Zune HD is now official

After long of unintentional and intentional leaks, Microsoft finally came clean of its newest entertainment mobile device that's made to directly compete with Apple's ever popular iPod: the Zune HD. There's no drum beat or even the sound of breath-holding (that silence moment before the the velvet curtain opened) for the announcement, since we pretty much already knew it is coming.

Nevertheless, it's worth the news coverage because Microsoft apparently has packed in some serious specs inside the Zune HD. The most notable and worth mentioning is none other than NVIDIA's Tegra chip ultralow-power HD processor, which is why the Zune HD is capable of HD video playback to an HDTV in 720p resolution! A Monsterous beast...

The other specs and features include:

• Built-in HD Radio™ receiver. Allows you to listen to higher-quality sound than is available from traditional radio channels, as well as access additional programming through HD2 and HD3 multicast channels from many of your favorite local FM radio stations at no extra cost.
• HD video output capabilities. Supports HD video playback from the device through a premium HDMI A/V docking station (sold separately) directly to an HDTV in 720p, making it easy to enjoy better-than-DVD-quality video on your own big screen at home.
• OLED touch screen. Allows you to easily flip through music, movies and other content. The 3.3-inch glass screen and 16:9 widescreen format display (480x272 resolution) offer a premium viewing experience.
• Built-in Wi-Fi. Allows for browsing, streaming or downloading new music from Zune Marketplace.
• Internet browser. Full-screen Web browsing, optimized for the multitouch screen with zoom-in and zoom-out gestures.
• Accessories, at home and on the road. Zune HD and AV Dock charges and syncs players while playing supported 720p HD videos on HDTVs. Play HD Radio, music and podcasts from your Zune HD device through your car stereo using the Zune Premium Car Pack.

The Zune HD is set to hit store shelves on Sept. 15, available in 16GB ($ $219.99) and 32GB ($289.99) capacities. Pre-order starts on-line on Thursday, Aug. 13 but only for Zune HD in 16GB Black and 32GB Platinum. Afterwards, on Sept. 15 both 16GB and 32GB capacities of Zune HD will be available in five different colors with the option to customize your player with one of 10 new engravings designed by guest artists.

Have you started drooling and feeling confuse on which one you should get between Zune HD or iPod Touch? Then perhaps you can see the obvious differences with the help of below comparison chart of the two entertainment devices, courtesy of PC World.

Microsoft’s new ad hits Mac’s weak spot

So, this is where Microsoft Steve Ballmer was heading when he said Apple users are paying $500 extra for a fruit logo on their machine.

You must’ve at least seen the new ‘anti-Mac’ ad from Microsoft, either you saw it on tv or from YouTube. It is mostly the talked about topic even as I’m writing this blog, which has stirred up so many buzz around the net, especially at Apple camps all over the blogosphere. Steve Ballmer must be full of himself at this moment. ~LOL~

After a couple of confusing ads starring Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and comedian Jerry Seinfeld, the $300 million worth campaign to rehabilitate the Windows brand started as a huge failure. But the motion began to kick in when Microsoft used average-common people to celebrities in the “I’m a PC” ads, from a 4-year-old cutie named Kylie to self-help guru Deepak Chopra. And this new ad is also starring an ordinary but real person, not to mention a cute gal: Lauren.

But before I continue discussing about the ad, surely you noticed that I deliberately wrote "Microsoft's ad” at the title above, instead of "Windows ad." The reason is quite simple, that's because like the aforementioned new ad's title itself which says: "Laptop Hunter $1000," it is actually talking about getting a laptop priced under $1000. And it's not talking about buying a Windows-based laptop or a Mac OS-powered laptop, but it is focusing on the hardware. I’ll explain later, just bear a little with me for awhile.

Let’s get to know a bit about the star of the ad first and what’s it all about, alrite? Lauren, is a red-haired recent college grad who become an office manager and actress. But perhaps the most honest description of her is like what Engadget said: Lauren's a little funky, a little folksy… She was looking for a speedy laptop with a 17-inch screen and a "comfortable" keyboard, all for less than $1,000. At first she made a stop at an Apple Store, the scene quickly jumps to her getting back in the car empty-handed and explains that the only laptop in her price range only has a 13-inch screen.

Then Lauren says: "I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person."

She ends up at Best Buy, buying a 17-inch Hp Pavilion Windows-based notebook for $699 with a smile on her face. But she was even more ecstatic when the camera crew told her she’ll be a star in a Microsoft’s ad. Microsoft said there was "screaming, yelling, jumping up and down, high fives, thumbs up."

Microsoft says they picked up 10 people who answered a call for volunteers on Craigslist and other websites, accompanied with a camera crew and budgets ranging from $700 to $2,000, the volunteers will be allowed to keep the laptop that fit in their criteria. And if Lauren’s story is not shocking for you, then how about this: while some of the volunteers might have been able to find an Apple computer that fit the budget, Microsoft said none of them picked a Mac!

After the ad aired and the news about it spread on the net, the mouth brawls broke out almost at every article or blog posts that cover the ad. They all come down to an old battle between Apple fans and Windows loyalists, where both of them defending their honor from each other’s attack. It is a bloody pit of bad mouthful arguments, it is ugly, and it is endless. You get the idea.

But poor Lauren, at the end of the day she also became a target of those awful commenters. Like this one who posted at Gizmodo: "I don't care if that broke b*tch can't afford a Mac. I would love to see a study where you give a couple people $2500 and see which laptop they buy." That may be right, if someone has more money to spend then a Mac could be on the top of the list, it would be the contrary if you’re broke. Although at the same time admits that a Mac is indeed pricier than a PC, and that is Mac’s weak spot against PC.

Other than that, I need not to say more. Apple users can argue with plenty of reason on why a Mac costs more than a PC, like many additional user-friendly features offered in every Mac OS X which make users able to run it about 10 minutes after came out of the box. And a Mac is still considered safer than Windows because there simply isn't much malware out there thus the odds of something targeting it is so low, even though if an attacker cared to target them it would be easier for them; as said by Charlie Miller the security expert who took over a MacBook through Safari in 10 seconds at the Pwn2Own hacking competition.

