KezNews.com
DownloadsOther NewsForumBlogsWallpapersJokewareSearch

News letter:


Enter Your E-mail:


Search in KezNews.com:







Vista SP1 will deliver big network speed boost

I downloaded the release candidate of Vista Service Pack 1 yesterday and was prepared to wait till its public debut next week before writing about it.
windows - comments - 6.12.2007

Vista = Big Brother?

PC users around the globe may find driver software is stopped from working by Vista if it detects unauthorised content access. Peter Guttman, a security engineering researcher at New Zealand's university of Auckland, has written A Cost Analysis of Windows Vista Content Protection.
windows - comments - 2.1.2007

Ballmer Analyzes Microsoft's 'One Big' Vista Mistake

Microsoft's CEO blames the company's "Big Bang" approach for leading to Vista's delays. He says it tried to do too much, too fast with all the core components.
microsoft - comments - 2.8.2006

Internet Explorer 7 a Disappointment as Big as Windows Vista?

Is Internet Explorer 7 matching Windows Vista in the level of disappointment delivered to end users? Well, such an answer lies ultimately within you. But at the same time, IE7 has not been submitted to the same barrage of fire that Vista had to face throughout 2007.
microsoft - comments - 28.12.2007

Big review of Vista December 2005 CTP (Build 5270)

I think people are going to be surprised by how good the Windows Vista December 2005 Community Technical Preview (CTP, or build 5270) really is. After years of painful delays and an uncertain couple of months since the last CTP, Microsoft shipped a near-feature-complete Vista build to testers this week, and the prognosis is extremely positive.

From what I can see, Vista has turned the corner. The December CTP is an exciting release, stable and full of new features. In this review, I'll examine those new features, and the features that have changed since the previous CTP, build 5231.
windows - comments - 21.12.2005

The big Digg rig

Digg became one of the top sites for tech news because it lets Web-savvy geeks decide what's newsworthy, offer up stories they like and vote on their favorites.
common - comments - 5.12.2006

iPod Nano May Have Some Big problems

What some analysts have billed as the "top MP3 player this fall" may have just hit a potentially damaging roadblock - its own frailty.

Complaints have begun to circle on both Web logs and Apple's own support forums surrounding an issue with the polycarbonate plastic that covers the front of the iPod Nano. Some users claim the player scratches extremely easily, enough that it makes the screen difficult to read.
common - comments -

Office Upgrades to Have Big Impact

The number of corporate PCs using Microsoft Office that have to be upgraded due to a patent-infringement settlement might not be so small after all, according to a new survey.

AssetMetrix Research Labs said 22 percent of the 600,000 corporate PCs it surveyed that run Office with Access must be upgraded with Office 2003 SP2 and a special patch.
microsoft - comments - 8.2.2006

I Run Windows 7 Big in Japan

Microsoft is in the final stages of the development process for the next iteration of the Windows client. With RTM planned by the end of July 2009 and worldwide General Availability scheduled for October 22, the Redmond company has unveiled a set of initiatives designed to build up to Windows 7 hitting the shelves.
windows - comments - 6.7.2009

BIG Comparison of 27 BitTorrent clients

The following tables compare general and technical information for a number of BitTorrent clients. Please see the individual products' articles for further information. This article is not all-inclusive or necessarily up-to-date.
common - comments -

Microsoft's Big Bet: Win Within the Web

Although the latest version of Microsoft Windows is more than six months from shipping, company brass already have christened Vista as the best and biggest Windows release since Windows 95.

The company is making bold predictions, claiming Vista will be preloaded on as many as 200 million new personal computers in the first 24 months that the product is available. Windows 95 shipped on a mere 67 million new PCs during its first two years. These numbers are important. The prospects of nearly every product Microsoft makes ride on maintaining the ubiquity of Windows, which has in excess of 90 percent of the PC operating system market. It's been five years since the current Windows version was released, and Windows XP now is looking rather dated.
microsoft - comments - 15.3.2006

Microsoft: Bots a Big Problem for Windows

Malicious bots are becoming quite common, with six out of every ten computers scanned by the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool found to be infected, Microsoft said Monday. Altogether, the application has removed malicious bots from about 3.5 million PCs.
windows - comments - 13.6.2006

Microsoft to spend big on Zune marketing

Microsoft to spend big on Zune marketing, Zillions? Well, millions at least.

