How to Restore Default Windows XP Theme
So you have installed third party theme on your Windows XP and due to some reasons your theme files are corrupted and you don’t know how to revert back to official Windows XP themes.
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22.10.2009 New Default Theme for Firefox 2
There's a discussion going on in mozilla.dev.apps.firefox about "Changes
to Fx2 Chrome" which is about proposed changes to the main browser
window structure (buttons, layout, functions) that is exposed to users
by default in Firefox 2.
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13.3.2006 Microsoft Details IE 8 Security Default Change
The company will enable DEP/NX (Data Execution Prevention/No Execute) by default in IE 8 when running on Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.
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11.4.2008 Codec Pack for Windows XP & Vista
Thanks to marct for the great idea, to have all Codec Pack for XP & Vista on one place.
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1.4.2007 Microsoft Updates the Default Spy Tool in Vista SP1
In order to improve the quality of the software information collected from the users' operating systems and sent to Microsoft, the Redmond company introduced an update to the spy tool included by default into every copy of Windows Vista, following the release of Service Pack 1.
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13.6.2008 Major OEMs to enable DEP/NX in Vista PC BIOSs by default
Activewin reports that Michael Howard mentions on his blog that recently MS had all the major OEMs on campus to discuss SDL (Security Development Lifecycle).
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6.12.2006 Vista Codec Package 4.2.2
With Vista Codec Package installed, you won't need to install any other codec or filter. Many user suggested default settings are implemented.
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17.1.2007 Vista Codec Package 4.6.6
With Vista Codec Package installed, you won't need to install any other codec or filter. Many user suggested default settings are implemented. It does not contain a media player.
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21.5.2008 Vista Codec Package 4.7.0
Codecs have been a problem for most users at one time or another. This is because there has never been an 'out of the box' working solution that the average computer user could install and just have everything work properly from the beginning.
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6.7.2008 Vista Codec Package 4.7.3
With Vista Codec Package installed, you won't need to install any other codec or filter.
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18.8.2008 Vista Codec Package 5.0.1
With Vista Codec Package installed, you won't need to install any other codec or filter. Many user suggested default settings are implemented.
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11.11.2008 Microsoft VC-1 Codec Now a Standard
The VC-1 video codec proposed and developed by Microsoft was officially released by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers on Monday, paving the way for the technology to be used by next-generation DVDs. Microsoft submitted the Windows Media Video 9-based codec for standardization in September 2003.
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4.4.2006 Advanced Vista Codec Package 4.1.9
With Advanced Vista Codec Package installed, you shouldn't need to install any other codec or filter.
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25.11.2006 Windows Live Hotmail Set for May US Release
Microsoft is preparing to launch Windows Live Hotmail in the United States by next month, although customers in India and Belgium will begin seeing the updates later this week, the company is expected to announce Tuesday.
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17.4.2007 Dell releases first set of Windows 7 Drivers
Windows 7 drivers for Dell products are often sought after and finally, there’s an answer.
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22.8.2009 Windows Server 2008 launch set for February
Confirming what many had expected, Microsoft announced on Tuesday that the next version of its server operating system, Windows Server 2008, won't formally launch until next year.
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10.7.2007 Microsoft Releases a Set of 12 New Windows Wallpapers
What better way to celebrate the gold versions of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows XP Service Pack 3 than with a set of brand new wallpapers straight from Microsoft?
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20.4.2008 Windows 7 RTM sign off set for July 13
We have some big news regarding the Windows 7 RTM. According to Wzor, the final sign off is set for July 13th. According to a translation
, this is the final roadmap for Windows 7:
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22.6.2009 Windows Vista Beta 2, RC1 and RC2 set to expire
On 31 May 2007, all Customer Preview Program (CPP) pre-release versions of Windows Vista will expire. If you are running a pre-release version of Windows Vista (Beta 2, RC1 or RC2), you will begin to receive warning notifications about the upcoming expiration on 18 May.
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25.4.2007 Microsoft set to launch Windows 7 in New York on October 22
Mary Jo Foley is reporting that Microsoft is planning a Windows 7 launch party on October 22 in New York City.
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27.8.2009 Set and Change Windows 7 Registered Owner & Organization with SetOwner
It may happen that you have bought second hand laptop or computer with preinstalled Windows operating system and you are looking for the way to change ownership information.
