microsoft

Did you pay for Windows? Are you absolutely sure? If your computer came with a copy of MS Windows, then you most likely paid for it (even if the store didn't tell you). In fact, the price for a Windows license these days amounts to an average of one ... fourth of each new computer's price. So unless you obtained Windows illegally, it's a safe bet you probably paid for it. ;-) And unfortunately, a license of Windows doesn't imply that you own the software; it's like the road system and your driver's license: you bought and paid for your license, but you don't own the highway. In a nutshell, you ... (view more)

Microsoft has taken a swing at Adobe by releasing a promotional video that compares Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 to Adobe Dreamweaver 8. The bold move is part of Microsoft's attempt to increase Visual Studio sales in the midst of a ... Dreamweaver-dominated market. The comparison between the two software applications is somewhat incongruent, however, since Visual Studio is an all-purpose integrated development application while Dreamweaver is primarily a design tool. (Source: microsoft-watch.com ) The comparison video, titled "101 Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Features Compared to Adobe ... (view more)

Viruses, Trojans, adware, and Spyware... MS Windows lets all these enter your computer easily. In a recent report I read, the average time before a Windows PC connected to the Internet (with Service Pack 2 installed) gets infected in about 40 ... minutes time (and as little as 30 seconds). And on top of that, adequate protection isn't always enough. Even with a firewall, antivirus, antiSpyware software, plus a more secure web browser and email client (such as Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird instead of Internet Explorer and MS Outlook), you'll still need to pray that pirates aren't smart enough to ... (view more)

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Microsoft have signed a non-exclusive memorandum of understanding that outlines the future partnership between the two organizations. The BBC recently released a statement asserting that the memorandum ... signals the intent of the two companies to determine similar interests, which can lead to the formation of a strategic alliance. (Source: betanews.com ) Although little details were provided at a press conference held on last Wednesday, BBC's Director General Mark Thompson indicated that the joint projects between the two companies involve creating ... (view more)

If you've ever seen a picture of Lord of the Rings and King Kong director Peter Jackson, you know that he's a big man with messy hair and a bushy, scruffy beard and mustache. It's kind of hard to picture someone of that description standing in the ... same room with Bill Gates: the essence of corporate tidiness. But in the business world, the only appearances that matter are the color of the cash being handed out, the size of the numbers on them, and how thick the wad is. Therefore, it's not too surprising that Jackson and Microsoft have come together in a Kong-sized deal to form a major video ... (view more)

The best things in life are free; getting something for nothing is like music to my ears. And now, Microsoft has found a way to make that expression literal. The industry giant has teamed up with Control Room (the company behind last year's Live 8 ... benefit concerts) to bring free live musical shows to the MSN web portal. The deal spans multiple years and includes 36 exclusive concerts. The performances will air live on MSN's 42 global websites and then they'll be available on-demand for a limited period of time thereafter. So, how is Microsoft able to provide these shows free of charge? The ... (view more)

Who hasn't sued Microsoft? A quick Google search reveals lawsuits over music downloads, Xbox 360 defects, Xbox Live, Xbox internet, and Excel. And that's just the first page! And now, you can add an alleged name infringement to the list. At the ... heart of the situation is Microsoft's new line of Forefront security products (previously released under the MS "Client Protection" brand). Dexter + Chaney, a Seattle-based software company, is claiming the rights to the Forefront name. "Construction companies throughout the United States know and respect the 'Forefront' name," Dexter + Chaney vice ... (view more)

Which tech war is currently the most heated? Is it the fierce battle between Sony and Microsoft over the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 respectively? Or is it the violent clash between the two new DVD formats, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD? A new development ... threatens to fuse both issues together, turning two raging firestorms into one giant explosion. Just recently, Microsoft announced its plans to introduce an HD-DVD add-on for the Xbox 360. This is obviously a direct response to Sony's PS3, which also doubles as a next-generation Blu-Ray DVD player, straight out of the box. Japan will get first crack at ... (view more)

In the tech world, conventional sentiment has always been that Mozilla's Firefox browser is safer and more secure than Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE). Now, antivirus and security company Symantec (Norton) is strongly challenging that notion. A ... recent study by Symantec indicates that 25 confirmed security holes were discovered in Firefox during the first half of 2005 -- "the most of any browser studied," according to the authors of the research. Out of those 25 security defects, 18 were identified as high-risk. Internet Explorer, on the other hand, contained 8 high-level security risks out ... (view more)

After months of unhappy gamers reporting problems with their beloved Xbox 360 consoles, Microsoft has finally acknowledged some defects and has taken a stride to remedy the situation. In a statement issued last Thursday, Microsoft is offering free ... repairs to anyone whose Xbox 360 was manufactured before January 1st, 2006 and will provide refunds to those who have already paid for repairs. Some reported problems include consoles that suddenly cease for no apparent reason, as well as systems that develop blank displays. (Source: mercurynews.com ) The following is an excerpt from Microsoft's ... (view more)