If we’re to put the experience from using a Mac into the math, then it won’t take 10 hours, or 10 days or even 10 minutes for a typical geek to choose the more friendly system: the Mac. Windows Vista is not attracting much of success like XP does, Microsoft know this and waited for the Windows 7 before starts taking the OS battle head-to-head with Mac OS X. Speaking of user experience on Windows, I happened to had another system failure of Windows XP running on a new HDD. Yup, I’m a PC, but even now I begin to think about switching to Mac… ;-p

Ingenously, Microsoft tries to avoid mentioning about the Mac OS in the new ad and concentrate the price compared with the same specifications of the hardware. Like I said before above, the ad is not talking about the OS. But even so, we can’t negate or dismiss the fact that Apple has put a lot of efforts in designing the Macs, especially with the new aluminum ‘unibody’ technology used to construct the latest Mac line-ups. To rest down the case; they (PCs and Macs) are not the same piece of hardware at the first place.

But the funniest part comes last; what will happen if Lauren is given a Mac right now so she can compare herself which one is better? Which one do you think she’ll choose? And that’s what Mitch Gewirtz from Michigan wanted to find out by giving his 17-inch G4 PowerBook to Lauren as a free gift, take a visit to Gizmodo page to read Mitch’s letter. Me, personally, I’d love to see how the love connection end. Hopefully Lauren is 100% real person, not some kind of paid actors, so she will answer Mitch’s generosity. And that would be a thrill to see… ~LOL~

For the last note; if Microsoft is able to create such buzzes even coming out from Apple users with this kinda ad, then the software giant has achieved their first intention of making the ads: to make people talk about Windows again. What will happen next? Be sure to wait for Apple to strikes back with another genuine “Get a Mac” ads cause things are just heating up and get interesting…

Sources are from:

• I'm a PC, and this time Microsoft's buying (AP)
• Microsoft Hits Apple Where it Hurts (PC World)
• Pwn2Own contest winner: Macs are safer than Windows (AppleInsider)

Microsoft dares another lawsuits with Windows Touch logo

Microsoft is on the loose again...

Even with embarassing lawsuits on its Windows Vista compatibility sticker still linger in our memory, the software giant dares us all again with another highly potential lawsuit in the future by announcing the Windows Touch logo program.

Microsoft plans to standardize the new touch feature which will be built-in to Windows 7, and the approach is with Windows Touch logo program, the logo will tell consumers that the PC and all of its components are optimized for the touch feature.

"A major benefit of the Windows ecosystem is diversity – PCs come in all shapes and sizes. To help ensure that there is a great Windows Touch experience across the many different types of PCs we have defined a set of measurements and tests for Windows Touch that are part of the Windows Logo," said by the Windows 7 team at their blog.

And like the same ol' Microsoft we know who love to diversify its products offering, this Windows Touch logo will also be spread over three different type of softwares to support the touch feature, they called it as a 'Good-Better-Best software stack':

1. Good: The “good” bucket is what touch-unaware applications get for free from Windows 7. This type will provide basic support for touch features such as scrolling and zooming.
2. Better: The “better” bucket is focused on adding direct gesture support and other small behavior and UI changes to make apps more touch-friendly.
3. Best: Applications or features that fall into the “best” bucket are designed from the ground up to be great touch experiences. Developers can use this to go beyond the core system gestures and build custom gesture support for their applications.

Sounds confusing? Don't worry, you're not the only one. We can smell 'stinky' confusing sticker incident long before this Windows Touch logo program becomes official along with the final release of Windows 7. But maybe that's how Microsoft rolls, that's how they do their business, that's how they like the attentions coming from lawsuits.

Add this Windows Touch logo into the six types of Windows 7 offering, mix them together, stirred not shaken, and voila! You'll get a headache in no time for choosing the right Windows version for your PC computer or laptop/netbook, too bad the package doesn't include an aspirin. ;-p

But IMHO, Microsoft is not only rising potential lawsuits on this Windows Touch logo from confused consumers, the new built-in touch feature in Windows 7 is also inviting possible lawsuit against iPhone's multi-touch patent from Apple. Just take a look at how the Windows 7 team describes the core gestures of Windows 7's touch feature:

• Tap and Double-tap: Touch and release to click. This is the most basic touch action.
• Drag: Touch and slide your finger on screen.
• Scroll: Drag up or down on the content (not the scrollbar!) of scrollable window to scroll.
• Zoom: Pinch two fingers together or apart to zoom in or out on a document.
• Two-Finger Tap: Tapping with two fingers simultaneously zooms in about the center of the gesture or restores to the default zoom.
• Rotate: Touch two spots on a digital photo and twist to rotate it just like a real photo.
• Flicks: Flick left or right to navigate back and forward in a browser and other apps.
• Press-and-hold: Hold your finger on screen for a moment and release after the animation to get a right-click.

Don't they look familiar to you? Especially for iPhone users, and for those who owns the new MacBooks with its multi-touch glass trackpad. And if the 358-page of iPhone multi-touch patent does cover most of the basic and advanced use of touch features, then Apple has the chance of rattling the lion's cage (read: Microsoft's own touch patents). Because it's for sure that Microsoft will bring some of those Windows Touch features into Windows Mobile 7, it's only a matter of time...

Sources are from Windows 7 blog, via Electronista.

Microsoft throws IE8 as a life-saver in the tightening web browsers war

Did you notice Microsoft finally launched IE8 just few days ago? Not much of a buzz was generated from the official release of Internet Explorer (IE) web browser, in fact I even noticed more news about the RC (Release Candidate) or Beta version of IE before this rather than the final version.

There are two simple reasons for that; one is because the final version of IE8 is not that different from the previous beta versions, second is because IE8 shows no great improvements compared to the other web browsers in the market today.

For the software giant, it doesn't take a rocket scientist or conduct a market research to know that its IE web browser is losing market shares. Personal computer users at home and especially for those who can't live without a web browser & internet connection like bloggers, they have left IE for good ever since other competitors like Firefox and the latest Google's Chrome got more to offer.

