Littoral Combat Ship. The system is a component of the organic airborne mine countermeasures system. It is the primary mine-hunting system being integrated into the Navy's MH-60S airborne mine countermeasures helicopters and LCS Flight 0. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, R.I. (88 percent), Tucson, Ariz. (12 percent), and is expected to be completed by March 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Space & Airborne Systems, El Segundo, Calif., is being awarded $22,850,000 for firm-fixed-price order 0007 against a basic ordering agreement (N00383-04-G-001H) for AN/APG-73 radar spares used on the F/A-18 aircraft. Work will be performed in El Segundo, Calif., and is expected to be completed by September 2007. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not awarded competitively. The Naval Inventory Control Point is the contracting activity.

WareOneEarth Communications, Inc.,* North Charleston, S.C. is being awarded a $19,206,330 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, award term, performance based contract to provide high performance computer security support services to Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Charleston, S.C. The contract includes one one-year option period, and eight one-year award term years which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to an estimated $222,621,602. Work will be performed in Hampton Roads, Va., (60 percent); Charleston, S.C., (30 percent); Arlington, Va., (5 percent); and San Diego, Calif., (5 percent), and is expected to be completed by April 2007 (April 2016 with options). Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was competitively procured as a small business set-aside. The Request for Proposal was posted on the SPAWAR Systems Center E-commerce website, and one offer was received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity (N65236-06-D-8847).

McDonnell Douglas Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $14,443,866 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-05-C-0025) for non-recurring engineering services associated with, and the production of, 12 T-45 required avionics modernization program retrofit kits and two simulator avionics retrofit kits. In addition, this contract provides for technical data, integrated logistics support, and approximately 12 spare kit components. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo. (77 percent); Mesa, Ariz. (15 percent) and Albuquerque, N.M. (8 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

T. B. Penick & Sons, Inc., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded $13,480,000 for firm-fixed price Task Order 0005 under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award construction contract (N68711-02-D-8067) for design and construction of a parking structure at Naval Medical Center, San Diego. This is a design-build project to design and construct a new multi-level parking structure with reinforced concrete foundation and structure compliant with the current California seismic codes. Project includes demolition of the existing surface parking area "A" and relocation of underground utilities. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed by April 2007. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The basic contract was competitively procured via the NAVFAC e-solicitation website with 20 proposals received and award made on July 12, 2002._ The total contract amount for each contractor is not to exceed $150,000,000 (base period and four option years) bringing the cumulative total for all six contracts to $900,000,000. The multiple contractors (six in number) may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the existing contract. Three proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.

Macro-Z-Technology*, Santa Ana, Calif., is being awarded a $9,883,000 firm-fixed-price contract for design and construction of an addition to the Joint Warfare Assessment Laboratory at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona. The two-story steel-framed modular structure addition will have level II security requirements throughout. This project will demolish existing Buildings 543, 522, 523, and 808. Work will be performed in Corona, Calif., and is expected to be completed by April 2007. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the NAVFAC e-solicitation website with four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N62473-06-C-5001).

GFS Group*, Hagatna, Guam, is being awarded an estimated $7,316,133 for Modification P00001 under a previously awarded combination firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity and time and material contract (N40192-05-D-9005) to exercise the first option period for housing operations and maintenance services for various naval installations in the Territory of Guam for the Commander, Naval Forces Marianas. The current total contract amount after exercise of this option will be $11,788,653. Work will be performed at various housing areas in the U. S. Territory of Guam, and the expected completion date is March 2007. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The basic contract was competitively procured via the NAVFAC e-solicitation website with seven proposals received and award made on May 10, 2005. The potential total contract amount (base and option periods) is not to exceed $26,475,628. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Marianas, Guam, is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $7,200,000 firm-fixed-price contract for performanced based logistics support for the Close-In Weapon System. Work will be performed in Louisville, K.Y., and is expected to be completed June 2006. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not awarded competitively. The Naval Inventory Control Point is the contracting activity (N00104-06-C-L008).

