Posts Tagged Microsoft

Microsoft admits scanning your computer?

Posted by Erixun in security on October 14, 2010

According to a post by PC Pro UK, Microsoft admits to scanning system files of Microsoft Windows users during Software Updates.

The article is specifically about the botnet infection rise, but Microsoft apparently discloses that the way they can gather these stats is by scanning the files of users computers looking for specific infections before applying updates and fixes.

While I am a fan of server based updates and mass security patches to tackle the surge of malicious software, being a staunch privacy advocate I believe Microsoft should acknowledge exactly what they do during this procedure and even offer users the choice to just receive mandated patches rather than a full remote scan.

Personal privacy is now beginning to fall back into the hands of users who are forced to look for third-party solutions to keep their private data out of reach from the OS provider. Regardless of what fancy tools Microsoft will integrate into its OS’ to help a user manage and store data, if we don’t know exactly what Microsoft looks at remotely we must use additional tools such as remote file storage and encryption utilities to keep our data for our eyes only.

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  • BLOGFORMWindows Vista Beta notes... What follows are some notes that I've taken on the Vista beta that I installed into a VM. I've got a lot of toying around yet to do with it (and at least one Internet Explorer bug I want to mention.) But... I'll go ahead and post this. [warning -......
  • BLOGFORMwebOS 1.4.5 Now Available For Sprint Palm Pre and Palm Pixi Users Last week, Palm finally released the webOS 1.4.5 update for the Sprint Palm Pre and Palm Pixi. While the latest OS upgrade is available in Europe since last month, there's still no news as to when Palm plans to release the webOS 1.4.5 update for Verizon and AT&T customers. If you......
  • nationalunion3 Reasons to Use Coin Software with Your Collection Just like every other industry, the coin collecting industry has gone high tech. You can buy and sell coins online. You can also use software to grade and keep track of the value of your collection. There are those out there who are resistant to these changes. They prefer the......

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Microsoft hedging mobile OS bet

Posted by Erixun in Microsoft on September 23, 2010

A report by pcPRO indicates Microsoft is pulling out all the stops on its upcoming launch of Windows Mobile 7.

According to Microsoft, Orange, O2, Vodafone, T-Mobile and Three will all be selling phones running Phone 7 and handsets will also be available through independent retailers The Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4u.

Does this mean they have a chance in regaining some of their former stature as a leader in mobile operating systems? I remember the day when Windows Mobile was the only OS worth having on a PDA or smartphone (besides Palm in the US).

By this news I give them a fighting chance. If the hardware is as slick as it should be and Windows Phone 7 is as ‘wow’ as they say it is, then we’re in for a heated up mobile market war.

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  • Smart phones with Steve JobsWarning: Millions Of People Are Using Them Are You? Everyone is doing it are you? If you haven't noticed just about everyone has jumped on the smart phones bandwagon. Did you know that you could install a plugin that will detect if someone is using a cell phone to access your site? What is really cool is you......
  • BLOGFORMInvest in What You Know? (Part 1) Recently a company emailed me to tell me about their product. The product re-introduced me to the idea of investing in what you know. Peter Lynch, of Fidelity fame, may be the biggest proponent, and Warren Buffett, may be the best known. When those two minds agree on any piece......
  • BLOGFORMHow To Design Your Mobile Website The Right Way With the introduction of smart phones like the iPhone, mobile phones have made a change for the better in the last several years. The mobile market has grown by leaps and bounds due to this change, which has increased the number of people accessing the Internet from their cell phones.......

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Microsofts 3 year plan to turn a table into a slate

Posted by Erixun in Future Tech on September 14, 2010

While the video is a parody, Microsoft indeed pulled off a long term project called the surface a couple years ago. While Apple has been striving to go smaller and slimmer, Microsoft made a table.

Now, according to Globe and Mail, Microsoft has unveiled a new 3 year plan to make the Surface as thin as a slate of glass. Well its about time. I hope they minimize the cost as well.

