It looks like Microsoft is on its way to give some special look and feel to their upcoming Windows version ! Apart from adding new features, they should concentrate on having patches for existing problems too. don't you think
Microsoft's next OS will come with a touch screen to replace the existing mouse ! This will be a nice feature, replacing the old classic mouse. This touch screen will bring in more interactivity for the user,making him feel good ..maybe..
Touch Screen Demo :
Scheduled to be released in 2010, the new touch screen lets users enlarge and shrink photos, trace routes on maps, paint pictures or play the piano ( as seen in the video )..
BBC reports "When challenged as to who would get to market first with a new touch screen device, Microsoft or Apple, Mr Ballmer said it was not much of an issue. "We'll sell 290 million PCs and Apple will sell 10 million PCs "
So lets wait and watch how far this multi-touch Windows 7 will be successful !
Microsoft found a compatibility problem between Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System and an electronic checkout system for small- and mid-sized retailers, for both Windows XP SP3 and Vista SP1.
What is Dynamics RMS?
It's software that enables specialty retailers to handle cash register functions, process payments, and automate purchasing, inventory and other back-end processes, said Michael Griffiths, the group product manager for the retail part of the Dynamics business.
There has been series of delays, this update was to be released in 2006 and it got delayed upto 2007 and now its again being delayed ! surprising !
According to a post on Microsoft's Windows XP SP3 forum by Chris Keroack, release manager for Windows serviceability, the delay is in place to "make sure customers have the best possible experience".
Chris says "We are also testing a fix, and will make it available once that process is complete". They are testing this since the first release delay in 2006.
I don't understand the essence of the given comment. What do they mean by "make sure customers have the best possible experience" , is it by delaying the updates and making people wait desperately for the XP and Vista updates !
Six new security patches will be released by Microsoft, which will include four "critical" updates affecting Windows, Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, and Windows Mail for Vista.
The company said that four out of the six bulletins that are scheduled for June 12, 2007, will be ranked “critical”, while one each will be labeled “important” and “moderate”.
Also, according to Microsoft, half of the batch of security updates affects Windows Vista, or one of its components, such as Internet Explorer 7 or the Windows Mail email client. Out of the three Vista patches, two have been termed as “critical”.
Windows will have three updates, Internet Explorer just one, Outlook Express and Windows Mail will also have one each and Visio 2002 and Visio 2003 will also have one patch.
Tuesday's updates will be available for manual download from the Microsoft Web site about 1 p.m. PDT. ( …… How come Micro$oft became so active in releasing patches…)
This is totally surprising to see that Microsoft is going to offer music for FREE on Xbox Live.
Yesterday, Microsoft announced the launch of a new initiative that will give artists an exclusive chance to reach out to as many people as possible through a new and free program called Ignition.
You can access Maximo Park’s content on Zune Marketplace and Zune.net:
“Our Velocity” featured as a free download on Zune Marketplace
“Don McPhee” offered to U.S. audiences as an exclusive track for two weeks on Zune Marketplace
Playlist of 10 favorite tracks from Maxïmo Park lead singer Paul Smith available for download on Zune Marketplace
Maxïmo Park’s personal commentary on “Our Earthly Pleasures,” featuring song-by-song descriptions and comments
Maxïmo Park-specific page on Zune.net promoting the band’s current activities
Xbox LIVE Marketplace
Promotional video download of “Our Velocity” offered at no cost to Xbox LIVE subscribers
MSN Entertainment
Promotional video stream of “Our Velocity” on MSN Video
Listening parties for “Our Earthly Pleasures” during the first two weeks of June on MSN Music, which will allow consumers to listen to the entire album via streaming audio for free.
Microsoft and Yahoo discussed a possible merger or other matchup that would pair their respective strengths, say people familiar with the situation. The merger discussions are no longer active, these people say, but that doesn't preclude the two companies from some other form of cooperation.
The New York Post owes everyone a good follow-up story. You can't just drop a bombshell that jerks around 80,000 Microsoft and Yahoo! employees, rocks Wall Street and then fizzles before the day is over.
The Post should investigate — and report — whether its anonymous investment banker sources made any money off the huge run in YHOO caused by its story. If the Post doesn't do this, the SEC might. We don't need any more reporter subpoenas.
At the very least, the Post needs to go back to its sources and clarify if and when Microsoft and Yahoo! ended their latest round of merger discussions.
According to SPJ (Society of Professional Journalists):
Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth.
So what do you all think about this ? How can NY write something like this ? saying "unknown source" or "people" ,,,Do think Microsoft and Yahoo are really gonna merge ??
If yes will it affect Google's market share ?? I don't think Google might be worrying anything about this..as Google is GOD. Google is way beyond these two ..So maybe this merger isn't a potential problem for Google !
Its been just a few months of the Vista release and there have been hell lot of problems. Even though some tried to increase the usage of Vista by giving out Free Windows Vista, still people don't use it. You should look at the minimum requirements for running Vista..its really crazy to run a system with such high requirements..instead run a gnu/linux system which takes only 1/100 of the resources of what Windows take.It has hell lot of security vulnerabilities which were seen right from the day it got released.
Some of Microsoft's most important customers aren't happy with the battery life offered by notebooks running Windows Vista.
"It's a little scary," said John Wozniak, a distinguished technologist in Hewlett-Packard's notebook engineering department, referring to the work HP needed to do on making Windows Vista more suitable for notebooks. When Aero is turned off, battery life is equal to or better than Windows XP systems. But with it turned on, battery life suffers compared with Windows XP.