Microsoft is ready to take the fight to Apple in the digital music market by flexing its financial muscle.
microsoft - comments - 28.7.2006

Microsoft's Last 'Big Bang' Operating System?

Despite forays into Web software with Windows Live and Office Live -- collections of e-mail, instant messaging, and Web publishing apps -- Microsoft's core franchises remain wedded to the PC.
windows - comments - 12.4.2006

Gates Predicts Big Technological Leaps

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) Chairman Bill Gates said Thursday he expects the next decade to bring even greater technological leaps than the past 10 years.
microsoft - comments - 16.3.2008

NVIDIA Unleashes Big Bang II

A few months ago, NVIDIA announced its plans to release a GeForce R180 series of drivers meant to bring new features and technology innovations to its graphics cards.
common - comments - 23.10.2008

Microsoft plans big Vancouver, B.C., software center

Microsoft announced this morning that it will open a software development center this fall in the Vancouver, B.C., area, with room for hundreds of workers.
microsoft - comments - 6.7.2007

Microsoft's Ballmer outlines his seven big bets for 2009

For the past few Februaries, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer makes the trek to Wall Street to provide analysts with an annual “Strategic Update” overview, in which he covers the areas where Microsoft plans to invest and why.
microsoft - comments - 24.2.2009

Vistas big problem: 92 percent of developers ignoring it

And to think Microsoft used to be popular with the developer crowd... Not anymore. A recent report from Evans Data shows fewer than one in 10 software developers writing applications for Windows Vista this year. Eight percent.
windows - comments - 17.6.2008

Windows Seven and Office 14 Just as Big as Windows Vista and Office 2007

Microsoft has reiterated its commitment to the desktop. Building on its co-founder Bill Gates' vision of a PC on every desk in every home, Microsoft will continue to focus on delivering desktop products. And in this context, nothing will change when it comes down to the development of the company's main cash cows.
windows - comments - 12.7.2007

.NET Framework 3.5 SP1 for XP SP3 and Vista SP1

Microsoft has made Service Pack 1 for .NET Framework 3.5 for Windows Server 2008 available for download. Designed to integrate seamlessly with Windows Vista SP1, Windows XP SP3, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008, .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 is now live on the Microsoft Download Center.
download - comments - 11.8.2008

Making 64-bit Vista SP1 Say It's Vista SP1

Making a 64-bit copy of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 confirm that it is actually Vista SP1 might require a minimum amount of effort on behalf of the end user, such as right-clicking My Computer and selecting Properties, but things are a tad different when an application is programmed to identify the operating system versions or the service pack releases.
windows - comments - 25.8.2008

32-bit Vista SP1 = 1GB – 64-bit Vista SP1 = 1.5GB

If you think that Windows Vista was a fast operating system, then just wait for the first service pack. According to data released by Microsoft, Vista SP1 with weigh in at a maximum of 1.5 GB.
windows - comments - 30.8.2007

64-bit Vista SP1 Runs Faster than 32-bit Vista SP1 and 32-bit XP SP3!

The 64-bit edition of Windows Vista delivers not only support for larger quantities of system memory, with the high-end editions supporting as much as 128 GB of RAM, but also some extra horse power hidden under the hood.
windows - comments - 29.4.2008

The Vista Built-in Super Administrator Account Has Survived in Vista SP1

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is designed to evolve the RTM version of the latest Windows client from Microsoft, made available in November 2006 to business customers, and in January 2007 to the general consumers.
windows - comments - 15.2.2008

Vista SP1 Is Out, XP SP3 Old News, the Pink Edition of Vista Is In

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is now nothing more than water under the bridge, now that the service pack was released to manufacturing on February 4, 2008, shipping to general users on March 18.
windows - comments - 27.3.2008

Tell Hasta la Vista to XP - Time to Upgrade to Vista SP1

Like it or not, this is the right time not only to upgrade to Windows Vista Service Pack 1 but also to tell hasta la vista to Windows XP.
windows - comments - 30.6.2008

