Items tagged with Microsoft
Thankfully the collaboration between Ford Motor Company and Microsoft is only for the entertainment system- "Initially to be made available in twelve 2008 models across the Ford family and across the entire 2009 lineup from FoMoCo, the service will be a fully-integrated, flash memory-based system that enables drivers to call hands-free and to control a range of digital audio via voice commands and buttons mounted on the steering wheel. The system is based on an a Microsoft Auto operating system comprising an ARM 11 processor, 64MB of DRAM and 256MB of flash memory. Microsoft tells us that its software will be updatable, probably via the USB port." It does appear to have some really hot features...
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Ars Technica has an interview with Ray Ozzie, Microsoft's new chief software architect. He signals a slight change in Microsoft's worldview, and unlike Bill Gates, he identifies his new competition. Google. Of course, any discussion of Microsoft moving to Internet-connected services has to acknowledge the presence of Google. Unlike Bill Gates, Ozzie considers Google to be a viable competitor, placing them in the same category as previous strong competitors to Microsoft. He gives Google credit for proving that an advertising-driven model for "free" software delivered over the web can be a bit hit with consumers. However, he feels that...
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Microsoft recently shipped a new version of Windows so its time for some industry analysts to map out the plan for Microsoft's eventual decline and Apple's surge back to predominance after roughly two decades in niche-ville. Interesting reading... "In 2000, Microsoft Windows was still a poor product, but it had replaced DOS on hundreds of millions of PCs, and was strong competition to the ten year old operating system that Apple was still trying to sell. When Windows 2000 shipped, Apple's efforts to sell Mac OS 9 and its delayed attempts to deliver Mac OS X similarly appeared laughably behind the times. It was Microsoft that wasn't...
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Since Microsoft's failure to comply with the European Union's anti-trust rulings, the EU has decided to crack down further on the U.S. based giant warning that more fines may be imposed. After the 2004 case in which it was ruled Microsoft would pay nearly $497 million euros ($656 million USD) for asking unjustifiably high prices for key data sold to competitors, the EU is disappointed to see a lack of change on Microsoft's part. Brussels criticised the software giant for not changing its behaviour since it was fined 497m euros (£331m) in 2004. In an escalation of its long-running battle with the US firm, Brussels said Microsoft had been seeking unreasonable prices from...
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Google's idea of web based applications have Microsoft thinking. As the idea of web based applications continues to grow, Microsoft is getting busy with plans to keep Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point competitive. Ray Ozzie, Microsoft's new chief software architect, does not think the company will develop web-only applications but instead, applications based on mobile devices that will take advantage of the PC as well as web and mobile services. Watching Google Inc. rake in advertising revenue "was a wake-up call within Microsoft," the company's top technical executive, Ray Ozzie, said Tuesday. But he said Microsoft...
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Issues such as global warming have become increasingly important lately, and some computer companies, along with the rest of the world, are doing their part to help. According to The Register, Green Grid, an association of computer companies with the goal of lowering the power consumption of data centers, may have recently received support from Intel and Microsoft. There is speculation that Intel and Microsoft will accept invitations into the association sometime in the next few weeks, joining founders AMD, IBM, HP, Dell, and Sun Microsystems. Come Monday, the elusive Green Grid consortium that focuses on the energy consumption of data centers will announce the acquisition...
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The case is long from settled, and there will likely be a littany of appeals and countersuits, but Alcatel-Lucent won the first round in their legal battle against Microsoft and has been awarded a $1.52B (that's Billion) settlement. "A U.S. federal jury found that Microsoft Corp. infringed audio patents held by Alcatel-Lucent and should pay $1.52 billion in damages, the No. 1 software maker said Thursday. Microsoft said it plans to first ask the trial judge to knock down the ruling and will appeal if necessary. It said the verdict is unsupported by the law and that it had already licensed the technology in question from Germany's Fraunhofer."...
