Dell has announced today that it will be purchasing firm SecureWorks in an all-cash deal.

The purchase will give Dell its first managed security service.

SecureWorks sells remote services including security management, security assessment, network monitoring, Web application scans and all manners of compliance assistance.

Both companies had been partners since 2009.

The financials of the deal were not disclosed but Dell Services president Peter Altabef added (via IW): "It was just an outstanding opportunity that, quite frankly, was too good to pass up."

SecureWorks has increased revenue from $1 million in 2001 to $120 million in 2010.

The security company says they process 13 billion potential security threats for 2900 clients each day.

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The Seattle Times has reported today that Microsoft will launch a Windows-powered HDTV set-top box at the ongoing CES event.

Microsoft, which showed off the software (Media Center running on Windows Embedded Compact 7) earlier in the year, will release the set-top later this year, pricing it at around $180-200.

Says the paper:

They'll pose a serious challenge to the new Apple and Google TV devices, largely because the Windows boxes have a polished and familiar TV-program guide that makes it easy to blend and navigate both online and broadcast content.

The device will directly rival Google's Google TV, and Apple's second-generation Apple TV, both of which were introduced this year.

Speculatively, the paper says Microsoft may also be looking to take on TiVo and other DVRs.

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Top TV maker Vizio has announced today that they will be integrating the cloud-based gaming system OnLive with all new Vizio HDTVs, as well as Blu-ray players and the new Via Tablet and Via Phone devices.

Anyone with an upcoming Vizio product will not need to purchase the pictured OnLive console, meaning the company has integrated the gaming console into the devices.

Says OnLive CEO Steve Perlman:

"Today's OnLive/VIZIO announcement marks a major milestone: for the first time in the history of video games, consumers will be able to enjoy premium video games directly on a TV, no console or computer needed. VIZIO's innovative and cutting-edge technologies are ideally aligned to complement OnLive's vision for the future of entertainment and together we look forward to providing a wealth of rich-media, interactive content to consumers this year."

Rental prices can range from $3 for older titles to $50 for new titles, and OnLive will eventually begin a subscription package, as well.

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According to Bobby Cha, managing director of Korean consumer electronics firm Enspert, Google's upcoming Android 3.0 software, dubbed Honeycomb, will have a number of hardware requirements.

The tablet-optimized OS will require a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor at minimum, as well as 1,280x720 resolution.

As of writing, the only processor with that power is the Nvidia Tegra 2, although a few have been promised for 2011.

Although it will require 720p resolution, Cha made sure to note that "Honeycomb does not require 10-inch [screens] ... it's going to go as small as 7-inches."

Motorola's upcoming tablet will be the first on the market with 3.0, adds Cha.

Toshiba and LG will also have Honeycomb tablets out in the coming months.

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Amazon has announced today that they have "tailored" new Kindle apps for Android and Windows tablets, giving those device owners a chance to access the Kindle e-book store.

The e-tailer has already created Kindle Store apps for the Kindle, PCs, Macs, Android smartphones, BlackBerrys and iOS devices including the iPad.

Says Dorothy Nicholls, Director of the Kindle (via press release):

"Kindle is light weight, easy on the eyes with a paper-like Pearl e-ink display, and has a full month of battery life. It's purpose-built for reading. Many people are buying both a Kindle and an LCD tablet computer. We're very excited to support the upcoming Android and Windows LCD tablet computers with free Kindle apps that we'll tailor for the particular devices. Our Whispersync technology makes it simple to move back and forth between devices. Read on your Kindle, read on your tablet, read on your phone. We'll keep track of your last page read, and make it easy."

Purchased Kindle books, thanks to WhisperSync, are available across any platform you may own that has a Kindle app.

The Kindle Store currently has over 775,000 e-books.

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Nintendo has revealed that its DS family of handheld consoles has sold more than 47 million units in the United States since its original launch back in 2004.

Nintendo of America claims that the figures show that the Nintendo DS is the country's best selling video game system of all time. As for Nintendo's Wii home console, the company is reporting sales of more than 7 million in the U.S. for the 2010 calendar year.

