Gates opens entertainment window
Though Bill Gates is in town to tout his hot new Xbox 360 to the hordes in attendance at the huge Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), his horizon extends to the Hollywood hills ? and beyond.
Video games are key, but the Microsoft chairman also has his hand in much of the behind-the-scenes wrangling over entertainment and the Internet.
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12.5.2006 Window Seizer 1.00 Beta
Windows Seizer and a standalone freeware utility which lists all the windows you have open on your PC.
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31.3.2007 Napster hangs "for sale" sign in front window
Napster is evaluating the possibility of a sale by hiring of an investment bank. Citing "recent third party interest," the company has asked UBS Investment Bank to explore strategic partnerships or an outright sale of the company.
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20.9.2006 New Window Management System for Windows 7 Pre-Beta
The window management system is one piece of the Windows 7 graphical user interface which will evolve starting with the pre-Beta version of the operating system.
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3.10.2008 Windows Vista Build 5728 Availability Window Closing Soon
Nick White has posted this on the Vista team blog yesterday, thought I'd give everyone who is interested in testing the latest build of Vista a heads up on the limited availability.
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26.9.2006 Secunia round 3: Internet Explorer 7 Window Injection Vulnerability
A vulnerability has been discovered in Internet Explorer 7, which can be exploited by malicious people to spoof the content of websites.
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30.10.2006 Microsoft Office 2007 RTM'ed, Window Vista 99% RTM
On Monday Microsoft will announce that the 2007 Microsoft Office system products have been released to manufacturing (RTM).
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6.11.2006 Disable Aero Snap Auto Maximize and Arrange Window in Windows 7
Windows 7 includes a new feature called Aero Snap that intends to improve open windows management on the desktop. Aero Snap allows user to drag a window to the top of the screen to maximize the window automatically, or to the left or right side of the screen to resize the window to fill and take up half of the screen estate on the moved side automatically.
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19.5.2009 Hack to Activate and Switch Window in Windows 7 By Mouse Over Hover Without Click
When there are many windows open on desktop of Windows 7, normally users will click on another window in order activate the window into front or foreground and switch to the task or window.
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19.5.2009 Windows 7 Performance Tools - Performance Tools Kit 4.1.1
Internet Explorer 8 will be not only an apex of performance, but also the next major iteration of the Windows client, according to Microsoft.
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1.9.2008 Windows Performance Blog
As I said in yesterday’s introduction, my job as an engineer on the Windows Vista team is to improve performance. I wanted to look at a study that measure a key area that we focused on for Windows Vista – consistent responsiveness during the times that matter most to users (when starting up their machine, after being idle, and when you are under the gun running tons of apps, etc.).
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29.12.2006 Microsoft tweaks IE 7 for performance
Microsoft has quietly released a patch aimed at improving the performance of Internet Explorer 7's phishing filter ahead of the company's regular patching schedule, which occurs on the Tuesday of every month.
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8.2.2007 Microsoft IE 8 - Great Performance
This morning, my editor asked why I hadn't blogged about Internet Explorer 8. My response: "Who cares?" Do you? Maybe we both should.
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27.8.2008 Windows 7 Performance Pillars
Attempting to avoid the rather sluggish experience that has become inherently associated with Windows Vista RTM, Microsoft promised, through the voice of Steven Sinofsky, that Windows 7 would not set a single “bit” out of Redmond until it would meet a set of performance criteria.
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29.8.2008 Windows 7 Performance, Explained
From startup to the way it handles hardware resources available, power consumption and applications, Windows 7 has been applauded as delivering a level of performance superior to that of Windows Vista, even as early as pre-Beta Build 6801.
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29.11.2008 How Microsoft really does employee performance reviews
You don't need to ask your boss for a raise at Microsoft, because each year we have an annual performance evaluation where managers review employee accomplishments in a process used for deciding things like salary increases or bonuses.
