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Windows Vista Service Pack 1: ready for download, update is wreaking havoc

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is now available for download, Microsoft say that the new update will fix some of the bugs that have caused people hassle on this operating system. However before you download the service pack; it seems as if Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is wreaking havoc on some people’s computers.

This service pack one only has a few minor improvements, so is nothing like Windows XP SP2 which fixed a whole range of problems. My advice to you is, if you computers is running fine then I would not bother with the download. You should wait a little while just until Microsoft has managed to fix a few of the bugs.

Source - NZ Herald

Microsoft Windows Vista with SP1 download official: Boxed version on sale 19th March

Oh yes it is finally here and official, you can as of today get your hands on Microsoft Windows Vista with SP1, you will be able to download SP1 as of today or get boxed copies from Amazon (Details Below).

The exact date was a little scare of when we would get to see the real SP1, well now you can rest your mind easy. The details below are definitely showing that you can get the 3 different boxed versions of Microsoft Windows Vista with SP1.

The boxed versions will be ready for release tomorrow (19th March).

Microsoft did drop the price of Windows Vista Ultimate (Full), Windows Vista Ultimate (Upgrade), and Windows Vista Home Premium (Upgrade) to $319, $219, and $129, but what is interesting is the fact Amazon are selling these products as of tomorrow (19th March) and the software prices range from -

Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1 Upgrade - $94.99

Windows Vista Ultimate with SP1 Upgrade - $194.99

Windows Vista Ultimate with SP1 - $299.99

New Windows Update: Microsoft have pulled out all the stops

Microsoft seems to be heading in the wrong direct with their latest Windows update, piracy in Asia is pretty bad and this one really does beat them all.

Ok looking at the picture above clearly shows what Egypt are doing to the new Windows, welcome to Windows potato chips in cool Ketchup flavour, would have been better if it was Ballmer sauce flavour.

Source

Microsoft and Yahoo discuss takeover: Will it happen

It is well known that Microsoft wish to purchase Yahoo, however the first stab at buying Yahoo did not go well for Microsoft. Since then both companies have met again over the possibility of a Microsoft takeover. As I mentioned above, Microsoft tried to make an unsolicited offer for the sum of $42 billion, one that Yahoo rejected.

The meeting between Microsoft and Yahoo, the second and third biggest search engine companies did not sit down to discuss money. Instead they wanted to meet so that they could discuss what Microsoft wanted to do with Yahoo if they did accept an offer.

Nothing else is known about the outcome of the meeting. Do you think that this takeover will ever happen?

Source - Reuters

Xbox 360 say no to Blu-Ray drive: Microsoft to focus on digital downloads

Since HD DVD gave up the fight after losing so badly to Blu-ray, it cam as no surprise that we thought that Microsoft would want to use the Blu-ray player for their Xbox 360. Many rumors circulated that Microsoft was in talks with Sony to introduce the Blu-ray player add-on, however Microsoft has since strongly denied that they are in talks with Sony.

Aaron Greenberg is the product manager for Xbox 360, and he has said that “Xbox is not currently in talks with Sony or the Blu-ray Association to integrate Blu-ray into the Xbox experience.” Sony said that they are glad to welcome Microsoft, however it seems that Microsoft are not so crazy on the idea.

Microsoft are not interested in a Blu-ray player at all, instead they are looking to focus on digital downloads. They feel that the future is in High-Def movie rentals using Xbox Live.

Source - Reuters

Would you want a Blu-ray player for your Xbox 360?

Microsoft has built a Surface PC with a Spherical Display

The Microsoft Surface tabletop computer is very impressive with its cool technology, but how about a Surface PC with a Spherical Display. This is what’s rumored to be in development from Microsoft according to ZDNet.

We are hearing that Microsoft’s Surface multi-touch technology will be adapted to be included in walls, kitchen counters, desks, cellphones, of next-generation PCs and other gadgets over the next five to ten years.

Internet Explorer 8 Beta released today: what is new about IE 8?

Today is the launch of Internet Explorer 8 Beta; the download is now available from the Microsoft website. The IE 8 Beta is aimed at developers, Microsoft is asking for people to go and try out their new browser. One word of warning though, proceed with caution as people have said that after installing Internet Explorer 8 Beta, they experienced a number of browser crashes.

So what is new about IE 8, I have been happy for some time now with my Internet Explorer 7. Microsoft does say that with this new browser you are able to recover tabs, this will help prevent the loss of any work that you have done. If you have a Google and Yahoo toolbar installed, I would not upgrade the browser to IE 8 as it could crash.

