Microsoft Rolls up the Sleeves with Windows 7

(image found on cnet news)
With the public beta release of Windows 7 Microsoft is showing consumers that they are now rolling up their sleeves like never before to make sure this Vista replacement works like it should. They are on a mission to make sure they don't make the same mistakes they did in the past.

Enthusiasts are worried Microsoft isn't listening to their comments but actions do seem to speak louder then words. Due to feedback to Microsoft they went back and made several revisions to dvd handling. When customers wanted to have that option they added it but then when corporate customers were worried about people watching DVDs on company time they fixed that issue too.

The same goes with BitLocker-To-Go. This encryption feature was initially available for use under Vista and Microsoft went and later added an option for Widows XP users to use it too. The encryption feature helps secure USB devices.

With the design of Windows 7, Microsoft is looking at how customers work when using a product and also where they get tripped up too. So they can step in an fix issues before they get worse. One of the interesting things they learned was that some programs wouldn't install themselves under Vista because the application designers that created them had hard coded the programs to work with a certain OS only. This offers a rational explanation of why many of the older programs seemed to have issues installing or even working under Vista.

Microsoft is looking at calling Windows 7 officially version 6.1 in the series of Windows OS's.

Microsoft in the Enterprise Edition:
With the progression of Vista into Windows 7 Microsoft is showing corporate customers that making the upgrade from Vista or Windows XP is actually a great idea. They are touting the advantages that empower users seamless access from anywhere, esp. the mobile users community.

Windows 7 makes streamlining management a piece of cake by offering an easier way to manage and deploy laptops, desktops and virtual environments. IT Pro's can also use the same tools as they do now in Vista. In Windows 7 there is a feature called Powershell 2.0 which helps to reduce costs while managing and troubleshooting PC's by using a new scripting options for automation capabilities.

When it comes to accessing data applications anywhere at anytime there are features such as Branch Cache, Direct Access, Federated Search and Enterprise Search Scopes to make it easier for the end user.

Microsoft has also spent time with improving security and control by focusing on protecting data, enabling compliance and giving IT better control. One of the ways is by using the BitLocker-to-go program to protect data and give access to authorized users on a read level only if necessary on a usb device. Then we have App Locker which is a mechanism that gives administrators the ability to grant group policy to run on a system where needed.

From recent survey's 61% of customers were worried about having unauthorized applications installed on their systems (that is why AppLocker had priority development) and 49% wanted to have direct access capabilities.

So Microsoft is listening and responding to peoples questions and requests. So far so good guys.

Windows 7 gets down to business (cnet news)
Microsoft Touts Windows 7 for the Enterprise (eweek)

Microsoft Kumo Search Program Revealed

Microsoft is starting to leak out information on a new search engine they are working on to combat the web supremacy that Google and Yahoo have over it currently. The search project dubbed Kumo, which in Japanese means either spider or cloud is set to create something new in the world of how search is done in the first place.

The idea is to incorporate this new search feature into Microsoft's Live Search. This new search engine will be creating a new era of searching by using a visual approach and returning searches based on what it sees in just a wink of the image or a simple glance. Microsoft's Steve Ballmer is set to make an announcement today at the Microsoft MVP 09 Summit on this new project.

Currently, the beta testing for this project is being done internally only and not being released to the public. I caught wind of a possible url for the search engine: www.kumo.com.

But, when i went to the link, I got an Access Denied, You don't have permission to access "http://www.kumo.com/" on this server.Reference #18.675b1208.1236189015.8974c0d page popping up. The new search engine is set to be released in the new few years.

This project sounds like a great idea, but it is going to be an uphill battle for Microsoft to wage against search Kings Google and Yahoo that currently control the lead in search. Microsoft will need to create something new and different that works to sway the popular masses from the current Kings of search. If they can get this search engine to work the way its supposted to, that might be the key to becoming more popular then they were before.

This venture will require more then just simple relaunching or rebranding of Live Search.
Good Luck Microsoft you will need it.

Microsoft Quietly Working on Live Search Service (Daily Tech)
Does Microsoft's Kumo Herald an Era of Visual Search? (PCworld)
Has Microsoft found the answer to Google? Search Me (InfoWorld)

Microsoft Cutting pay for contractors from 10 to 15 percent in the mix

(image from maximumpc.com)
In an effort to save money Microsoft is cutting pay for current contractors by 10 percent and for future contractors by as much as 15 percent.

