Windows Archive

Vista’s Make Or Break Moment

Thom Holwerda 2006-05-22 Windows 45 Comments

It's the hour of reckoning for Windows Vista. After five years of course changes, false starts and a host of beta and CTP builds, Microsoft is set to deliver a broad-scale build of Vista to two million testers. Microsoft is likely to drop the build - known by multiple names, including the consumer Vista CTP and Vista Beta 2 - as early as the week of May 22 at the WinHEC in Seattle, according to company watchers. And on a related note, if you want the fancy Vista look on your XP machine, check out this transformation pack.

Submitted by jayson.knight 2006-05-21 Windows 15 Comments

"Shipping with Windows Vista will be the latest version of Internet Information Services (IIS), which includes a broad collection of features and capabilities that have been anxiously awaited by both developers and IT Pros. Scott Guthrie and Bill Staples describe and demo new features in IIS 7.0."

Windows Vista: Status Report

Submitted by Brad Wardell 2006-05-19 Windows 52 Comments

Brad Wardell writes us: "Windows Vista Beta 2 is nearly here and now seems as good a time as any to take a look at where things stand with Microsoft's next-generation operating system. As this article makes clear, Windows Vista has a lot of potential - it is a major upgrade. But it also has some major issues to overcome prior to release."

Microsoft Tells All on Vista’s Hardware Needs

Thom Holwerda 2006-05-18 Windows 70 Comments

As expected, the software giant on May 18 unveiled its Windows Vista Get Ready Web site, along with a set of minimum PC hardware guidelines for Vista Capable PCs - which call for at least an 800MHz processor, 512MB of RAM and a DirectX 9-capable graphics processor, but ask for more for those who seek to use all of Vista's features - and a Windows Upgrade Advisor application as part of a campaign to prepare people. on a related note, the WinFS team whetted the appetites of advocates of Microsoft's next-generation file system by sharing information on plans for a new, Microsoft-developed application for WinFS, code-named "Project Orange".

Bounty for Vista Coders Who Squish Bugs at Home

Submitted by Mica Schunarez 2006-05-15 Windows 55 Comments

A top Microsoft engineer has thrown out a weekend challenge to the Windows Vista team: find and fix a bug in the current code and earn US$100. The employee who installs the latest Vista build at home and squashes the most bugs before Monday will get an extra US$500. Brian Valentine issued the challenge Friday in an e-mail to members of the team working on Vista, the next update of the company's Windows operating system.

Microsoft Previews Windows CE 6 Operating System

Eugenia Loli 2006-05-09 Windows 30 Comments

Microsoft used the annual Mobile & Embedded DevCon to announce the availability of a beta release of Windows CE 6, the next generation of its real-time software used to build customized operating systems for devices such as internet protocol set-top-boxes, Global Positioning System-based devices, and industrial automation and medical devices. With a redesigned operating system kernel architecture, expanded capacity for simultaneous processes (up to 32000) and newly integrated tool set, Windows CE 6 promises help device makers more quickly create devices that support a range of applications for high-demand categories.

Report: Vista To Hit Anti-Spyware, Firewall Markets

Thom Holwerda 2006-05-08 Windows 44 Comments

"New security features in Windows Vista will largely eliminate the need to run separate antispyware or firewall software, according to a new analyst report. Due out early next year, the next major release of Microsoft's flagship operating system promises not only to increase security for consumers, it will also dramatically affect the $3.6 billion market for Windows security products, according to a Yankee Group report scheduled to be published Monday." That same report also claims that Vista's security measures will hurt in the enterprise sector, and it advises companies to stick with XP SP2 until 2008.

Windows Vista Build 5381.1 Released

Submitted by anonymous 2006-05-06 Windows 17 Comments

"Microsoft has officially released Windows Vista Build 5381.1 today on Microsoft Connect. Internal sources have confirmed that this is 'what will be' Beta 2 - in a couple more days at WinHEC 2006. What we are seeing right now with this build is a feature complete Beta without the performance guarantee. If you want to put it in terms of practical use, etc. this is Beta 2; it will be compiled and recompiled several more times, mini-glitches taken care of, size and speed optimized, and maybe a couple of minor things changed, but for all intents and purposes, those of us that have been dying for another beta ever since the first; it's here." Update: Err, an update.

RSA: Microsoft To Shelve Token Support in Vista

Submitted by Allen Nixon 2006-05-03 Windows 14 Comments

Microsoft has shelved plans to include built-in support for RSA Security's tokens in Windows Vista, even though the company has been testing out the authentication technology for almost two years. In February 2004, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said that Windows would be able to support easy integration with RSA's popular SecurID tokens. That meant businesses would find it far easier to deploy a two-factor authentication system for logging on to networks and applications. However, almost two years after the SecurID beta-testing program kicked off, RSA's chief executive, Art Coviello, disclosed that Windows Vista will not natively support the technology.