What is new about Internet Explorer 8?

Source - Washington Post

Strong Sony PS3 resurgence forces another Xbox 360 price cut in Europe

We know that the Sony PS3 has been seeing resurgence in sales figures; this is due to more titles coming out and also the fact that it has a Blu-ray player built in. With this in mind it seems as if Microsoft has been forced into a corner, as they preferred the HD DVD player.

With sales now falling for the Xbox 360 it seems as if there could be a price cut just around the corner. It seems as if the Xbox is falling far behind the once slow to get going Sony PlayStation. The PS3 has had a number of firmware updates to make it a better games console, and also the release of the introduction of DualShock3 is yet another nail in the coffin for the big and bulky Xbox 360.
Europe is to get a price cut of €50, some time near March 14th.

Source - Tech Radar

Microsoft StartKey: Windows and Live settings on flash memory gadgets, USB, SD card, etc

It was May 2007 when Microsoft announced plans to team up with SanDisk to create a suitable U3 replacement, now some 10 months later we are hearing a little news on that replacement…named Microsoft StartKey.

This Windows companion will let you take your Windows and Windows Live settings with you; this can be on any flash memory gadget like an SD card, USB drive, etc. The information is still thin, but we are hearing a beta form should be out by the end of 2008.

Source: Read | Via Toms Hardware and Engadget

Microsoft Surface at 2008 National Heads-Up Poker Championship Drawing Party

Back in 2007 we were meant to see a rollout of the Microsoft Surface at a number of Harrah’s casino properties; however it seemed as if Surface was hit by some delays. Well Microsoft Surface will be making an appearance at the upcoming 2008 National Heads-Up Poker Championship Drawing Party, which is being held at Caesar’s Palace.

Microsoft is allowing a number of B and C list celebrities to have a play with Surface while at this gambling event. However these celebrities could not get too exited as they were only allowed to write their names on photographs of themselves.

Source – Engadget via Harrahs Surface

Microsoft to cut price of Windows Vista worldwide: will you upgrade from XP

We have just that Microsoft is to cut the price of their operating system Windows Vista, the price cuts will be introduced worldwide in over 70 countries. At the moment Windows Vista Ultimate costs about Read more

Class-action lawsuit status for Microsoft Windows Vista Capable stickers

If the massive fine of $1.4bn (€899 million) by the European Commission was not bad enough for Microsoft, we are now hearing that the Vista Capable sticker lawsuit has been given class-action status by a federal judge Read more

Hotmail Outage: Microsoft e-mail users having trouble gaining access

The Hotmail email service from Microsoft seems to be suffering from an outage; many users have complained that they can’t get into their e-mail accounts. According to Global and Mail Microsoft Corp. have said that they Read more

Internet Explorer 8 from Microsoft has landed: Well Private Beta Anyway

For those of you who thought that Microsoft did not go far enough with the features on Internet Explorer 7, then you will be happy to know that some of those issues have Read more

The death of HD DVD shows a weak side to Microsoft

Ok so unless you have been living on another planet, you would already know that the HD DVD format is pretty much dead. With the death of this format many people have been drawing up their own Read more

Get a Free Microsoft Zune every day until end of March

Microsoft has launched a new contest where you will have the chance to win a new 8GB Zune player every day until the end of March. This great giveaway is available Read more

Microsoft Windows Vista SP1 tested, performance boost missing & slows down tasks

Ok over the last few months everybody has hear about Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, but is it all what it is cracked up to be? Well CNET had a crack at testing it and came up with Read more

Vista SP1 slower and Microsoft told to keep selling Windows XP till 2009

With Windows XP having a cut-off point for new XP licenses on June 30th, Microsoft are being told by analysts to keep selling XP till 2009.

The story is that most customers are not ready for Vista and the June 30 cut-off date for new XP licenses will still be too soon Read more

Microsoft announce offer of $44.6 Billion for Yahoo: Is this a good idea?

Microsoft have just announced what was a rumor for a while a formal offer of $44.6 Billion for Yahoo, the proposal to Yahoo’s board of directors represents $31 per share which is a 62% premium over Read more

Do you want a new Microsoft Xbox 360? Just email Bill Gates

Now this is pretty good if you are in need of a new Microsoft Xbox 360 because your old one is dead in the water. Ok we all know that there are reoccurring problems with the 360 and some say it is not the Read more