By early 2008, you will not be able to buy Windows XP on a new computer, your only choice will be Windows Vista. Microsoft is doing this because people are still buying XP on their new PCs. I imagine this is because the users want to avoid the compatibility issues and don’t see the benefits of learning something different.
XP works for them.
I haven’t upgraded to Vista yet, and I am waiting for most of the bugs to be worked out. XP does everything I need, is quick, stable, and problem-free.
Microsoft has released a Windows Media Player plugin for Firefox through its “Open Source Lab”. I imagine Microsoft’s Internet Explorer Team isn’t too happy about this, but it looks like this is just another part of Microsoft moving its focus to media from controlling the window to the Internet.
In any case, this should be useful for users of Windows Media Player that are so efficiency-obsessed that they need to control their music through their favorite web browser.
Several users of Microsoft’s OneCare are finding that the antivirus component is deleting entire folders of email.
What’s happening is that the program is finding a virus in an email attachment, and then it’s quarantining or even deleting the entire personal folder where non-Exchange Server user’s messages are kept.
Recovery is only possible if OneCare decides to quarantine the file.
If you’re using OneCare, it would be best to disable it until a patch comes out.
A fix will be included in the OneCare update set to be released on March 13.
Today is Microsoft’s ‘patch day’, and a big one at that. If you use Windows, you’ll probably want to run Windows Update to get them. Lot’s of big patches, several of the critical variety.
There were rumblings that Microsoft was going to release Internet Explorer 7 among these patches, but that does not seem to be the case.
It looks like every big firm that has anything to do with media is planning an entry into the online music distribution business. This time it looks like Best Buy is about to throw their hat into the ring.
ArsTechnica tells us that the service will be based on Real’s Rhapsody, and that one the major advantages Best Buy has going forward is that it is the largest consumer electronics store and the place where people already buy a lot of music. Competitors to Best Buy’s new service sell their wares at Best Buy already. Apple sells many of its iPods at Best Buy stores across the country, Microsoft is likely planning to sell many of its Zunes(?) there as well.
Zune is Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s seeming monopoly on all things audio. Like the iTunes and iPod combo, Microsoft’s Zune will offer audio playing hardware (iPod) and audio playing software (iTunes). One of the announcements that has generated a lot of buzz is that Microsoft will buy all of the songs for you that you have on iTunes.
The name Zune sounds a tad cheesy, but I’m sure I will get used to it just like I did for the XBOX 360 and Vista.
TechCrunch.com has a good question which Microsoft should ask itself: Will Microsoft take a position of true innovation or will it still be playing catchup - at the risk of feature overload.
Feature overload and unnecessary complexity should be avoided at all costs, the joy of Apple products is their simplicity. If they start using the direction they are moving towards with the latest Windows Media Player BETA, it will be great. Simplicity and power is the combination that Microsoft should strive for with Zune and with future endeavors.
Not the end of me personally, but the effective end of Windows ME and Windows 98 is almost upon us. July 11 is the last day that Microsoft will release patches for these operating systems, making the use of them quite a perilous path to choose. I recommend that you do one of the following: upgrade to Windows XP (for like $80), get a new computer, or disconnect from Internet all together.