"Microsoft Corp. is slashing overtime, hours and pay for U.S. temporary workers as part of an overall push to curb expenses during the recession.

Microsoft will cut what it pays the staffing agencies by 10 percent for current projects and won't raise the rate it pays for temporary workers who return after a mandatory annual 100-day break. The company also plans to reduce overtime and the total number of hours clocked by temporary workers.

In a statement Thursday, the company said it talked with some employment agencies before making the decision.

The move, first reported Wednesday by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, comes a month after the software maker resorted to its first mass layoffs and said it would trim travel costs, freeze wages and scale back expansion plans for its Redmond, Wash., headquarters.

As the recession has deepened, consumers and businesses have reined in spending on new computers and software. Because Microsoft sells the operating system that runs on the vast majority of computers around the world, it is feeling the pinch, particularly in its lucrative Windows and Office desktop software businesses.

Online advertising spending is also on the wane. Microsoft's online search and ad business was already losing money despite heavy spending to beef up the underlying technology. Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer said this week that the company would continue to pour money into competing with Google Inc. on this front.

Microsoft does not disclose how many contract workers it uses, and analyst estimates vary. Sid Parakh, an analyst for McAdams Wright Ragen, said he believes the number is somewhere between 40,000 and 60,000 worldwide. The company employs an additional 95,000 permanent workers globally.

The company relies on skilled contract workers for all sorts of jobs, from developing and testing software to designing Web sites to writing technical documentation. And it's not alone. Tech companies including IBM Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. routinely hire temporary workers; Google had 10,000 contractors as recently as October."

Wow, it looks like times are harder then previously revealed. I wonder how many of the people being affected by these changes that currently work for Microsoft are tempted to just make a company of their own and 86 their current ties.

There are a lot of people in some crucial development areas that could break out on their own, which could cost Microsoft more in the long run then what they hope to save by this 10 and 15 percent cut.

Microsoft cuts contractor pay (ITworld)
Microsoft slashes contract worker rates by 10 pct (AP)
Microsoft Temps Get a Haircut (WSJ)

Microsoft files Lawsuit on Netherlands-based firm TomTom

(image found on Straits Times)
Yesterday, Microsoft launched a lawsuit against the Netherlands based firm, Tom Tom for infringing on the software giant's patented technology.

Microsoft filed complaints against TomTom in US district court and with the International Trade Commission, according to Horacio Gutierrez, deputy general counsel of intellectual property and licensing at Microsoft.

'We have taken this action after attempting for more than a year to engage in licensing discussions with TomTom,' Mr Gutierrez said.

'In situations such as this, when a reasonable business agreement cannot be reached, we have no choice but to pursue legal action to protect our innovations and our partners who license them.' A spokesman in TomTom's US office declined to comment, telling AFP that it is company policy not to discuss legal matters.

Patents involved in the case relate to vehicle navigation technology and computer software that Microsoft has licensed to other firms, according to Gutierrez.

TomTom bills itself as the world's leading 'navigation solutions provider.' TomTom devices such as its popular GO guide drivers by using satellite tracking of vehicles along with a vast database built with the help of digital map firm TeleAtlas, which it bought in 2008.

Last month, TomTom launched GO 740 Live services that stream real-time traffic updates, weather, and local fuel prices to navigation devices that typically mount on dashboards.

Live also enables people to search the Internet using Google.

'TomTom is a highly respected and important company,' Mr Gutierrez said. 'We remain open to quickly resolving this situation with them through an IP licensing agreement.'

Wow, I hope they can figure out something in arbitration before it goes to court or this could be a costly case for Tom Tom.

Microsoft sues PND vendor over FAT filesystem (linuxdevices.com)
Microsoft sues TomTom: All your GPS logics belong to us (TG Dailey)
Microsoft sues TomTom (Straits Times)

Microsoft Asks 1,400 laid-off workers to return some of their Severants Pay

Over 1,400 Microsoft workers that were laid off on January 22nd received some more bad news. It turns out because of a slight accounting "Administrative Error" oversight some people were given too much of a servants pay when they left and Microsoft wants it back.

(image found on PCworld)
"The letter from Microsoft to its redundant employees, asking for part of the severance money back. The letter was obtained by TechCrunch and a Microsoft spokesperson certified its authenticity.

The letter surfaced on the Internet this weekend and Microsoft claims that an "inadvertent administrative error" caused this situation. Microsoft did not confirm how many people were affected by the overpayments but "there was certainly more than one," a company spokesperson said.