Microsoft promised the Courier in 3 years before finally canning it all together, lets see if the Surface (minus the table) can actually make an apperance. With the rate of technology advances, maybe they should be declaring holographic displays in 3 years or something a bit more hi-tech. A thin multi-touch display is not next-gen tech and can be made now methinks.

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  • planningHow to Set New Financial Goals No matter how old you are, or how much money you have in the bank, it is never too late to start setting new financial goals. A big part of successfully saving money and making more money is the formation of goals, keeping track of your progress and finding that......
  • BLOGFORMHow to make the new year a better year. This is another piece of note on how to make the new year a better year. Personally I don't sing 'new year, new resolution' song, may be simply because the impression people have for such an undertaking is that so soon after a new year, larger percentage of individuals who......
  • rogerfedererTennis Preview: Roger Federer withdraws from Japan Open and the Shanghai Masters In what is perhaps a shocking move to some, and not shocking at all to others, Roger Federer has announced that he is pulling out of the Japan Open and the Shanghai Masters. Roger Federer recently withdrew himself from both the Japan Open as well as the Shanghai ATP Masters......

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Kinect: Looks like fun but will it deliver?

Posted by Erixun in games on August 11, 2010

Kinect is available to pre-order now.
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/wheretobuy/ While this a step in the right direction, there is too much promised that can not be delivered to make it actually usable. Give it some time and then there will be plenty of 3rd party developers to over an array of software and game titles but for bleeding edge tech fans, this cash might be better spent (150 bucks from Amazon) on new titles using plain old controllers. While we saw the controller crashing screen fiasco of the Wii there will have to be some disclaimers in place to combat the folks trying to turn in demolished screens due to players hurtling themselves to save a ball, or jump a crevasse (not to mention the hospital insurance claims). As more compatible titles come out (particularly arcade fighters and FPSs) I can see myself adding this to the jumbling mass of hardware adorning my living room. If anyone sees a shooter demo video anywhere, I would love to see how that would work. Of course, there is plenty to poke fun at with this kinect concept (or koncipt??) HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE Related Websites
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  • BLOGFORMBuzz On Your Own Together With Haunted Residence Adobe Flash Video Games Maybe you have experimented with your odds with actively playing an activity that's really scary and you will feel goose protrusions right on top of your skin layer? Imagine obtaining caught on the highway without having everywhere to go back to but a classic weird-looking residence which radiates bad. Haunted......
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Split/Second Velocity: Awesome

Posted by Erixun in games on August 10, 2010

This game is just off the hook, and hard to believe its Disney. Smushing your racing buddies with a building is a little violent when you think of it. From playing the typical racing games (Paradise City, Need for Speed, Redline etc..) this takes things to a whole new level. I got the Xbox 360 version. The handling is a lot less responsive than most other games, but maybe I just need to keep playing and Ill get some unlocks or upgrades. The graphics are incredible and the gameplay is riveting. This is the best car racing game yet. HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE Related Websites

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Xbox Live: So close but fail!

Posted by Erixun in games on August 9, 2010

You can’t change the country associated with your xbox live account! EVER!
I had heard this drab ballad before but always reserved the notion that I am just a bit smarter than the rest of the xbox throngs and can figure it out when the time comes. The time came yesterday and what do you know… it can’t be done. At least by todays xbox online system. The field is static and gray while all the others can be modified. This little nuisance becomes a mountain of bugger when it comes time to update CC details to make payments. Many issuing banks are picky about matching billing/shipping addresses and when your xbox account is one country and your new CC address is another…. no dice! I guess Microsoft does not want our money bad enough to figure out a way around this. A post from erzz.com gives the following insight:

More research revealed that I am not the only one. Plenty of people in Europe move from country to country, that’s what happens when you share landmass! Many before me it seems have gone through the same problems, and been told by Microsoft support that it is simply not possible to change your country. Ridiculous!