One particular reason of why many web browser users are leaving IE is because of its speed, IE is like a turtle in the speed race against the others. In fact, according to JavaScript rendering tests run by Computerworld, the final version of IE8 is only slightly faster than the browser's Release Candidate 1 (RC1). Computerworld ran the SunSpider benchmark tests in Windows XP three times for each browser, then averaged the scores. Here's the list of the results:

1. Google's Chrome is about more than four times faster than IE8
2. Coming in second was Mozilla's Firefox v3.0.7 at 59% faster than IE8
3. Followed by Apple's Safari v3.2.2 for Windows was 47% faster
4. Opera v9.63 came last but still 38% faster than IE8

However, Microsoft seems to continued downplay benchmarks such as SunSpider and says this with denial from the truth: "Internet Explorer 8 is one of the fastest browsers on the market today, beating other top browsers in page load time on almost 50% of the 25 top comScore Web sites."

James Pratt, a senior program manager for IE, acknowledged that the differences were slight and that speed is important to users: "We know that speed is critical to people who are using browsers today, and we recognize that users have a choice when it comes to browser."

Speed is very essential for people who live in the internet, just like Kevin C. Tofel from jkOnTheRun has said in his blog: 'If the “Achilles Heel' is speed, I have to pass. I simply live way too much in a browser, so speed is a premium that I have to have for productivity purposes. Likening the browser to an OS, I need to move through the environment so that my tools don’t get in the way."

When Microsoft was claiming that IE8 is faster than Chrome v1.0, it didn't take long for Google to released a faster beta version of Chrome. According to Chrome product manager Brian Rakowski, the beta is up to 35% quicker than the previous version of Chrome. Other new features include being able to drag tabs to get a side-by-side view, form autofill, autoscroll and a full-page zoom.

IE8 may be a slowpoke, but it does however offer some good points like security. Many business users and enterprises are still using IE up till today, and personally I've experienced myself how local banks here in my country are still insisting their customers to use IE for on-line transactions. But is it true that IE8 is more secure than older versions or it's competitors?

In the latest CanSecWest's PWN2OWN contest, a contest where researchers who successfully hack into computer systems provided will be rewarded with money and the hacked machine, found out there's a "brilliant" IE8 bug. According to Terri Forslof, the manager of security response at PWN2OWN sponsor TippingPoint, another researcher later broke into a Sony laptop that was running Windows 7 by exploiting a vulnerability in Internet Explorer 8. "Safari and IE both went down," she said in an e-mail.

But among the hacked web browsers in the contest, Apple's Safari is the fastest to went down. Charlie Miller, the security researcher who hacked a Mac in two minutes at last year contest, improved his time by breaking into another Mac in under 10 seconds! "I gave them the link, they clicked on it, and that was it," said Miller. "I did a few things to show that I had full control of the Mac."

This year's PWN2OWN also features a mobile operating system contest that will award a $10,000 cash prize for every vulnerability successfully exploited in five smartphone operating systems: Windows Mobile, Google's Android, Symbian, and the operating systems used by the iPhone and BlackBerry.

Miller said he won't enter the mobile contest. "I can't break them," said Miller, who was one of the first researchers to demonstrate an attack on the iPhone in 2007, and last year was the first to reveal a flaw in Android. "I don't have anything for the iPhone, and I don't know enough about Google."

On the other side; Mozilla also posted the first beta release of Fennec, its mobile version of the Firefox Web browser. The Fennec v1.0 Beta 1 release currently is only available for Nokia N810 Internet Tablet, that runs Nokia's Maemo open source operating system. One powerful features in Fennec is the TraceMonkey JavaScript compiler, which promises to dramatically speed up many aspects of mobile browsing.

Back to the IE8, Microsoft is touting it as the answer to the call of challenge from competitors, and filled IE8 with new features and improved securities, here are some of them:

Compatibility View: IE8 will automatically tell web pages that won't rendered properly by showing a broken page icon at the side of the address bar. Users can manually turn on/off this feature.

Accelerators: Lets you map directions, translate words, email your friends, and more in just a few mouse clicks.

InPrivate Browsing: Browse the web without saving your history with Internet Explorer 8's InPrivate Browsing. Works like the Chrome's incognito window feature.

Web Slices: Keep up with changes to the sites you care about most. Add a Web Slice and you won't have to go back to the same website again and again for updates on news, stock quotes, online auctions, weather, or even sports scores.

Search suggestions: Search smarter with detailed suggestions from your favorite search providers and browsing history. See visual previews and get suggested content topics while you type in the enhanced Instant Search Box.

SmartScreen Filter: New security features help to protect you against deceptive and malicious websites which can compromise your data, privacy and identity.

Microsoft's IE8 right now only available through on-line download at its official website, Microsoft hasn't specified to push IE8 via Windows Update service yet. And Microsoft won't confirm when the final version of IE8 will be available for Windows 7, but it's expected to show up in the next public release for Windows 7.

Sources are from:

• Updated Internet Explorer Still a Slowpoke (Computerworld)
• Google Touts Speed of New Chrome Beta (Industry Standard)
• Researcher Cracks Mac in 10 Seconds (PC World)
• Firefox Browser Goes Mobile (Network World)
• Internet Explorer 8: What You Need to Know (PC World)

Microsoft Tag wants to connect you with a bunch of colorful triangle pictures

Prologue: Oh poor Microsoft (MS), it's not like the software giant has a bad product or project, but I think it's just me who wrote the title of the post in a wrong way so it sounds more negative... ;-p

What is the Tag? It's an image consists of colored triangles, that looks like a set of random triangles seen with our naked eyes. But if the image is processed with Microsoft's Tag technology, it can be translated to show informations or mobile contents (video, music, map, promotions, etc.).

The technology powering Tag is called High Capacity Color Barcodes (HCCBs), it's said to have been designed from the ground up for maximum performance with the limited cameras on most mobile phones. Advanced image-processing techniques decode even out-of-focus barcode images, which means Microsoft Tag works with the fixed-focus camera lenses common in most mobile devices.

