Microsoft COFEE, Some of the Most Illegal Software You Can Pirate

Apparently Microsoft's COFEE software that helps law enforcement grab data from password protected or encrypted sources is leaking all over the internet. So not only can you steal the software, but break the law by using it too. More »

Zune HD Update 4.3: Speedier Browser, Predictive Text and More

Zune HD users should be able to download the latest firmware update now, and it's substantial enough to warrant grabbing ASAP. There's a speedier browser, predictive text entry (a la iPhone), and that's just the beginning. Updated: More »

Microsoft Confirms Improved Xbox 360 Warranty Seal

In an email exchange earlier today, Microsoft indirectly admitted that Xbox 360s are receiving an updated tamper-resistant warranty sticker. From the company: More »

Microsoft Research Demos Magically Touch-Less, Transparent Glass Display

Microsoft's research division is doing tours across college campuses and rather than turning them into snoozefests they're showing off a prototype straight outta Iron Man fantasies. It's a clear glass display which accepts input through voice-control, touch-less gestures, and eye-tracking. More »

Remainders - Stuff We Didn't Post (and Why)

Windows 7 Sales 234% Higher Than Vista...Battery Juice No Longer Just an Expression, Still Not as Tasty as Orange Juice...Verizon Calls AT&T's Ad Lawsuit "Junk"...Air Filter Uses Plants to Get Rid of Yer Weed Smoke More »

New Xbox 360 Warranty Stickers Better Guarantee Chastity?

Apparently, Microsoft is slapping a new style of void-if-removed warranty stickers on Xbox 360s that are sent in for repair. Why? With no facts to back us up, we must call upon our favorite pastime: crazy-eyed speculation. More »

Official Microsoft Policy: If You a Buy a Used Xbox 360 That's Banned From Xbox Live, You're Just Screwed

Major Nelson, updating us on a periodic Xbox Live purge—banhammering cheaters, pirates and other folks of ill-repute, though not 12-year-olds—reminds us of Microsoft's official policy that if you buy a used Xbox 360 that's been banned, you're screwed. More »

Courier User Interface In Depth

Gestures: The basic finger gestures are exactly what you would expect. A one-finger tap-and-hold clips content, one-finger flicks scroll vertically and turn pages. Two-finger gestures open and close apps: Up or down opens an app, while a swipe offscreen closes it. Flicking toward the other screen with two fingers slides it across. Pinches come into play, for zooming out from the Journal to the Library. These gestures can and probably will change to some degree, possibly incorporating more fingers. More »

Windows 7 and Intel Chipset Causing iPhone Woes?

Users on Apple's discussion board have been experiencing issues with their PCs locking out iPhones when using Windows 7 with the Intel P55 USB chipset. It's a pretty specific combo that you're probably not running, so don't panic. More »

Stuff We Didn't Post Today (and Why)

Job Postings Reveal That Microsoft's Not Stopping At Windows 7...Carpool LED Signs Pretend That We All Get Along...Biodegradable Plastics To Be Made Out Of Green Gunk...I Don't Have Enough Fingers And Toes For Ideum's New Multitouch Table More »

More Giz Readers Own Macs Than PCs

Surprisingly, our our poll yesterday revealed that Mac owners were running neck and neck with PC owners, each commanding 41% of the vote. Although Mac owners have maintained an extremely slight edge over the last few hours in actual numbers. More »

DirectX 11 Now Available For Windows Vista

We didn't see much of a difference between DirectX 10.1 and 11, but if you're a Windows Vista user who did and has been waiting impatiently: be happy because DirectX 11 is now finally available through Windows Update. [DailyTech]

Do You Use a Mac Or a PC As Your Personal Home Computer?

