Microsoft cuts apps from Windows 7
Microsoft has decided that Windows 7 won’t include built-in programs for e-mail, photo editing, and movie making, as was done with Windows Vista, CNET News.com has learned.
The software maker included Windows Photo Gallery, Windows Mail, and Windows Movie Maker as part of Vista, but later chose to offer separate downloadable Windows Live programs that essentially replaced those components with versions that could connect to online services from Microsoft and others.
Microsoft told CNET News late Monday that it has decided to remove those features entirely from Windows 7 and instead offer only the service-connected Windows Live versions as optional free downloads. Earlier on Monday, Microsoft had declined to say how it was handling things.
In a follow-up interview on Monday, Windows Vista general manager Brian Hall said Microsoft made the decision to remove the tools from Windows for several reasons, including a desire to issue new operating system releases more quickly than it has in the past. The move also removes the confusion of offering and supporting two different programs that perform essentially similar functions.
Source: news.com
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Microsoft ICE (Image Composite Editor) Released (for FREE!)
Microsoft Image Composite Editor (ICE), released today is an advanced, stand alone version of the panoramic image stitching feature found in Windows Live Photo Gallery.
From the ICE web site:
"…shoot a set of overlapping photographs of a scene from a single location, and Image Composite Editor creates a high-resolution panorama incorporating all your images at full resolution. Then save your stitched panorama in a wide variety of formats,… like JPEG and TIFF to multi-resolution tiled formats like HD View and Silverlight Deep Zoom"
More info here: HDView Blog
Download: http://research.microsoft.com/ivm/ice.html
The Early Previews of Windows 7 Continues
This looks like the weekend for Windows 7 and the screenshots are out there to prove it. The first blog to present us with screenshots of Windows 7 M1 build earlier this year, THINKNEXT updates us with new AERO enabled previews showing the improved bundled applications in Windows 7 WordPad and Paint. I personally want to share my thoughts based on the screenshots I have seen so far.
Windows 7 looks a whole lot like Windows Vista, I can understand this looking at the fact that its probably not going to be a major upgrade as Vista or 2000 was. Building on the foundation of Vista it will provide a smooth transition for application/hardware developers and end users who have invested in Vista since its release in January 2007. Windows 7 M3 looks promising, why? Because of a cleaner approach I believe to the present experiences in Vista, AERO looks slicker, the Start menu is cleaner almost with a glossy look and feel that I am sure will please those who want a lighter Windows since most of today’s built in Windows apps will become a part of the Windows Live Wave 3 of services. The interface, is identical in many ways, Explorers feature a lighter more silver/bluish look that is similar to Windows Live Wave 3 set of apps. So, consistency seems to be an ongoing theme that will resonate throughout this release.
Source: adacosta.spaces.live.com
Live Searches Drop Below 1 Billion
August U.S. search share data shows ugly declines for Microsoft in 2008.
The month’s data, released today by ComScore, is but a snapshot of a longer trend. I went back to the historical data, which shows how big Google gains are compared to Microsoft losses.
Microsoft’s share of U.S. searches dropped 4 points, to 8.3 percent, between July 2007 and August 2008. During the same time period, Google gained 7 points, to 63 percent search share. For Microsoft, the heavier blow will be psychological. In August, its number of searches dropped below 1 billion, approaching the dregs occupied by Ask and AOL.
U.S. Internet users conducted 11.7 billion searches in August, 7.4 billion through Google. But, when including YouTube, Google searches top 10 billion.
The numbers should greatly disappoint Microsoft product managers, particularly considering how much improved Windows Live Search is. I now tend to use Live Search alongside—and sometimes instead of—Google. Live Search typically delivers different results and often better ones. But better often doesn’t win the market, otherwise DVDs would have replaced Betamax not VHS, and Netscape Communicator would have bested Internet Explorer 4 a decade ago.
Source- Microsoft Watch
Windows Live for Mobile Beta
Its Windows Live Betas time!
