Microsoft Allows Users to Remove Software
by Taylor Flatt on March 8th, 2009 at 10:41 am EDT - 5,907 views
Microsoft finally allows users to remove software that they include on your system when you buy their new Operating System, Windows 7, next year. In response to the EU’s protests and the US’s anti-trust suits they are finally allowing users to remove key programs like Internet Explorer and Media Player from their system by placing an icon in the Control Panel.
However, when you “remove” it from your system, it will remain installed but lack substinence. This is a big step forward from all the years of problems Microsoft has faced under Bill Gates regarding these issues. Now, it seems, that the new CEO will be complying more and more with international governments to eliminate such obstacles.
These new developments are gold to the ears of companies like Google and Mozilla who have been bottle necked by the bundling Microsoft has done to quell competition over the years.
Image courtesy of thetechherald.
Category: Operating Systems, Programs
Tags: anti-trust, browser, Google, Internet Explorer, Microsoft
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0 CommentsGoogle Earth Pot Bust?
by Nathaniel Ed on January 30th, 2009 at 10:09 pm EDT - 469 views
Apparently in Zurich, Switzerland, Swiss police were using Google’s Google Earth to find the address of a pair of farmers who were suspected of being involved in a drug ring, however, they found more about the farmers than they intended. The bust resulted in 16 arrests and 1.2 tons of marijuana confiscated [two acres worth], plus 900,000 ($775,795.19) Swiss Francs worth of valuables and cash.
I think that this is hilarious. I don’t think that having marijuana is all that bad of an offense, however it’s hilarious that the same technology that the U.S. government wants to stymie because it could compromise security, is also able to help the Swiss government. Maybe our [The United States] police force will take a hint and use this to their advantage.
Sources: MSNBC, PC World
Image courtesy of PC World.
Category: Online, Programs, Security, Software
Tags: Google, Google Earth, Switzerland
Future of Gaming – Where are we headed?
by Andreas Rothbauer on January 27th, 2009 at 9:31 pm EDT - 2,101 views
In these tough economic times when many people use the entertainment industry as an escape from the brutal reality and are looking for affordable family entertainment I thought it was time to reflect on the gaming industry and where we are going. I am sure many of you have probably grown up with the NES and other 8 bit consoles – so have I. Looking back at those days of playing the Super Marios, Zeldas and constantly blowing on the dusty cartridges to get them to work makes me miss my first gaming experiences and the epic struggle of trying to play or should I even dare say beat some of those superhard video games from the early 90s. However, I loved every minute of it and doing it with friends were some of the best times I’ve ever had.
Today, video games take on a new but just as important of a role in our lives as adults. As mentioned before, money is hard to come by in this day and age and many people don’t even have jobs anymore. Still, families are seeking entertainment and the unlikely suspect of a video game console has stepped up to deliver just that. What was once a geeky and negatively looked upon activity has spread into nearly every living room and TV show in the United States and even the entire world – newly elevated to pop-culture: the Nintendo Wii.
Category: Games, Graphic Cards, Online, Operating Systems, Programs, Reviews, Security
Tags: Future of Gaming, Gaming in the Cloud, Nintendo Wii, PS4, Steam Cloud, Xbox 720
Mac Gets New Virus
by Chris Willhite on January 22nd, 2009 at 6:16 pm EDT - 1,014 views
On Thursday Intego, a security software company for Mac OS, sent out a warning to everyone about a new trojan horse virus that is spreading around the internet. Currently the trojan is only found in pirated versions of Apple’s iWork ‘09 software.
The new trojan has been named OS-X.Trojan.iServices and what it does is installs when you install iWork ‘09. On earlier versions of Mac OSX (10.5.1 and earlier) there is no password prompt but on newer versions it asks for the root pass to install. If the user puts in the password and allows the trojan to install then it has complete read write and excecute permissions in root which means it can do anything to your system that it wants. It also has the ability to reach out to other infected macs and even download other components after infection.
Microsoft Releases MED-V Beta
by Taylor Flatt on January 19th, 2009 at 3:06 pm EDT - 889 views
Microsoft has released another beta that runs a legacy program which essentially allows you to run Windows XP and 2000 apps on Vista without the need of migration or testing. The beta, called MED-V, creates a virtual PC of the legacy version of Windows that you would like inside Vista. The whole project is said to be completed by at least second quarter.
If you are looking to give this new technology a try, you can download it here, but don’t forget to register or you won’t be able to take part!