However, on the other side of the spectrum, some laid-off workers were been underpaid in their severance and Microsoft claims that it is "taking care of underpayments." Microsoft declined any further comment, saying this is a "private matter between the company and the affected people."

Microsoft paid the laid-off staffers a minimum of 60 days salary and additional compensation based on the length of their service. In January Microsoft announced that another 3600 jobs will be cut over the next 18 months. This totals 5000 jobs, or 5 percent of Microsoft's total workforce."

Wow, talk about going from bad to worse for some people.

Microsoft Asks Laid-off Workers to Return Overpaid Severance (PCworld)
Ex-Microsoft workers may not have to return severance pay (Computer World)
Microsoft has to hit up laid-off workers for money (Associated Press)

Microsoft unveils Elevate America

(image found on nydailynews)

Link to Microsoft's Elevate America

Microsoft this past weekend unveilded a new program to help millions world wide for free. In a program called Elevate America, Microsoft is aiming to give 2 milion people over the next two years technology training at regional telecenters and online too.

The online resource is focused on helping users figure out what types of technical skills are required for IT jobs, and provides resources to help acquire these skills. The Web site offers access to several Microsoft online training programs, from very basic (e.g., "How to use the Internet") to much more advanced (e.g., "Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Windows XP Professional").

To provide a variety of training, Microsoft will partner with state and local governments. Florida, New York and Washington will be the first states to offer Elevate America courses.

Some 3.6 million jobs have been lost since the recession began in December 2007 with about half of the decline occurring in the past three months, according to recent Labor Department data.

"Millions of Americans don't have the technology skills needed in today's economy. Through Elevate America, we want to help workers get the skills they need to succeed," Pamela Passman, corporate vice president of Microsoft Global Corporate Affairs, said. "We are also providing a full range of workforce development resources for state and local governments so they can offer specialized training for their workers."

This is a great program to help bring in and educate a new workforce previously untapped. Computers and technology help us in so many ways and by educating the millions lacking we will prosper in so many new exciting ways that we never thought possible.

Microsoft Offers Free Tech Training To Millions (Channel Web)
Microsoft seeks to Elevate the nation's tech skills (beta news)
Need an edge in the job market? Microsoft wants to help - for free (nydaily news)
Microsoft Aims to Provide Tech Training to Americans (DailyTech)

Widows 7 Release Candidate Build date - April 10, 2009

(image found on ARS technica)
There have been a lot of various rumors out there on Windows 7. But, Microsoft is now announcing that if all goes as planned Windows 7 beta users will be able to get the Release Candidate build on April 10, 2009 according to Microsoft.

"Microsoft is currently compiling pre-RC builds of Windows 7, the latest build being 7046. Many beta testers are frustrated that they have not received a build since build 7000, which was released to everyone on January 9, 2009.

When Ars asked Sinofsky if Microsoft Connect testers as well as MSDN and TechNet subscribers will get the RC before the public, Sinofsky told me no: "The build will be available broadly."

Sinofsky has also been talking to Geeksmack, sending them an e-mail yesterday dispelling the buzz that Microsoft wasn't paying attention to what testers were saying: "We have received an amazing amount of feedback, many suggestions for new features too, during the beta—over 500,000 suggestions just from the Send Feedback button (which is only one of many feedback mechanisms). Putting that in perspective it is 500 suggestions for each and every developer on the Windows team, just since beta!" That is a lot of feedback to go through, and it looks like Sinofsky is up to the challenge."
(image found on Amazon.com)
So it looks like the Windows 7 release is getting closer and closer. I have had Windows 7 installed on a Samsung NC10-14GB 10.2-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom Processor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, 6 Cell Battery) Blue and it works great. I installed an assortment of various utilities and programs on the machine too so i can see if this version of windows will work or flop. So far it works great.
Granted its not as fast as my desktop or my full sized Lenovo x300. But, for the tasks I've been using it for, the machine works great with Windows 7. I think these netbooks that are now coming on the market are a great idea and they do perform well for basic computer use.
I look forward to seeing how the Release Candidate will perform on it as opposed to the beta since things do change from one version to the other, that i saw in Vista and it wasn't pleasent.