J5 Systems, Poway, Calif., is being awarded a $5,666,537 indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for systems engineering, analysis, and support for current and future command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence systems and networks. This contract is one of six contracts awarded: all six awardees will compete for task orders during the ordering period. This one-year contract includes four one-year options, which, if exercised, will bring the potential, cumulative value of the contract to $30,779,921. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed March 2007. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website and posting to the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central website, with nine offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N66001-06-D-0074).

AAI Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of United Industrial Corp., Cockeysville, Md., is being awarded a $5,608,001 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of 18 Joint Service Electronic Combat Systems Tester (JSECST) units for the Navy (2), Air Force (5), Army (3), and the government of Canada (8); three laboratory JSECST units for the Air Force; and two JSECST spare part sets for the governments of Canada (1) and Switzerland (1). This contract combines purchases for Air Force FMS ($1,524,261; 27 percent); Army ($763,811; 14 percent); Navy ($509,207; 9 percent), Air Force ($509,207; 9 percent), and the Governments of Canada ($2,169,172; 39 percent) and Switzerland ($132,343; 2 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Cockeysville, Md., and is expected to be completed in September 2007. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-06-C-0228).

Science Applications International Corp., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $5,534,485 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for systems engineering, analysis, and support for current and future command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence systems and networks. This contract is one of six contracts awarded: all six awardees will compete for task orders during the ordering period. This one-year contract includes four one-year options, which, if exercised, will bring the potential, cumulative value of the contract to $29,486,182. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed March 2007. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website and posting to the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central website, with nine offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N66001-06-D-0073).

_AIR FORCE

Boeing Co., Anaheim, Calif., is being awarded a $25,246,752 firm fixed price & time and material contract to support the Minuteman Force Development Evaluation test flight program at Vandenberg Air Force Base. This support will consist of command destruct and telemetry of missile data during flight. Item procured at the Mod-7 instrumentation wafer, conduit support set, raceway cable set, interval time set, and engineering support, tools maintenance, vendor support, and studies. At this time, total funds have been obligated. This work will be complete January 2010. Headquarters Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8204-06-C-0019).

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded a $22,385,455 firm fixed priced overhaul/repair contract to provide overhaul/repair of the main gearbox, elastomerticmertic main rotor hub and various component parts for the MJ-53 helicopter in support of Air Force Special Operations force requirements. At this time, no funds have been obligated. Headquarters 330th Aircraft Sustainment Wing, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (F09603-03-D-0034).

Boeing Co., Miraloma, Calif., is being awarded a $19,350,000 cost plus fixed fee contract. This action provides for procurement with continuing activities for program risk reduction and design maturation. This action supports the airborne and maritime/fixed station Joint Tactical Radio System. At this time, $3,945,068 has been obligated. This work will be complete October 2006. Headquarters Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity (FA8709-04-C-0010/P00013).

BAE Systems Advanced Information Technologies, Burlington, Mass., is being awarded a $26,823,300 cost plus fixed fee contract. This contract will support the Joint Services SIAP architecture and demonstration support. Deliverable items are software and technical documentation. At this time, $2,859,799 has been obligated. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, N.Y., is the contracting activity (FA8750-06-C-0091).

Boeing Satellite Systems, Los Angeles, Calif., is being awarded a $7,830,920 firm fixed price contract modification. The government is exercising the ground segment option under the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite (WGS) contract for two Gapfiller Satellite configuration control elements (GSCCEs), two initial sets of spares and on-site equipment training. The GSCCE provides payload control for all WGS Satellites. The price for each GSCCE, along with spares and training, was established in the initial WGS contract award. Both sets are scheduled for delivery not later than Dec. 31, 2007. Specific delivery locations have not been determined. At this time, total funds have been obligated. The completion date is December 2010. Headquarters Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity (F04701-00-C-0011/P00118).