Microsoft, for its part, will likely have to improve Vista's battery life performance over time through the release of service packs and other tweaks, Shim said. "The (PC companies) are getting pressure from consumers–who are the notebook adopters–who are saying their number one priority on a notebook is battery life."
Recently we came across an interesting Trojan sample, detected by Symantec as Trojan.Kardphisher. The Trojan is not very technical - it's really just another classic social-engineering attack. What makes it interesting is that the author has obviously taken great pains to make it appear legitimate.
Here’s the scam. The Trojan installs itself onto a PC and presents the user with the following message:
“Your copy of Windows has been activated by another user. To help reduce software piracy, please re-activate your copy of Windows now. WE will ask for your billing details, but your credit card will NOT be charged. You must activate Windows before you can continue to use it. Microsoft is committed to your Privacy. For more information, www.microsoft.com/piracy. Do you want to activate Windows now?”
Microsoft released the feature-complete, third beta for Windows Server "Longhorn" on April 25, which is also the first public beta of the software.
New and improved features in Beta 3 include the following:
• Windows PowerShell is now included in the product. • Active Directory Federation Services improvements allow customers to implement new policies and make it easier to set up a relationship between trusted partners. • The Server Core installation option now comes with additional roles and enhanced functionality, such as print services and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services. • The Server Manager console includes additional remote administration tools to provide a more integrated management environment. • Windows Firewall with Advanced Security, now on by default, provides a persistent and more secure environment beginning at installation. • NAP is integrated with Microsoft Update and Windows Update to enable administrators to decide which updates are critical and set policies accordingly. It also has a new administrative interface for simplified setup, scalability and better performance.
AMD Recommending Windows !!
"AMD encourages customers to download the beta and begin their evaluations today. As a next-generation operating system, Windows Server 'Longhorn' is designed to take advantage of the innovative features of the AMD Opteron processor, including 64-bit, multicore, virtualization and power management," said Joe Menard, the corporate vice president of software strategy at AMD.
The product remains on track for release to manufacturing in the second half of 2007, and the beta code can be downloaded here.
The company will offer a complete software package built around Windows and Office for $3.
The software bundle, called “Microsoft Student Innovation Suite,” (MSIS) includes Windows XP Starter Edition, Office Home and Student 2007, Math 3.0, Learning Essentials 2.0 for Microsoft Office, and Windows Live Mail desktop. According to Microsoft, the software is part of a “new commitment to help close the digital divide” and an effort to “bring social and economic opportunity to the estimated 5 billion people who are not yet realizing the benefits of technology.”
“All human beings deserve a chance to achieve their full potential,” commented Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, in a prepared statement. “Bringing the benefits of technology to the next 5 billion people will require new products that meet the needs of underserved communities; creative, new business approaches that make technology more relevant, accessible and affordable; and close collaboration between local governments, educational institutions and community organizations.”
Microsoft will also offer the $3 package for high income countries, if those governments agree to sign up for the firm’s Partner in Learning program and limit the (MSIS) software to “underserved communities.”
Who's the best Pac-Man player of all times? Certainly Billy Mitchell, who in 1999 played the world's first perfect game of Pac-Man, eating every fruit, all four ghosts with every power pellet and beating all 256 levels of the game without losing a life.
Microsoft and Namco Bandai have announced the Xbox 360 Pac-Man World Championship (presented by Quiznos). The best-scoring players from seven regions around the world (as well as one particularly rabid Pac-fan) will be flown to New York City for a final showdown, with the eventual champion to be crowned by Pac-Man creator Toru Iwatani.
If you haven't been paying attention so far, here's a complete timeline, as provided by Microsoft:
Gamers who want to start practicing can download Pac-Man"(400 Microsoft Points) now from Xbox Live Arcade on the Xbox 360.
Starting April 25, 2007, at 12:01 a.m. GMT (April 24, 2007, at 5:01 p.m. PDT), gamers can visit http://www.xboxlivetournament.com to register and review full eligibility criteria, regulations and rules.
Also on April 25, 2007, at 12:01 a.m. GMT (April 24, 2007, at 5:01 p.m. PDT), the worldwide competition will officially kick off on Xbox Live Arcade.
Previous leaderboard scores for Pac-Man will be deleted to provide a clean and fair slate for all gamers participating in the Xbox 360 "Pac-Man" World Championship.
Concurrently, Pac-Man fans in the United States and Canada can also enter the Pac-Man FANatic contest and receive an invitation to compete in the finals in New York City. Starting April 25, 2007, they can visit http://www.xboxlivetournament.com for more information on how to submit a creative video that best illustrates their love for Pac-Man.
On May 9, 2007, at 11:59 p.m. GMT (4:59 p.m. PDT), the competition will officially cease and nine finalists from the identified regions, based on the top leaderboard scores,* will advance to the Xbox 360 Pac-Man World Championship.
Before June 1, 2007, the top nine finalists will be announced.
The nine finalists will also be joined in New York City by the winner of the Pac-Man FANatic contest, and compete for the Xbox 360 Pac-Man World Championship title on June 5, 2007, in New York City.
Six new security patches will be released by Microsoft, which will include four "critical" updates affecting Windows, Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, and Windows Mail for Vista.
notebooks running Windows Vista.
Microsoft released the feature-complete, third beta for Windows Server "Longhorn" on April 25, which is also the first public beta of the software.
eating every fruit, all four ghosts with every power pellet and beating all 256 levels of the game without losing a life.