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Windows XP SP3 to be released on April 29th
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Internet, Microsoft, Software
Man, April is just shaping up to bring us all sorts of goodness - Mario Kart Wii, Grand Theft Auto IV, and now Windows XP SP3. Don’t get me wrong, I sure as hell am not saying that XP SP3 will be anywhere near as enjoyable as two of the biggest console game releases of the year, but seriously, if those rumors about a 10 percent speed increase hold true, that is just one more reason to stick with XP over Vista. Look for WIndows XP SP3 in the Microsoft Download Center, as well as Microsoft Update, on April 29th.
Read More 
| Microsoft TechNet
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Microsoft drops prices on Windows Vista line
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Microsoft, Software
So, Windows Vista has been around now for a good thirteen months, and in that time, it has seen much criticism. If you’ve been on the fence about switching or upgrading to Vista, we are sure that Microsoft is hoping that their upcoming price drop will be enough to get you to make the move. The new pricing details will be as follows:
- Windows Vista Ultimate: $320, down from $400
- WIndows Vista Ultimate Upgrade: $220, down from $260
- Windows Vista Home Premium: $130, down from $160
The price drops are expected to coincide with the shipment of the first major update to Vista, Service Pack 1.
Read More | Reuters
Windows Mobile 7 leaked: Microsoft’s mobile savior?
Posted by Sparky Categories: Cell Phones, CES, CES 2008, Design, Handhelds, Portable Audio / Video
The Inside Microsoft blog has scored an exclusive first look at Windows Mobile 7, and boy is it hot. Taking some user interface cues from the iPhone as well as throwing some truely unique and possibly revolutionary ideas the whole package looks slick, usable, and very much ‘the future’. The OS features a multi-touch interface similar to the Microsoft Surface table, and additionally features gesture based actions allowing a user to shake or rotate the phone to perform on-screen operations.
Windows Mobile 7 looks to be leaps and bounds ahead of the currently released Windows Mobile 6 and 6.1 OS’s. This kind of software revolution may just be the edge Microsoft needs to keep their market share in the mobile space and help give them an edge in the upcoming generation of portable internet and media centric devices.
Read More | Inside Microsoft
Vixta: The Vista of Linux?!
Crazy about the Windows Vista UI, but love Linux? Vixta could be your your thing. Vixta is a new Fedora-based Linux distribution featuring a surprisingly Windows Vista like look and feel. In fact, it’s so surprisingly like Windows Vista that Redmond based lawyers can’t be far behind - it’s a pretty blatant rip of the Aero interface.
While Vixta captures the look of Vista, one wonders if it’s truly as evolved as Vista is. Windows Vista may have it’s flaws, but ove all it is a highly polished operating system with lots of features to make it easy to use for the not so computer literate. No, really. This kind of refinement in a user interface takes a lot of time and energy to develop. The Linux underpinnings might be rock solid, but if Vixta’s stated goal is bringing Linux to the masses, it’s the chrome that will make a difference.
Read More | Vixta via Tux Enclave
Tips for saving power on Linux
Posted by Sparky Categories: Internet, PC / Laptop, Software
Most modern operating systems, including Microsoft Windows and OS X by Apple, feature technology to turn off internal devices and manage power to be more environmentally friendly and squeeze every last drop of juice out of batteries on portable computers. Unfortunately many Linux distributions don’t offer these features built in quite yet.
Enter Less Watts, a site dedicated to configuring Linux systems and machines to consume less power. Featuring tips and tricks for reducing power consumption in Linux, and links to a number of projects aimed at bringing these technologies to more and more distributions soon. The site looks to be fairly new, but has a great mailing list which looks like a great resource for anyone trying to reign in their power use on Linux boxes.