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22.12.2006 Vista SP1 a Performance Dud
With the initial performance characteristics of Windows Vista leaving much to be desired (see our previous post on the subject), many IT organizations have put off deploying the new OS until the first service pack (SP1) is released by Microsoft early next year.
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20.11.2007 Another Vista Reliability & Performance Update
Vista’s performance is one of those topics that won’t be exhausted until Windows Seven hits RTM. It all comes down to trade-offs.
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12.12.2007 Windows Vista Performance and Tuning
Windows Vista and SP1 focus on delivering greater performance and overall system responsiveness. By striking a balance between speed and responsiveness, Windows Vista and SP1 deliver a level of performance that has the greatest positive impact on the system’s usability.
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31.7.2008 Windows 7 -- Approach to System Performance
Many folks have commented and written email about the topic of performance of Windows. The dialog has been wide ranging—folks consistently want performance to improve (of course).
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28.8.2008 Vista Performance Post SP1
Poor performance was one of the sins associated with Windows Vista RTM, especially in comparison to Windows XP throughout 2007.
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9.10.2008 Squeezing Every Drop of Performance Out of Windows 7
In the sense in which Microsoft is building Windows 7 as the evolution of Windows Vista, the next iteration of the Windows client will perform as if on steroids, compared to its precursor.
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17.12.2008 Windows 7 beta 1 performance test
How does Windows 7 beta 1 compare to Vista and XP in terms of performance? That’s a question that’s been hitting my inbox regularly over the past few weeks. Let’s see if we can’t answer it!
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2.1.2009 Windows Vista Imaging and Installation Performance
Ideally, installation of an operating system is two fairly simple steps. First, copy all the OS files to the hard disk.
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4.10.2006 Outlook 2007 Update focuses on performance
Microsoft Corporation has released an update to Outlook 2007 designed to speed up the communication software’s much-criticized sluggishness.
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15.4.2007 Vista Compatibility, Performance and Reliability Pack
Windows Vista Compatibility, Performance and Reliability Packs – SP1 Preview - Microsoft offers fresh Vista updates to testers.
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31.7.2007 Windows 7 on Steroids – Next-Generation Performance Boosters
Yes, the silence around Windows 7 is certainly deafening, disconcerting and certainly a source of frustration for end users, but Microsoft is building the next iteration of Windows.
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20.5.2008 New Performance and Reliability Updates for Vista SP1
A reliability and performance update is available for download for Windows Vista Service Pack 1. This specific release targets all Windows Vista editions, provided that they have the first service pack integrated.
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25.6.2008 IE8 Performance vs. Google Chrome and Firefox
With Microsoft making headway towards the gold build of Internet Explorer 8, the Redmond company has to face an ugly truth. Performance-wise, with emphasis on JavaScrip performance, the software giant is getting ready to release a browser inferior to what is already available from rivals Google and Mozilla.
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27.9.2008 The Raw Performance Parallel Universe of Windows 7
Windows 7 more so than any other Windows client will be at the core of the transition to manycore hardware.
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11.10.2008EC Commissioner proposes doubling terms of performers' copyright
"Oldies" music remains popular among many generations, which could present a window of opportunity for record companies in Europe to take
advantage of royalties terms expiring after 50 years. Today, the EC may be looking to shut that window...
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15.02.2008Application Specific Glass Colorization in Windows 7?