Among the various Betas avaliable there is also a new homepage for Windows Live for Mobile:
- New mobile homepage, which provides our users one place to go to get an overview of what is new in Windows Live for them, e.g. unread email, what’s new feed and ability to update personal message.
To access from your mobile device insert the following link: http://www.live.mobile.com
Source- MSMVP’s Blog
Microsoft Tears Down the Walls for a Better View
For the past two weeks, millions of people have watched the series of Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld television ads with the Windows logo at the end and wondered: “What’s next?”
Today, Microsoft answers that question with the next phase of a multi-year, multi-million dollar Windows marketing effort designed to reconnect with consumers. And tonight, the Bill-and-Jerry “teaser” ads give way to a new series of television ads that celebrate the diversity and passion of consumers around the world who use Windows to stay in touch with the people, information and ideas that they care about.
The new ads are just a part of this major Windows marketing initiative, all designed around connecting with consumers in meaningful ways throughout their Windows experience – whether buying a PC, using a Windows Mobile device, or living life on the Web.
“Windows is truly the shared language of creativity and connection for more than one billion people,” says Bill Veghte, Senior Vice President, Online Services & Windows Business Group. “It’s a vibrant community of individuals who are passionate about how Windows helps them express their ideas and live life on their own terms. Starting today, we want to reflect the passion and excitement of this community in how we tell the story of the Windows brand.”
Tearing Down Walls
Microsoft signaled the next phase of the Windows brand campaign with full-page newspaper ads carrying the headline: “Windows vs. Walls”. The copy in the ads lays out the driving philosophy behind the new Windows marketing approach. Veghte says: “At the core, Windows is about enabling each one of us, as individuals, to live our lives without walls … I want to work when I want to work, I want to play when I want to play. I want to communicate and share with friends and family and co-workers.”
The “Life without Walls” tagline brings another key facet of the Windows brand to life: Windows connects people not only via the PC, but also via phones, devices, and the Web. The Windows platform of Windows Vista, Windows Mobile, and Windows Live were built to work together and to expand the Windows experience beyond the PC to the phone and the Web. The campaign will reflect this holistic, connected approach.
“On our journey to make sure that Windows enables a life without walls, we’ve taken a step back, reevaluated and tuned and tweaked our approach. So you’re seeing that in the advertising, in the products, in the experience at retail and on Windows.com,” notes Veghte.
Source- Microsoft Press Release
Windows Live Calendar Beta: To Dos and more coming soon
Our team is about to release another great set of functionality to the Windows Live Calendar Beta service. Once again, the team has listened to feedback from our customers to deliver more cool stuff. We’re excited to get your feedback after we release. This update will include the following new functionality:
- To Dos: Now you can manage personal and shared task lists with our new To Do functionality.
- Design and Usability Enhancements: A lighter weight user interface allows your calendar data shine through. You now have the ability to select from a variety of themes to personalize the look of your calendars. We’ve added a unified header that integrates with the other Windows Live services. And, a fly-out footer now gives you additional vertical space to show your events.
- Support for the Calendar in the Windows Live Mail beta: This free desktop client allows you to manage your mail, calendar and contacts online or offline in an easy-to-use desktop client. Download Windows Live Mail beta and the rest of the new beta client solutions today: http://download.live.com!
More news coming in a few weeks about additional languages for a host of new markets!
Okay, back to work now. We’ve got even more cool stuff planned for the future. Stay tuned….
MSN Toolbar v3.0 available for download
The new MSN Toolbar brings you easy access to great MSN content, Live Search, Windows Live Mail and Messenger. The MSN Toolbar stays with you wherever you go online, keeps you up to date on breaking news, and lets you preview headlines without leaving the web page you are on.
You can also use handy search tools to find anything, and quickly get to your Windows Live Hotmail account. Get in the know and stay there with the MSN Toolbar.
Download Here: MSN Toolbar v3.0