If you're familiar with QRCode or Datamatrix code, which sometimes can be found on posters or signs all over big cities, then the MS Tag works almost the same way. Smartphone users can just aim at the little Tag image with the phone's camera, snap the Tag image, and then have the information pops up in their phone's screen.

How to use the Tag: Just download the Tag mobile application for your smartphones, load the app, take a picture of the Tag image with your phone, then the app will automatically launch the phone's web browser to open the designated mobile website.

Microsoft Tag already works on most popular mobile (with camera) platforms: Windows Mobile (v5.5 or above), iPhone, Blackberry, Symbian S60 2nd & 3rd Editions, and not to be left behind is J2ME-based phones. Get the Tag mobile app right away by clicking on this link, or by visiting this URL with your smartphone: http://gettag.mobi/.

For reference, below are the screenshots taken by Joshuapa from Windows Mobile Team Blog, where he tried to Tag on the Microsoft Tag website.

The uses of Tag: The most common use of such technology are for promotions such as in signs, flyers, posters, magazine advertisements, web links, card name, billboards, etc. But the real power of MS Tag comes in the ability to download mobile contents directly into your smartphones like movie trailers, events invitation, ringtones, wallpapers, video clips, podcasts, and much more. The possibilities are only limited by the contents offered by the hosts/donors. But you get the big picture there.

For now, MS Tag beta offers free use to create your own tag. At this time MS Tag will be available to commercial publishers and the general public in the U.S. If you're interested to find out more about MS Tag, read all about it at this FAQ page.

IE 8 RC1 projects dissapointment

Microsoft is trying hard to keep the pace to catch on the latest web browsers war against heavy contenders like Firefox, Safari and Chrome. Let's face it, Internet Explorer (IE) is famous not because of its features and performance, but more because of Microsoft's distributing strategy. And now Microsoft has to face the fact that IE is losing market share, big time.

Ever since that, the software giant has promised an all new IE in the next version 8. And last week, Microsoft has quietly released IE 8 RC1 to its closest partners to give it a try. TG Daily has managed to get a hold of a copy, and take it for a little spin ride. Here's the verdict:

"IE8 RC1 cannot compete with Firefox, Chrome and Opera in terms of CSS 3 compatibility. ... If the RC1 seen by us essentially represents what the IE8 final will be, then Microsoft may not be able to slow the pace of IE market share decline. ... As of now Firefox, Safari and Opera (and Chrome) play in a different league and expose IE8 as an old concept that is overrun by a new generation of browsers."

And as for us, end users, the look of IE 8 RC1 doesn't seem much different from IE7. So we basically can't get too much excited even when IE 8 is finally out, Microsoft need to learn a lot from its competitors.

Seadragon: Microsoft's first app for iPhone

It's an awkward thing to see Microsoft has released an app specially made for Apple's iPhone; the Seadragon Mobile.

Aside from the cool name for an app, I've got to give a thumb up for Microsoft Live Labs team who could leverage iPhone's capability to use Microsoft's Photosynth technology that allow users to browse large quantities of high-resolution images.

And that's not all, the free app itself also allows users to quickly zoom in and out while downloading the images over 3G network. Basically; Seadragon is the backbone for Microsoft's Photosynth, which allows users to take a grouping of photographs and stitch them together into a faux 3D environment.

Alex Daley, group product manager for Microsoft Live Labs told TechFlash the reason why they decided to give this app to iPhone, instead use it first in Microsoft's own Windows Mobile platform:

"The iPhone is the most widely distributed phone with a (graphics processing unit). Most phones out today don't have accelerated graphics in them. The iPhone does and so it enabled us to do something that has been previously difficult to do."

And I agree with Steven Musil from CNet on the last question about this great native photography app for iPhone only: "So where's the Windows Mobile version of Seadragon?" ;-p

Microsoft rumored making a phone with NVidia

Microsoft versus Apple, this is an on going epic & old war in digital world. Unlike any other competition between computer manufacturers or software developers, these two computer giants' are the most interesting to watch.

To think about it, they're much alike spoiled little children, don't they? If one has a new toy, the other will soon want the same or better yet a more sparkling toy to play with.

Ever since Apple had iPhone and dazzled the whole world with it, rumors have never ceased to stop saying that Microsoft also want a phone of its own. And no matter how often Microsoft's PRs (Public Relations) keep on confirming the blogosphere, that Microsoft is not making a mobile phone with the software giant's brand stamped on it; we simply just can't trust them.

It's still fresh in my memory too, how Steve Ballmer also confirmed about it by saying: "I do not anticipate us building a phone. Sorry, we are not going build one." But we all know him too well to tell the truth, aren't we? ;-p

I thought we have passed that kinda rumor, because it's been quite awhile since iPhone is out and so far there's not even a single mobile phone with Microsoft logo on it out in the market. But the rumor is sizzling again, not that hot anymore but still pretty warm, with an article came from the Inquirer:

"MS is going to make its own branded phone, after all, ... If you were wondering why Nvidia never mentions the phrase Linux when talking Tegra, even though it is the most appropriate OS for the chip, now you know. NV appears to have sold Linux out to get the MS flagship deal, how nice of them."

The Tegra is said to be able to integrates an ARM-based CPU and an Nvidia GPU core on a single die, in addition to a northbridge, southbridge and primary memory functionality. It's pretty much like AMD's upcoming Fusion processor, but more aimed for mobile devices. If your memory has expired out from its warranty limit, then don't be shy to refresh it by watching the NVidia's Tegra video demo from my previous post.