This seems like some technology that should have been developed along with the release of Vista or shortly thereafter. However, it seems quite pointless to release it now with Windows 7 coming next year. Maybe they should begin developing technology for Windows 7 instead of the soon-to-be-obsolete Vista.
Category: Operating Systems, Programs
Tags: Kidaro, MED-V, Microsoft, technology
Microsoft Stalked By EU
by Taylor Flatt on January 18th, 2009 at 1:26 pm EDT - 260 views
Microsoft has just been notified this Thursday that they will be required to appear in court due to the fact that they have been violating antitrust laws passed down by the EU.
However, this is not the first time the EU has pursued Microsoft and ask for money. Years ago, the EU fined Microsoft 1.35 billion because they were overcharging software manufactures. I’m not surprised one bit that the EU is seeking out more money from their best friend Microsoft. Microsoft also released a lengthy statement saying they are going to comply with EU’s regulations,
Steve Ballmer Microsoft Keynote Speech
by Taylor Flatt on January 7th, 2009 at 11:06 pm EDT - 371 views
Just hours ago Steve Ballmer, Microsofts CEO, gave the Microsoft Keynote speech which lays out the upcoming year. With this year so full of economic depressions I couldn’t way to find out what was in store for all of us consumers.
At the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas Ballmer announced a lot of interesting things like partnerships with Dell that will add preloaded Windows Live programs to Dell computers before shipment. Another partnership is with Verizon which will reload Windows Live on the cellphones before sale. Finally, another partnership with Facebook allows users to hookup their Facebook with MSN Live profile.
Alright folks, here is the biggest let down probably of the entire year. There will be no new Zune. Sadly, they decided to revamp their Live Search rather than come out with tangible items.
Windows 7 was also announced to be out this friday for Beta testing. Hurry and get it because they said they will be capping the downloads at 2.5 million downloads. The recommended hardware requirements are as follows:
Category: Games, Industry News, Online, Operating Systems, Programs, Software
5 Reasons Why IE Fails
by Taylor Flatt on December 31st, 2008 at 12:57 am EDT - 2,005 views
Internet Explorer, the gateway to the internet, or so it was back in the day is anything but now. Currently, there are several decent browsers that can get you to the same place faster, safer and easier. With an unbiased approach, I will look into the reasons why IE has and is beginning to fail. From CSS interpretations to memory usage IE has gone downhill.
Over the years Microsoft has prided itself in bringing technology and service to use who aren’t as fortunate to have the resources to do it ourselves. However, over the years, it seems that Microsoft has strayed from this path and has gone down a more adventitious avenue seeking more fame than actual usability and safety.
Category: Industry News, Online, Programs, Reviews, Security
Tags: Apple, Chrome, CSS, Customer Service, Firefox, Google, Hacking, Internet Explorer, Memory Usage, Microsoft, Mozilla, Safari
Another “Anti-Virus” Bites the Dust
by Taylor Flatt on December 24th, 2008 at 2:11 pm EDT - 215 views
After reading Brad’s post on a phoney AV, I thought I might post something to further his point. Microsoft has recently released tools that are targeting the “AntiVirus 2008 (aka AntiVirus 2007, AntiVirus XP) on people’s computers. This program does nothing to help your computer only puts bad things on it (Ironic eh?).
Another program Microsoft has been targeting is called W32 (aka Yektel with W32FakeXPA). This claims your computer by being installed with other phony software. Once on your computer, this takes hold and starts displaying messages that you need to “Upgrade” your software later prompting you to buy the software for $50. It also displays messages from Google saying you have outdated software and prompting you to buy the software as well. It also tricks you into thinking you had actual trojans or viruses on your computer when you really don’t.
These programs are very where and you can never be too sure of what you are downloading. There are only a few that I truly trust and that is AVG and kaspersky.
Source: ComputerWorld
Microsoft has SQL Fix?
by Taylor Flatt on December 24th, 2008 at 1:50 pm EDT - 216 views
Since April, Microsoft has allegedly been working on a fix for this bug but according to Bernhard Mueller, Microsoft has had a fix for this bug for months. So why, might I ask, have they not released this fix or better yet, informed the community about this fix? Although speculation has risen on the actual time of release, many think it will be released at their next update session which is roughly 3 weeks from today.
I, for one, am outraged by this who scenario. Like that of the IE bug, this is a serious problem that needs addressed. Even though Microsoft claims this hasn’t been exploited fully, that is no reason to not release an emergancy update for this half a year problem.
However, Microsoft has acted in a very nondynamic way by issuing a statement urging their users to grab a work around script that automatically denies permissions to certain parts of the database so that the chances of explotation are less.
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