Posted 11/17/09 at 03:30:42 PM by Bart Salisbury

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen was diagnosed earlier this month with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The news was disclosed by his sister, Jody Allen, in an e-mail to employees of Vulcan, Allen’s holding company. The cancer is similar to one Allen suffered from that lead to his retirement from Microsoft in 1983.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer that occurs in the cells of the immune system. Lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, becomes abnormal, and multiply rapidly. Because these abnormal cells don’t die when they should the body is less protected from infection and disease. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can occur at any age. Nearly 66,000 Americans each year are diagnosed with this form of cancer.

Allen, who is 56, is on a bit of an unlucky streak. News of his cancer follows close on the heels of a bout with heart disease, which required a heart-value replacement. Allen is currently undergoing chemotherapy. According to his sister: "Paul is feeling OK and remains upbeat. He continues to work and he has no plans to change his role at Vulcan. His health comes first, though, and we'll be sure that nothing intrudes on that."

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Posted 06/24/09 at 09:12:38 AM by Pulkit Chandna

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen may not be as popularly synonymous with wealth as is his more illustrious peer Bill Gates, but he has been among the richest people of the world for many years on the trot. Now he has decided to use a modicum of his immense wealth for a fresh business venture.

He has launched Xiant, a software company, which will be developing “tools that make your time at the computer as productive as possible.” Its inaugural product called Xiant Filer is an email organizing software. The tool is compatible with Outlook Express and currently in beta.

Xiant Filer can automatically organize incoming mail messages by choosing the correct subfolder for depositing each message. According to Allen’s new company, the software becomes smarter the more you use it.

It appears to be meant for really popular people with mailboxes inundated with messages. However, anyone can try it for free as the beta version can be downloaded from Xiant’s website. 

No, Steve Ballmer's legendary tongue-dangling pic is not the most repugnant in tech history.

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