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Windows Vista has been out for only a few weeks and Microsoft is already talking about the next step. In an attempt to avert something similar to the five year wait Windows XP users experienced waiting for Vista, Microsoft has disclosed details on the successor to Vista, codenamed Vienna. WinFS, native HD DVD capabilities, and FireWire-B may be addressed in the first service pack for Vista but there is a chance some of these features may not make it into an MS operating system until Vienna. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has already proclaimed that there is "More where that came from" when it comes to operating systems. According to PC World, 2009 is when we can expect more...
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Unlike previous version of Windows, that only required a valid, older CD to be inserted to verify ownership, upgrade versions of Windows Vista require a previous OS installation to function. A workaround for this issue was posted to web within hours of Vista's release, however, that didn't require an older OS at all. It was initially thought that MS would do something right away to eliminate the workaround, but now that doesn't seem to be the case... "Microsoft will not close a loophole that offers consumers a cheaper way to upgrade to Windows Vista. As vnunet.com reported last week, users can install the upgrade version...
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If Vista's got you stumped, Microsoft offers a tech support chainsaw to help you down. Bring money. As of Jan. 30, customers who buy full retail copies of Vista and Office 2007 will get unlimited calls, e-mails and Web chats with Microsoft technical support during the first 90 days after activating the software. But after that period, customers contacting Microsoft for help with Vista will pay $59 per incident, up from $35, according to Matt Fingerhut, general manager of consumer support for platforms and business applications. For technical assistance with Office, customers will pay $49 per incident, also up from $35. People have been complaining loudly about the quality of tech support...
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Paul Boutin over at Slate considers the two big Microsoft rollouts this week, and concludes that it's the office suite that matters, and Vista is just along for the ride. And he hates it, because it's important and bound to be the de facto industry standard and it's not like the one he's used to: Initially, I didn't see the point of the UI's tabs, thumbnails, and rounded edges. Was Microsoft simply trying to embrace the Web 2.0 aesthetic? I e-mailed PC World editor Harry McCracken to ask if I was missing something. McCracken praised the Ribbon as forward-looking, the sort of user interface you'd design from scratch for late-model...
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One of the biggest selling points for Windows Vista was the fact that it would be dramatically more secure then Windows XP, and for this reason, all users should look towards making the move to the new operating system. Now that Vista has been out for a few days and people have had time to play with it, it seems Windows Vista may not be as secure as advertised. "It's dramatically more secure than, say, Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows XP," said Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer at F-Secure. "However, it's fundamentally not more secure than operating systems like FreeBSD, QNX, AS/400 etc," he said. "I would claim it's not even as secure as another operating system...
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VIA Announces Broadest Chipset Support for Microsoft Windows Vista Latest VIA chipsets for Intel, AMD and VIA C7 processors earn Windows Vista certification by Windows Vista Logo program Taipei, Taiwan, 29 January 2007 - VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator and developer of silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions, today confirmed the most comprehensive and flexible range of core logic solutions for Vista-based systems across all the major processor platforms for motherboard, PC, server and device manufacturers. Five of VIA's leading edge IGP chipsets have received the Windows Vista Basic logo from Microsoft: the VIA K8M890 and the VIA P4M900 for the latest mainstream AMD...
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AMD and Microsoft Collaboration Enables World-class Windows Vista Experience - Newly Released ATI Catalyst 7.1 Provides Performance and Stability for Advanced Graphics with New Microsoft Operating System - SUNNYVALE, Calif. - Jan. 29, 2007 - AMD (NYSE: AMD) today detailed the hardware and supporting software technologies to deliver the highest levels of performance, stability and application compatibility for Microsoft Windows Vista users. Based on an unprecedented collaboration between Microsoft and AMD, Windows Vista harnesses AMD silicon and software to deliver truly immersive computing experiences, new tools for creating and sharing multimedia content and enhanced capabilities for locating...