* Small Business

[Web Version: http://defenselink.mil/contracts/2006/ct20060331-12732.html]

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March High-end Gaming PC Buyer's Guide

The SharkyExtreme Newsletter for the week of March 26, 2006

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This Week on SharkyExtreme:

1. March High-end Gaming PC Buyer's Guide March 31, 2006 It is time for another edition of our High-end Gaming PC Buyer's Guide, where we take $2500 in cash and assemble the highest performance gaming system using readily available parts. If you ever wanted to know exactly what $2500 could buy in today's PC market, look no further than our latest edition of this guide.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc3,1,9qcp,irmm,2ezm,3q9m

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2. March Hard Drive Price Guide March 28, 2006 Welcome to the March edition of our SE Hard Drive Price Guide, which provides a monthly snapshot of the overall market. We break down the trends for both Parallel and Serial ATA desktop drives, and find the best overall values in each area. If you're looking for a new hard drive, or just want to see where the market is heading, then be sure to check out the detailed price lists and commentary.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc3,1,doo2,m695,2ezm,3q9m

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3. Weekly CPU Prices - Week of March 27, 2006 March 30, 2006 Spring weather may be warming up the climate, but it is doing absolutely nothing to thaw AMD or Intel processor prices. We did have some movement in early-2006, and overall value is still very high, so be sure to check out the detailed price lists and commentary in our Weekly CPU Pricing Guide.

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ON HARDWARE CENTRAL:

1. Numerous New Notebooks March 31, 2006 Do laptop manufacturers all have spring fever, or have they just received their shipments of Intel's dual-core Core Duo CPUs? Either way, we've got no fewer than 18 new portables to tell you about -- from an ultralight business traveler to a 17-inch-screened gaming laptop priced at a bargain-for-its-class $2,000, with features ranging from wide-area, cell-carrier wireless to a WiFi-finder that works with the notebook turned off.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc3,1,830u,2op8,2ezm,3q9m

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2. Microsoft To People: Get Ready March 28, 2006 They're not going to ship on schedule or brighten PC vendors' holiday season, but Microsoft assures us that Windows Vista and Office 2007 are going to be worth the wait, with fantastic features for ultra-organized go-getters. Eric says he's more than willing to give Bill Gates the benefit of the doubt, but is Microsoft missing the forest for the trees -- or rather, just a few big enterprise trees?

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc3,1,3qwa,buth,2ezm,3q9m

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ELSEWHERE ON INTERNET.COM

1. AMD Snares Itanium Designer March 30, 2006 AMD never misses an opportunity to slam Intel's high-end Itanium processor, but apparently that doesn't mean they don't respect the considerable engineering resources devoted to its design. AMD confirmed the latter point with its surprise hiring of Sam Naffziger, one of Intel's top Itanium designers and Intel Fellow.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc3,1,bo2l,6quf,2ezm,3q9m

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2. Nvidia Inside? March 29, 2006 The business computer market is dominated by a few big names, including IBM, Dell, HP and Lenovo. But one significant player you don't hear that much about is 'Other,' the millions of so called 'white box' PCs built by system integrators, resellers and other manufacturing entities. Now graphics chipmaker Nvidia has plans to make these systems more attractive to medium-size businesses and corporations with a testing and certification program.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc3,1,f7v3,g0y0,2ezm,3q9m

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3. Microsoft Opens Hardware Licensing March 29, 2006 Microsoft is expanding its intellectual property licensing initiatives beyond its software business to its hardware business. Though Microsoft is best known as a software company, it also researches and develops various hardware technologies, typically related to mice and keyboards. Three different Microsoft hardware technologies are now being made available to interested third parties for licensing.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc3,1,g3bb,7uff,2ezm,3q9m

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SHARKY BYTES:

Belkin Lets Monitor, Keyboard, and Mouse Flip Between Two PCs

If you own both a desktop and a notebook (or two of either), Belkin's stylish new take on the trusty KVM switch lets you use the same monitor, keyboard, and mouse for both, simply pushing a button on a remote control to switch from one PC to the other. The Flip supports display resolutions up to 2,048 by 1,536 and lets you stash the base and cables behind your desk so only the small remote is visible; a two-color LED indicates which computer is active. The base PS/2 model is priced at $50; PS/2 and USB models that add the ability to share a set of audio speakers are $60 each.

