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Vista

windows 7

User Account Control Will Be Less Maddening in Windows 7

Microsoft has realized having a feature specifically designed to annoy you is not so great for user happiness, so they're redesigning User Account Control in Windows 7 to be less horrible. Specifically, there will be fewer pop-ups (since there won't be as many dupes, like from IE) and when the red flag goes up, it'll actually tell you why it's stopping you, supposedly in English. More importantly, you'll have a greater range of control over when you get a UAC pop-up, rather than simply "on" or "off." If they do just half of that, it'll be way more tolerable. [Engineering Windows 7 via ZD Net]

vista

Steve Ballmer Says That Vista Capable Debacle Totally Not His Fault

Bailing on his court appearance in the class-action lawsuit over the fact that "Vista Capable" computers were utter pieces of crap packed with sucky chips that were "capable" of running Vista in only the thinnest, most literal interpretation of term, Steve Ballmer delivered a written deposition that excused himself of all responsibility.
"I was not involved in any of the operational decisions about the Windows Vista Capable program. I was not involved in establishing the requirements computers must satisfy to qualify for the Windows Vista Capable program."
More »

microsoft

Windows XP Gets Another Six Months to Live: Will Not Go Gently Into that Good Night

According to a leaked email from a PC OEM, Microsoft has officially extended the life of its now-beloved Windows XP, moving the date of planned obsolescence from January 31, 2009 all the way to July 31, 2009. In the wake of its very expensive ad campaign promoting (in a roundabout way) Vista, the move is a bit surprising. Essentially, Microsoft is trying to let users skip Vista completely, moving directly from XP to its forthcoming OS, Windows 7. The deadline for OEMs to include Windows XP recovery discs has been pushed back a couple of times already, and apparently some Microsoft hardware partners want it even further in the future than July. XP has become the Bill Clinton of OSs (stay with me here): yeah, it was great at the time, but it's showing its age and its enthusiasm for the new guy is sometimes suspect. Windows 3.11 in 2008! [The Register UK]

windows

Want Windows 7 Super Early? Get Your Conference Pants On

Who isn't ready for Windows 7? That wiser, stabler, more streamlined OS with Vista's good looks but an even prettier Start button and an alleged 15-second boot time? Heck, even Bill Gates is excited to get on to the next version. You can get your hands on a "pre-beta" version of Windows 7 by attending the Professional Developer Conference (PDC) in LA October 27 to 30, or the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC), also in LA shortly after, from November 5 to 7. Go get them, and then report back to us with some new info. [Vista Blog; screenshot from WinFuture.de]

truth

Vista Really Isn't This Crappy

Say what you will about Windows Vista, but we think it's a little outlandish to advertise the product on a toilet. In an unnamed Russian city, ads for Vista appear right on the porcelain reading, "Windows Vista - the digital future starts here.” We really hope it's an advertising agency's version of a prank. Otherwise, Microsoft appears to be after that "I pee standing up and often drink so much that I puke" demographic...which is probably pretty broad, honestly. [English Russia via CrunchGear]

windows ultimate

Tinker Game is the First Good Windows Vista Ultimate Extra

Tinker, a game available right now for free through the Windows Vista Ultimate Extras program, is probably the first Ultimate extra that people actually like. The previous couple—Sound Schemes and DreamScene moving wallpapers—were nice, but hardly worth the extra money people paid for the premium version of Vista. Download the 60-level obstacle course game right now from your automatic Windows Update. Here's hoping there are more Extras coming before Windows 7 hits.

clips

Two Tiny Tastes of Windows 7: Fancier Start Button and Nifty Calculator

Last weekend we caught a fleeting glimpse of the latest build of Windows 7. Today, the same source of those screenshots is gracing us with two brief videos. The first is just a very simple clip demonstrating Window 7's updated Start button glow animation. The second, listed after the jump, demonstrates the powerful new integrated calculator. More »

question of the day

Question of the Day: Can Advertising Really Help Make Microsoft "Hip?"

There is no doubt about it, Microsoft's "I'm a PC" ads are far better than those miserably bad Gates and Seinfeld spots. The newer ads try to dispel the stereotype of the Windows user as a glasses-wearing, buttoned-up super nerd by throwing popular actors, personalities, astronauts and everyday people into the mix. But I have to wonder—will any amount of money spent on advertising actually be effective in overcoming the stereotype, or is it too ingrained in your mind? More »

dealzmodo

Dealzmodo: Linksys DMA2100 Media Center Extender for $99

If you are looking for a super cheap way to stream content from your Media Center PC, it doesn't get much better than this $99 DMA2100 deal from Newegg. The cheapest we have been able to find it elsewhere is around $140—and that is still pretty good. The DMA2100 is not as flashy as the 2200 version, but it has all of the basic features you need to get started. [Newegg]

windows 7

Windows 7 Milestone 3 Previewed: Just Like Vista, But With Office 2007 Ribbon UI

Mary Jo Foley, who revealed that the first Windows 7 beta would drop in December and could still make its late 2009 release date, has seen the latest build of Windows 7, Milestone 3, which is just preview build away from becoming Beta 1. The verdict? Other than Office 2007's loved/hated Ribbon UI sprinkled throughout, showing up in WordPad and Paint, well, "The latest build seems quite stable... From what admittedly little I had a chance to see, Windows 7 does not look or feel like a major departure from Windows Vista." Update: Actual screenshot of Ribbonized Paint. More »