Blogs | Page 6
Microsoft Parental-Controls Service Goes to Public Beta
By Mary Jo | Posted: 2006-08-31
On August 30, Microsoft opened up the beta for its Windows Live parental-controls service (formerly code-named "Vegas"), that is now known as Windows Live OneCare Family Safety. (Whew. What a mouthful!)
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So What's Up With Those Vista 5700 Builds?
By Mary Jo | Posted: 2006-08-31
As testers continue to post their mostly positive and quite detailed impressions about Windows Vista Build 5536 (a k a the "pre-Release-Candidate 1 build that Microsoft began distributing last week), there
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If You Didn't Get Vista 5536, You're Too Late Now
By Mary Jo | Posted: 2006-08-30
"Thank you for your interest in Windows Vista. The Customer Preview Program is now closed. We have reached our goal of 100,000 downloads for the pre-RC1 release and the program is now closed. Windows Vista RC1 will be available in the coming weeks. Please refer to the Customer Preview
Microsoft Watch Code Name Tracker 4.8 and Year-Ahead Planner 4.8
By Mary Jo | Posted: 2006-08-30
Microsoft Watch Code Name Tracker 4.8 and Year-Ahead Planner 4.8 Highlights From Code Name Tracker 4.8 and Year-Ahead Calendar 4.8 Chats and Web Casts to Watch
In This IssueMicrosoft Watch Code Name Tracker 4.8 and
Year-Ahead Planner 4.8
Invites Go Out for Microsoft's Competitor to Google AdSense
By Mary Jo | Posted: 2006-08-30
In early August, Microsoft told its adCenter user base to expect a fall pilot of its contextual ad system, ContentAds. Low and behold, the invitations for the ContentAds test-run are now going out. ContentAds will compete with both Google AdSense and Yahoo Publisher Network.
Updates From the Live Side of the House
By Mary Jo | Posted: 2006-08-30
For those keeping tabs on all things Microsoft-Live-related, the LiveSide folks have a few interesting updates. Microsoft launched on August 29 an official (U.S.-only) beta version of its Live QnA service.
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What Are Those 10,000 New Microsoft Employees Doing?
By Mary Jo | Posted: 2006-08-30
In late July, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported that Microsoft had added 10,000 new employees in fiscal 2006. So what are all those new folks doing, exactly? The Seattle PI does some analysis, based
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Microsoft Refutes (Half-Heartedly) Vista and Office 2007 Timetables
By Mary Jo | Posted: 2006-08-29
Following Amazon.com's publication of Vista and Office 2007 prices and availability dates, Microsoft officials are doing some damage control. Amazon is claiming it got its Vista pricing info from the latest Microsoft price sheet. "I'd love to be able to tell you that that is in fact the (Vista
Are Xbox 360 Failure Rates Higher Than Acknowledged?
By Mary Jo | Posted: 2006-08-29
From the "You Be the Judge" files: A source allegedly working for Electronic Arts says 30 to 50 percent of Xbox 360 consoles received by the game maker have failed. Microsoft says the actual
Microsoft Working to Fix Hacked Windows Media DRM
By Mary Jo | Posted: 2006-08-29
Despite Engadget's best attempts to convince Microsoft that the FairUse4WM app that stripped Windows Media's DRM was a good thing, Microsoft isn't buying the argument. Microsoft notified its Play4Sure licensees on August 28 that some kind of patch that will shore up Windows Media's DRM scheme was in
Office 2007 To Be Launched on January 30, 2007, Too
By Mary Jo | Posted: 2006-08-29
It's not just Windows Vista prices and release dates that are revealed for all to see on Amazon.com. Amazon also tells us that Office 2007 will be available the same day as Vista – January 30, 2007. Microsoft previously released months ago its Office 2007 price list. But the
Potential Gotcha in Vista Pricing: Additional Licenses
By Mary Jo | Posted: 2006-08-29
We thought the leaked price of Windows Vista Ultimate ($400 for a new copy; $259 for an upgrade) would raise more hackles than it has. But as LonghornBlogs' Robert McLaws notes, the real Vista gotcha might be in the additional license pricing. McLaws, usually quite the Vista fan boy
It's Official. Vista Release Will Be January 30, 2007
By Mary Jo | Posted: 2006-08-29
Thanks, Amazon.com (and Longhornblogs, for pointing this out). Microsoft is set to launch Windows Vista on January 30, 2007. No word on the final location (yet). We're assuming – until we hear otherwise – that this also will be the official launch date for Office 2007.
Windows Vista Ultimate: Premium Price Is Right!
By Mary Jo | Posted: 2006-08-28
Microsoft.com Canada posted a Windows Vista price list, according to Neowin. (The list has now vanished, not surprisingly, from the Microsoft site.) In U.S. dollars, Vista Home Premium is listed at $270. Home Premium Upgrade (from a current version of Windows) is $180. But Vista Ultimate is where the
Windows Marketplace Gets a Facelift
By Mary Jo | Posted: 2006-08-28
Microsoft revealed late on August 27 the new and improved Windows Marketplace site. The new site includes Digital Locker, a secure software download mechanism for Microsoft- and third-party-developed
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