True or not, the moral story of the rumor is that we shouldn't never stop dreaming of a mobile phone from Microsoft. What should we call it then? mPhone? Or perhaps the rumored Zune phone is more appropriate, since Zune is more like iPod so it will make more sense if Microsoft also going to upgrade it to become a phone; zPhone?

mPhone, zPhone or Zune Phone are all sound like a lame name for a phone. But if Microsoft can get close enough to make its own branded phone just like this Zune Contact concept made by Adam Huffman, then consider me buying one if it comes out. ;-)

Sources are from:

• Microsoft makes a phone with Nvidia (Inquirer)
• Microsoft’s Zune phone rumor back again, this time with Tegra (TG Daily)
• Zune Phone Finally, Okay Maybe (Yanko Design)

IE 8 pushed back to 2009

It's not like you'll be interested in knowing that Microsoft pushes back, yet again, the release date of Internet Explorer (IE) 8 to 2009. Because, with a tight competition ahead against free web browsers such as Mozila's Firefox & Google's Chrome; we'll barely going to use IE ever again in the future.

But one thing that really concerns me is: healthy competition being stalled because of the pushed back IE 8 release date.

How so? Well, let's face it; having IE in Windows is like having a love-hate relationship. Yes, IE is not the best web browser out there if we're to talk about features, user interface & speed. But we can't argue that IE is the most used web browser in the whole wide world, almost every major web sites especially bank sites are recommending you to use IE.

Not even when Apple's Safari web browser is finally gaining more popularity these days, or when Opera web browser is standing tall in spite of struggling to grow its reputation besides in Europe, IE is still the biggest mole in the face of the competition. IE has always been the main target to be beaten, IE has always been the biggest joke amongst the others, and it always stay and installed in every new Windows OS.

So, for the sake of healthy competition in web browsers market; I hope Microsoft is not going to push back again more further IE 8 release date...

For you who wish to see a bigger sized IE 8 screenshot above, you can visit this CNet's page. And while you're at it, you can also see screenshots of Windows 7 Beta there. But I gotta warn you though, you shouldn't hope too much to see eye-candy screenshots of Windows 7 Beta; because like I've mentioned before in my previous post: "Windows 7 is just Vista with lipstick". ;-)

Microsoft enters the ‘cloud’ war with Windows 7 & Azure

I almost didn’t want to write anything about the launch of Microsoft’s newest upcoming platforms: Windows 7 Alpha release & Windows Azure, because let’s face it; it’s a boring news. Besides, we have pretty much have a picture of what those two are going to be from Steve Ballmer’s big talks.

But as boring as the news could be, there are still some interesting ones to dig in. Especially what Microsoft is not talked about, when the software giant announced the new platforms at its PDC 2008 conference on Monday.

For you who aren’t following the announcement news, here’s a quick recap of what Windows Azure is: It is basically a platform to host Microsoft’s existing services & products (Live, .NET, SQL Server, Exchange, Office, etc.), and push them all into the ‘cloud’. Where ‘cloud’ means the internet. You can read the whole mumbo-jumbo info regarding Azure at this link, and as for Windows 7 you can read my previous post.

We all know Microsoft hates competition, and determined to dominate every area it can grasps upon. And we also know that Google is currently the king and ruler of the ‘cloud’, with its web-based services such as Gmail, Docs, Talk, Maps, etc. Not to mention Google is unchallenged in the search market, Google’s search engine is simply bested out Microsoft’s lame Live Search engine.

So you can visualize yourself how ambitious is Steve Ballmer, when he learned about those facts. "I think it is very ambitious, extremely ambitious," said Gartner analyst David Smith. He noted that Microsoft is trying to span a broad range of audiences, from enterprise to consumer, and a broad range of devices.

While according to Jonathan Yarmis, vice president for disruptive technologies at AMR Research, Windows Azure is nothing less than a make-or-break move for Microsoft. "I think they've said we have no choice but to succeed at this. To leave it to Google or Amazon or others to define the pace and characteristics of the platform would be very bad for Microsoft's long-term and even near-term prospects," he said. Microsoft's thinking would have to be: "We have to do this or we cease to be interesting as a company."

Then how about Windows 7? Where does it fit in to the Microsoft’s grandeur scheme? Preston Gralla from Computerworld calls Windows 7 as a Trojan horse in Microsoft's war against Google. The following question takes place after knowing that; “What new features can Microsoft possibly introduce that will help it overtake Google in search and retain its domination of productivity software such as Office?"

Preston nicely pointed out: Microsoft's secret weapon in Windows 7 is not what features the operating system has, but instead what features it doesn't have. Microsoft is stripping Windows 7 of some of Windows' best built-in applications, and it's making them available only as downloads on its Windows Live site.

So users will have to visit the Microsoft Windows Live site, where the softwares (like Mail, Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, etc.) can be downloaded for free. Microsoft claims that it is stripping the applications out of Windows 7 because it makes for a "cleaner" operating system.

Great, do you know what that really means? It means we’ll be buying the same old Windows Vista but with a more expensive price tag, and minus the useful features! Steve Ballmer once said it himself; the next generation of Windows is almost like Vista, but with less of the bulks…

Strange, somehow I don’t feel surprised at all. In fact, it’s like there’s some kinda warm fuzzy feeling blanket me; knowing that Microsoft is doing what it usually does best and what we all are familiar with: repackaged old products and sell them as new. ~LOL~

Sources are from:

• Windows Azure: Blue skies ahead? (CNet)
• Windows 7 Fuels War Against Google (PCW Business Center)

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Microsoft exterminates the Deepfish project

When Microsoft, the Live Labs division to be exact, announced its plan to retire the Deepfish project back in August 18, 2008; not many took notice. Only when the news hit ZDNet, and then followed by PCW Business Center, that's when we're all become aware of the extermination.

What was Deepfish? For you who don't know of it yet; Deepfish is mobile browser research project aiming to display web pages on Windows Mobile phones just like they look like on a PC, and then let users zoom in and out of parts of the page they were interested in examining closer. The browser worked in conjunction with Microsoft servers that delivered the web pages to the mobile phones, and it was an example of the company's software plus services strategy.

The Live Labs explains the reason in its web blog, in the same exact way we would expect an explanation from Microsoft that we all know too well:

"Mobile browsing is now advancing to the point where mobile devices rival the desktop—which is what we wanted to see. ... And now that the marketplace has caught up to where we thought it needed to go and continues to advance. For our dedicated users still using the technical preview to this day, we are sorry to announce we will be retiring the proxy service on September 31, 2008. The Deepfish client will no longer function after that date as a result."