Read More | Less Watts
Downgrade Available for Certain Vista Users
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Corporate News, Microsoft, PC / Laptop, Software
One of the many interesting tech stories this year was Microsoft’s release of Windows Vista…and the subsequent complaints, issues and horror stories that followed, as this writer can personally attest to. As a result, many users and businesses have it made quite clear they’d rather switch back to good ol’ Windows XP. Well, in a very surprising move, Microsoft is “quietly allowing PC makers to offer a downgrade option to buyers that get machines with the new operating system but want to switch to Windows XP.” The catch? The offer only applies to Vista Business and Ultimate editions, so you Home users are out of luck. Dell, Fujitsu, Lenovo and HP PCs are all capable of downgrading if customers wish to. That piercing, wailing sound you hear? It’s this writer screaming in despair because she can’t go back to the shiny, happy days of Windows XP.
Read More | Engadget
OS X 10.4.10 Released
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop, Software
For the first time, Apple has released 10.x.10 update to one of their operating systems, due likely to the delay of Leopard. In any event, if you are running OS X, kick Software Update into gear and download the new version. We are running Intel-based Macs, and the download weighs in at 49 MB exactly, and includes the following improvements:
- RAW camera support
- Mounting and unmounting external USB devices
- Support for 3rd party software applications
- Security updates
With that out of the way, we can now look forward to the release of OS X 10.5 Leopard. You can get the full scoop on the update straight from Apple at the link below.
Read More | Apple
Windows Vista RC1 Available to the Public
Posted by Yuan Zhao Categories: Corporate News, Microsoft, Software
On its website, Microsoft reports that “Windows Vista RC1 is available for participants of the Windows Vista Customer Preview Program. Please go to the Customer Preview Program website to register and receive a Product Key, which is required to install and activate the software.”
“Before upgrading from Beta 2 to RC1, please install any Critical Updates from Windows Update for Beta 2. Go to Start, All Programs, Windows Update, and click the “Check for Updates” button.”
The keys for Windows Vista RC1, the first release candidate for Microsoft’s upcoming operating system, were sent out via email to CPP participants. The download is a 2.5 GB ISO and Microsoft servers seem to be holding up well, as we am currently downloading at around 600 kb/s.
Here are the download links:
English: http://download.windowsvista.com/preview/rc1/en/download.htm
German: http://download.windowsvista.com/preview/rc1/de/download.htm
Japanese: http://download.windowsvista.com/preview/rc1/jp/download.htm
If you are not part of the CPP, don’t worry. Registrations will open in the coming weeks. The release candidate expires June 1, 2007.
Read More | Microsoft Vista
Windows Vista RC1 Released
Posted by Yuan Zhao Categories: Microsoft, PC / Laptop, Software
Despite rumors and speculation from testers of Windows Vista Beta 2 that the operating system was woefully incomplete, Microsoft has pulled through and released the first release candidate (RC1) earlier today. Windows Vista is the next-generation Microsoft OS meant to replace Windows XP, adding new features and eye-candy. Microsoft’s Jim Allchin posted an announcement concerning the release, but it is only availible to TechBeta or TAP participants. There is no word yet on the stability, usability, or new features in this release but it is probably safe to assume that the OS is considerably less problematic than the previous build. So, if you are a tester, hurry on up to download the file.
Read More | Windows Vista Team Blog
Windows Vista Pricing and Release Date
Posted by Brian Viele Categories: Microsoft, PC / Laptop, Rumors, Software
Windows Vista pricing and release information has been posted on Amazon.com for pre-orders. The listed release date is January 30th of next year.
The pricing is as follows (full/upgrade):
- Windows Vista Home Basic $199/$99
- Windows Vista Home Premium $239/$159
- Windows Vista Business $299/$199
- Windows Vista Ultimate $399/$259
Amazon also has pricing for additional licenses listed at what seem to be very high prices. With full versions of OSX priced at $129.99 for a single user and just under $200 for a 5-user pack and solid linux distro’s out there for under $100, Microsoft still remains the king of the high priced OS.
Read More | ZDNet
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