Vista SP1 RC1 Flies Past Vista RTM and Windows XP SP2

Despite the fact that Microsoft has expressed its official position regarding testing Windows Vista Service Pack 1 ahead of its finalization, there is simply too much of a hunger for the service pack.
windows - comments - 27.12.2007

Vista SP1 Won't Resolve the 4 GB RAM Limitation of 32-bit Windows Vista

32-bit Windows operating systems, and Windows Vista makes no exception whatsoever to this rule, are limited in terms of the amount of system memory that can be addressed to no more than 4 GB.
windows - comments - 4.1.2008

Vista Loader 2.1.3 - Windows Vista Activator 2008 Support SP1 with No Boot String

Vista Loader is one of the most successful Vista activation crack available to date, second only to physical modify (hardmod) the BIOS to include SLIC table to make BIOS Vista activation-compliant.
download - comments - 15.5.2008

Endless reboots force suspension of Vista SP1 updates

The reason it's called "beta testing" is to anticipate and isolate problems. But a big problem reported by some -- not all -- Vista SP1 testers is causing Microsoft to take a step back...
betanews.com - 20.02.2008

Changes to UAC in Vista SP1: Much less than meets the eye

A video is making the rounds showing how Vista SP1 has significantly improved Vista's immensely annoying User Account Control (UAC). But there appears to be less to the improvement than meets the eye --- hardly any changes were made to UAC in SP1, and it remains a very big Vista annoyance.



Microsoft blogger Michael Kleef has made a video that he says illustrates how much better UAC is under SP1 than before SP1. It very nicely shows that when you create a new folder in Program Files, you only need to go through one UAC prompt under Vista SP1, rather than four previously.




winbeta.org - 17.05.2008

Vista SP1 to be just 45MB over Windows Update?

Mary Jo Foley got a chance to see a note sent to certain testers of Vista SP1 earlier this month and quite a few interesting factoids have turned up in it:


Q: How big is SP1?


A: œWindows Vista SP1 is approximately 45 MB when delivered over Windows Update and is designed to not significantly change the UI or regress application compatibility.


Q: What are some examples of œsupport for emerging technologies and standards?


A: œWith SP1, Windows Vista can boot via EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface) on an x64 machine. SP1 supports ExFAT, a new file format that will be used in flash memory storage and consumer devices Support for SD Advanced DMA Support to improve transfer performance and decrease CPU utilization is part of SP1



winbeta.org - 30.07.2007

Why installing Vista SP1 might fail via Windows Update

When you try to install Windows Vista SP1 via Windows Update you can get error: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is not available for installation from Windows Update and is not offered by Automatic Updates.

To help ensure a positive update experience, Windows Update will temporarily not offer Windows Vista SP1 to systems that have the following device drivers. In some cases, these device drivers are problematic on Windows Vista-based computers when you update to Windows Vista SP1. By installing updated device drivers, you will resolve the issue and enable Windows Update to offer Windows Vista SP1.

Click read more to view a list of drivers that don't work well with Vista SP1:


Read full story.....
neowin.net - 20.03.2008

Microsoft junks and replaces Vista kernel in SP1

One of the “big” features discussed in early speculation of Windows Vista SP1 was the kernel upgrade, which was supposed to bring the operating system into line with the Longhorn kernel used in Windows Server 2008. And yet with Vista SP1 going RTM, there hasn't been so much as a peep from Microsoft about the mooted kernel update. Has it happened? Well the answer is yes it has, and presumably the main reason for Microsoft’s silence on the subject is that as they’re keen to promote the improvements and enhancements to Vista, rather than placing emphasis on a kernel upgrade, which some people might see as a risk of newly-introduced instability.


Read full story.....
neowin.net - 05.02.2008

Photos: Installing Vista SP1 beta

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes: Earlier today I downloaded the standalone installer for Windows Vista SP1 build 6001.16659 and installed it on a few systems to see what it was like -- and I thought you might like to take a look at it.