The company claims that the 7 million sales in 2010 represent a feat never before accomplished by a home console in the country. The Wii console has sold more than 34 million units in the United States alone in its lifetime.

"When we look back at 2010, we see consumers time and again turning to the value and enjoyment of our products," said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. "When we look ahead to 2011, we see new portable technology and more great Wii games that need to be seen to be believed."

Nintendo is set to release its new Nintendo 3DS hand-held system in the United States in March. The portable system lets players see 3D content – without the need for special glasses.

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Reuters is citing a source close to News Corp in reporting that there are no ongoing talks regarding the future of the social entertainment site.

News Corp has revealed that it is open to a sale of the social entertainment site that still attracts 60 million users a month. CNCB reported on Monday that News Corp is on track to sell the website by mid-2011, but Reuters cites a source in reporting that there are no talks with any potential buyers at this time.

The company is to lay off more than half of its staff in its continued efforts to turn around the loss making venture. Following a successful relaunch of MySpace as a social entertainment site, rather than a competitor to $50 billion giant Facebook, Reuters reported that News Corp was open to a sale.

Back in November, News Corp COO Chase Carey told investors that MySpace had "quarters" rather than years to change its fortunes.

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Netflix has announced today that it has made deals with HDTV and DVD/Blu-ray player makers in an effort to put one-click "Netflix Buttons" on remote controls starting this Spring.

The button would lead users directly to their Netflix accounts, making the process easier than clicking through other menus.

Says Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey (via WSJ):

"We've always regarded ubiquity on devices as our strategy, and we want to be present there as simply and visibly as possible."

Sony, Sharp, Toshiba, Panasonic and Samsung have all made deals with Netflix to include the button on remotes for new Web-connected HDTVs and Blu-ray players.

Roku, maker of multiple set-top boxes that give Netflix and Amazon VOD access, will also include the button on its remotes.

Swasey did make it clear that the picture released (at left) will not be the real size of the button on the remote, but just the picture placed on the boxes of new items which will include the remotes with Netflix buttons.

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Norwegian firm Opera will show off a preview of its browser software intended for use with tablet PCs and netbooks at the Consumer Electronics Show this week.

The company claims that its software will provide the smoothest tablet and netbook experience on the market whether its used for checking e-mail, managing social networks or just general web surfing. "In 2011, tablets are a new must-have. Opera is creating waves with the first public preview of Opera for tablets," said Christen Krogh, Chief Development Officer, Opera Software.

"Opera for tablets brings the same trusted Internet experience to tablets and netbook PCs as users have come to love on their mobile phones and desktops."

Below is the first preview video of the Opera software for tablets.

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Microsoft has revealed that downloads of the Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) beta have surpassed 20 million since it became available in September.

The 20 million downloads by interested users can be seen in its share of the market, standing at 0.46 percent by year's end. Internet Explorer 6 hit an all-time low of 13.81 percent of the market, and combined with IE7 lost 40 percent of its users in the prior 12 months.

Microsoft has been urging users to upgrade their IE6 and IE7 installations to IE8, and indeed IE8 users rose 40 percent in the 12 month period. According to Net Applications, Internet Explorer still maintains a 34.07 percent share of the market.

IE9 has been noted in several reviews for its great improvements over IE8 in terms of performance and general security for end users, but whether it can reverse the downward trend of Internet Explorer's market share remains to be seen over the coming year.

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Web use measurement vendor Net Applications has revealed that Windows 7 crossed a 20 percent share mark last month, an accomplishment not ever achieved by Windows Vista.

Net Applications gathers information on Operating System usage from 40,000 websites it monitors, accounting for 160 million unique visitors. It found that in December, Windows 7's share rose 1.2 percentage points to 20.9 percent, crossing a barrier that Vista never managed to.

It's heavily criticized predecessor fell to just 12.1 percent in December, a drop of half a percentage point. This represents the lowest share Vista has claimed since July 2008. Usage of Windows Vista peaked in October 2009 at 18.8 percent, which by no coincidence is also the month Windows 7 was released.

