I just wanted to let all of you know that this will be my last post on The Unofficial Microsoft Weblog. As of this morning, I have moved over to a tiny little blog you might have heard of called DownloadSquad. It is a new opportunity and a new challenge for me, so I hope you will join me over there, and continue reading if you aren't a huge fan of DownloadSquad already. You will get a better mix of everything over at Download Squad including Google, VoIP, Microsoft, and many other topics. They already have a huge following that is definitely well deserved. If you haven't yet, come check it out. You can even continue to get Microsoft-only feeds if you wish, there are instructions on Download Squad on how to do this. I will be bringing you a wider range of topics, not just Microsoft, so it should be a great ride. Thanks for everything, all the comments, thoughts, and opinions. It has been fun.So long Microsoft blog.
I just wanted to let all of you know that this will be my last post on The Unofficial Microsoft Weblog. As of this morning, I have moved over to a tiny little blog you might have heard of called DownloadSquad. It is a new opportunity and a new challenge for me, so I hope you will join me over there, and continue reading if you aren't a huge fan of DownloadSquad already. You will get a better mix of everything over at Download Squad including Google, VoIP, Microsoft, and many other topics. They already have a huge following that is definitely well deserved. If you haven't yet, come check it out. You can even continue to get Microsoft-only feeds if you wish, there are instructions on Download Squad on how to do this. I will be bringing you a wider range of topics, not just Microsoft, so it should be a great ride. Thanks for everything, all the comments, thoughts, and opinions. It has been fun.The skinny on big fat Vista Part 4
The newly revamped "Hibernate" function works flawlessly, even on archaic hardware like mine. It saves everything, so you can completely turn off your PC, and later turn it back on to the same turn in your favorite game. Very cool. Also, the sleep feature works well too, and doesn't leave you hanging either! One of the most amazing things about Vista thus far for me is that my drivers would not install correctly for a few devices (although it recognized more devices than my XP install did right off the bat) until I went in through the update driver option. This allowed Vista to find my driver file and install everything the way it wanted to, which worked famously. Vista did crash on me completely a few times, but at this point, I am not sure whether this is Vista's or my aging hardware's fault. To tell you the truth, I can't wait to buy a brand new PC, just to hot-rod Vista in all it's muscle. I know it has many flaws, but I think once Microsoft puts on the finishing touches, there is enough there to really please fans and critics alike.
The skinny on big fat Vista Part 3
A sigh of relief, a breath of fresh air, all because the wicked witch of MY is dead! Microsoft axed the whole stupid "my" routine in Vista, along with the verbose and dumbly named "Documents and Settings" folder. Thank (your favorite deity here)! It is now simply Documents, Computer, Pictures, Music, and the new Games folder. Another thing I like is that Vista places all these things into a C:\Users\username folder for better organization. This is the best way they have done it ever. Windows NT used to have these files under C:\winnt\profiles\username and XP had C:\Documents and Settings\username with all of the My pictures, My music, etc under the My Documents folder. Finally someone realized that Pictures and Music and Videos are NOT DOCUMENTS! Rock on!The skinny on big fat Vista Part 2
Vista sports the new organizational structure that allows much easier browsing and finding of folders using a side-arrow and a drop down on every folder currently in your directory path. I also like Vista's new picture viewing application is excellent, even providing a slideshow view. The new search and all programs views let you type or click on what you want, and the results of both come up in the pane formerly reserved for only pinned items on the left. So instead of far reaching menus you must drill down through filling the screen, you can easily drill down via a faster, better tree-like interface. One thing I found interesting is that you can type run or calc, or notepad, and without further ado, Vista displays it, smartly knowing what I wanted, though these items, like run are not shown on the main start menu. On the integration front, Vista's new start button goes hand in hand with the new 2007 Office system beta's start-button common to most Office programs. There are many such improvements that make it easier for users to get the idea of how to use the system, since things look the same. Even display properties are interestingly arranged, while a little confusing to a seasoned user, will be very simple for a newbie.