Rumor: public to get Windows 7 RC build on April 10, 2009 (ARS technica)

Microsoft Ready's Vista Service Pack 2 updates

(image found on PCworld.com)
Well folks its that time again.
Microsoft is finishing up its testing of its Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista. As history shows us that means the full release is not to far away. The beta release for this service pack was released in October of 2008 to the testing community followed by public beta download release in December of 2008. So judging by the timeline it looks like in a few weeks we could have a new major update out for Vista.

"Vista SP2 is largely about improving performance, and in addition to the contents of Vista SP1, the new update includes 691 hotfixes, significant performance improvements and a Service Pack clean up tool that will recover some hard disk space used by previous Vista updates.

However, Microsoft has included a few goodies that you’ll notice once SP2 is ready to go:

• Windows Search 4.0 with faster searching and more relevant results
• The ability to record onto Blu-Ray Media through Vista instead of a third-party application
• Bluetooth 2.1 Feature pack to support emerging Bluetooth technology
• Simplified Wi-Fi configuration tool
• Improved file synchronization across time zones
• Support for new 64-bit CPUs from VIA technologies
• Improved performance for Wi-Fi connections after your computer comes out of sleep mode
• Improvements to DirectX multimedia with an improved graphics experience for gamers
• Better streaming capabilities for high-def audio and video
• Improved content protection for TV programs recorded with Windows Media Center

In addition to Vista SP2, Microsoft is also testing the release candidate for Windows Server 2008 SP2."

Its nice to see them addressing some issues like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 64-bit machines. Especially, since these features are some of the big things in todays computer world. I keep noticing more and more new machines coming out now running a 64-bit OS. Whether its using an AMD or intel processor, the OS's are coming with 64-bit installed.

Microsoft Readies Vista Update (PC World)
Testers get SP2 Release Candidate for Vista and Server 2008 (ARS technica)
Microsoft Windows 7 Beta, Vista SP2 Updates Coming (eweek)

Nvidia unveils the world's first HD mobile internet device that also runs on Android too

(image found on ameinfo)
Nvidia Corporation, the inventor of the graphics processor, today introduced a new platform, based on the Nvidia Tegra 600 Series computer-on-a-chip, always-on, always-connected HD mobile internet device (MID) that can go days between battery charges. Nvidia has been working on this new chip with internet giant Google for use on the open source Android mobile platform too."Nvidia will work "within the Open Handset Alliance to continually strengthen the ability of Android to tap into advanced mobile graphics and media acceleration to make interaction with handheld technology more intuitive and instinctive," Michael Rayfield, general manager for mobile business at Nvidia, said in a statement."

"Nvidia's Tegra line comprises an ARM-based processor core, a GeForce graphics core, and other components. A Tegra system on a chip for mobile Internet devices and netbooks is expected to start shipping in the second half of the year. Nvidia, however, hasn't named any manufacturers planning to ship Tegra-based smartphones or mobile Internet devices."

"The Tegra MID delivers:

• 720p and 1080p video playback

• Days of use between charges

• Full Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity

• Optimised hardware support for Web 2.0 applications for a true desktop-class internet experience

• A complete software solution including Microsoft Windows Embedded CE OS, application viewers, full Internet browser, UI framework, board support package (BSP), software development kit (SDK), Web mail client, and more

'The next generation of smart, connected, service-oriented devices are centered around rich multimedia experiences and enhanced functionality,' said Mukund Ghangurde, Director, CE and Consumer Product Management at Microsoft Corp. 'We are pleased to collaborate with Nvidia to develop a platform resources that assists OEMs in quickly bringing these new devices to market.'"

This could definitely be an interesting year for development with this new chip being unveiled also on an open source platform giving more small companies and individuals a chance to create some cool new applications for the mobile device platform.

Nvidia unveils Chip Support for Android (Information Week)

Nvidia Plans Tegra Platform for $99 MIDs (techtree)

Nvidia enables the world's first HD mobile internet device (ameinfo)

Microsoft Jumps in the Mobile Market again with a New Mobile OS unveiled

(image found on sify website)
Microsoft, is back in the mobile market again unveiling a new OS for its mobile devices. Windows Mobile 6.5 is being announced as the new OS to rival the Google G series and Apple iPhone Mobile Devices. The updated Mobile OS expected out later on this year offers several new exciting features for consumers to use. A new interface with a dashboard like effect with such options as new texts, emails, calendar appointments and missed calls venue. The new OS will also offer improved touch screen capabilities for end use.