Now that Windows 7 and Snow Leopard are both out in the wild, it is time, once again, to take stock of the state of home computing. That is to say, are you using a Mac or a PC? More »

Bad Promotional Idea of the Week

Jason is in Japan now, looking for Godzilla. He sent this video tonight. It seems that Microsoft thinks that putting a Windows 7 presentation booth in the middle of Akihabara station is a good idea. Dear Microsoft, More »

Microsoft Pulling The Plug On MSN Direct In 2012

While it's probably not the first casualty of the Google GPS navigation bombshell, the fact remains—Microsoft is pulling the plug on their MSN Direct service on January 1st, 2012. More »

Windows 7 Loads Faster Than 7000 Dominoes

Toppling 7000 dominoes to commemorate the launch of Windows 7 definitely riled up the employees at Microsoft's Hyderabad center in India, but they probably didn't think it through in terms of the jokes it might generate. [Ars Technica]

Stuff We Didn't Post Today (and Why)

Dudes Who Can See Future Say Windows 7 Will Help PC Sales...There's Peek With Twitter, Then There's Peek That ONLY Does Twitter...iPhone Breathing Down BlackBerry's Neck...Google Welcomes You to the Social, But the Google Social, Which Will Be Cooler, Seriously More »

Microsoft Fixes Windows 7 Student Edition Upgrade Problems

While most of you had a painless upgrade to Windows 7, some experienced problems with the downloadable Student Edition from Digital River. Microsoft acknowledged the problem, and has now come through with the ISO file you so desperately need. More »

Some of Your Windows 7 Upgrade Questions, Answered

Got questions about the more-mysterious-than-it-should-be Windows 7 upgrade process? Ed Bott has answers. For instance, the difference between full and upgrade versions of Windows 7. More »

Over 80% Of You Had a Smooth Windows 7 Install Experience

Given Microsoft's rocky past with installs, I expected a lot of negative responses to yesterday's question about your Windows 7 experience. However, over 80% of you encountered little or no problems with your install. More »

Hey Microsoft: We Need Aliases for Xbox Live Gamertags

I love Xbox Live, I really do. But man, how am I supposed to keep track of what usernames my friends are using? We need aliases, and we've needed them for a while. More »

Air Guitar Hero Lets You Shred Sans Plastic Guitars

Now this is cool. Using a standard electromyograph attached to the forearm, the geeks at Microsoft's Muscle-Computer Interface group set up Guitar Hero to react to the position and pressure of all five fingers. More »

Stuff We Didn't Post Today (and Why)

Apple Tablet? Microsoft Courier? Pshaw, I'll Take eviGroup...Like Peter Cetera, It's Hard for CNBC To Say "I'm Sorry"...Verizon to Apple: "Please Baby, Come Back, I'll Do Anything!"...Microsoft's Apple Store Copycatting Conspiracy Gets Creepier More »

Microsoft Pusses Out on Family Guy Special

Microsoft's involvement in the Windows 7 Family Guy hackathon is canceled. Family Guy's writing team pulled out one too many idea balls about incest, the Holocaust and feminine hygiene, making it "not a fit with the Windows brand." More »

Has Your Windows 7 Install Been a Great or Miserable Experience?

We love it, but there has been a lot of frustrated twitter chatter about the install experience for Windows 7, so it seemed like a good idea to ask—how has your install been going? More »

Every Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcut You'll Ever Need

Whether by force of tradition or out of respect for the keyboard-clinging power users out there, Windows 7 has more—and more useful—keyboard shortcuts than ever before. Like, enough that a definitive guide would be very, very useful. Oh! More »

Windows 7 Launches in Japan

I swear, Japan is just fucking with us at this point. [YouTube via SirAshcraft]

Oh God, Clippy Has Escaped to Meatspace

It looks like you're being clever. Would you like me to help you post that to the internet? [Reddit via The Daily What]

How to Upgrade to Windows 7 Retail from the Beta or Release Candidate

Hello, early adopter—your eyes might've glazed over during the Windows 7 launch because you've been on that train for months now. This is for you: how to upgrade that Windows 7 release candidate to a final version, easy. More »

Microsoft Acknowledges Problems With Windows 7 Student Edition Upgrades

If you've been eyeing the downloadable student edition upgrade of Windows 7 with that sweet, sweet $29 price, you might want to hold off. Microsoft has acknowledged that downloads from Digital River, the provider of student edition upgrades, are experiencing problems. More »