Honestly, what are Microsoft thinking? The idea of having a party to celebrate the launch of a new version of the Windows operating system is odd to say the least. Whilst I’ve heard some great things about Windows 7, there are still painful memories that linger from its predecessors especially for the infamous “blue screen of death” which killed many of my carefully crafted university essays and spreadsheets. Not to mention abruptly ending some victorious PVP moments in my World of Warcraft days…

How can one celebrate the advent of a new incarnation of such a hated monster?!

All joking aside, I think it will be mostly hardcore geeks huddling together on October 22, playing with Microsoft Windows 7‘s bells and whistles. Speaking of which, if you are seriously hosting a Windows 7 Launch Party, check out the video below with “tips and tricks” on how to make it a smashingly good night to remembered!

Beware: out of the 100,000 or so views it has received an average rating of 1.5 stars out of 5! You’ll see why *snicker*

Presenting Windows Mobile 6.5 (beta)!

Windows Mobile, while not perfect, has come a long way from the days I was using it on my O2 XDA II.

From Microsoft’s Press Release:

BARCELONA, Spain — Feb. 16, 2009 — Today at Mobile World Congress 2009, Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer along with key mobile partners, HTC, LG and Orange, unveiled new Windows® phones featuring new user-friendly software and services. The next generation of Windows® phones will be based on Windows Mobile 6.5 and feature a new user interface and a richer browsing experience. In addition, Windows® phones will feature two new services: My Phone, to sync text messages, photos, video, contacts and more to the Web; and Windows® Marketplace for Mobile, a new marketplace that will provide direct-to-phone mobile applications and can be accessed from both the phone and the Web.
Contacts are backed up with My Phone so users don’t have to worry about losing contacts.

“Windows® phones bring together the best of the Web, the PC and the phone so you can connect instantly to the experiences you care about, no matter where you are,” Ballmer said. “We’re working with partners across the industry to deliver a new generation of Windows® phones that break down the barriers between people, information and applications and provide great end-to-end experiences that span your entire life, at work and at home.”

The press release also states that the first mobiles to be running Windows Mobile 6.5 will be:

• LG-GM7300
• HTC Touch Diamond 2
• HTC Touch Pro 2

Are you excited?

Via SolSie.com

Does the guy in the Microsoft “Welcome to Windows 7 Video” look like the Grease Lightning version of  John Travolta or what?! Maybe it’s just me…

I haven’t had the time to play with Windows 7 but I like what Microsoft says it can do e.g. compatibility with more devices, faster, touch-navigation capability, better window management. Then again, I’m a bit jaded by the Windows Vista experience i.e. didn’t see a huge jump in functionality from Windows XP.

Check out the video and the Windows 7 site for yourself. There’s even a link for you to download a beta copy of Windows 7!

In the meantime, I have to pack for a trip to the Philippines. Perhaps when I get back I may consider trying it out on my older PC.

Welcome to Windows 7 Video Page

For some reason, I lost the Recycle Bin icon from my Vista desktop. A quick Google search, resulted with these simple instructions:

Quick Instructions to Find the Lost Recycle Bin
1) Right click the Vista Desktop
2) Click on Personalize
3) Select: ‘Change desktop icons’
4) At the Desktop Icon Settings, place a tick next to: ‘Recycle Bin’.

For more detailed instructions, visit the page at Computerperformance.

We’ve already heard a lot about Microsoft’s next generation operating system, Windows 7, especially since rumors are that it’s going to be released next year instead of 2010 which was the original plan. Some lucky beta testers and developers get first look on the user interface, and now a set of screenshots surfaced online and they look pretty authentic.

continue reading "Windows 7 Screenshots Leaked by Beta-Tester"

Not because you got an iPhone 3G means you’re already a die-hard Apple fanboy or fangirl, right? I’m sure there are a lot of iPhone 3G owners using Windows platforms on their computers. That doesn’t mean you will forever be excluded from the iPhone jailbreak club (not that there’s one literally).

continue reading "iPhone 3G Jailbreak Tool for Windows Released"

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Screen grabs of Windows 7 have surfaced on CrunchGear with confirmation that it’s only approximately 3 years away.

If you look at the photos you’ll see that it does have an Apple Mac feel about it, especially in shots where the navigation bar is position at the bottom of the screen.

One thing we can learn from Microsoft is : if you ever want something to look better than it possibly really is, use vivid colours!

Via CrunchGear

For those who haven’t done so yet, here’s the download link for Microsoft Windows Vista SP1. This is the standalone version which assumes that you already have Windows Vista installed:

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone (KB936330)

If you are thinking of upgrading to Microsoft Vista, make sure you get the boxed version with SP1. According to Gizmodo Australia, Microsoft are so confident of their Vista SP1 boxed version that they’re offering 1 year of free support!

According to the guys at Engadget, Windows Vista SP1 (Service Patch 1) may be available as soon as tomorrow.  Online stores such as Amazon already have SP1 versions on their sites.

For those interested in what Windows Vista SP1 is all about (from technet.microsoft.com):

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is an update to Windows Vista that addresses feedback from our customers. In addition to previously released updates, SP1 contains changes focused on addressing specific reliability and performance issues, supporting new types of hardware, and adding support for several emerging standards. Windows Vista SP1 also addresses some management, deployment, and support challenges.

Via Engadget