"Another key feature is the Windows Marketplace for Mobile, an online service that allows users to search and download software applications to their handsets. The service is similar to Apple's popular App Store for iPhone users. "

Also, "Microsoft also announced that South Korea's LG Electronics, world's third-largest mobile handset maker, has agreed to make Windows the primary operating system for its smartphones and will tenfold increase the number of its products using the Windows system from 2008 to 2009.

The agreement may result in more than 50 new LG phones running Windows system in the coming years, Microsoft said.

According to the company, mobile operator Orange and handset maker HTC also make further commitments to use Microsoft's latest Mobile operating system in their new products.

Touch Diamond 2 and Touch Pro 2, the two new phones launched by HTC, will be upgradeable to Windows Mobile 6.5, Microsoft said."

So it looks like Microsoft is coming back to the mobile market to offer a competitive advantage for users of Windows Mobile over other vendors mobile devices with "a mobile application store and a mobile data synchronization service. "

Microsoft gains momentum in mobile push (sify.com)
Microsoft Revamps Mobile OS, Introduces App Store (Information Week)
Microsoft Wages Mobile War (Channel Web)

IE 8 Release Candidate 1 has been released

(image found on Techtree.com)
Microsoft has just released the new version of Internet Explorer 8 in beta form, dubbed IE 8 RC1 (Release Candidate1) with new improved surfing features such as:

Tabbed Browsing, granted this isn't a totally new feature since its been around since Internet Explorer 7. The new feature they have added is that each tab has its own set of processes so if a site crashes it shouldn't affect the other tabs you have open to other links. This in itself is a big feature if it works like it should. Another feature they have added is an option to re-open tabs that were accidentally closed and some color coding features too.

Security, this is being labeled as the most secure browser ever by Microsoft offering a new feature called "Clickjacking".

"Clickjacking enables hackers and data snoopers weave a filter on sites so they can view the information being accessed from the browser. This can be extremely dangerous if you're an online banking user and frequently handle financial transactions online, the feature might turn out to be useful. The downside however is that, for it to work, webmasters will need to put a tag in the page header, which will help detect and eventually prevent clickjacking."

"Inprivate: Microsoft had debuted the InPrivate mode for anonymous browsing in the Beta version of IE8. In the latest update, the browser features two security features called the InPrivate Browsing and InPrivate Filtering. A new InPrivate window can be opened by Ctrl+shift+P while the Ctrl+Shift+F option will open the InPrivate filtering option. The filtering feature was integrated with the browsing feature in the beta. It has now been integrated as a separate feature."

Phishing Filter: dubbed Smart Screen. This feature compares websites to an existing database to see if they are known to be scam or fraudulent sites. The database is constantly being updated to keep up with newly reported sites.

Web Compatibility:"IE8 has been given the capability to handle W3 web standards so that the appearance of web pages does not change. For those in doubt and used to IE7, there is the compatibility mode that will help it retain the familiar IE7 look."

I am glad to see a new release of IE for us to use but I am still a dedicated Firefox users until a better browser comes along. I will be installing the IE 8 RC1 version this weekend on one of my virtual environments to give it a try then post my experiences with it.

Internet Explorer 8 RC1 first look (Techtree.com)

Initial Verdict: Internet Explorer 8 RC1 is really fast (i4unews)

IE8's JavaScript performance lags well behind Safari, Chrome (AppleInsider)

The Internet - Over 1 Billion Served

(image found on blog.searchenginewatch.com)
Well look out McDonald's, it looks like there is someone else working on the billion served motto. Its official folks there are now over 1 Billion users of the Internet according to comScore Inc. These numbers were reaches in December 2008.

"The Asia-Pacific region now accounts for 41 percent of all Internet users, with China ranked as the largest Internet population in the world, says ComScore. China now has 180 million Internet users, or about 18 percent of the worldwide cyberspace audience. The United States ranks second at 16.2 percent, followed by Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom.

“Surpassing 1 billion global users is a significant landmark in the history of the Internet,” says ComScore CEO Magid Abraham. “The second billion will be online before we know it, and the third billion will arrive even faster than that.”

(image found on blog.searchenginewatch.com)
Top sites include:
Google with 776 million visitors
Microsoft with 647 million visitors
Yahoo with 562 million visitors
Facebook with 222 million visitors (in January there were twice as many recorded for Facebook usage, I have a feeling that the recent election of the new President had something to deal with those numbers)
MySpace with 125 million visitors

Please note these number are issued in the following ways:
"ComScore (Nasdaq: SCOR) said its numbers include Internet users ages 15 or older, from home or work computers. They do not include traffic from public computers, like Internet cafes, or access from mobile phones or PDAs."

