journal: win

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.

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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.

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Guitar Hero III - coming soon to a Mac or PC near you!

By Nick, September 12, 2007

Okay so you’ve just spent the last three hours playing Guitar Hero on your console, but now you have to get down to business and write that paper that’s due tomorrow on your computer. But what’s that? Guitar Hero III will be released for Windows and Mac OS X?

Goodbye, productivity; we hardly knew thee.

Yup, that’s right, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock will make its debut this fall as expected, but game port house Aspyr will also release a hybrid disc containing a version for Windows and (surprise!) Mac OS X.

In an interview with GameDaily BIZ, Jay Gordon of Aspyr states that that the company is “working toward a simultaneous ship with the console version.” He also notes that, “all of us in this business know that dates can slip, so we’ll let you know when we’re able to announce a ship date. We’re quite certain that you’ll see Guitar Hero III for PC/Mac in stores before the holidays.”

The Mac/PC version of Guitar Hero III will feature a guitar with USB connectivity modeled after a Gibson guitar. Details regarding system requirements and pricing has yet to come (I’ll be happy as long as it runs on a MacBook ).

Outstanding. My guitar-junkie brother will be pleased. It’s also nice seeing that Mac users won’t be left out of the Guitar Hero fun.

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John C. Dvorak Now Recommends Macs Over Windows PCs

By Mac Fan, August 3, 2007

John C. Dvorak is an infamous Mac basher and writer for PC Magazine. In a recent column of his titled “Me and My Mac”, John says he’s using a Mac and now recommends them to friends and neighbors.

John says,

I can see why the Mac is gaining market share, because the rationale for using one is simple. Do you want to deal with the agony of antivirus, firewall, antispyware, and other touchy software subsystems, many of which do not work well? Or do you want to boot Microsoft Word and write a document and be done with it?

Generally speaking, the interface is slicker than the PC’s, and you get the sense that the computer isn’t about to start acting weird because of some virus, spyware, or endless Firefox loading procedure going on in the background and killing all the cycles of the computer.

John has finally realized what Mac fans have been saying for years, it just works. He uses a word to describe Windows that I’ve been using for a long time, “hassle”. I find Windows to be full of hassles.

First you have Chris Pirillo (longtime Windows advocate) break up with Vista and switch back to XP, now you have John C. Dvorak recommending Macs! It’s not a good year for Windows fans.

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Fullscreen playback now in free Quicktime

By Liam, July 12, 2007

Quicktime 7.2, released on July 11th, was not a major update. It fixed a few bugs and patched a few security vulnerabilities. It also added fullscreen video playback to the free version of Quicktime, a feature that has remained Quicktime Pro only for a long time. Many have wondered why that is, but now Apple has had a change of heart.