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20.11.2009 Microsoft: June 30 Windows XP cut-off set in stone
Microsoft made it official on April 3: There will be no new reprieves for Windows XP (other than on Ultra Low-Cost PCs).
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3.4.2008 Microsoft set to attack Linux with patents?
Is Microsoft getting ready to attack Linux and open-source software with its patents?
Florian Mueller, spokesman for the European NoSoftwarePatents.com and a leading anti-patent activist, thinks that may be the case. Mueller sees a recent Forbes interview with Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer as stopping just " short announcing patent litigation against Linux."
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2.4.2006 Microsoft Surface - Set For Commercial Launch
AT&T will become the first company in the world to bring Microsoft Surface to life in a retail environment, giving customers the ability to explore their mobile worlds using touch and device recognition technology.
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2.4.2008 New Xbox 360 set to upscale DVDs
A Circuit City page which lists the new Xbox 360 60GB model states the following.
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21.7.2008 Apple set to release $800 notebook
The Inquisitr is reporting that Apple is getting ready to release its first sub-$1,000 computer - an $800 notebook.
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9.10.2008 Microsoft set to cut 5,000 jobs
Microsoft announced its second quarter results today and as many had predicted there are some job cuts involved.
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23.1.2009 AMD Set to Adopt New Interconnect Architecture, DDR3
The world's second largest maker of x86 microprocessors, Advanced Micro Devices, disclosed plans to introduce enhanced multi-core processors that support built-in DDR3 memory controller as well as to present platform initiatives that allow more than 8 physical chips to be installed into a single system.
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28.11.2005 Microsoft and Linux set to win smartphone war
Year-to-year growth in the smartphone market in 2005 exceeded 70 per cent and will continue to grow "robustly" for the next several years, with Linux and Microsoft emerging as the dominant platforms, In-Stat predicted today.
However, the analyst firm warned that the risk remains of consumers perceiving these devices as just very expensive feature phones.
In-Stat noted that a major problem affecting the appeal of smartphones is that many users do not download applications that make them more useful after they leave the store.
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28.1.2006 Sources: Microsoft to set up MSN center in China
Software giant Microsoft is setting up a research-and-development center in Shanghai for its online MSN service, its first such center outside the United States, sources familiar with the plan said on Wednesday.
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1.2.2007The DivX codec makes a play for set-top boxes
The little codec that could, DivX, announced a series of partnerships today that will use the protocol in set-top boxes for Internet Protocol
Television (IPTV)...
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08.01.2008Microsoft VC-1 Codec Now a
Standard
The VC-1 video codec proposed
and developed by Microsoft was
officially released by the
Society of Motion Picture and
Television Engineers on
Monday, paving the way for the
technology to be used by
next-generation DVDs.
Microsoft submitted the
Windows Media Video 9-based
codec for standardization in
September 2003...
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04.04.2006MPEG-2 Patent Holder, Licensing Agent in High-Def Codec Dispute
The principal licensing agent for MPEG codec technology, MPEG LA, has sued Alcatel-Lucent in Delaware court. Its claim is that Alcatel didn't have
the right to absorb Lucent's IP portfolio - which included patents on MPEG-2 technology - into a new and separate trust, after Lucent had already
made a commitment to provide that technology through MPEG LA...
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07.11.2007Media player users beware: move vulns ahead
Security researchers are warning that popular media players offered by Microsoft and AOL are vulnerable to attacks that can completely compromise a
user's PC.
Attack code has already been released for the bug, which has been confirmed in a codec used by older versions of
Windows Media Player, made by Microsoft, and in AOL's Winamp. A Symantec researcher has warned that users of other players may also be at risk
because the vulnerability itself resides in a commonly used MP4 codec produced by a company called 3ivx Technologies.
"The
exploit works by supplying victims with a maliciously formed MP4 file," Raymond Ball wrote for Symantec's
DeepSight Threat Management System. "When a victim unknowingly clicks a link
that appears safe, the MP4 content is delivered, causing the exploit to run."
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11.12.2007DivX Seeking Beta Testers
Video codec company DivX is
seeking individuals to help
beta test some "secret
stuff" the company is
concocting in its labs.
Although it's not saying what
software (or hardware)
products it plans to test,
DivX has built a streaming
media set-top box code-named
GejBox, after DivX's creator...