I agree with Mary-Jo Foley (ZDNET) about the vague explanation above: "I wondered exactly what Microsoft believed has been achieved,..." And I believe most of you have the same question too, when Microsoft with its Windows Mobile platform (or in particular is the Internet Explorer Mobile) hasn't even come close to rival the superiority of other mobile web browsers in the market such as iPhone's Safari, Opera Mini, and Skyfire. Not to mention the upcoming arrival of Fennec, the code name for Firefox's version for mobile web browser. Why stopping now?

It's a puzzle that we must wait to be answered, for we're still waiting for Windows Mobile 7 (set to release in latter half of 2009).

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

What ‘cloud computing’ really mean for Microsoft & Free Software (a.k.a. Open Source)

Still in his ‘rapid-talking’ mode, Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer rampage the blogosphere with yet another new teaser while attending the Microsoft-sponsored developer conference in London yesterday.

’Cloud computing’, as you may know it already (if not, then please read my previous post) is not only set the newest trend in using computer; but also set a new category in computer hardware known lately as ‘netbook’. With all of these trends are beginning to take off and about to move in fast pace, Microsoft sees a new opportunity in the tighten OS competition; especially against Google the pioneer of ‘cloud computing’ services we’re all too familiar today. Steve Ballmer started the teaser by telling the delegates with these lines:

"Every time there's a big new trend, a big new opportunity, we write a new operating system. We need a new operating system designed for the cloud and we will introduce one in about four weeks, we’ll even have a name to give you by then. But let’s just call it for the purposes of today ‘Windows Cloud’,” said Ballmer. Microsoft plans let loose the 'Windows Cloud', at the company’s annual developer conference later this month.

Looks like Steve Ballmer isn’t just talk, but we can see his seriousness when he knows what ‘cloud computing’ is all about: virtual service. "It's too hard today for people to write cloud applications, ... You should just be able to write an application and, if you will, push it to the cloud, and have the service taken care of," Steve Ballmer admitted.

This leads to a new business model of subscription-based applications, generally known as 'software as a service' (SaaS) but dubbed by Microsoft as 'software plus services'.

And just like the ‘energetic’ Microsoft’s CEO we know, Steve Ballmer didn’t forget to talk about his company number one rival; Google. “If you talk to Google they’ll say it's thin client computing but then they’ll issue a new browser that’s basically a big fat operating system designed to compete with Windows but running on top of it,” he said.

When asked about how Microsoft is going to implement the ‘new business model’ (read: Windows Cloud) for end users, I’m able to see right through his glass and perspire Microsoft’s true intention:

"Some things will be sold, some things will be put out on a subscription basis, some things will be monetized through advertising. We need to make sure there's a model and a platform that supports all of that," said Steve Ballmer.

I don’t need to tell you bluntly what that’s suppose to mean, but you can guess it if you’ve read Steve Ballmer’s own revelation of Microsoft’s real motivation (tip: it’s got something to do with money ;-p).

Alrighty, we’ve done covering what Steve Ballmer has to say about ‘cloud computing’. Then let’s hear what the other contestant on the other side of the ring has to say, the open source community, represented by Richard Stallman:

"It's stupidity. It's worse than stupidity: it's a marketing hype campaign," he said. "Somebody is saying this is inevitable--and whenever you hear somebody saying that, it's very likely to be a set of businesses campaigning to make it true."

Ouch, that’s what I would categorized as blunt. ~LOL~ For open source community and “hankering” Linux die-hard fanboys, Richard Stallman is no stranger. In fact he often idolized as the father of free software movement. The founder of the Free Software Foundation and creator of the GNU operating system, says: "Do your own computing on your own computer with your copy of a freedom-respecting program. If you use a proprietary program or somebody else's web server, you're defenseless. You're putty in the hands of whoever developed that software."

Richard Stallman has a very good insight there, and he brilliantly pointed out what could’ve be one of the trickiest type of web business campaign. And although he maybe right, I don’t think the web users around the world is gonna stop using Google’s ‘cloud computing’ services (ex: Gmail, Docs, etc.). Or, would you?

Sources are from:

• 'Windows Cloud' to descend this month, says Ballmer (The Register)
• Ballmer previews 'Windows Cloud' (ZDNet)
• Stallman: Cloud computing is 'stupidity' (Business Tech)

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Steve Ballmer reveals Microsoft's motivations & future plans for Windows (including WinMob)

Alert the fire department, run & inform the baywatch, someone ring 911! Microsoft's CEO; Steve Ballmer is on the loose again!

Well, I mean not 'loose' in a negative perspective. I mean he's on the loose talking in some interviews again, telling everybody about his vision and Microsoft's too. Once he got his 'thing', 'mojo', 'spirit' --or whatever you called it-- he can go for hours blabbering about Microsoft vs. the enemies.

After the indirect revealing on how Microsoft is now planning to catch on Google at Churchill Club gala dinner, Steve Ballmer once again sat down for an exclusive interview with Carlos H. Mendoza from PC Magazine Español. I'll just gonna post some of the most interesting parts of the interview, which I think they have other meaning if you read them carefully (*wink*); here they are:

• PC MAGAZINE: If you wouldn't have taken this job, what would you have missed? STEVE BALLMER: Well, I would have missed, sort of in a sense, everything professionally. I don't know what I would have done. Maybe I'd be—the other kinds of things, I thought about going to work in a fantastic insurance company. ... Undoubtedly, my professional life wouldn't have been as rich or fulfilling or interesting or rewarding in any sense. (What I really heard: Yawn, alright we all get it. You're now richer and more famous than you was back then, can we continue to the next topic please?)
• PC MAGAZINE: And what would Microsoft miss without Steve Ballmer? STEVE BALLMER: Well, in a sense, you have to go back historically. I've been kind of three things I would say: I've been kind of the spiritual leader a little bit of the people, a little bit of the energy and enthusiasm. ... (What I really heard: Huh, wha...? Oops, sorry I just dozed off a little bit there for a moment. It's a bad habbit of mine, whenever someone think too high of himself. ;-p)
• PC MAGAZINE: How does Microsoft relate to the younger people who have not grown up with its products. STEVE BALLMER: Well, let me first say I think it's fantastic. I mean, there's an expression—I don't know if you have the same expression in Spanish or not, you know, it's from a song, "What have you done for me lately?" And I think at the end of the day, that's one of the things in kind of capitalism is you have to continue to every day do something valuable and new and interesting and important for people. (What I really heard: Steve is trying to say; Microsoft = 'capitalism', no?)
• PC MAGAZINE: How does Microsoft communicate that coolness?
  STEVE BALLMER: I don't think you say, "Hey, we're cool." I mean, look, with our product line, it's the products that are cool. I'm not really sure we'll ever—you know, is the company cool? It's not brand new. The only way to be cool is to be brand new or born again. ... Do I ever think kind of Active Directory is going to be cool with young people? No, I don't think so. It's actually cool with IT guys, but— ... (What I really heard: Well spotted, one of Window Server's power; the Active Directory is not cool looking feature for other than IT guys.)
• PC MAGAZINE: Microsoft is the icon of the PC. What do you think about the Apple commercials: "I'm a Mac, and I am a PC"? STEVE BALLMER: I think they need a little bit of correction, and you'll see us ... bla, bla, bla... but can you get nicer screens for a PC? Of course. blah, blah, blah... (What I really heard: Steve, c'mon. You're avoiding the real question there!)
• PC MAGAZINE: Why Microsoft doesn't have Microsoft stores? STEVE BALLMER: Well, we have a lot of partners who make a lot of money selling PCs. ... But I think, you know, when you only have 3% (read: Apple) of the market, maybe you need your own stores. (Laughter.) (What I really heard: Why try harder if we're #1, is what Steve is really trying to say.)
• PC MAGAZINE: I'm a Vista fan, but I know people— STEVE BALLMER: —who are not. PC MAGAZINE: No, they're not. Can we have a big expectation about Windows 7? STEVE BALLMER: Sure. Windows 7 is going to—like everything, every release of Windows improves. ... Vista owners are happy with Vista, people who haven't owned Vista yet wonder about it because it did get some early press and there were issues that we've worked through on compatibility. (What I really heard: Windows 7 is going to be exactly like the other previous Windows, and people will still buy it anyway.)
• PC MAGAZINE: Now in personal teams, what was your role at the football team in Harvard? STEVE BALLMER: I was the team manager. I was not a player. PC MAGAZINE: No? STEVE BALLMER: No. I'm not a very good athlete, actually. PC MAGAZINE: Okay. (What I really heard: Stop poking around my physical will ya? Can't you tell by simply looking at my appearance here?? --Steve Ballmer whispered)
• PC MAGAZINE: Okay. What hobbies do you have? STEVE BALLMER: Just one more on that football thing— PC MAGAZINE: Okay. (What I really heard: Stop, stop this kinda question! --Steve began using his famous hand signals)
• PC MAGAZINE: The motivation, the—like a coach? You are like a coach to Microsoft. Now in— STEVE BALLMER: Yeah, in Microsoft I'm sort of like a coach, yeah. Exactly. (What I really heard: ...snoooor... --me, snoring again)
• PC MAGAZINE: Okay. What hobbies do you have? STEVE BALLMER: Not many. I play golf. I like playing golf. I run, I play golf, and I have my family and my work. I guess you would say I like trivia. I collect little trivial facts in my head, that always amuses me. (What I really heard: There must be a LOT of trivial things in his mind that make him like that all the time ~LOL~)
• PC MAGAZINE: Do you have fun as Microsoft CEO? STEVE BALLMER: Do I have at Microsoft? Oh, yeah, absolutely. I love it. I can't say every minute is fun, but I love the people I get a chance to work with at Microsoft and our partners and our customers. (What I really heard: Yeah, of course. When you get to act all crazy at the office, while everyone else has to be all serious except you, of course you loving it.)

On the next chance, Steve Ballmer told Reuter about Microsoft's plan to continue charging licensing fees from handset makers for using its mobile operating system and not follow the free offerings of Google and Nokia. Microsoft charges $8 to $15 per phone, according to Strategy Analytics.

"It's interesting to ask why would Google or Nokia, Google in particular, why would they invest a lot of money and try to do a really good job if they make no money. I think most operators and telecom companies are skeptical about Google," he then added: "Handset makers are skeptical of Nokia, operators are skeptical of Google, I think by actually charging money people know exactly what our motivations are."

"I do not anticipate us building a phone. Sorry, we are not going build one," Ballmer said.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Microsoft has found the first ingridient with "And I'm A PC"

Forget Seinfeld, forget Bill Gates, and heck... you don't even need to know Steve Ballmer.

I think Microsoft has finally figured out to use its "I'm a PC" slogan as the first ingridient for the whole recipe, caught this 'And I'm A PC' web page via Gizmodo.

It's simple, but it's a spot on. I had a really 6-8 minutes of fun and a very good laugh, when I was keep on clicking on that web site to see what kinda line to come out next.

And if you wish to participate, which I also have done, just click the 'Submit Your Own' button. After that, enter your name and write your own line. I know I'll be having a laugh when I'm gonna revisited this website tomorrow with my Treo...

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

IE Mobile 6 face shows up

The very old Internet Explorer (IE) Mobile on our WinMob devices is going to get a nice update, it'll be updated from v4.x (first released in September 1997) into v6.x, according to the::unwired (via Gizmodo). And Microsoft has given a neat nick name for it too: 6 on 6, which is basically mean Internet Explorer Mobile 6 on Windows Mobile 6.1.

The::unwired even has tested the new IE 6 with their own blog page, it provides two different compatibility options: Mobile and Desktop. So far the theory, still according to the::unwired; in reality you can see the difference if you visit the::unwired which works with browser sniffing to serve the appropriate layout. On the left, the::unwired in Mobile mode, on the right in Desktop mode and as you can see, the Desktop mode looks quite similar to the::unwired on your PC.