Don't expect huge UI changes after installing SP1 -- the changes are small and subtle. In fact, if you're not familiar with Windows Vista, you might miss the SP1 changes. I've put together an image gallery showing some of the most significant changes.




winbeta.org - 28.09.2007

Improved startup repair tool, media throttling among Vista SP1 changes

To reassure customers that it really has been addressing consumers' concerns about Vista, Microsoft has made its change log to Windows Vista SP1 publicly available early...
betanews.com - 11.12.2007

Interview: What Vista SP1 means to you

The first service pack for Windows Vista is slated for release to manufacturing in the first quarter of 2008. The announcement was made via Microsofts Windows Window Vista Blog by Nick White, a product manager at Microsoft. We got a chance to sit down with White to talk about SP1.



On the blog post, White made it a point to mention this service pack is quite different from other service packs offered for previous versions of Windows. Microsoft is taking full advantage of Windows Update to send improvements to Windows Vista customers rather than relying on one big service pack. That being said, the message for Windows Vista SP1 is dont expect new features, but some components do gain new functionality.



So, the biggest question is what will be in Windows Vista SP1? The first is quality improvements (security, reliability, and performance) including all previously released updates. Next, SP1 will include additional support for hardware and standards including an Extensible Firmware Interface (ESO) and an Extended File Allocation Table (exFAT). Probably, the biggest group to benefit from Windows Vista SP1 is administrators.




winbeta.org - 30.08.2007

Windows Vista SP1 Application Non-Compatibility List

Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista is an important update for Windows Vista. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) contains many security, reliability, and feature updates for Windows Vista. A program may experience a loss of functionality after you install Windows Vista SP1. However, most programs will continue to work as expected after you install Windows Vista SP1.



This article lists programs that have been reported to experience a loss of functionality when they are installed on a Windows Vista SP1-based computer.




winbeta.org - 19.02.2008

Language Packs and Windows Vista SP1

Nick White: We have some information we'd like to share in regards to Windows Vista SP1 and folks running Language Packs. Some of you may have noticed that after installing Windows Vista SP1 on Windows Vista Ultimate - the Language Packs fail to appear on Windows Update (KB947875).



We will be releasing Windows Vista SP1 in two "waves". The first wave will only provide Windows Vista SP1 to Windows Vista Ultimate PCs running the following 5 Languages: English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish. The second wave will follow shortly after - supporting all 36 languages.




winbeta.org - 04.03.2008

The Vista SP1 saga: the best ad for Mac and Linux yet?

Alex Zaharov-Reutt: First, it was a 5 year delay for Vista minus plenty of features, drivers and software compatibility. A year later, Vista SP1 ˜launches, but few can get it yet. Then two SP1 pre-updates launch, only to have many reports of endless rebooting. What more can Microsoft do to convince people to try a Mac “ or Linux?



I wouldnt exactly call the delay of Vista SP1 a ˜comedic situation, but the whole thing seems to have gone from comedic to shambolic in less than three weeks since the February 4 announcement that Vista SP1 had gone to RTM.




winbeta.org - 21.02.2008

Vista SP1 x86 appears on Torrent Sites

In the last few days, certain Neowin forum members have reported that an image of Vista SP1 x86 Final has leaked to torrent sites. This file is supposedly a slipstreamed image of the final Service Pack 1 for Vista x86. It is allegedly available in various languages, including English. Since many believe that this is indeed the download that Microsoft will provide in the upcoming weeks, I would like to emphasize that this is not the case. This release is not official, nor is it genuine. I repeat: Vista SP1 has not gone final.

Neowin members are reporting that the file in question may be SP1 Refresh 2 slipstreamed or simply a malware-filled release. I would like to remind our members not to post links to any Vista SP1 build, unless it comes directly from Microsoft’s servers.

Read full story.....
neowin.net - 28.01.2008

Microsoft acknowledges Vista SP1 Refresh 2 = RTM

Which build of Vista SP1 became the release to manufacturing (RTM) edition? This was definitely a topic of high speculation in the last few weeks, even before SP1 hit the RTM milestone. Many were adamant that SP1 RTM was, or would be, different from the final release candidate, while those on the other side grasped at straws to prove their suspicions. The Microsoft Watcher, also known as Mary Jo Foley, has finally received confirmation from Microsoft that the Vista SP1 RTM build (6001-18000) is none other than Vista SP1 RC Refresh 2. The latest official statement from the software giant is:
"RC Refresh 2 code is the same as RTM. In final stages of a product Microsoft likes to get as much validation as possible before releasing. The release candidate ended up being a high enough quality to be approved to release to manufacturing."