Related Link: Belkin

Western Digital's Matchbox-Sized USB Drive Holds 6GB

Teeny-tiny hard drives are getting affordable enough to make USB flash-drive shoppers think twice. Now Western Digital Corp. has introduced a 6GB drive that costs $129, draws its power from a USB 2.0 port, and measures all of 2.4 by 1.8 by 0.4 inches -- not bad for something with the capacity to hold five two-hour MPEG-4 movies or 1,500 MP3 songs.

The WD Passport Pocket Drive features a flip-out, rotating connector that's thin enough so that two drives can be plugged into the closely spaced USB ports found on many notebooks. The 1-inch hard disk inside spins at 3,600 rpm and has a 2MB buffer, with an activity light that glows when the device is connected and flashes when the drive is storing data. A rubberized sleeve is included for travel.

Related Link: WD

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Aliant Offers Canadian's Wireless Options

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~. Wi-Fi Planet Newletter http://wi-fiplanet.com/ Friday March 31, 2006 The Source for Wi-Fi Business and Technology

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~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~. TODAY'S TOP NEWS ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~. 1. Aliant Offers Canadian's Wireless Options Whether on the road or at home, this Atlantic Canada telco may have you connected soon.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc1,1,5uct,fjl3,2ezm,3q9m

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2. CTIA: A Wireless World in Sin City A preview of some pressing topics to expect out of next week's wireless extravaganza in Vegas.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc1,1,htgd,9w1r,2ezm,3q9m

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3. Hotspot Hits The latest in public access Wi-Fi and wireless broadband: the best place to telework; Boingo expands; New Orleans avoids muni Wi-Fi shutdown; and more.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc1,1,l0p5,ecft,2ezm,3q9m

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4. Wi-Fi Product Watch The latest updates and new products in wireless networking: wireless 3G modem market to explode; 2hotspot.com launches Wi-Fi sharing service; Metalink says it has first 802.11n chips; and more.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc1,1,6kxy,169v,2ezm,3q9m

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5. Bluetooth Picks WiMedia UWB for High Speed Future Bluetooth wireless will have a multimedia-capable data rate.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc1,1,lu26,68l0,2ezm,3q9m

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~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~. INSIGHTS ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~. 1. F/MC Watch: Accuris Announces Total Convergence with AccuROAM Mobility application provider now enables convergence of GSM, CDMA, Wi-Fi -- voice, data, and messaging.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc1,1,6xfj,babp,2ezm,3q9m

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2. NextPhase is On Demand The company says mixing wireless and wires is key to its approach toward short-notice connectivity needs.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc1,1,lmur,cxse,2ezm,3q9m

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3. UMA . . . and beyond That great subterranean grinding sound you hear might just be the rocking of the foundations of telephony as we know it.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc1,1,2afn,2pnp,2ezm,3q9m

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4. Can Muni Wi-Fi be Free? The author of a book on citywide wireless networks offers advice to governments in the planning stages.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc1,1,byxx,j5h5,2ezm,3q9m

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5. WLAN Sickness: Rubbish or Reasonable? A decision not to install Wi-Fi at a Canadian college has reopened the question of just what long-term exposure to RF radiation could mean to our health.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc1,1,ihcx,9zon,2ezm,3q9m

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~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~. REVIEWS ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~. 1. A Fast, Vast Wireless Expanse ZyXel combines faster speed and a wider broadcast range with a wireless router and comprehensive network management features.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc1,1,cjwl,6m95,2ezm,3q9m

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2. TRENDnet 11g Wireless Bluetooth Adapter If you are unlucky enough to lack integrated Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, this USB adapter solves both problems.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc1,1,m7u0,lwgq,2ezm,3q9m

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3. Roku SoundBridge M1000 Music fans looking for a stylish and highly compatible media player will appreciate the M1000.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc1,1,1jag,8rk1,2ezm,3q9m

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4. HP iPAQ hw6900 This Pocket PC Phone improves on its predecessor with (at the least) the addition of Wi-Fi.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc1,1,febt,9bvo,2ezm,3q9m