Regardless, the only path I have to walk it seams is to open a new account altogether in the new country. But that means all my achievements and game saves will be toast. Wow! There goes about 500 hours of my life down the toilet. Thanks Microsoft for keeping me on my toes. HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE Related Websites
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Windows Phone 7 sneaks onto tablets

Posted by Erixun in Microsoft on August 5, 2010

UK based UI Centric has shown off its swanky new ‘Macallan’ tablet OS. Its a souped up version of Windows phone 7 and sports some page turning eye candy… literally! It is rumored to be out in the wild by the end of the year. HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE Related Websites
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  • Someone loves Windows 7Windows 7 Sales Spike to Overtake Mac OS X [/caption]Proving there is no accounting for taste Microsoft’s latest attempt at a decent operating system, Windows 7, is now running on 5% of the computers online.  The daily average of online users as measured by Internet metrics company Net Applications showed that an increase last week put Windows 7 above......
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Microsoft caught me in the act

Posted by Erixun in Microsoft on July 19, 2010

Warning: Vistalizator for Windows flags your license as non-genuine
(image from twoguys.org) In my previous post Vistalizator: No more Babel for Windows 7, I outlined my scenario: I was in a European country and needing a copy of Windows 7 so I picked up Windows 7 Basic. Upon install startup, its in Hungeldovian. Guessing the setup options I make it into its first boot and find out I must buy the Premium version to switch to English (or buy Basic in an English speaking country). Bummer! After some searching I find Vistalizator which uses real Microsoft language packs to change the OS menu language. I install it, it works like a champ. Today, I bootcamp into Windows 7 to play some Modern Warfare and lo and behold a window pops up saying there is something wrong with my installation. I click “resolve online” (why shouldn’t I, its a real version of Windows) and I am told my installation is faulty and my system is now marked non-genuine and no more security updates. After some digging, I find Vistalizator to be the culprit. Microsoft is stepping up its game to find not only pirated versions but now installations that are not purchased in the confines of its set of rules. I know what the diehards will tell me “Dude, you have to buy the software from the country you live in…. thats just common sense…”. I guess you have to speak the local language fluently also… Time to crack open the Hungeldovian phrase book or consider spending another 100+ bucks to play Modern Warfare (after I have already spent close to 200 on game plus W7 Basic). Not to be a stupid iSheep, but for 50 bucks the standard (only 1 version) OSX allows you to use any language you like (within the list of top @100 languages in the world). Why is it so hard for Microsoft to understand, the world is still very diverse and many people speak many different languages but more important many people feel most comfortable in other languages besides the dominant language of the store where they bought their Windows. Maybe Microsoft is slightly racist in its policies “Learn to read, write, speak the language of the country you live in (or buy our software in) fluently or don’t buy our software at all!”. This just encourages piracy in my opinion. And why is it that a majority of Americans can’t even speak a second language passively yet Windows is not available in English (except the premium version) outside the US or as a part of any foreign language version). I guess I get it…. buy the Premium version and stop whining. HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE Related Websites
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  • BLOGFORMMicrosoft announces partners for app store Microsoft Corp has signed up multiple software partners for its upcoming cellphone software marketplace, including Web music service Pandora, game publisher Electronic Arts Inc and social site Facebook. The software company said on Tuesday it plans to discuss those partnerships and conduct demonstrations of the software store -- set to......
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Windows 8 feature leak?

Posted by Erixun in Microsoft on July 1, 2010

(image from PCPro UK. Image clearly says Microsoft Confidential, so will post here until asked not to) According to some leaked documents obtained by Italian Windows-watching blog and posted by PCPro UK, Microsoft ant s to start emulating Apple with easier GUI’s, faster start times and more tablet friendly software. While the source and validity of the documents are not confirmed nor corroborated, they seam to confirm what most industry analysts are predicting. If Microsoft want to stay competitive, they must change and adapt to the users of their software. HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE Related Websites
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Microsoft doling out denaro

Posted by Erixun in Microsoft on June 14, 2010

In a bid to augment the new Windows Phone OS, Microsoft has reportedly offered cash money to game developers to port the games to the WinPho platform. The difference in OS environment and hardware support is substantial enough that developers say porting their games is more like rewriting the code. While there have been some reports of turn-downs, the market should be attractive enough for some developers to take the cash handouts in conjunction with future sales of their games and go ahead and release the ports. Original story from engadget. HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE Related Websites
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