More DreamScenes For Vista Users
If you’re running Windows Vista Ultimate, then you know about Windows DreamScene, the feature in Vista which lets you set an animated background as your desktop wallpaper. I ran DreamScenes at first because they were something new to try, but after a while I returned to plain old wallpaper. The problem wasn’t that there was anything wrong with the DreamScenese themselves… it’s just that I get bored with my desktop and like to change the background frequently. After going through all the included Dreamscenes a few times, I switched back to wallpaper to keep it interesting.
However, during a recent visit to the deviantART website it occurred to me to search for DreamScenes there. I don’t know why I didn’t think to do this before! As it turned out, there were several new DreamScenes available for me to try, including this nifty glowing white Windows logo on a black background, which I’m running right now:
I also found a colorful variation on that theme here:
Some glowing cosmic lights:
A blue and yellow lit-up design:
And even a Leopard-esque light show:
These should keep me busy for at least a few more months!
Source- Channel 10 Blog
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Pirates prefer Windows XP over Vista, says Microsoft
Software counterfeiters pass on Windows Vista and instead prefer to pirate Windows XP, a Microsoft Corp. attorney said today, outlining a practice that tracks with the leanings of many of the company’s customers. While explaining the "Global Anti-Piracy Day" educational and enforcement effort Microsoft launched today, Bonnie MacNaughton, a senior attorney with the company, acknowledged that pirates prefer Windows XP over Vista.
"Historically, counterfeiters tend to focus on the ‘n-1′ version of software," MacNaughton said. "Because of the more robust antipiracy and security features in Vista, most sophisticated piracy rings still continue to focus on XP. But that’s changing over time."
That pirates have stuck with XP — which retains the bulk of the Windows operating system’s market share — is "very consistent with what we’ve seen in counterfeiting in the past," said MacNaughton. "There’s usually a lag of between one and two years [before they can] figure out how to replicate those antipiracy and security features." Counterfeiters currently copy Office 2003 rather than the newer Office 2007 for the same reasons, she said.
source: ComputerWorld
Microsoft sends Vista SP2 invites - beta release in 4 weeks
Microsoft has started sending Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 invites to select testers today.
Earlier this week it was revealed the company will release SP2 before Windows 7. Microsoft recently put a placeholder online for the upcoming betas of Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2.
Microsoft will include Windows Search 4 in Vista SP2 along with Bluetooth wireless support (including latest BT 2.1 fixes), support for the new VIA 64-bit CPU and additional application compatibility updates.
For Windows Server 2008 SP2, Microsoft will include Backwards compatibility with Terminal Services licensing keys, improved manageability features with DFS/FRS console, and Storage Resource Manager, print server and spooler performance improvements for printers in Windows Vista and Server 2008 and improved error reporting in DFSR to help identify incorrectly configured deployments which lead to failed replication.
Both builds are "anticipated" to be released within the next four weeks.
Source- Neowin
Windows 7 officially named as ‘Windows 7’
In a few weeks we are going to be talking about the details of this release at the PDC and at WinHEC. We will be sharing a pre-beta "developer only release" with attendees of both shows and giving them the first broad in-depth look at what we’ve been up to. I can’t wait for them to see it.
And, as you probably know, since we began development of the next version of the Windows client operating system we have been referring to it by a codename, "Windows 7." But now is a good time to announce that we’ve decided to officially call the next version of Windows, "Windows 7."
While I know there have been a few cases at Microsoft when the codename of a product was used for the final release, I am pretty sure that this is a first for Windows. You might wonder about the decision.
The decision to use the name Windows 7 is about simplicity. Over the years, we have taken different approaches to naming Windows. We’ve used version numbers like Windows 3.11, or dates like Windows 98, or "aspirational" monikers like Windows XP or Windows Vista. And since we do not ship new versions of Windows every year, using a date did not make sense. Likewise, coming up with an all-new "aspirational" name does not do justice to what we are trying to achieve, which is to stay firmly rooted in our aspirations for Windows Vista, while evolving and refining the substantial investments in platform technology in Windows Vista into the next generation of Windows.
Simply put, this is the seventh release of Windows, so therefore "Windows 7" just makes sense.
We are very excited about the opportunity to tell you more about Windows 7 in the coming weeks, and show you how we have continued to build on investments begun in Windows Vista to deliver on the next release of the Windows operating system.
Source- WindowsVistaBlog
Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server SP2 is coming….
Information about Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2
Article ID:948465
Last Review:October 2, 2008
Revision:2.1
Beta Information
This article discusses a beta release of a Microsoft product. The information in this article is provided as-is and is subject to change without notice.
No formal product support is available from Microsoft for this beta product. For information about how to obtain support for a beta release, see the documentation that is included with the beta product files, or check the Web location where you downloaded the release.
INTRODUCTION
This Microsoft Knowledge Base article will be updated with more information about Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) when the information becomes available. Currently, the product release notes and related information about Windows Server 2008 SP2 and Windows Vista SP2 are not available.
Microsoft help and support center-http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;948465
New Windows Site in the UK
The project that has been keeping me very busy recently has been the launch of the Windows site in the UK which we rolled out in conjunction with the UK version of I’m a PC campaign, which you will have spotted if you watch the X Factor on Saturday.
So you will notice our new homepage http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/
as well as a totally redesign web site of all the Windows content such as our Windows Vista pages, to be in line with the corporate Windows site I blogged about a while back
Over the next few days I plan to share and highlight some of the new content and features, but for now if you want to see relive the UK advert watch the video below:
Source- MSDN Blog
Microsoft HealthVault Connection Center Beta 2 for Windows Vista
HealthVault Connection Center 2.0 provides quick and easy upload of device data to HealthVault and helps you use the data with Web sites and applications that work with HealthVault. This most current release includes:
- A simpler, more engaging user interface
- Guided setup to find and install compatible devices
- Ability to select multiple records for upload (for multi-user devices)
- Ability to set upload preferences for each device you use
- Improved support to prevent upload of duplicate data
We encourage you to get the most from your personal health or fitness devices by upgrading to this release. To check which version you have on your computer, simply click Help and then click About.
About HealthVault Connection Center
You can use the free HealthVault Connection Center software to upload data to HealthVault from health and fitness devices (such as blood pressure monitors, pedometers, glucometers and many others) and Gadgets for Windows Sidebar. HealthVault Connection Center connects your device, your computer and your HealthVault record to manage the upload process for you.
Microsoft will soon release ‘Windows Cloud’ OS
Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer revealed a few details on Wednesday of a forthcoming operating system that will help developers write Internet-based applications.
Within a month, Microsoft will unveil what Ballmer called "Windows Cloud." The operating system, which will likely have a different name, is intended for developers writing cloud-computing applications, said Ballmer, who spoke to an auditorium of IT managers at a Microsoft-sponsored conference in London.
Ballmer was short on details, saying more information would spoil the announcement. Windows Cloud is a separate project from Windows 7, the operating system that Microsoft is developing to succeed Windows Vista.
Source- Computerworld
