Windows 7 on older hardware: A Catch 22 for Microsoft
There are a few bloggers wondering aloud about how well Windows 7 ultimately is going to run on older hardware. That’s an interesting question, given Microsoft’s symbiotic relationship with its hardware partners who constantly are in search of new ways to convince users to buy pricier PCs.
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14.1.2009 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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19.5.2009Giving up on Vista? Here's how to downgrade to XP
Microsoft's decision last week to delay the end of Windows XP sales five months means users have just that much longer to jilt Vista and return to
the older -- and some say more mature -- operating system. But even with XP's reprieve, few PCs come with anything but Vista. Even if you wanted to
take advantage of the wider window of XP opportunity, you might not know where to start.
For the rest of us, just what does it take to turn back the clock? Read on for more
about the trip to Windows yesteryear.
What is a downgrade? To Microsoft, "downgrade" describes the licensing rights it grants
to older operating systems. Downgrade doesn't mean the process for rolling back Windows from Vista to XP, since there isn't such a procedure, not in
the generally accepted use of "upgrade." In an older-to-newer move, developers usually make it possible to retain all the digital detritus on the
drive, from already-installed applications and Word documents to iTunes tracks and family photos, while updating the system files. Not so in a
downgrade.
winbeta.org - 02.10.2007
EC 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...
betanews.com - 15.02.2008
Firefox 4.0 redesign mockups released
Earlier last week, Mozilla updated the Firefox 3.7 wiki to show potential design changes for Firefox 3.7, and today, updated their wiki to show new
mock ups for Firefox 4.0 Windows designs. The designs are changed to fit better into Windows 7 - as they want to "embrace glass" which is a major
goal of Mozilla for the next Firefox release, as well as making them feel more a part of the OS. The designs also work on Windows Vista. A separate
design would be in place for lower versions of Windows. The images below show the ideas that the Mozilla team has, for some potential tab layouts/UI
redesigns.
Read full story.....
neowin.net - 28.07.2009
Microsoft to release hardware reference designs for Windows Mobile
Microsoft plans to replicate some processes from the PC industry to try to boost its performance in the mobile market and expects to see a growing
number of applications in its new Marketplace, an executive said this week.
In a wide-ranging interview, Andy Lees, senior vice
president of mobile communications for Microsoft, confirmed that for the first time the company will release hardware reference designs to make it
easier for handset makers to use Windows Mobile.
winbeta.org - 10.10.2009
Application 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 - 06.09.2008
Kodak Designs New CMOS Sensor
Eastman Kodak Company revealed today in a press release that it has created the world’s first 1.4 micron, 5 megapixel device, the KAC-05020
Image Sensor. Using significantly smaller pixels, this sensor enables a higher level of resolution in small optical formats which will be especially
useful in devices like cellphones: the sensor allows for full 720p video at 30fps in a quarter-inch camera. Unlike other small-pixel sensors which can
produce poor images, especially under low light conditions, the 1.4 micron pixel used in the KAC-05020 is reportedly able to provide image quality
that can equal or surpass what is available from current devices using larger, 1.75 micron pixel CMOS designs.
Read full story.....
neowin.net - 05.02.2008
Windows 7 concepts that never made the cut
TechRadar has uncovered some interesting concept art and sketches that the Windows team demonstrated at Mix 09 recently. The Windows team is
notoriously secret about showing any concept designs the team have worked on, usually because of copyright issues and the fact the designs are not
protected.
Read full story.....
neowin.net - 23.03.2009
Dell extends window for XP systems
Dell has extended the availability of systems preloaded with Windows XP, citing customer demand for the older operating system. The vendor started to
charge purchasers of certain lines to downgrade the operating system from Vista to XP last week.
However, Dell has said on its website that
XP machines will still be available in the Inspiron and XPS ranges. "We are able to offer the opportunity to purchase a Dell desktop with an OEM
Windows XP licence until 26 June at 5.59am central time," said the company. "After 26 June you have the option to purchase Windows Vista Business or
Windows Vista Ultimate with a downgrade service to Windows XP Professional.
neowin.net - 24.06.2008
ATI Reduces Support for Older Graphics Cards
As time goes on and a product catalog grows, it's not unusual for a company to reduce and eventually eliminate support for older products. In the
case of ATI, AMD's graphics division, a new decision to reduce support for older graphics chips is about to take effect.