The skinny on big fat Vista
So, as I write this on my laptop PC currently running windows Vista, I am thinking back over the last week that I have had Vista installed. The big verdict for me is that Vista is pretty good at some things, a little annoying with the security warnings, a little clunky yet, and not perfect, but for a beta, it is good. I have an older machine running 512MB RAM, and a 1.6GHz AMD Athlon 2800 chip and a whopping 40GB hard drive. Vista does make pretty good use of my ancient hardware. I tried out the ReadyBoost feature, which allows you to plug in any flash based memory stick, thumb drive, etc to help improve the performance of Vista and thusly your computer. This works surprisingly well, and makes me want to run out and buy a 2GB flash drive, just to see what it will do with that. My PC is rated by Vista as a 1, so it isn't the greatest of performances, and I don't even have the 128MB video card needed to run Aero, but I still like Vista quite a bit. There are some significant improvements to XP, better organization, and lots of little things that make computing easier. I love the new live preview of any picture, making it easy to tell your photos apart even on the desktop, without looking at the filename. Built in support for Clear-Type fonts is cool, making everything look ethereally slick.Vista Public Beta 2 is Live!
That's right folks, Microsoft Windows Vista Public Beta 2 is now available for download. I am personally going to install Vista tonight and see what works, and what doesn't for myself. For example, video games, applications, hardware, etc. The reviews I have seen say that most things work, with the exception of a few driver issues. Robert Scoble even said that Vista has made him so much more productive even with the quirks, so I look forward to testing it out in everyday use. Check out the download page for the public preview, though be aware that so many people are downloading it right now, that you may not be able to get in.
MSN Spaces is the largest blogging service
With over 100 million unique visitors, MSN Spaces is the largest blogging service worldwide according to comScore Media Metrix. It is amazing how blogging has taken off. With popular sites like MySpace and MSN spaces, it is safe to say that almost everyone is doing it. Who ever thought that someone's random inner wonderings would actually mean something to someone else, enough to post it on the Internet? Apparently, we all like the more human element in information publishing. Blogs such as post secret draw people in by the droves, because somehow blogging reaches people in a sincere way, and sometimes a deep way. Personally I love blogging, and though I haven't set up my own blog on MSN spaces, I do like their format and options. So swing on by and see what is hoping over there. There is a new service scheduled to take the place of MSN spaces called of course, you guess it "Windows Live Spaces" later this year, and it will have more social networking, to no doubt compete with mySpace. You can read Microsoft's full story here.Windows OneCare is now in retail stores
This is a really good product. Microsoft did their homework on this one. I had downloaded and tested this product and it really does help people keep their systems safe and up to date. The features include anti-virus, a decent firewall, anti-spyware, PC tune-up, back-up, restore, and even email, phone and chat tech support, yup, included in the same package at the same price. The OneCare suite is available online for download, and also in most Best Buy stores and a bunch of other retailers as well. A quick Google search (sorry Microsoft) yielded that both CompUSA and MicroCenter have OneCare available for around $50 for a year's subscription. OfficeMax and OfficeDepot did not seem to have it in their search at least, as of this writing.
Office 2007 may be just ducky.
Over at ZDnet, Marc Orchant writes about the "Office UI retraining canard." The catchy title aside, Marc states that the new user interface for Office 2007, including the "ribbon" and the newly grouped sections will eventually win users over. Marc goes on to write that the new interface was designed with a non-existent learning curve in mind. Apparently most users will take to the new UI like a flock of (your favorite waterfowl here). I suppose he is right by saying that "the biggest pushback will come from the most knowledgeable users. They have developed habits that will require some adjustment with the new UI." I certainly fall in that category, and I think a lot of people do. All I want is the option to use the new format or that old one. Though I favor the old way (who doesn't) I am starting to see some advantages to the new UI. I may come around. Stay tuned.iPods foster stealing music, apparently.
My first thought about Real Networks CEO Rob Glaser saying the half the music on iPod is stolen, is "you're just jealous." Honestly, as the link below suggests, many people HAVE downloaded "stolen" music, but many of them have a lot of their own music they have ripped for iPod play. Steve Ballmer allegedly echoed Glaser's sentiments by stating that "The most common format of music on an iPod is 'stolen'." May I remind both Rob and Steve that *IF* they had a decent iPod killer, there would also be "stolen" music on their players. It has nothing to do with the iPod. The problem really lies in the shift of a MAJOR music paradigm. It is mostly a matter of format. People generally rip their own albums because they want the ultra-mobility, style, and easy listening that the iPod offers. The fact that Apple has sold so many songs means that something is working. Just because the average is 25 songs to an iPod purchased legally, doesn't mean that many people still don't have an iPod, and simply buy songs for listening on their PC or Mac. This is another case of a CEO spouting off without doing his research or having the gusto to back up what he says, perhaps in the form of a REAL music store or a REAL mp3 playing device. Until then, I don't want to hear about it. Stolen music is a bigger problem than just iPod users. I thought everyone knew that by now.Microsoft do da ro-bot!