Windows XP use fell to 56.7 percent in December, dropping 1.2 percentage points. It's plunge over the fourth quarter of 2010 was measured at about 3.3 percent, accelerating from 2.4 percent in the third quarter of 2010 and 2 percent in the second quarter.

Still, with the current trend in Windows XP use, Net Applications projects that it will still have 13 percent of the share in 2014 when Microsoft discontinues support for the 10 year old operating system. Since Microsoft has committed to a three year development cycle for Windows, it's highly unlikely that Windows 7 will ever reach the dominating 83.6 percent share touted by XP in November 2007.

Losses in Windows usage is being made up mostly by the use of mobile operating systems such as Android and iOS. Mac OS X use stayed put at 5 percent in December.

More Information: http://www.netmarketshare.com/

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The Walt Disney Company has announced that it will release at least 15 Blu-ray 3D titles over the coming year.

Among the list of films already revealed by Disney are the animated classics The Lion Kind and Beauty And The Beast. As for more recent titles, the list includes the recent TRON: Legacy and the box-office smash hit Tangled.

"As our contemporary library of 3D content continues to grow, and the original artists and filmmakers meticulously 'dimensionalize' their work for release on the Blu-ray 3D format, we will be offering movie-lovers the most incredible in-home entertainment experience they will ever have," noted Lori MacPherson, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

"In addition to offering new releases day-and-date in 3D and further cementing our leadership in the marketplace, we're thrilled that consumers will have the exclusive Blu-ray 3D experience of two of the most celebrated Disney animated features, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, in their homes."

Also included among the titles slated for release in 2011 are Bolt, Meet the Robinsons, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, G-Force and Chicken Little. These titles will join Walt Disney Studios' recent 2010 Blu-ray 3D releases Alice in Wonderland, Disney's A Christmas Carol and Step Up 3, bringing Disney's list of available Blu-ray 3D titles for the home to nearly 20 in all.

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BitTorrent, Inc. has announced a new milestone in the usage of its original BitTorrent Mainline client, and its popular uTorrent client.

The company announced yesterday that its software products have grown to over 100 million worldwide monthly (active) users. Each day, an average of over 400,000 downloads of the clients are made by Internet users, while 20 million are using them any given day.

It has also announced that its software is available in 52 languages and that clients are checking in (for updates etc.) from over 220 different countries every day.

"This is an exciting day for our team. Our vision is to build a complete technology ecosystem comprised of software, content and devices, designed to connect modern content creators with a massive digital audience," said Eric Klinker, CEO at BitTorrent. "This milestone highlights the size of our user base and the power of our software."

In 2010, BitTorrent unveiled new initiatives to make the BitTorrent user base more accessible to forward-thinking content creators, including a new Spotlight Artist program to help content creators distribute independent works. The company has also directly distributed a number of films in partnership with VODO, including Pioneer One, Yes Men, Four Eyed Monsters, and an album from PAZ.

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Microchip superpower Intel is plotting its own movie / video service to compete with the likes of iTunes and Amazon in 2011.

Intel's Insider service will offer movies in full 1080p resolution for rental or purchase to users of Core 2011-powered laptops or desktop computers. What sets Intel's outfit aside from the ever-growing number of competing similar services is that it provides content protection in the hardware, being tied to the second generation Core processors.

Intel's Erik Reid has said the plan is to offer content at the same time as it becomes available on Blu-ray and DVD. So far the chip giant has already struck deals with Warner Bros and CinemaNow.

So that users won't be tied to their computers to enjoy the video content, Intel is pushing WiDi 2.0 which will support streaming of 1080p content to a HD display. Unfortunately, that would require a new HDTV receiver to deliver the content in full HD.

As for the Insider service itself, it is not clear yet whether video content will come from an Insider portal or whether other services will simply be certified to work with Intel's hardware. More information on Intel's plan is likely to come out during CES later this week.

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