Windows Archive

Microsoft's Dr. Watson error-reporting tool will undergo a significant makeover in Longhorn, but changes in the way program crash data is collected and transmitted have raised eyebrows among privacy rights advocates. Also, the next version of Windows, code-named Longhorn, will feature support for RAW uncompressed digital camera images--which could change the way people view and edit photos.

"Every year or so I like to see how Microsoft is doing in its attempt to make a desktop operating system as usable as Linux. Microsoft Windows XP, Home Edition, with Service Pack 2, is a tremendous improvement over previous Windows versions when it comes to stability and appearance, but it still has many glitches that..." Read more at NewsForge.

Computers running Windows XP SP2 are 15 times less likely than those running XP or XP SP1 to be infected by some of the most dangerous forms of malware, according to a Microsoft security guru.

Windows Server 2003 R2 makes it easier and more cost effective to extend connectivity and control to identities, locations, data, and applications throughout and beyond your organization. Experience the difference yourself by downloading the Windows Server 2003 R2 trial software.

Microsoft's next game console - the Xbox 360 - will integrate with the companies Windows XP Media Center 2005 operating system. This feature will allow consumers to view HD video and utilize the new Xbox's power for local processing. Microsoft has stated that this integration will have much higher performance than the original Media Center Extender that was offered last year for the first-gen Xbox. You can read the story here.

The last time Microsoft made a major change to its operating systems architecture with the 32-bit release of Windows 95, it staged massive launches around the globe. For its most recent evolution, to 64-bit computing, the software giant adopted a more restrained approach.

As reported by C|Net Windows XP Starter Edition will only work on "Intel's Celeron chips, AMD's Duron or Geode chips, or processors from Via Technologies." If one tries to run it on a processor such as the Intel Pentium 4, the operating system will read the processor ID and stop functioning. This was done to prevent "Starter Edition from supplanting standard versions of Windows XP."

Every Windows Mobile–based device implements a set of security policies that determine whether an application is allowed to run and, if allowed, with what level of trust. To develop an application for a Windows Mobile–based device, you need to know what the security configuration of your device is. You also need to know how to sign your application with the appropriate certificate to allow the application to run (and to run with the needed level of trust).

When Microsoft chairman Bill Gates touts his company's next Windows operating system, code-named Longhorn, he can barely contain his enthusiasm, adding "it will be super to get that out in the hands of our customers." The big question is whether customers will share Gates' enthusiasm more than a year from now.

A trial version of Windows Server 2003 R2 is now available for download: "Windows Server 2003 R2 trial software is available to download for evaluation in both x64 and x86 versions. Both trial software versions require Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1). Installing the trial software for Windows Server 2003 R2 does not extend the time that you can use the trial version of Windows Server 2003 SP1."

Underlying Longhorn is the Windows Graphics Foundation, or WGF. The first version, prosaically dubbed "WGF 1.0" will incorporate DirectX 9.0c as its primary interface. Longhorn will also have the next-generation 3D API also built in at release. You can think of it as "Direct3D 10," but it's currently called WGF 2.0.

This document provides information regarding features that differ in functionality from Windows XP SP2. It is important to note that this document uses the Windows XP SP2 feature set as the baseline for comparison with Windows XP Professional x64 Edition. Features not documented here are at parity with Windows XP SP2 and function the same way.

So, with WinHEC coming to a close, the biggest talk was of course the newest release of Microsoft (R) Windows (R) Codename Longhorn, now at build 5048. With nearly one year since the previous release (build 4074) build 5048 sports some new features and lacks some others. Recently, the talk was centered around the lack of WinFS, the new futuristic Windows File system. However, we'll get to all that a little later.

Depending on how you apply them, roaming profiles can do anything from making your life easier to saving your bacon. If a user needs access from all over the building, roaming profiles are a convenience. If you have 50 users and only 10 computers, roaming profiles are an easy solution. If an entire department's computers die in the middle of a critical project, roaming profiles are a lifesaver.