Microsoft has topped the headlines this last week on topics ranging IPTV set-top boxes to talks of buying AOL. Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer were interviewed this week by CNET News.com and BusinessWeek where they were questioned about their feelings regarding Google and the future of Microsoft.

Steve Ballmer was quoted as saying, "If you take a look broadly through our company, we've got more empowered, innovative people than any other company in the world."

In both interviews, the Microsoft head honchos do not hide their excitement about IPTV and their future offering. "Our IPTV [Internet protocol TV] work releases in the next 12 months -- it will change the way video gets delivered around the world, incredibly powerful innovation coming to market this year," said Ballmer.

Here are some other headlines worth reading...

Microsoft Buying AOL?
WebProNews - September 15, 2005
"The New York Post reported this morning that two sources familiar with the situation said that Time Warner is in talks with Microsoft about selling some of its share in AOL, combining MSN with AOL, which would change the dynamic of the search world dramatically. At the time of this writing, Time Warner had not gotten back to WebProNews with a statement and a Microsoft spokesman had no comment at this time."

"The Post also mentioned however, that while talks are most advanced with Microsoft, they could fall apart and that Time Warner has also talked to both Yahoo and Google although the wizards in Redmond are the preferred choice."

France Telecom: First 100 Mb/s VDSL2 Success?
Telecomweb - September 15, 2005
"France Telecom (FT) is claiming a world first in VDSL transmission speeds – the successful R&D laboratory tests of VDSL2 transmission systems with speeds as fast as 100 Mb/s over standard copper lines. The FT claim is believed to be the first for such speed since the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) approval of the VDSL2 standard – officially the G.993.2 standard – on May 27."

Verizon's TV pitch for Texas emerges
HeraldTribune.com - September 10, 2005
"Verizon is pitching a digital television package of more than 180 channels for less than $45 per month in the North Texas city where it will launch its FiOS TV, residents trying to sign up for the service say."

They're Here: Microsoft TV-Enabled Set-Top Boxes
PC World - September 9, 2005
"After lining up several big-name telecommunication service providers to offer its new IPTV (Internet Protocol television) technology, Microsoft is now following up with a list of companies to provide optimized set-top boxes, and with a new system-on-chip component targeted at consumer electronics manufacturers."

Opinion: As American As MLB.com
Mark Hachman at Extreme Tech - September 9, 2005
"Tomorrow, as I write this, Notre Dame will renew its rivalry against Michigan. The Oakland A's will take on the Texas Rangers in a game with playoff implications. I'm sitting in London. Will I be able to watch both games? Absolutely. Do I need to pay for an expensive satellite feed? Of course not."

"God bless you, mlb.com and cstv.com. And welcome to the world of broadband television."

PBS' NerdTV Available on Internet Only
TechNewsWorld.com - September 9, 2005
"Technology writer Robert X. Cringely and PBS TV on Tuesday began offering a Web-exclusive hour of tech talk, appropriately titled NerdTV."

Each show features a one hour-long interview with a celebrity of the geek world. For instance, the first installment's description reads: "Andy Hertzfeld, the original Macintosh systems programmer, talks about MacHistory and how he fell in love with open-source software."