Microsoft might be introducing application specific glass renderings. The color of the glass frame around a window can be changed in Vista, but the
change is global to the system. The color of any particular window glass frame can not be set by choice. But, how about being able to change the
color/opacity level of a the glass frame of any application through defined events or commands? According to a Patent number 7418668:
A
method for changing a color value and/or level of opacity value of a glass appearance window frame for an application window is described. The method
includes steps of determining a defined color value and a defined level of opacity value to apply to a glass appearance window frame and displaying
the glass appearance window frame in accordance with the defined color value and the defined level of opacity value. A command may be received to
apply the defined color value and the defined level of opacity value to the glass appearance window frame, thereby applying the defined color value
and level of opacity value to the glass appearance window frame. Color values and/or level of opacity values may be changed automatically, be
application specific, and/or be changed in response to receipt of an input from a user to change one or more portions of a default configuration.
neowin.net -
06.09.2008Performance improvements in WPF in .Net 3.5 / 3.0 SP1
Below is a list of the performance improvements that you can expect to see in WPF in .Net 3.5 and .Net 3.0 SP1:
1. Animations
Smoothing Improvements
- WPF Animation in .Net 3.0 SP1 is much smother.
- These improvements are more noticeable on Vista and
especially in upcoming Vista SP1, which includes additional smoothing in the Desktop Windowing Manager (DWM).
2. Layered Windows
Improvements
Layered Window performance was one of top customer complaints. They are now addressed with a QFE/Hotfix.
These hotfixes
are not available for direct download. End users should call Microsoft PSS to obtain them.
Developers and OEMs can contact Microsoft
PSS to discuss redistribution rights.
The hotfixes will be included in the next service pack of Microsoft OSs
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11.10.2007Process Explorer v11.0 Available
Ever wondered which program has a particular file or directory open? Now you can find out. Process Explorer shows you information about which handles
and DLLs processes have opened or loaded.
The Process Explorer display consists of two sub-windows. The top window always shows a
list of the currently active processes, including the names of their owning accounts, whereas the information displayed in the bottom window depends
on the mode that Process Explorer is in: if it is in handle mode youll see the handles that the process selected in the top window has opened; if
Process Explorer is in DLL mode youll see the DLLs and memory-mapped files that the process has loaded. Process Explorer also has a powerful search
capability that will quickly show you which processes have particular handles opened or DLLs loaded.
Changelog:
Were
excited to announce the release of Process Explorer v11.0, which introduces major startup and UI performance improvements, new columns and process
details for Vista I/O priorities, memory priorities, and Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) DLL and executable attributes, an enhanced security
properties page that shows raw SID values, fully asynchronous thread symbol resolution, integration with UAC, and more!
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05.09.2007PINNED: WLM Build 566 Comming
Soon
Remember that little talk
about how the 562 build of
Windows Live Messenger was
just a preview; well here
comes the bride... I mean the
build. Build 566 of WLM is to
be released on February 28th
according to the WLM team
blog.
The
build will feature some
noticeable updates, mainly the
layout of the Contact List,
the tabs have now been
repositioned inside the main
window, the spacing between
each contact has been reduced
to allow more contacts to be
viewable in the window (= less
scrolling) and the avatar
preview and display
name/personal messages boxes
are finally back to the left
side again.
A
few of the minor updates
include the fact that the
menus are now only available
through the drop down menu,
meaning you can no longer
expand or minimize the window
frame like before. Also, the
ink/type tabs in the
conversation window have been
moved to the right side closer
to your display picture.
It has also been
announced that the WLM team is
working on new status icons
that both look good and show
the status at the same
time.
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28.02.2006How to fix Vista's network bottlenecks
As much as I enjoy using Vista, I've definitely noticed that in some networking activities, it definitely seems to struggle. Particularly compared
with Windows XP.
For the most part it's not a problem - I just assumed that Vista's beefy network stack was responsible, and made a
mental note to fix it at some point. And then forgot.
But recently I encountered a really frustrating problem. Using Remote Desktop
Protocol (RDP) to connect from a Vista Enterprise machine to a Windows 2003 server, the performance was so woeful that I was starting to worry whether
there was a problem with the server.
As it happens, my fears about the server were unfounded, but the thought that Vista's networking
stack was to blame turned out to be correct. The Next Generation TCP/IP stack in Windows Vista supports something called Receive Window Auto-Tuning.
