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The Ultimate WinKey Compendium

By Liam, October 8, 2007

For such a huge push as the one Microsoft gave to get the Windows Logo Key included in all keyboards destined to work with Windows, it sure seems like they’ve neglected to do anything with it. Of course, it also seems like Clark Kent is a mild-mannered reporter for the Daily Planet, but boy do I have a shocker for you. 

In fact, there is a sizeable amount of shortcuts activated by the WinKey, but no definitive list from Microsoft (or anyone else that I’m aware of.) All of the WinKey shortcuts are system-wide, so you can focus the taskbar no matter what app you’re in. Many of these shortcuts were added for Windows Vista, and while some are obviously new (see: anything controlling the sidebar), some might not be so easily spotted. If I have missed any, go ahead and wave that fact around like a Special Olympics gold medal (I’m gonna get sued for that one.)

  • windows_logo - Opens the Start Menu. 
  • windows_logo + E - Opens an Explorer window. 
  • windows_logo + R - Opens the Run dialog. 
  • windows_logo + T - Focuses the taskbar. 
  • windows_logo + U - Opens the Ease of Access control panel. (Vista)
  • windows_logo + D - Shows the desktop,…
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How would you improve Microsoft’s services?

By UnnDunn, October 5, 2007

Larry Hryb (AKA Major Nelson), Xbox Live’s director of programming, recently posted an interesting question on his blog about what Microsoft doesn’t ‘get’ when it comes to designing and implementing new services.

This is the comment I made in response to that question. Let me know what you think.

I think Microsoft’s main problem is they think too logically and not emotionally enough when developing new services.

I like Microsoft’s products because of this (I’m an intensely logical, pragmatic person,) but I also recognize that a lot of people don’t like them for the same reason.

Take Zune and the Zune Pass for example. Pay a little bit every month, get access to millions of songs. But if you stop paying, you lose access to those songs. I love that kind of service; it’s totally logical and it makes sense to me as a great, cheap way to indulge my eclectic musical tastes. But lots of people hate it; all they see is that you pay and pay, and in the end you come away with “nothing”. That’s purely emotional, because you don’t come away with “nothing”, you come away having had the chance to listen to tons of great…
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Microsoft Releases Internet TV Beta

By Liam, September 28, 2007

Uploaded ImageBrowsing Movie Trailers.

Today, Microsoft released a beta of a project called Internet TV. Essentially, Internet TV is Microsoft’s answer to Joost, tied into Windows Media Center. Currently, the service pulls content only from MSN Video. Quality is claimed to be suitable for TV viewing.

Microsoft has stated that there are 100 hours of content currently available. The service is available for free with advertising shown periodically from the YuMe advertising platform. Available content includes full TV episodes of Arrested Development, full-length music concerts, movie trailers, news clips, and sports clips.

The beta is available to users of Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate (the two versions of Vista that ship with Media Center by default,) and is automatically downloaded and added to the Media Center interface.

En mi opinion: Having tested this for a bit, it does work fairly well. Unfortunately, the video quality is below average and is obviously being scaled up from YouTube-like quality settings. The ads aren’t that annoying, I haven’t had them interrupt any video, they were just inserted between videos. I haven’t tried watching a full TV episode, however, to see how that’s handled. Video plays smoothly, no stopping to buffer or anything of that nature. Certainly worth a look if you’ve got the means.


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Microsoft Downplays Stealth Windows Update

By UnnDunn, September 13, 2007

Responding to a pair of posts from ZDnet blogger Adrian Kingsley-Hughes detailing certain Windows system files being updated without notification or permission, Microsoft today issued a clarification on their Windows Update team blog:

One question we have been asked is why do we update the client code for Windows Update automatically if the customer did not opt into automatically installing updates without further notice?  The answer is simple: any user who chooses to use Windows Update either expected updates to be installed or to at least be notified that updates were available.  Had we failed to update the service automatically, users would not have been able to successfully check for updates and, in turn, users would not have had updates installed automatically or received expected notifications.

...

The point of this explanation is not to suggest that we were as transparent as we could have been; to the contrary, people have told us that we should have been clearer on how Windows Update behaves when it updates itself. This is helpful and important feedback, and we are now looking at the best way to clarify WU’s behavior to customers so that they can more clearly understand how WU works.

In other words, Windows Update has to update itself in order notify you that there are Windows Updates available. You got that? Good. wink


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Sun to become Windows Server OEM

By UnnDunn, September 12, 2007

Remember when Sun used to hate Microsoft? Apparently, neither does Sun, because in a joint announcement, Sun and Microsoft today revealed that Sun will sell Windows Server on their x64 hardware.

Just in case you weren’t convinced that Sun and Microsoft are BFFs, check out some of the quotes from the press release:

“Today’s announcement is another example of Microsoft’s commitment to 64-bit computing,” said Bob Muglia, senior vice president, Server and Tools Business at Microsoft. “The Sun hardware platform is an excellent foundation for Windows®-based enterprise solutions such as Microsoft Virtual Server, Microsoft SQL Server™, Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Edition. Our customers will have an additional choice of Windows Server OEM partners with Sun.”

“Sun is now a single source for today’s leading operating systems — Solaris and Windows — on the industry’s most innovative x64 systems and storage products. Customers can now take advantage of the virtualization benefits of Windows and Solaris on Sun’s energy-efficient x64 systems,” said John Fowler, executive vice president, Systems Group, Sun Microsystems. “Microsoft’s recognition of our x64 systems and storage is a testament to the superior system design at the heart of our product portfolio.”

In related news, Solaris 10 still exists. Just in case you forgot. wink


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