Apple Computer its iTunes online service has sold a million videos in under 20 days. iTunes, the most popular online music store, began selling about 2,000 music videos and episodes of ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost” for $1.99 October 12. The debut coincided with the launch of a new generation of Apple’s iPod digital music player that can play video on its 2.5-inch color screen.

This new version includes major usability enhancements, improved compression technology, and for more demanding users, a new Pro feature set with very useful additional functionality. Both WinZip 10.0 Standard and Pro offer additional compression algorithms (PPMd and bzip2), allowing you to make even smaller Zip files, and offer a new Explorer-style view of your Zip file contents, making it easier to navigate complex, multi-folder Zip files. Other enhancements include: the ability to create split (multi-volume) Zip files during compression, automatic update checking, and protection from potentially dangerous files with WinZip’s built-in support of Windows XP SP2’s Attachment Manager.

AboveTopSecret.com takes another step deep into online culture with the official launch of its community podcasting service. The leading online destination devoted to “alternative topics” in world affairs, politics, conspiracies, environment, and speculative issues, AboveTopSecret.com provides ten different podcast feeds, free of charge, to its members. The feeds carry over 600 individual podcasts with an average of 60 new programs each week with topics such as H5N1 avian flu, UFOs, FEMA, terrorism, political conspiracies, and even some hilarious stories. Podcasting, the process of creating audio content available in subscription-based “feeds” through programs like Apple’s iTunes, is a new Internet technology that is quickly gaining wild popularity.

The sudden appearance of a rootkit file in a spyware-laden IM worm attack has set off new fears that malicious hackers are sophisticated enough to launch a fully automated worm attack against instant messaging networks. In the most recent attack aimed at users of America Online Inc.’s AIM network, the “lockx.exe” rootkit file was bundled with a new variant of the W32/Sdbot Trojan to create a nasty mix of hidden malware.

Entries from Wikipedia, the popular free online encyclopedia written and edited by Internet users, may soon be available in print for readers in the developing world, founder Jimmy Wales said. He said content from the Web site may also be burned onto CDs and DVDs so computer users in places like Africa, who lack access to high-speed Internet, could consult parts of the reference work offline. Issues like funding, distribution and topics were still being discussed but a first printed work could be ready from mid-2006, he added.

MobileDataforce, provider of rapid application development solutions for mobile environments, announced the inception of MobileDataforce Europe, B.V. and the appointment of Mr. J. David Savage as Vice President, EMEA. This move is designed to solidify the Company’s European presence through local representation and a European executive who has extensive experience in the mobility space. MobileDataforce’s software solutions are primarily targeted for the “hardhat” industries including engineering, utilities, facilities management, heavy construction, and inspection services.

BlackBerry is going high-speed as Cingular Wireless and Research In Motion introduced the BlackBerry 8700c, the first BlackBerry device to support high-speed EDGE network technology. The new, sleek BlackBerry 8700c features a completely re-engineered device platform that is optimized for breakthrough performance and usability. It will be available in the U.S. exclusively from Cingular Wireless beginning November 21.

Zanegames has released its long awaited real-time role playing game. EDGE features console-quality graphics, isometric imagery, rich sound, smooth animation and deadly enemies and spells. The game features customizable characters, a large world with multiple quests, real-time combat, tons of unique enemies, animated spells, rich sounds effects and a soundtrack.

TVHarmony AutoPilot is the perfect companion to Tivo and TivoToGo. The software is a powerful scriptable scheduling tool that will automatically transfer, convert, and store your programming while you are asleep. Using a simple user interface, you can select shows or series to be download automatically, process the transfers into popular formats including Sony PSP, video iPod, and Palm Devices (TCPMP compatible), and schedule processing for the middle of the night while you sleep so they’ll be ready the next morning.

US bank Web sites will be adding additional security measures by the end of 2006 to meet new demands from federal regulators for “two-factor” authentication. That essentially means checking something more than just user name and password to verify a customer’s identity. “Phishers” and other Internet fraud artists have become adept at stealing passwords, mainly through “social engineering.” Preying on people’s propensity to believe something seemingly authoritative, criminals send authentic-looking emails that send unsuspecting people to an authentic-looking Web site where they give away their data.