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11.06.2007Windows with C++: Windows Imaging Component Basics
The Microsoft Windows Imaging Component (WIC) is an extensible framework for encoding, decoding, and manipulating images. WIC supports different image
formats using an extensible set of imaging codecs. Each codec supports a different image format and typically provides both an encoder and decoder.
In the
April 2008 issue of
MSDN Magazine,
Kenny Kerr shows you how to use WIC to
encode and decode different image formats and a few things in between.
To learn more about Windows development with C++, check out the previous installments of
Widnows with C++ as well as other related articles in the
MSDN Magazine archives.
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21.04.2008Skype unfurls a royalty-free SILK codec
Well-received wideband tech could turn up anywhere
..
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05.03.2009DivX 6.4
DivX is a package that
includes all the DivX codec,
player, utilities, and
documentation that you need to
play DivX files. DivX codec is
based on the MPEG-4
compression standard. This
codec can reduce an MPEG-2
video (DVD format) to ten
percent of its original size.
DivX is a digital video
compression technology based
on the ISO MPEG-4 standard.
New Features
Include:
- support
for 1080HD
encoding
- faster
multipass
encoding
- better
compression when using the
internal
resize
- adaptive noise
reduction
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04.10.2006New Windows Server 2008 Certification Information
Jeremy Palmer: We've just added a new set of pages on Microsoft.com to help you understand the new certification programme for Windows Server
2008.
·
Introducing WS2008
certifications ·
WS2003 to WS008
transition path ·
Frequently asked
questions And an old, but useful link - if you register for the
"First to Know" Windows Server 2008 Offer, you can save
up to 40% on select Windows Server 2008 Exams. Full terms and conditions can be found on the offer page.
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18.01.2008Microsoft explains bundled ChoiceGuard plugin
Users who installed the most recent wave 3 betas may have noticed an additional plugin included in Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer called
ChoiceGuard. In a
posting on the Windows
Live Wire last week, Hua Ai and Mikko Ollila from the Live Search team explain exactly what this plugin actually is.
"Microsoft
ChoiceGuard is a lightweight software component that enables the choices you make, like what you want to set as your default home page and search
provider, during the Windows Live Beta installation process," their post explains.
The duo says they created ChoiceGuard because it was
their only way to accomplish the task that the installer needed, due to technical requirements in Firefox and third party software blocking registry
keys in Internet Explorer. ChoiceGuard is only installed if you select to set your search or homepage default within the wave 3 installer. In both
cases, the settings made by ChoiceGuard can be overwritten by the user anytime they choose, or if another program changes it again for them.
Once Firefox is run with ChoiceGuard active, the plugin will set the defaults requested by the installer, then deactivate and set to uninstall, so
the user will not see the plugin the next time Firefox is run.
Read full story.....
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01.10.2008Microsoft's IE 7 Ignores
Windows Setting
Microsoft is defending its
decision to turn on its
ClearType font rendering
technology in
Internet
Explorer 7 even if users
have switched it off
system-wide.
ClearType, which debuted
with Windows XP, is designed
to make text more readable on
LCD screens. By default, it's
disabled in Windows, but
Microsoft's IE 7 team has
decided to enable it for the
browser, even if the user has
not turned on the feature
Windows-wide.
ClearType can be disabled in
IE 7 Beta 2 Preview via the
Tools/Internet
Options/Advanced dialog. To
turn ClearType off, uncheck
the box "Use ClearType"
under the Multimedia section.
Unlike Windows XP, the
upcoming Windows Vista will
enable ClearType by default...
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07.03.2006Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack 2008 Released
Chris Flores: Today marks the release of the
Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) 2008 - a set of tools for
IT Pros managing IT environments for companies who have purchased MDOP plus Windows
Software Assurance agreements with Microsoft. There are two key product updates in
this release I'd like to highlight that I think IT Pros will find very useful - Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset 6.0 (DaRT) and Desktop Error
Monitoring 3.0 SP1 (DEM).
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01.04.2008Windows Imaging Component Code Samples and Tools
This download includes sample code that demonstrates how to use the WIC APIs to create WIC-compliant CODECs and WIC-enabled applications. With this
information, ISVs will be able create CODECs that are registered in Windows and will be automatically recognized by WIC-enabled applications. This
download includes both the source code and compiled binaries for the included samples. Both x86 & x64 version of the binaries are included.