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~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~. TUTORIALS ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~. 1. Introduction to Kismet Netstumbler isn't for everyone -- specifically, it's only for Windows users. For the rest, Kismet's passive sniffing does the trick.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc1,1,jiya,ikn,2ezm,3q9m

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2. Introduction to NetStumbler Take a closer look at one of the foremost free tools for WLAN discovery and optimization.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc1,1,49zv,jy2x,2ezm,3q9m

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3. Of Supplicants and Keys: The Lowdown on WiFi Security Securing your WLAN doesn't have to be a trial, but it helps to be aware of the complexities.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc1,1,5yby,i7kz,2ezm,3q9m

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4. Build a Secure Wireless Portal with Linux You might be offering free wireless network access with the best of intentions, but not everyone connecting can say the same. With Linux and the right wireless portal software, you can rest easier.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc1,1,8h59,mc31,2ezm,3q9m

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5. A War Driving Experience - Part II: Comparing the Results War driving is fun, but it also helps us understand common access point configuration settings.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cc1,1,c0rm,heww,2ezm,3q9m

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03.31.06 - Stranger on My Network

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CONTENTS

VIRTUALDr Rx: This Week's Spotlight Discussions

Stranger on My Network Gaming Rig Recommendations Replacing a Laptop Drive Mind Those Partitions Video Editor Recommendations

Of Interest on EARTHWEB & INTERNET.COM

New or unfamiliar tech terminology? Look it up at Webopedia! http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cbz,1,g3r8,fi2d,2ezm,3q9m

Join Virtual Dr. It's fast and best of all, FREE! http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cbz,1,la73,g6xo,2ezm,3q9m

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____________

VIRTUALDr Rx ____________

- - - - Stranger on My Network - - - -

Why should you keep a close eye on wireless security? For too many reasons to go into here, but this forum thread with will serve as a handy reminder.

One member discovers some very odd machines in the My Network Places applet. Time to send them packing...

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cbz,1,cwp6,euud,2ezm,3q9m

- - - - Gaming Rig Recommendations - - - -

If you're a PC gaming enthusiast, chances are that you're all too familiar with the frequent and pricey cycle of upgrades (budget accordingly!) required to keep up with new game releases.

Our members help guide an intrepid do-it-yourselfer to pixel-pushing nirvana.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cbz,1,hub2,1ku0,2ezm,3q9m

- - - - Replacing a Laptop Drive - - - -

Somehow, people got the idea that servicing your own laptop was a bad idea.

Sure, there are parts you are better off not messing with. But for components like memory and hard drives, replacing them can help you wring a few more good years out of your trusty machine!

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cbz,1,58kp,garr,2ezm,3q9m

- - - - Mind Those Partitions - - - -

Before you segment your drive, it's worth noting that Windows likes some breathing room. And some apps are quite fond of the C: Drive (or whichever drive Windows resides on), even if installed on another drive letter.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cbz,1,axit,bgja,2ezm,3q9m

- - - - Video Editor Recommendations - - - -

Is springtime making you itch for the great outdoors? Condense your adventures into a slick and entertaining movie, check out these video editor recommendations.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cbz,1,5ema,czra,2ezm,3q9m

__________________

About Virtual Dr. __________________

EarthWeb.com's Virtual Dr. offers tutorials, advice and tips for keeping your system running smoothly and troubleshooting even the most persistent problems. Become a member of our online discussion boards (it's free) and you'll be able to post and receive answers to your computer woes! http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cbz,1,95i8,g0yg,2ezm,3q9m

Lurk, learn, or join the discussion on your favorite tech topics!

