Posts Tagged ‘Microsoft Windows Vista’
Microsoft Dubs iPhone 4 as Apple Windows Vista
No doubt busy with Windows Phone 7, its new mobile OS set for launch at the end of the year, Microsoft has kept pretty quiet about iPhone 4. However, it seems one Microsoft executive couldn’t resist making just one smug remark about Apple’s latest iPhone.
Speaking at the company’s Worldwide Partner Conference, COO Kevin Turner compared the iPhone 4 to the not-so-popular Windows Vista and told audience members not to worry about iPhone 4-esque issues happening with Windows Phone 7.
“One of the things I want to make sure you know today is that you’re going to be able to use a Windows Phone 7 and not have to worry about how you’re holding it to make a phone call,” he is quoted as saying. He later added, “It looks like the iPhone 4 might be their Vista, and I’m okay with that.”
Turner seemed confident that Windows Phone 7 could take on the iPhone and do some damage to its position in the smartphone market.
How Good is Microsoft Free Antivirus Software
Microsoft has officially unveiled its long-awaited consumer antivirus offering. Formerly code-named “Morro,” it’s now been christened Microsoft Security Essentials, and it will enter public beta testing next week. If you have a licensed copy of Windows XP (Service Pack 2 or above), Windows Vista, or Windows 7, you’ll be able to download and install the software at no additional charge. No subscription is required for ongoing definition updates, either. The final release is scheduled for this fall.
The public beta will be limited to 75,000 downloads, Microsoft says, and the targets are global. The initial beta release is limited to the United States, Israel (where a core development team is based), and Brazil. Next month, the beta will open up for users in China. It’s no coincidence that Microsoft is rolling out early in Brazil and China, which are large-scale vectors of malware infections because of the sheer number of Windows users running without antivirus protection. According to Microsoft, barriers to adoption of paid security software are especially high in developing markets, where internet access is slower and credit cards are unavailable to a large percentage of the population.
Over the past few days I’ve been testing recent builds of Microsoft Security Essentials on two machines, one running a 32-bit edition of Windows Vista, the other running a 64-bit copy of the Windows 7 release candidate. The software I describe in this post is a more recent build than the current beta that has been floating around back channels on the Internet.
Dell Announces Latitude XT2 Laptop
Dell Latitude XT2 it just feels good. The rugged metal-alloy casing gives it a solid, substantial frame. Pick it up, and the 13.3-inch machine is deceptively light (3.8 pounds). Put all of that together, and you seem to have a premium choice for mobility-minded businessfolk in need of a tablet PC. It has style in spades and a host of great features.
The Dell Latitude XT2 has a very professional, business-like appearance with sharp lines and edges, all dark-grey design, and even exposed screws. This notebook is definitely not targeted towards those looking for the next designer notebook. Instead, it is aimed squarely at those who just want to get down to business. The brushed metal surfaces are actually specially painted covers that give the look of metal but with the ease of maintenance that paint gives. The finish resists smudges and is much easier to wipe clean than most brushed metal exteriors. If it was painted matte black and had a Lenovo logo printed on it, you would swear it was a ThinkPad.
The machine translation is pretty weak, but Dell 12.1-inch (1,280 x 800 pixel) Latitude XT2 looks to have just made its first tentative steps in a global launch. The video posted after the break comes courtesy of Korean site, AVING, where the convertible tablet was apparently just released. Pinch to zoom and two-fingers swipes. yup, it is in there. 11-hours of battery (6-cell plus battery slice) and DDR3 memory (max of 5GB!) too in a chassis just 2.5-cm (0.98-inches) thick. Click through for the video while we track down the official specifications that already seem to be aligning with the unofficial specs leaked earlier.
Dell Latitude XT2 Specifications:
* Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400 1.4GHz (800MHz FSB, 3MB L2 Cache)
* Microsoft Windows Vista Business (32-bit)
* 12.1inch Premium WXGA (1280 x 800) LED-Backlight Display with Multi-touch
* Intel X4500MHD Integrated Graphics
* 3GB DDR3 1066MHz RAM (2GB + 1GB)
* 120GB Toshiba 1.8inch 5400RPM HDD
* 8X CD / DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive) through docking station
* Intel 5100AGN WiFi, Bluetooth, and 1Gb Ethernet
* 6-Cell 42WHr Battery
* Limited 3-year standard parts and labor warranty with on-site service
* Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.7 x 1.1inch
* Weight: 3lbs 13.6oz
Microsoft Extends Windows XP Downgrade to 2020
While the consumer and enthusiast are now happily moving to Windows 7, businesses are still chugging along on Windows XP. This would present a problem for businesses buying and installing new computers in the workplace if not for the Windows XP downgrade program available to OEM Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate SKUs.
Originally, these downgrade rights were to disappear once Microsoft ships the first Service Pack in 2011, but upon the release of the SP1 beta, Microsoft announced that it would extend the XP downgrade period through to January 2020 for the Professional and January 2015 for the Ultimate edition (dates according to Computerworld).
“This will help maintain consistency for downgrade rights throughout the Windows 7 lifecycle,” wrote Microsoft spokesman Brandon LeBlanc, in an entry on the company blog. “As a result, the OEM versions of Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate will continue to include downgrade rights to the similar versions of Windows Vista or Windows XP Professional. Going forward, businesses can continue to purchase new PCs and utilize end user downgrade rights to Windows XP or Windows Vista until they are ready to use Windows 7. Enabling such rights throughout the Windows 7 lifecycle will make it easier for customers as they plan deployments to Windows 7.”
Microsoft made this change to help ease confusion for businesses getting new PCs but aren’t able to make the switch just yet. With the extension of the downgrade rights, Microsoft will still be able to sell a Windows license and businesses can still run Windows XP.