The samples included in this download are:
- WICExplorer “ An application which utilizes the WIC API to load still
images and read their metadata.
- AITCODEC “ A custom CODEC that demonstrates how to create a WIC-compliant CODEC. This sample
includes documentation on the custom AITCODEC.
- WICGrinder “ An application used to test WIC-compliant CODECs. This sample
includes documentation on using WICGrinder to customize tests.
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27.11.2007Microsoft Office 2010 top new features
Microsoft introduced a public beta of Office 2010 today. Neowin has taken a look at Office 2010 and we have pulled out our favourite new features.
Check them out below. Embed, edit and manage videos within PowerPoint 2010 PowerPoint 2010 now allows you to easily insert local videos and web
videos. New features include video trim which allows you to cut down your video without a third party application. With video tools you can apply
fades, set video effects and styles and also set a preview image for your video. PowerPoint will also compress your media for improved playback in
presentations. Supported formats include:AVIWMVWMAMP3MOVH.264 DirectShow codecs can also be installed to extend codec support.
Read full story.....
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18.11.2009DivX support, classic Xbox games coming in Fall Dashboard Update
On December 4. Microsoft will unleash the 2007 Fall Dashboard Update on the throngs of waiting Xbox 360 users. While the company has previously
announced many of the features of this new update, a new one has just slipped out: DivX and Xvid support.
In perhaps the biggest
news for tech-minded gamers, codec support for video files will be widened, with Joystiq reporting that this will include MPEG-4 Part 2 video codec
support. "What that basically means is that our users should find that most of their DivX and Xvid files will work because they're under that
umbrella of the MPEG-4 Part 2 codec," Microsoft's Aaron Greenburg
told the site. DivX
and Xvid support has long been a requested feature from people who would like to use their Xbox 360 as a media hub, making this very welcome news.
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30.11.2007Hackers Exploit Bhutto Assassination
Within hours of yesterday's assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, malware makers exploited the breaking news to dupe
users into downloading attack code, security researchers said Friday. Searches for news about Bhutto's killing and the ensuing chaos in Pakistan
listed sites pimping a bogus video coder/decoder (codec), said analysts at McAfee Inc., Symantec Corp. and WebSense Inc. For instance, WebSense found
such a site simply by using "benazir" to search on Google. Meanwhile, McAfee quickly located 10 sites hosted on Blogger.com, Google Inc.'s blog
service, that were spreading the fake codec.
Read full story.....
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30.12.2007How the default Windows 7 wallpaper evolved
Gizmodo tracked down Chuck Anderson, the creator of Windows 7's box art, default wallpaper and login screen. In an exclusive overview of the
evolution of the Windows 7 wallpaper and login screen, the gadget lovers managed to secure some rare development shots of how Microsoft came to the
wallpaper that is now used worldwide. Chuck Anderson is a 20 something digital media artist living in the US. Both the login screen and wallpapers
took approximately four months, start to finish according to Gizmodo. They were achieved by a mix of pen and paper, wacom tablet and Photoshop.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
06.11.2009Mac Porn Surfers Subject to QT Flaw
Attackers are going after Macintosh computer users who are visiting pornographic web sites, claiming to offer a plug-in that installs a video codec
necessary to play the movie files within QuickTime...
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01.11.2007Windows '7' and Windows Mobile Confusion...
Jason Langridge: There have been quite a few blogs that picked up on Hilton Lockes
post on Windows 7s new features.
This post has started lots of discussions on touch functionality and some confusion between
Windows 7 and our mobile software platform
Windows Mobile.
Windows 7 is the name of the
next PC operating system in development by Microsoft, set to follow Windows Vista.
Despite the confusion - the large number of
posts following Hilton's blog post does reinforce the keen interest in the
future of touch screen
devices though!
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15.12.2007The history and future of DivX
Davis Freeberg
over at
Zatz Not Funny provides some great analysis on the history and future strategy of DivX. On the company's historical success, Freeberg notes the
importance of creating an eco-system around the DivX codec, both in terms of becoming the preferred format for "grey" content on P2P networks, but
also the way in which the company reached out to consumer electronics manufacturers DVD players, media streamers, PMPs, and more recently
Sony’s PS3 through its DivX certification program. The result is that DivX has become
the consumer facing brand for MPEG4, despite
rival offerings from Apple and Microsoft, for example.
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10.05.2008