_______________

Virtual Dr. FAQ _______________

Be sure to check out the Virtual Dr. FAQ for in-depth answers on how to enjoy the boards:

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cbz,1,80ln,58f7,2ezm,3q9m

________________________________________

OF INTEREST ON EARTHWEB AND INTERNET.COM ________________________________________

Hardware Central

Numerous New Notebooks Do laptop manufacturers all have spring fever, or have they just received their shipments of Intel's dual-core Core Duo CPUs? Either way, we've got no fewer than 18 new portables to tell you about. http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cbz,1,d8ym,d2qy,2ezm,3q9m

Microsoft To People: Get Ready They're not going to ship on schedule or brighten PC vendors' holiday season, but Microsoft assures us that Windows Vista and Office 2007 are going to be worth the wait, with fantastic features for ultra- organized go-getters. http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cbz,1,7niz,h8i4,2ezm,3q9m

SysOpt.com

Performance and Pizzazz: OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Platinum Enhanced Latency XTC Dual Channel Review High-performance DDR2 appeals to enthusiasts, certainly. But can we find value as well as blistering speeds (and a flashy heatspreader design) at the high end? http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cbz,1,ccwq,5w9s,2ezm,3q9m

The Search for a Better Backup: WinBackup 2.0 Review Whether you need a backup utility to help you out of a crisis, or you're just acting responsibly to safeguard your data, Uniblue's WinBackup is just a download away. How does it stack up? http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cbz,1,1cwm,1c09,2ezm,3q9m

Sharky Extreme

Weekly CPU Prices - Week of March 27, 2006 Spring weather may be warming up the climate, but it is doing absolutely nothing to thaw AMD or Intel processor prices. http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cbz,1,7etz,3u1l,2ezm,3q9m

March Hard Drive Price Guide We break down the trends for both Parallel and Serial ATA desktop drives, and find the best overall values in each area. http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cbz,1,doo2,m695,2ezm,3q9m

Memory Prices - Week of March 27, 2006 There is some nominal activity, and overall prices are still low, so if you're in the market for a memory upgrade or just want to see where prices are heading, then check out the detailed price list and commentary in our Memory Pricing Guide. http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2cbz,1,lmbm,j1yg,2ezm,3q9m

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Soldiers Prohibited From Wearing Non-Standard Body Armor

By Gerry J. Gilmore American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2006 - U.S. soldiers deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq are prohibited from wearing non-standard-issue body armor, a senior Army officer told reporters here today.

Parents of soldiers serving in overseas combat zones "ought to feel comfortable with the fact and know ... that we have provided the best body armor that is available anywhere in the world," said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Sorenson, the Army secretary's deputy assistant for acquisition and systems management.

Claims of superiority voiced by some manufacturers whose body armor isn't certified for soldiers' use are just claims, Sorenson said at a Pentagon news conference. Such equipment, he said, hasn't been tested or evaluated. "They have not passed the rigor that we put into standards determining whether something is safe, effective and suitable," Sorenson said. "And, until such time that they can do that, we will not give them, if you will, the 'Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.'"

Sorenson referred to an Army safety message dated March 17 that directs commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan to ensure their soldiers wear only Army-tested and -approved body armor. Commanders have 30 days after receipt of the message to conduct inspections to see that soldiers are in compliance, according to the message.

The message also cautioned commanders that some soldiers might be wearing a specific brand of non-Army-certified body armor that hasn't undergone standardized testing procedures, a commercial body armor called "Dragon Skin," made by Pinnacle Armor.

Sorenson confirmed that Dragon Skin currently is not authorized for soldiers' wear. The manufacturer has received Army funding to develop lighter-weight body armor. However, that system has yet to be subjected to Army certification tests.

Plenty of standard-issue body armor is available for soldiers serving in overseas combat zones, Sorenson said. In fact, more than 200,000 sets of tested and authorized body armor, he said, have been forwarded to U.S. military theaters of operation.

Some soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq have complained about the heavy weight of the body armor now being issued. Sorenson said the Army continues to address such soldier concerns. Providing soldiers more comfortable and effective body armor "is what everybody is interested in," he said.

Meanwhile, the Army continues to examine "all types of composites, all types of materials" in the search for better body armor, he said. "So, this is just a constant evolution. And, if someone finds the 'holy grail' (of body armor), then we'll be right there to back up the dump truck and buy it," Sorenson said.

Related Article:

Military Working to Ensure Best Body Armor Possible [http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Feb2006/20060202_4089.html]

_______________________________________________________ NOTE: View the original version of this web page on DefenseLINK, the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2006/20060331_4676.html.

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