Microsoft is holding a contest to see who can develop the best new BOTs for the newly launched Windows Live Messenger Beta. BOTs are those little pieces of software that typically help users with things such as movie times, stock quotes, even price quotes and help with using IM. For any budding IM developers out there, you can find the three, yes three, software development kits (SDKs) from Microsoft available at the www.robotinvaders.com website. Entries will be accepted until September 15th, 2006. At stake is $40,000, bragging rights, and a mention in the new messenger application. I don't know the first thing about BOT-ing, so somebody clue me in, is it hard? In any case, go check out the website and get your grooviest robot dance on. Ready? Set? BOT!Microsoft to bring life to PC games?
For a long time now, Microsoft hasn't been focusing on PC games, and even us PC gamers can't blame them. Going from zero to 360 in a few years, not bad at all. Now though, Microsoft is going to begin focusing on PC games again. Many think Microsoft will develop, or have developed a gaming platform for the PC that rivals the ease and simplicity of the XBOX brand. Hopefully this is true. A little birdie told me that Microsoft may even be planning to integrate XBOX and PC based gaming platforms via a service like the wildy popular LIVE. This would certainly give them the advantage over Nintendo and Sony, who don't have anything close to a viable PC link to them systems. In fact, most consoles far thus far kept PC gaming out of their respective portfolios, because PC's have been the enemy. Microsoft knows that there are millions of PC gamers who would love to gank their snoody console-based buddies and prove once and for all what PC gamers have known for ages: the PC is the best gaming platform ever. How can you beat a customizable 101-key controller or the ability to upgrade any part of your gaming system? You obviously can't do that with a console.Why do people pirate software?
Cnet features Microsoft executive Michala Alexander talking about piracy and why people do it. Alexander states that, "it's just because people want what they can get for the cheapest price." While I understand this view and agree with the observation of human nature, I think the deeper issue is that software companies still cause a lot of piracy, because they haven't figured out what customers need. I know many people who bought a computer, then one day, inexplicably, their computer crashes. What do they do? They find the nearest guru, and ask for help. He gives them a copy of the operating system (that they didn't get when they bought the computer) to fix their computer. It may not be right, but is it fair to NOT give customers a copy of THEIR operating system THEY bought pre-installed? This is near-sighted and stingy of software companies. Most people in this situation would be fine if they could just get their computer back, yet no provision is made for them when the system crashes. I know this isn't all of the piracy going on, but this is the portion that I have witnessed. In this way, software companies are pirating their own software.Microsoft does the cam-cam.
Apple's iSight cameras now built into many products have been a big hit with mac users. Microsoft is taking a few clues and has come up with their own idea for a web cam as well. It is about time. I have often wished and wondered if this was an idea Microsoft sees the potential in, and apparently they do. The LifeCams should be available sometime this month, according to Mary Jo Foley of Microsoft Watch. No word yet on hardware integration of the product with things like laptops, but if the concept takes off it may end up in hardware in the near future. Video-conferencing would help many enterprises cut down on needless travel costs, as well as tighten the global community. It is a good idea, so Microsoft, bring it on![Via Microsoft-Watch.com]
Pay-per-PC?
Microsoft is trying an interesting strategy in pay-as-you-go computer services. In Brazil, there was a trial that allowed PC "buyers" to use the PC with a pre-paid card, much like a phone-card or prepaid wireless. This way, the computer will go into a limited access mode until more time is purchased. After long enough though, the user would own the PC outright, having met the payment pre-determined by the manufacturer. The service is called FlexGo. Some think it will give would be pirates a chance at affordable legitimate access to a computer, in a rent-to-own type way. It could have some promise. I don't know how much piracy it will cut down on, because people would rather get something "free" than to pay for it, especially when there isn't a strong law enforcement presence to curb piracy. It could work, but it will have only limited success until the "path of least resistance" includes paying for a service instead of just scalping it somewhere.[Via Ars Technica]