This is nothing to do with the RDP "window" you see on the screen, but rather a TCP buffer which TCP/IP clients use to ensure smooth
transmission.
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27.09.2007War breaks out between AdBlock Plus and NoScript
A quiet war has broken out between the authors of AdBlock Plus and NoScript and money is on the table. Both are trying to outdo each other by
disabling each other's functionality. The issue at stake is NoScript's behavior of showing a changelog window whenever it gets a new update,
which of late has been updated rather frequently. And unsurprisingly, that changelog window is filled with ads that generate revenue for NoScript.
AdBlock Plus on the other hand is commited to blocking ads regardless of where they are from; and this has treaded on the tail of the author of
NoScript.
Read full
story.....
neowin.net -
03.05.2009Lo and behold, the Internet Explorer 8 toolbar
Long Zheng: First, a few words about the following screenshot. To be perfectly clear, this is not an original image. The window and its contents
(address bar, tab, window title, page content) have been heavily recomposited to better fit in a smaller image size as well as to obscure any traces
where this might have come from. I did not take the screenshot nor do I have access to the beta (so no emails please but do send bribes regardless).
Having said that, I can easily vouch for its authenticity...
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02.03.2008Bluetooth gives Spies a Window into your Life
Worried about your civil liberties and privacy? Then it may come as a shock to discover that you have unwittingly been allowing your phone to signal
your every move.
Bluetooth, a wireless link built into many cellphones, makes our movements trackable by anyone equipped with a PC and an
appropriate receiver. Vassilis Kostakos at the University of Bath in the UK placed four Bluetooth receivers in the city's centre. Over four
months, his team tracked 10,000 Bluetooth phones and was able to "capture and analyse people's encounters" in pubs, streets and shops.
Bluetooth is now more of a privacy threat than the more frequently publicised RFID chips, Kostakos says. "If people are worried, they should turn
off the Bluetooth function on their mobile phones."
neowin.net -
08.05.2008'Tiny Bubbles' Could Empower IBM's Next-gen Power6 CPU
While IBM today unveiled a new
dual-core Power6 processor for
its new System p570 server,
resulting in what the
Transaction Performance
Processing Council confirmed
to be the best performance
score per core recorded thus
far, a manufacturing advance
still in the works there could
give its next generation
Power6 even higher performance
on account of improved
signaling...
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22.05.2007Microsoft Expression Blend 2 December Preview Free Trial
We are pleased to present our next preview of Microsoft
® Expression Blend
™ 2. The Expression Blend 2 December Preview
lets you
create Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) applications as well as Microsoft Silverlight
™-based
applications. Additionally, you can export content from
Microsoft Expression® Design in a format that you can use in Silverlight-based applications
created in the Expression Blend 2 December Preview. You may also find
Microsoft Expression Encoder to be helpful when you are working with video, Silverlight,
and the Expression Blend 2 December Preview. Learn more about
Silverlight and its
community today.
winbeta.org -
07.12.2007Hyper-V: How to make sure you are getting the best performance
Anthony F. Voellm: As we have moved from Beta to RC the number of questions I have been getting around Hyper-V performance have grown quite a bit.
Its time to put some tips out on how to avoid some common pitfalls.
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20.04.2008Microsoft: Another Vista Reliability & Performance Update
Vista’s performance is one of those topics that won’t be exhausted until Windows Seven hits RTM. It all comes down to trade-offs. Ever
since the features of Vista were finalized, Microsoft tried to tip the scale the other way by focusing on performance, with the obvious limitation of
not disabling any services. Updates regarding performance and stability are numerous, but most have not hit Windows Update as they are not quite ready
(preview releases). The Windows Serviceability Team wants feedback on one such update, available for download at the Microsoft Download Center, before
its expected release on Windows Update in January.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
13.12.2007Mozilla Rewriting A Lot Of Code For Upcoming Firefox V3
Mozilla programmers are
rewriting a lot of the Firefox
code for the upcoming version
release of the open-source
browser, according to the head
of product security at
Mozilla.
