MSN messenger 7.0 (beta)

Microsoft has decided to suspend the test release of MSN messenger 7 beta version citing some security concerns over one of its features. Just last week Microsoft released its new MSN beta messenger 7.0 for testing & user feedback. The security problem seems to be with the 'wink' feature, which allows the users to exchange flash based sound animations. This feature might enable potential hackers to send their own animation winks to users and cause a security threat. Microsoft has decided to postpone the release by a week, where the messenger will be tested without the 'wink' feature. But it has decided to club the wink feature in the final release, after cementing the hole in it.

There have been reports of leakage of the beta version in the web, though Microsoft still maintains that they had given access to the messenger for a small group for testing before the release. Still it is unclear as to how many people have downloaded the vulnerable messenger, which is reported to have moved quickly among users in the world.

According to reports the wink feature was aimed at 18 - 24 age group, where Microsoft is believed to have hired college graduates for the development of the feature. The group call themselves 'Three degrees'. They have been associated with Microsoft's development team from the year 2001.

The MSN messenger is the most popular chat client after Yahoo messenger and boasts of 135 million users per month, worldwide. Microsoft is making plans to release the final version by the first quarter of 2005.

I'm the Best

Former World Cup striker Romario said that he considers himself to be Brazil's most important player since 1970 at a media conference on Thursday. Romario is now playing for first division Fluminense. Romario, now 38, announced that he would reunite Brazil's 1994 World Cup winning team for a match in Los Angeles on November 10 to mark his international farewell. Although he has never officially announced his international retirement, Romario has not been picked by his country since captaining the side which lost 1-0 to Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier three years ago. Romario scored five goals in the 1994 tournament.
Romario, who has not played much first team football this year. But he said that he still had no intention of retiring, although he admitted it was now almost impossible to reach his target of scoring 1,000 goals in his career. At present his score stands at 908. Critics claim that his scores include youth team games and other non-official matches. Romario had played for PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona and Valencia as a striker.