Read full story.....
neowin.net - 08.02.2008

Windows Vista SP1 downloadable now, ships tomorrow

Just a few hours after Amazon told its customers that Windows Vista SP1 packages would be shipping tomorrow, Microsoft made Service Pack 1 for Vista generally available. The update is 435MB for the x86 version...
betanews.com - 18.03.2008

.NET Framework 3.0 SP1 & 2.0 SP1 on Vista RTM?

Aaron Ruckman: I've received the following type of question a few times and would like to give the answer with some background:



Q. Where is the .NET Framework 3.0 SP1 & 2.0 SP1 for Vista RTM?



A. .NET Framework 3.0 & 2.0 released with Vista as OS Windows Components, which means that they are serviced as any other windows Component.  Therefore, the .NET Framework 3.0 & 2.0 Service packages will be officially released as part of the Vista Service packages. When Vista SPX is shipped then .NET Framework 2.0 & 3.0 might also include updates in that service package. 



In this case the .NET Framework 3.0 & 2.0 have a service package that will be shipped with Vista SP1.  Vista SP1 RC is available now (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsvista/bb738089.aspx)



NOTE: The same logic stated for Vista and .NET Framework will also be true for Windows2008 & .NET Framework 2.0 & 3.0, only Windows Server2008 will release with .NET Framework 2.0 SP1 & 3.0 SP1 in the OS.




winbeta.org - 21.01.2008

Vista SP1 serves up its own sets of problems

Every technology site is full of information regarding Vista SP1, even our own. But, not everyone is happy with the way it performs, for some, entirely new problems have cropped up after installation.



While Vista SP1 will not fix existing compatibility problems with older applications and hardware, it can improve the reliability of most systems but may introduce new complications.



The Daytona Beach Journal Blog reports in its test that one laptop was upgraded to Vista SP1 without problems but the test desktop reported that Vista was no longer valid after the installation and wanted a new license key.




winbeta.org - 19.12.2007

Windows Vista SP1 RC released to public

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC is now available through Windows Update. Experience the WU based Vista SP1 installation by following 4 simple steps. Windows Vista SP1 RC distributed through Windows Update will be applicable to Windows Vista machines that are running on any of the 36 languages supported by Vista RTM.

If you already installed the Service Pack to your machine by using the standalone package, you must uninstall before you scan Windows Update for Windows Vista SP1.

Systems running on Windows Vista RTM require as many as three updates before SP1 can be installed. These updates are permanent to your Windows Vista systems. Windows Update will detect your system configuration and offer the prerequisite packages that are applicable to your system.


neowin.net - 12.12.2007

Windows Vista SP1 availability for technical customers

Mike Nash: On Monday (February 4th), we announced the release to manufacturing (RTM) of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1). Overall, people are excited to hear that we have reached this milestone, but some are disappointed they are not able to immediately download it.



<...> We've heard the feedback and I want to update you on our plans and progress for making SP1 available to our beta participants, our Volume Licensing customers, and our MSDN/TechNet Plus subscribers:



For broad availability, we are still planning to release in mid-March, since we want to be sure that everyone has the smoothest experience possible.



I want to be super-clear on one point: Windows Vista SP1 is final. It has been fully released to manufacturing and we do not plan to make any changes to the SP1 code prior to public availability. We are confident in the quality of Windows Vista SP1 and know that it will help improve our customers' experiences with Windows Vista.




winbeta.org - 11.02.2008

Why you can't have Vista SP1 yet: Microsoft fixing driver problem

Despite being released to manufacturing last week, Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is not being made available to all customers because Microsoft is trying to resolve an issue in which hardware devices may stop functioning after SP1 is installed...
betanews.com - 12.02.2008

Windows Vista SP1 won't hit till Mid-March

Contrary to rumors going around the web regarding an alleged screencap of an internal Sharepoint site listing the Vista SP1 release date, it's going to be a while before the masses see SP1. Biplab Paul a Technical Consultant at Microsoft has made a post on his blog detailing the roll out of SP1.

When will SP1 be shipped?



Read full story.....
neowin.net - 08.02.2008