Gartner: Microsoft May Delay Windows Vista Again

Thom Holwerda 2006-05-02 Windows 81 Comments

Microsoft's long-awaited release of the upgrade to its flagship Windows operating system will likely be delayed again by at least three months, research group Gartner said on Tuesday. The research note, released to clients on Monday, said the new Windows Vista operating system is too complex to be able to meet Microsoft's targeted November release for volume licence customers and January launch for retail consumers. A Microsoft spokeswoman said the company disagreed with the Gartner report and it was still on track to meet its launch dates.

Monitoring and Optimizing Apps on Dual-Core and SMP Systems

Eugenia Loli 2006-05-01 Windows 27 Comments

Kurt Hudson explains tricks to optimize applications on multiprocessor computers, even if those applications were developed without such systems in mind.

BitLocker Gives Dual-Boot Systems the Elbow

Thom Holwerda 2006-04-27 Windows 41 Comments

Security features introduced in Windows Vista will make setting up PCs to boot in either Linux or Windows far more difficult, according to security guru Bruce Schneier. Vista is due to feature hardware-based encryption, called BitLocker Drive Encryption, which acts as a repository to protect sensitive data in the event of a PC being either lost or stolen. This encryption technology also has the effect of frustrating the exchange of data needed in a dual boot system.

Vista Firewall Shackled Due to Customer Demand

Submitted by george 2006-04-26 Windows 60 Comments

The firewall in Windows Vista will, by default, have half its protection turned off because that is what enterprise customers have requested, according to the software giant.

Microsoft Steps up Piracy Check

Submitted by Mel Bayers 2006-04-25 Windows 57 Comments

Starting Tuesday, the Microsoft will push out a test tool that checks whether the copy of Windows a PC is using is properly licensed. It will be sent to millions of people in the United States, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand.

Microsoft Details Vista’s Media Features

Thom Holwerda 2006-04-24 Windows 51 Comments

Microsoft on Monday detailed innovations coming in Windows Vista that the company believes makes the operating system superior in the delivery of multimedia. This would include several enhancements to Windows Media itself as well as expanded functionality within Windows Media Center, now standard in Vista. The company is promoting the new features of its upcoming operating system at the National Association of Broadcasters convention being held this week in Las Vegas. With online multimedia becoming more prevalent, traditional broadcasters are increasingly interesting in utilizing the Internet as a method for delivery.

Why I Am Indifferent About Vista

Thom Holwerda 2006-04-23 Windows 128 Comments

Vista is all the rage at the moment (and now even the Sunday Eve Column is about it). I don't think there's a single piece of beta software that has ever been discussed as much as Windows Vista. Obviously this makes sense, since Windows powers roughly 95% of the world's desktop computers; hence an update to that system will surely spark some heavy debates. Personally, I'm indifferent towards Vista. Read on for why.

Windows Vista Build 5365 Released

Submitted by anonymous 2006-04-22 Windows 45 Comments

"Microsoft Vista Build 5365 has been released. We are downloading it at the moment, screenshots will follow in our spanking new image gallery. This is a Vista-only release, i.e. no Longhorn Server attached, which is a shame. According to Microsoft, this is another 'refresher' build, with bug fixes rather than new features. We have been informed that regional fixes for IME, time zones, etc., have not yet been implemented; those will ship in all post-5370 builds." Microsoft released a FAQ alongside this build, get it in .doc or .pdf format.

Where Vista Fails

Eugenia Loli 2006-04-20 Windows 93 Comments

"I still remember the day very clearly. It was Monday, October 27, 2003. Several thousand developers - and, let's face it, quite a few garden variety Windows enthusiasts - charged into Hall A at the Los Angeles Convention Center like teenage girls at a Justin Timberlake concert, volleying for the best seats. I've been to more Bill Gates keynotes than I can count, and this was the first time I ever saw anyone climb over other people in order to secure a better view (no offense to Mr. Gates, but he's not exactly a dynamic speaker). It was PDC 2003 and everything was right with my world." Read more of the editorial here.

Vista: Expect a Premium Push (with Premium Prices)

Eugenia Loli 2006-04-18 Windows 24 Comments

Microsoft still isn't talking specifics regarding its Windows Vista pricing plans. But company watchers are predicting that Microsoft could reap big rewards from its planned premium edition push.

XP and Vista to Get New Media Player; Linux to Get WMV Support?

Submitted by Fran Matell 2006-04-18 Windows 41 Comments

While most people won't be able to get their hands on Vista until next year, consumers will be able to get some of the media enhancements sooner. Microsoft is on track to release a Windows XP version of Windows Media Player 11 before the end of June, the company confirmed last week.