So in reality it is alot more but these would be conservative estimates for usages. It would be interesting if someone was out there actually including all of the other online usage resources from PDA's to now Cars.

Global Internet Audiences Exceeds 1 Billion in December 2008 (blog.searchenginewatch.com)

Internet audience tops 1 billion (Nashville Business Journal)

Internet hits major milestone, surpassing 1 billion monthly users (ComputerWorld)

Internet Users Top 1 Billion, Most of Them Asian (PCmag.com)

Apples Snow Leopard is starting to Purr

(image found on appleinsider.com)
More information is coming out about the next Release of Mac OS X, dubbed "Snow Leopard". This new release will offer a 32 or 64 bit operating system to the end user to use.

"Snow Leopard is only designed to run on a relatively small number of higher end PCs, all made by Apple. Rather than trying to get lots of vendors on board as Microsoft must, Apple will be supplying the majority of kernel-level drivers for Snow Leopard.

While Microsoft has sold a 64-bit version of Windows for Intel x86 PCs since mid-2005, actual 64-bit adoption has been slow. Apple has incrementally supported 64-bit background servers and applications in Mac OS X since the release of the PowerMac G5 in 2003; all 64-bit capable Macs can already run 64-bit Mac OS X software because Apple doesn't offer two versions of its operating system; the same version of today's Leopard runs both 32-bit and 64-bit code."

This is an interesting time seeing how Microsoft just released their Windows 7 beta for the public to see and is working on getting everyone to forget Vista and move forward. This year should be very interesting seeing that rumors have it that Apple will be releasing the New OS in summer of 2009 Microsoft could have a major uphill battle to deal with if Apple is as successful as it has been in the consumer market place.

Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard vs. Windows 7: the Show Must Go On (efluxmedia.com)
Windows 7 vs. Mac OS X Snow Leopard: Apple ups the ante (Apple Insider)

'Vista Capable' might Cost Microsoft $8.5 Billion

Looks like yesterday's push by Microsoft for Vista Capable machines might cost Microsoft more then a tongue lashing by end users. Legal proceedings against Microsoft are pushing forward with a "class-action lawsuit, which claims Microsoft misled consumers with the Vista Capable campaign in the months leading up to the January 2007 release of the operating system.

Microsoft dismissed the estimate in a filing of its own yesterday, saying it was "absurdly [valued]" and if damages were granted, it would be a "windfall to millions.""

An expert witness for the pantiff's has calculated that damages could range from $3.92 Billion to as high as $8.52 Billion to upgrade the 19.4 million PC's that were sold as 'Vista Capable' machines.

"In a heavily redacted report, Leffler said he had used data provided by Microsoft to arrive at the number of "Vista upgradeable" PCs sold in the U.S. from April 2006, when the Vista Capable campaign started, to January 2007, when Vista hit retail shelves and the program ended. Of those PCs, 13.75 million notebooks and 5.65 million desktop computers were classified as Vista Capable but not able to meet the more stringent requirements for the "Premium Ready" label, Leffler estimated.

By the criteria set by Microsoft and passed to computer makers, Vista Capable meant that the machine was able to run at least Windows Vista Basic, the entry-level edition of the line. Such a system, however, might not be able to run a more powerful version, or if it could, might not be able to execute all of its features."

This is going to be an expensive nut for Microsoft if the judgment rules against them. With the current 5,000 people being laid off in the next 18 months and other cut backs Microsoft will have to look at other ways to save money that might end up in more layoffs and other unexpected cuts within the organization. I do wonder if Microsoft has considered offering an upgrade to Windows 7 in lue of a judgement against them so that they can try to recoup some of the possible cost there. Windows 7 seems to work better then Vista from what i've seen and experienced and it might even run on some of those pc's that it didn't work on before. But, time will tell what will happen in this expensive complicated trial.

Vista Capable case could cost Microsoft $8.5B (ComputerWorld.com)
Judge makes 'Vista Capable' lawsuit a class-action affair (ComputerWorld.com)

Glimps of the Obama Phone - General Dynamics' Sectera Edge

(image found on PCmag.com website - Inside Obama's Classified Smartphone)

President Obama will be the first US President to use a Blackberry while in office. But, he will be keeping his Blackberry for his personal social use and for official US Government business he will be using one of two possible phones: Either the L3 Guardian or the Edge Windows CE Smart Phones.