Head on to the::unwired blog page for more screenshots of IE 6.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Steve Ballmer still clueless on how to fight Google

The fact that Google is still way ahead from his company, made Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer scratches his head in search for the answer to beat the search giant company.

But the ever-energetic and now the sole 'charismatic' leader left in Microsoft, is not completely clueless on what Microsoft should do next. "We need to do some work to fundamentally reinvent the search business model," Ballmer said during a dinner at the Churchill Club in Silicon Valley. "You don't brute-force your way into a market. You only make great strides when you redefine the category for the user." And that will take some time. "It's a five-year task," Ballmer said. But Microsoft is ready to spend a lot of money trying.

Maybe for you, that indirect statement from Steve Ballmer sounds the same old answer from CEO of a big company. But in my ears, that sounds more like this: "Yup, we're 5 years behind Google in search business. And we're gonna spend lots and lots of money, more than your monthly wage and far from how much you could possibly imagine, in that 5 years to come..." ~LOL~

When asked about smartphones, Steve Ballmer believes that Nokia, RIM & Apple will loose to him... uhmmm..., I mean Microsoft (in whole). ;-p Why? Because according to the Microsoft's CEO; those smartphone companies design their own proprietary hardware and tie it closely to their software. Nokia leads the smartphone market today with about a 30% share, he said. "If you want to reach more than that, you have to separate the hardware and software in the platform," he said.

Steve Ballmer predicts, in the end, the battle will be between the Symbian OS (which is now open source), mobile versions of Linux and Windows Mobile only. Although he then conced a horrifying fact: "Forty percent of servers run Windows, 60 percent run Linux," he said. "How are we doing? Forty is less than 60, so I don't like it. ... We have some work to do."

-- I think I heard the "hankering" Linux die-hard fanboys are screaming in happiness after knowing Steve Ballmer himself actually said that... *sigh* --

And when asked about Apple, Steve Ballmer said in great pride: "Apple's a good company, I won't take anything away from them, but they have a certain kind of strategy. They believe in putting the hardware and software together, they don't believe in letting other people make it. I'm not saying there isn't a 'threat' from Apple. But if Microsoft and its PC partners do our jobs right, there's really no reason Apple should get any footprint in the enterprise."

Yes, yes. Whatever you say Steve, whatever that pleases you and your humongous ego. Now, can we please have our PC run Mac OS X? ;-p I wonder what made him so pleasantly cute and modest, perhaps it's got to do with what they serve at the Churchil Club dinner? Read the whole interview at the Standard web page.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Microsoft's Arc Mouse

It is very-very rare to see a really cool product coming out from Microsoft, which usually its products are targeted to business users. But things are about to change, probably is caused by Microsoft's passion to overthrown Apple as the coolest computer manufacturer.

Caught the news at

Gizmodo, that MaximumPC received a festive press kit in the mail today from Microsoft with details of their impending peripheral releases for the 2008 Holiday season. And they also posted what looks like a comment from the press kit

"Featuring a revolutionary new design shaped like a crescent moon, Arc folds closed to reduce in size by almost half, giving consumers the comfort of a full-sized mouse with the portability of a notebook mouse. Arc is all about the fashion edge, with a stylish micro transceiver that you can leave right in your computer and it’s available in two colors – red or black. It’s the perfect gift for the trendsetter on the list. MSRP: $59.95"

Okay, nuff said. Where can I sign-up for pre-order one of this baby? ;-D --like always, click on the picture to view it larger--

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Microsoft's Hyper-V has arrived

This one is for tech admins and IT enthusiast, because it's got nothing to do with world mobile. Well, not "directly'...

On last Thursday, Microsoft has announced the availability of its most awaited virtualization technology: Hyper-V. The release can be considered early, it's two months before the dead-line which was set six months after the release of Windows Server 2008.

This originally code named "Viridian" program, was prepared by Microsoft to compete with the existing and well known VMWare program. So now, Microsoft die-hard fans are no longer have to look for drivers compability which often become a huge burden for IT admins in a large domain network.

And with this Hyper-V program release, Microsoft has finally acknowledge the needs of its customers for running different OS side-by-side with its server OS flagship: Windows Server. Two particular type of customers will be happy to hear this; Mac OS X Server & Linux Server users.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

The ugly truths behind “Windows Vista Capable” sticker

When you’re about to purchased a new computer or a laptop at the time when Microsoft was about to launched Windows Vista back then, you must’ve seen two kinds of stickers: “Windows Vista Premium Ready” & “Windows Vista Capable”. Like any others, we all are confused on what was the difference?

It seemed that Intel old chip, the 915 chipset, didn’t have enough capability to support Windows Vista’s Aero interface. The 945 chipset was the more preferable choice because it supports Aero, but at that time this 945 chipset was still new and low in quantity; while the 915 chipset was already flooded the market in every computers and laptops. Of course Intel was afraid that if Windows users were going to upgrade into Vista, especially to get that Aero user interface (UI), then the 915 chipset will become “old junk” nobody want.

Above story is true, backed up with emails evidence from Microsoft to Intel intern management. Those evidences are compiled after a class action law suit slapped to Microsoft, by the customers who purchased computers and laptops with the particular “Windows Vista Capable” sticker.

Here’s the worst truth: Microsoft’s internal management already knew that making a dual standard (two kinds of stickers) will only lead into confusion like this; resulting to hurt customers who bought the wrong machine but hoped to get he best experience with Aero UI. Some of the staffs have showed disagreement and spoken about this wrong executive decision, at the end of the day those brave people were re-located…

Now Microsoft must face an ugly class action law suit for this “confusing sticker”, and backed with solid evidences like those; they should be preparing a large sum of money to settle it down. Read parts of the stories at Engadget here & the whole story at PC World here, great articles. Let’s just hope when the Windows Mobile 7 finally released (with it’s high-end UI & iPhone’s UI look alike), there wouldn’t be such “confusing stickers” pasted on mobile phones that run it.