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If you want to get your hands on Windows Vista the moment it's available, without leaving the comfort of your own home, Microsoft will make it available on-line on the 30th... "Microsoft Corp. will make its new Windows Vista operating system available for sale and download online, marking a new step for the software company, which has previously sold Windows only on packaged discs or pre-loaded on computers. A relatively low number of computer users are likely to get Vista by downloading it from the Internet. But the mere availability indicates that Microsoft is fiddling with distribution methods for the extremely profitable franchise at the core of its business." You think Microsoft will...
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Hello HotHardware Fans! We have something exciting in store for you, just in time for the holiday season. We've hooked up with the good folks at Microsoft and Webcast Magic, and will be giving away a pair of slick new Zune media players to two lucky forum members! All you have to do to win is be a registered member in HotHardware's forum. Then, send an e-mail to us at winzune@hothardware.com with your forum username and full contact information (including a phone number) and we'll randomly pick a winner at the conclusion of the contest. If you're not already an active forum member, now is the perfect time to join! We'll be taking entries until December 31. Good Luck and Happy Holidays!...
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What if you could rig it so that competing with your flagship product was against the law? Under 1998's Digital Millennium Copyright Act, breaking an anti-copying system is illegal, even if you're breaking it for a legal reason. For example, it's against the law to compete head-on with the iPod by making a device that plays Apple's proprietary music, or by making an iPod add-on that plays your own proprietary music. Nice deal for Apple. gets the same deal, courtesy of something called "Information Rights Management," a use-restriction system for Office files, such as Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and Excel spreadsheets....
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Loaded with features like an FM Radio, wireless connection, and video screen, Microsoft's Zune music player was positioned to compete directly with Apple's iPod. Unfortunately the player hasn't had the strong debut Microsoft was hoping store, as folks seem to want to stick with the proven and familiar iPod. "Two boxed Zune players sat ignored on the top shelf of a Plexiglas showcase packed with iPod accessories in a Virgin Megastore near Union Square in San Francisco's popular shopping district. "I didn't even know they were there until a customer pointed them out," said sales clerk Jake Brooks."...
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Microsoft has finished coding their next install of the Microsoft Office series. Office 2007 is ready for its "release to manufacturing", and hopes to have it ready for corporate users by November 30th. As Yahoo! News reports, Microsoft also hopes to release Windows Vista and 2007 Exchange on the same day to their business customers, with a full release coming early next year. "In June, Microsoft pushed back the release of its upgrade to Office, which includes the Word processor, Excel spreadsheet and PowerPoint presentation software, marking the latest in a series of development delays that have plagued the company. Windows Vista...
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Is this a good or bad development for Microsoft? Novell? Linux? Certainly it is a power grab for Microsoft. After years of discounting open-source alternatives, Microsoft finally admits Linux is not only for real, but that they need to work with it. And what better way than to align with one of the top corporate distributions? And as an added bonus, the two companies will work on compatibility, mentioning specifically Novell developing code to support Microsoft's Office Open XML in OpenOffice. Microsoft will push SUSE. OK, so it is wonderful for Novell. This move instantly makes SLES (SUSE Linux Enterprise Server) the Linux of choice for any company that's already invested in Windows....
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Those of you hoping save a few bucks by just upgrading Windows XP to Windows Vista Ultimate will be disappointed to hear that Microsoft will offer no such plan. The features and functionality set it apart from other versions of Windows Vista, as Microsoft explains, and it will be the only version of Windows Vista that does not offer an upgrade path. Currently, Windows Vista is still slated for a January 2007 release. " This is how the program works: upgrades from Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 to Windows Vista Home Premium, and upgrades from Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition to Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Business...
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Today Microsoft has released the 11th incarnation of their Media Player software. Windows Media Player 11 is built for all versions of Windows XP SP2, and comes with a fresh new look, and features Microsoft and MTV's new music download service, Urge. Click here to download the 28MB installation file. "Windows Media Player 11 for Windows XP offers great new ways to store and enjoy all your digital media. It's easier than ever to access all of your music, videos, pictures, and recorded TV on your computer. Play it, view it, organize it, or sync it to a portable device for enjoying on the go, or share with devices around your home - all from one place."...
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