Microsoft Allows Users to Remove Software
by Taylor Flatt on March 8th, 2009 at 10:41 am EDT - 6,148 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 CommentsYahoo Restructure Looming
by Taylor Flatt on February 22nd, 2009 at 2:51 pm EDT - 1,865 views
Carol Bartz, the new Chief Executive, is said to begin reconstruction of Yahoo sometime next week. From sources within Yahoo, Carol is supposedly placing a traditional structure on Yahoo much like the one she employed at Autodesk. From another prominent source,
Most expect Bartz to do a C-level style set-up, with executives like a chief operating officer, chief technology officer and also a new, more powerful chief media officer (who will also head PR), all reporting to her.
After losing many of their executives to Microsoft including Larry Heck (VP of search and advertisement sciences) and Qi Lu (VP of engineering for search and advertisement sciences), it looks like there might be a tough task ahead of Ms.Bartz.
Category: Industry News, Online
Tags: Autodesk, Carol Bartz, Google, Microsoft, Restructure, yahoo
Microsoft’s Own ‘Easy Button’
by Nathaniel Ed on February 8th, 2009 at 8:00 pm EDT - 980 views
Recently Microsoft started implementing it’s latest invention: a ‘Fix it’ button on its self help pages. It isn’t very widespread as of now, but the project is quickly gaining ground, seeing as how it started off with roughly four automatic ‘fix-its’ in December, and now it has grown to about 100 different ‘fix-its.’
To see how it worked, I decided to personally to try out this new feature. I found an easy one for me to try: The Internet Explorer icon is missing from your desktop. Upon arriving on the page, the button stuck out rather quickly. They still have manual fix instructions for Do-It-Yourselfers, but now you can automatically do it.
First of all, I put my IE icon in my recycle bin, then emptied the bin. Next, I clicked on the ‘Fix-It’ button, and a download message appeared. I chose to save the file, and an install wizard came up, so I installed the program that was designed to put an IE icon on my desktop. Next it required me to restart my computer, which I did. Then I noticed that the icon appeared without restarting my computer, but I went ahead and took the advise of the wizard and restarted my computer.
Tags: easy button, Fix-It button, help, Internet Explorer, Microsoft, support
ACES Studios shut down
by Nathaniel Ed on January 24th, 2009 at 11:13 am EDT - 508 views
Microsoft announced Friday that ACES Studios, the creator of the Flight Simulator series, will be closing it’s doors, as an implication of Microsoft’s 5,000 worker layoff.
Is this the end?
Apparently it isn’t. A Microsoft spokeswoman Kelda Rericha said that Microsoft remains committed to it’s long running franchise.
We are committed to the Flight Simulator franchise, which has proven to be a successful PC-based game for the last 27 years. You should expect us to continue to invest in enabling great Live experiences on Windows, including flying games, but we have nothing specific to announce at this time.
Well, Flight Simulator is probably the longest running Microsoft franchise, since it’s first Flight Simulator was shipped in 1982. I find it hard to believe that they would just kill off a gem like Flight Simulator. Apparently they will keep Flight Simulator alive in some form or another. Only time will tell the true future of Flight Simulator.
Source: PC Magazine
Image courtesy of Cnet
Category: Games, Industry News
Tags: ACES Studios, Flight Simulator, layoffs, Microsoft
Internet Usages Reaches Over 1 Bil
by Nathaniel Ed on January 24th, 2009 at 10:49 am EDT - 985 views
In the month of December, over one billion individual users were served worldwide. 41.3% were from the Asia-Pacific region, according to comScore, and internet traffic measurement firm.
Second place went to Europe with 28.0 percent, then North America with 18.4 percent. Latin America made up 7.4 percent, and the Middle East/Africa region made up 4.8 percent.
The statistics of actual users are: Asia/Pacific with about 416 million users, Europe had 283 million users, North America had 185 million users, Latin America had 75 million, and the Middle East/Africa had about 49 million unique users.
Country wise, China came in first with 17.8 percent, or about 180 million users, then the U.S.A. with 16.2 percent, or about 163 million users, and Japan came in third with 6 percent, or about 63 million users.
How to Extend Windows 7 Trial
by Nathaniel Ed on January 19th, 2009 at 6:41 pm EDT - 1,282 views
If you weren’t one of the fortunate 2.5 million who were able to get into the full beta test, everyone else has access to a thirty day free trial, provided that you have Vista to run it. A Windows internal mechansm, however, allows this trial to be quadrupled, allowing Windows 7 beta access for 120 days.
How do I do it?
You have to run the “cmd.exe” program, which, according to PC Games Hardware ”can be found by typing “cmd” into the Windows search, as an administrator.” Then you must type “slmgr.vbs -rearm” into the command prompt. Once you restart your computer, the trial for Windows 7 will restart at thirty days. This neat trick can be redone 3 times, for a total of 4 trial resets.
I think that it’s good that this was found. If you’re busy like I am, thirty days is barely enough to try out an entire operating system. I hope this extra time is put to good use by giving Microsoft good feedback about how to make Windows 7 a better OS.
Source: PCGH
Picture courtesy of PC Games Hardware.
Category: Operating Systems
Tags: beta, hack, Microsoft, Operating Systems, trial, Windows 7
Microsoft Releases MED-V Beta
by Taylor Flatt on January 19th, 2009 at 3:06 pm EDT - 1,000 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 - 330 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,
IBM Remains US Patent Leader
by Taylor Flatt on January 14th, 2009 at 8:32 pm EDT - 521 views
IBM, for 16 straight years, has dominated in most patents per year. This year, they have topped off at over 4,000. IBM managed to beat out their challenger Samsung by 671 patents. IBM said this in their official release, “IBM’s 2008 patent issuances are nearly triple Hewlett-Packard’s and exceed the issuances of Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Oracle, Apple, EMC, Accenture and Google – combined.” However, HP fired back saying they are seeking quality of the patents, not quantity.
While IBM grabbed 11.5 technical patents per day last year, they are looking to increase their technical production by upwards of 50%. This seems pretty odd to me that IBM is the leader in patents. I would think that companies like Microsoft or even Sony would be towards the top of this list. It just seems that many people have forgotten about the hero of old that rivaled Microsoft in the beginning.
Bartz Chosen as Yahoo CEO
by Nathaniel Ed on January 13th, 2009 at 6:55 pm EDT - 1,464 views
“There is no denying that Yahoo has faced enormous challenges over the last year, but I believe there is now an extraordinary opportunity to create value for our shareholders and new possibilities for our customers, partners and employees. We will seize that opportunity.” says the new Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz former chief executive of AutoDesk.
Carol Bartz was named CEO of Yahoo today after much anticipation since Yahoo cofounder Jerry Yang announced that he would step down in November. Yang was critisized greatly due to failed negotiations of a merger with Microsoft.
Bartz appointment could lead back to talks with Microsoft, who has stated that it is no longer interested in acquiring all of Yahoo, but is still very interested in buying Yahoo’s search engine.
Category: General, Industry News
Tags: Autodesk, Carol Bartz, Jerry Yang, Microsoft, Vista, yahoo