This was an early PDA/communicator before there were such things. But it was dumb. Very pricey, very arrogant, and very, very non-inclusive. And it sucked. What’s incomprehensible is how that company managed to last this long. In this case, "this" is today. General Magic is no more.

Finjan Software announced that the Finjan product line protects computers from recently discovered exploits in Internet Explorer. Security advisor, Jouko Pynnonen, of Online Solutions Ltd. published the vulnerability, which affects Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft Outlook Express. Finjan believes the vulnerabilities are the most dangerous Java applet exploit since the first version of Internet Explorer. The vulnerability enables Java applets to take command of the user’s machine. The exploit allows Java applets to be even more dangerous than ActiveX controls, regardless of the browser’s security setting.

GFI launched GFI LANguard Network Security Scanner 3.0, a commercial version of its freeware tool for conducting network security audits. GFI LANguard N.S.S. scans entire networks for vulnerabilities, creates reports and can remotely install security patches.

The Toronto Globe and Mail has this article about Metamail, which addresses the inconsistency of HTML readers. Metamail messages look the same whether viewed using Microsoft Outlook, Eudora, Netscape, Lotus Notes or Novell GroupWise. They’re also designed to look like real paper documents.

Axonom announced the forthcoming release of Powertrak V6.0, a new Worldtrak product line developed to operate on top of the upcoming Microsoft Customer Relationship Management solution. Powertrak V6.0 is a complete CRM offering that features comprehensive native support for Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Web technologies and Microsoft .NET.

ColumbiaSoft announced the immediate availability of Document Locator, a new document management system. Document Locator organizes documents and folders. Its built-in integration with office productivity applications allows users to take advantage of Document Locator’s tools within a familiar working environment. Document Locator Professional edition enables full-text searches of Microsoft Outlook messages — including email attachments.

Symantec announced Norton Internet Security 2003. Available for purchase in late-September, Norton Internet Security 2003 features a simplified user interface along with Symantec’s updated firewall, intrusion detection, privacy control, antivirus and content filtering technologies in a single suite. Norton Internet Security 2003 protects against blended threats such as Nimda and Code Red, which use multiple methods to attack and quickly cause widespread damage.

GFI has launched GFI FAXmaker for Networks/SMTP 10. GFI FAXmaker for Networks/SMTP is a network fax server that allows users to send and receive faxes from their desktops – either through the GFI FAXmaker client or using their email client, via GFI FAXmaker’s email-to-fax gateway. GFI FAXmaker for Networks/SMTP 10 includes a new fax client that can use the Outlook Contacts as the fax phonebook.

Windows & .NET Magazine announced that Panda Antivirus Platinum, Panda Antivirus Titanium and Panda Antivirus for Exchange Server were selected as winners in the Antivirus Client Side and Antivirus Mail Server categories of the Windows & .NET Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards.

Slipstick Systems Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center is reporting that Microsoft is tracking reports of problems with Outlook 2002 after Service Pack 2 has been applied, particularly on Windows XP. The exact cause is not known yet, but seems to be related to automatic mail downloads. If you get a "File … is not available" error message when opening embedded Office documents after installing SP2, disabling the Norton Antivirus Plug-in for Microsoft Office may solve the problem.