The Edge and the Guardian are the result of an $18 million, NSA-sponsored program to develop a top-secret smart phone, according to Randy Siegel, Microsoft's lead enterprise mobility strategist.

Most BlackBerrys and Windows Mobile devices can work with "sensitive, but unclassified" data, according to Tom Liggett, the Sectera Edge product manager at General Dynamics. Those smart phones work with the FIPS 140-2 standard, which encrypts both data traffic and voice calls to a certain extent. And there are a lot of government functions, even in war, that aren't classified. In Iraq, for instance, Windows Mobile devices are used for battle triage, roadside bomb detection, and even as sniper aids, Siegel said.

But about 300,000 Americans have access to a secret, controlled Internet called SIPRNet, the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network. What's on there? It's classified. And the Edge and the Guardian are the only smartphones that can tap into it.

"The BlackBerry device and the Windows Mobile devices currently are not cleared for SIPRNetSiegel said. "This is the type of communication that a General Petraeus is giving, or many State Department officials, or many DHS officials." communications,"

To make voice calls, for instance, the Edge uses an encryption protocol called SCIP, the Secure Communications Interoperability Protocol. It runs on any of the four national cell-phone carriers' – you can actually switch the cellular module out by hand – but the calls are encrypted end-to-end, so that they can only be decrypted by another SCIP phone.

All the data on the device is encrypted using "NSA Type 1 algorithms," which are forbidden to be used by civilians, Liggett said. This is real spy-movie stuff."

The phone will offer a switch option for classified or unclassified mode. The phone itself can still do many things that a Windows Mobile device can do including connecting to Microsoft Exchange server, edit and work on Microsoft office documents and play media using windows media player. So if you are thinkin of wow i would love to get one of these phones. It will set you back $3300 provided you pass the security clearance for obtaining one too.

Blackberry Force One is up to the Job (ABC news)
Inside Obama's Classified SmartPhone (PCmag.com)

Microsoft takes out the Axe - 5,000 jobs to be cut over the next 18 months

(image found on Reuters website)
As the economy is in the crapper everyone is cutting back and tech giant Microsoft is no different. Microsoft is announcing that it didn't make the mark it was shooting for and it will need to make some employee cuts across the board.

"Microsoft said it will eliminate up to 5,000 jobs in research and development, marketing, sales, finance, legal, human resources and information technology over the next 18 months, including 1,400 jobs on Thursday. That amounts to about 5 percent of its estimated 95,000 work force.

Microsoft said these moves would help cut its annualized operating expense by about $1.5 billion and reduce fiscal year 2009 capital expenditures by $700 million."

Microsoft is pointing the finger at the PC industry and net books not hitting the mark. But, I think Microsoft is missing the bigger picture. This may be the tight times but its also the time to get our troops in order and make them work through the grind and come up with some more amazing new products. I understand a company needs to cut its expenses but it also needs to realize that each employee can help it to catipult forward in the down times.

Company's in general have a lot of untapped potential within them. Maybe Microsoft will realize this before it takes out the ax. I think they would be kicking themselves in the ass if they let go of these people and the people they let go went on to form something even more bigger then Microsoft. When times are tough the potential for greatness is high. All you need to do is look within and make it happen.

Microsoft profit misses, to cut up to 5,000 jobs (Reuters)

Microsoft to cut up to 5,000 jobs as earnings fall (AFP)

Microsoft shares slump following earnings release, pulls markets down(Cnet news)

Windows 7 Beta release

(image found on Microsoft Windows 7 website)

Download Windows 7 Beta

Yep, I was one of the millions of people who downloaded the new Windows Beta 7 release. I installed it on my Windows XP Pro platform under the Sun VirtualBox. The one thing i have to say is sweet. The download took about 3 hours to complete. Then i burned the ISO to a DVD and the installation went very easily, no hangups there.

The only issue I've encountered with it is that it doesn't properly recognize my video card so i got a sluggish performance rating off of it which also means i can't run the aero features. I will look around to see if i can find any drivers that will work with this beta version.

Even though i have this video care issue this release is definitely a movement in the rite direction. I think if they can build upon this they are going in the rite direction. Everything seemed to work smoother then my experiences with Vista. I also do like the way the icons appear in the bottom start menu.

I will post more information on my experiences as i have a chance to work with it more. I am also going to install a version off my laptop in a Sun Virtual Box to see how it works there.