Most of the
components in the current
version of Firefox are being
touched, said Window Snyder,
"chief security
something-or-other" at
Mozilla. She added that
programmers are replacing a
lot of older code to increase
performance, make the code
base more modular and handle
new security threats, like
phishing and malicious Web
sites.
"As we're
doing this, we're considering
security features and trying
to minimize security issues,"
said Snyder in an interview
with InformationWeek. "The
Web browser has always been an
entry point into the system,
so it's been considered a
critical application. The
environment changes so we need
to adapt." ..
winbeta.org -
16.06.2007Winsize2 Remembers Your Preferred Window Sizes
Free, open-source utility
Winsize2 sets up a single keyboard combination to
remember, and change, the preferred size and positioning of your Windows applications. In other words, if you hate how your browser opens up to
seemingly random sizes, or full-screen instead of windowed, have Winsize2 running and hit Ctrl+Alt+Z (or, on some systems, with Y as the final key).
That locks down the apps' size and place, and hitting the combination again will over-write that preference if you like another position better...
winbeta.org -
09.12.2008Firefox 3 ultimate feature: Performance
Percy Cabello: Along with the long list of new features and improvements we can find in Firefox 3 betas so far, there is a series of performance
improvements coming to Firefox 3 Beta 4.
Ive finally managed to run a set of tests to see how Firefox 3 performance compares to
Firefox 2s.
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29.02.2008Windows 7 DWM cuts memory consumption by 50%
If you didn’t think the performance benefits of using Aero Glass could get any better, then see this. At PDC 2008, Anantha Kancherla presented a
session on “
Windows 7: Writing Your Application to Shine on Modern Graphics
Hardware” where he presented a mindblowing fact about the Windows 7
Desktop
Window Manager.
winbeta.org -
29.10.2008Windows 7 HD and SSD Performance Analyzed
Today we're going to look at how various types of disks perform under Windows 7, both of the traditional platter based variety and new solid state
disks. We're not only curious about how disk performance changes between the operating systems, but if Windows 7's new solid-state specific
optimizations and tuning give you even greater performance compared to Vista.
winbeta.org -
29.05.2009Overview Series: Windows Vista Performance and Tuning
Windows Vista and SP1 focus on delivering greater performance and overall system responsiveness. By striking a balance between speed and
responsiveness, Windows Vista and SP1 deliver a level of performance that has the greatest positive impact on the systems usability. This guide looks
at the following areas of performance improvement:
- Making configuration changes that help a computer feel more responsive when you
use it.
- Using hardware to boost the actual physical speed of a computer.
- Making configuration changes that help a computer to start
faster.
- Making the computer more reliable may help increase performance.
- Monitoring performance occasionally so that you can stop
problems before they get too big.
winbeta.org -
29.07.2008Vista Rant - And yet another boundary defect in Explorer's listview?
Bj Rollison, Microsoft Test Architect in the Engineering Excellence Group: This morning I installed Vista SP1 onto my laptop. I was pretty excited
about this release because it promises better performance as compared to the original release (but, I have not yet worked with it enough to realize
any significant performance gain). But, as I was preparing to teach an internal course I came across a new defect that is bound to cause even more
hair loss, and I have precious little left to lose. I thought, how fitting this post comes as I prepare to teach another class on systematic testing
techniques (including boundary value analysis) that I find yet another classic boundary defect in Explorer's list view (albeit the boundary condition
is not readily apparent) . Interestingly enough, the previous boundary defect I found appears to be fixed with Vista's SP1; however, I previously did
not run across earlier a defect that is probably a bit worse than the previous defect, and it is another problem with how listview repaints itself
after an event.
To reproduce this defect, open a folder with several dozen files in Explorer and select Views -> List and resize
the Explorer window so there are several columns of files...
winbeta.org -
27.02.2008
