Currently browsing posts under the tag: Microsoft.

Microsoft gets some vindication in the way it matters most – money

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I realize that it is all kinds of fun to make fun of Microsoft and call it a has been. Sure Vista didn’t do anything to help alleviate the stodgy monolithic reputation that it has gotten over the years but I get the feeling that the old Microsoft battleship has been sent back to the boatyard, given a fresh coat of paint and transformed into a quick nimble gun boat.

Leading this change without any doubt has been the release; and growing adoption, of Windows 7. Following on it’s heels is the upcoming release of their next generation smartphone version of Windows 7 which already has more than a few people excited; myself included. Hell if I could afford a new smartphone (and the price gouging data plans) I’d be counting down the days until it hits the stores.

To back up the feeling that Windows 7 is helping to herald in a new attitude at Microsoft is the release today of the sales figures for Windows 7 since its release. Jacob Friedman over at The Next Web has a few more of the details but the short form of the story is that there have been 90,000,000 copies of Windows 7 sold to date.

Microsoft finally backed their Windows 7 boasts up with numbers, and they’re quite impressive indeed.

Microsoft hadn’t provided exact sales numbers for Windows 7 until last night, when Microsoft CFO Peter Klein announced the sales figures at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom Conference. Klein revealed that Windows 7 has sold a massive 90,000,000 copies.

Not bad for slightly over four months on sale.

Not bad to say the least.

Nicely done Microsoft.

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Category: Windows

Want to have HTML5 Video Tag in Internet Explorer?

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The web is constantly evolving and even though it can seem like ice ages as we improve the basic underpinnings of the web change does come. One of these changes is improvements and new things being added to the world of HTML – that’s the code language that helps display web pages on the web.

For some time know developers have been waiting for the next generation of HTML to start rolling out through the web browsers we use everyday. With the announcement that Internet Explorer is joining with its competitors and supporting HTML5 in the next version of its browser, IE9, the future is getting a little closer.

One of the features of HTML5 is a new Video Tag that will will enable the display and playback of video in your browser without the need of having Flash installed. Now currently IE, all versions, doesn’t not support the new Video Tag, unlike Firefox and Chrome but a technical preview support codec has been released by Chistian Adam via the lastest version of Xiph.org’s Ogg Codecs.

This preview doesn’t have any controls or playback option but it does show that IE, even now, can support the new HTML5 Video Tag.

hat tip to Addictive Tips for the pointer and the graphics.

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Category: Windows

[Updated] Preview of the browser choice screen in Windows 7 for Europe

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zdnet-windows-7-browser-selection-screenMicrosoft has published a preview of the browser choice they have included in Windows 7 as a result of the European anti-trust decision. The screen offers 5 browsers in a “random order” (that’s the claim, anyway): Internet Explorer (obviously), Mozilla FireFox, Google Chrome, Opera, and Apple Safari. For the already installed systems, the browser choice will be offered – in Europe only – through Windows Update.

Update (February 24): the specific update was offered today for my wife’s Vista computer. I haven’t seen it yet for my Windows 7 one.

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Category: Microsoft and Software and Windows

Keyboard porn

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keyboard4

I have a weakness for hardware. They are my gadgets that I like to drool over and in the past dream about buying. Besides monitors my biggest weakness has to be keyboards. Not sure why but I’m always on the hunt for my ultimate keyboard.

A while back I was a loving the Apple slimline keyboard but not long after my attention was caught by a little beaut from Logitech. I ended up buying that one and still enjoy using it. That hasn’t stopped me from being distracted by other slim keyboard offerings.

Continue reading Keyboard porn »

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Category: Hardware

Microsoft getting into the software rental business

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ms-rental

One of the re-occurring themes in the software world is the idea of renting software. Much of the talk over the years has been with Microsoft Windows and Office in mind but Microsoft has for the most part steered clear of much of this discussion.

That has appeared to have changed recently if the post by Mary Jo Foley is any indication. As of January 1 all geographical restrictions have been removed and rental prices are on the US price list for Microsoft Partners Rental page (requires you to be a member) but according to analyst Paul DeGroot, as quoted by Mary Jo Foley, Microsoft is running a promotion for the deal

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Category: Software

Well color me pink – Microsoft Security Essential considered one of the best

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Microsoft-Security-Essentials I’ve been using Microsoft Security Essentials since I could first get a hold of the beta release and this is even after paying for Avira Anti-Virus.

It turns out that after being run through the gauntlet by AV-Comparatives.org Microsoft’s malware program is getting some pretty high marks. Not only has it been given top ratings for malware removal but it has also been given AV-Comparatives.org best ranking in their performance test as well.

AV-Comparatives.org ran a series of real-world tests running through common scenarios like downloading, extracting, copying, and encoding files, installing and launching applications, and they also ran through an automated testing suite as well. Once the dust had settled, it became clear that not only is MSE one of only three products that both blocks and removes malware well, but it’s also very light on system resources.

Out of all the products tested, Microsoft Security Essentials was the best-performing free antivirus solution, and one of only two that received “very fast” on each of the real-world tests, earning it their top award: an “advanced+” ranking.

courtesy: Lifehacker

It’s nice to see some praise being sent Microsoft’s way for a change and in this case it is well deserved.

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Category: Software

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