To
date, ATI has provided a new WHQL certified driver every month to nearly every graphics card capable of DirectX 9 acceleration. That includes cards
all the way back to 2002's Radeon 9700 Pro. After this month's Catalyst 9.3 release, that will not be the case...
winbeta.org - 05.03.2009
Windows 7, new laptop designs to converge
A rip-up-the-carpet PC refresh of both software and hardware is in the offing as Microsoft's latest operating system and new laptop designs converge
later this year.
At the Intel Technology Summit on Wednesday, an executive described the imminent mobile future, including a
major refresh of Netbook silicon, better-designed "ultrathins," and turbo-powered high-end laptops.
winbeta.org - 03.08.2009
Mozilla 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 - 16.06.2007
Accton Designs Skype Handset
Cell-like phone will support
Internet telephony service...
pcworld.com - 12.11.2005
Intel, VMware Partner In Virtual Machine Migration
Intel on Thursday said it is working with VMware on technology that makes it possible to move software-running virtual machines from servers running
older Intel processors to the chipmaker's next-generation Xeon designs.
VMware is building support for Intel's FlexMigration
assist for virtualized environments in VMware's Vmotion technology, which is used to move running virtual machines from one physical server to
another. The collaboration is expected to help VMware customers move virtual machines to Intel's upcoming processors based on its 45nm scale process
technology, Jake Smith of Intel's Advance Server Technology Group told InformationWeek.
Intel is scheduled to ship in November
its first 45nm server chip built using 45-nanometer technology, codenamed Penryn. That release is expected to be followed in 2008 with Nehalem,
codename for Intel's upcoming microarchitecture. ..
winbeta.org - 28.09.2007
A Brave New World of Computing
Microsoft's Next-Gen PC
Design Competition winners
create innovative designs that
take traditional PCs outside
the box...
microsoft.com/presspass - 29.05.2007
AMD to Continue Pushing New Technologies into Emerging Marke
Following the termination of
the personal Internet
communicator (PIC) project,
Advanced Micro Devices said
that it would continue to
address the emerging market
with low-cost personal
computers (PCs) by selling
microprocessors and providing
reference designs of such
entry-level systems to
computer makers. "We are
going back to our core
competency of selling chips.
We will make reference designs
and work with OEMs and ODMs,
but we will not do an end
product," said Billy Edwards,
chief innovation officer at
AMD, in an interview with
EETimes web-site.
Instead of selling complete
systems, such as PIC, AMD will
roll-out in the next couple of
months reference designs of
PCs running AMD Geode
processors. Those reference
designs are projected to be
"tailored for specific
markets" in the developing
countries, however, the
details are pretty vague at
the moment.
neowin.net - 28.11.2006
How do Apple's designs affect consumers?
Apple has always been a company known for design; not just design, but even the most loathing Apple hater will have to admit at some time that the
company does make some pretty well thought out products. Robert Brunner over at Fast Company has written an interesting blog post about Apple's
design, and how other companies attempt to replicate it, sometimes producing a bad result for the end user. Brunner has said, "Here's the gist:
Apple has been so successful in design, that to many people if something does not resemble an iPhone, iPod, MacBook, etc., it is not 'good
design.' If it is not an uber-simple, highly-rationalized, single-buttoned, machined-from-a-solid-block-of aluminum thing, it can't be good,
right?
Read full story.....
neowin.net - 11.06.2009
PINNED: 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.
jcxp.net - 28.02.2006
Windows 7 May Run Better than You Think on Older Hardware
Noting that Snow Leopard will support Intel Macs onlyleaving out PowerPC computers built just over three years agoPC World got curious about how their
old hardware might stand up to Windows 7. To put it to the test, they installed Win7 on a 2001 computer that was just under spec for Windows 7's 1GB
RAM/1GHz processor requirements. The results...
winbeta.org - 11.06.2009
War 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 - 03.05.2009
Imagine Cup 2008: Web-based Screen Reader Wins Top Accessibility Prize
Student designs technology that makes any computer usable by people who are blind...
microsoft.com/presspass - 18.06.2008
