THE INTRODUCTION OF WINDOWS 7
Much has been discussed about Microsoft and its annual system application upgrades. Vista has since been scrutinized for its many defects. Taking note of this, Microsoft has developed Windows 7, described as a more reliable upgrade than its predecessor Vista. Michael Pietroforte gave us more insight of Windows 7 in his 4Sysops article which includes a Windows 7 complete feature list.
Probably the most important is that there is already a new version of RSAT (Remote Server Administration Tools), which allows you to manage Windows Sever 2008 R2. These tools can also be used to administer some roles and features of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2003. In my opinion, it was one of Microsoft’s biggest mistakes to release Vista without a replacement for the Adminpak tools.
And though Microsoft is moving ahead with its innovative ideas and new applications, its “battle” with European Commission (EC) regarding Internet Explorer, has reached new heights that are both bizarre and puzzling as Michael Pietroforte explains in another 4sysops article:” If it is really true that it is against the law for a company to decide what kind of features a software product can have, then there is obviously something wrong with this law. To escape insane fines, Microsoft has decided to ship Windows 7 in Europe without Internet Explorer. Manufacturers and customers will have the option to install Internet Explorer. All Windows 7 editions sold in the European Union will have an “E” at the end of the product name.”
THE RETURN OF SEADRAGON
Seadragon.com, which is located at the top of Windows Azure, is a simple yet special site that allows the user to share images of pretty much any size on the web as a zoomable photo. Microsoft recently launched this incredible feature which has the potential impact to influence presentation methods in social networks such as Facebook and Twitter should it be adopted by either, as explained in Geek In Disguise Blog.
With Seadragon.com you end up with a URL that can be shared on Facebook, Twitter, or through email or IM. Or embed it directly on your blog, eBay listing or virtually any site…if sites like eBay and Amazon were to adopt this it’d have a great impact for certain purchases where you need to see a lot of detail.
BUNDLING FIREFOX AND CHROME WITH WINDOWS
Recently featured in Dana Oshiro’s Read Write Web article, Microsoft offered to give consumers a choice of browser installation through a browser ballot screen consisting of Firefox and Chrome.
According to Stat Counter, Internet Explorer currently holds the majority market share for browsers at 61%. The next competitor is Firefox with roughly 30% of installs and Opera, Safari and Chrome make up the difference. With the new multi-browser bundling, competitors will finally reap the rewards of Microsoft’s distribution channels. As new PC’s are purchased, it’s likely that Firefox and Chrome will see a new opportunity to thrive.
INTEGRATING TWITTER IN YOUR MICROSOFT OUTLOOK
Every Microsoft Outlook user would normally have their account open at all times to be aware of newest inboxes. Recently, Microsoft Office Online featured a cool add-in for Outlook users called TwInbox. This add-in seamlessly integrates Twitter into Outlook thus saving the user from having to open any other applications when all features are at their fingertips.
If you are an Outlook user, you probably have it open all the time. Now you can have a fully-featured, powerful Twitter client at your fingertips without having to open any other applications. TwInbox seamlessly integrates Twitter into Outlook. It is a perfect Twitter client for any Outlook user, from a Twitter newbie to a business professional. Compatible with Outlook 2003 and 2007.
A NEW OUTLOOK WEB ACCESS VERSION AND BRINGING FACEBOOK AND TWITTER TO XBOX LIVE
Not satisfied with just a new upgrade in software, Microsoft announced recently that the next version of Exchange server called Exchange 14, includes full support for browsers as explained by Rafe Needleman in a Cnet article.
The Web access product is now called Outlook Live. University users of Microsoft’s free hosted e-mail service (Exchange Labs) will get the beta of the service shortly. Corporate users, who know of Web access to Exchange servers as Outlook Web Access, will get it when their companies upgrade to the Exchange 14 platform.
Cnet News also highlighted an announcement by Microsoft at its annual press briefing at the E3 Expo, that Facebook and Twitter will be featured in Xbox Live, enhancing its interactive features.
With the Facebook app, which will be a download from Xbox Live, members will be able to engage in a limited number of features including photo browsing, status updates, and looking at friends’ profile “streams.” But what’s more important to game developers is the fact that the Facebook Connect standard–which was rolled out first to Web developers, and then to iPhone developers –is coming to the Xbox this fall.
THE E309 OF THE NATAL PROJECT AND A GLIMPSE AHEAD MICROSOFT OFFICE LAB
Speaking about breakthrough technology, Microsoft unveiled Natal: a 3D motion sensing, facial and voice recognizing "controller", which literally lets the user become the controller! Offoworld.com featured an article by Brandon Boyer which gives us more info on this awesome new technology.
Microsoft promised the moon in its demo video for their Project Natal, carrying the tagline that it would “make ‘you’ the controller” and that, as the controller is the current “barrier separating game players from everyone else,” with Natal, “the only experience you need is life experience.”
CODEPAX DEEPEARTH AND THE NEW WINDOWS LIVE MESSENGER WEB TOOLKIT
Live Services highlighted a special open-source project that integrates Microsoft Virtual Earth with the Microsoft Silverlight 2.0 platform called DeepEarth. The Live Demo requires the user to install Silverlight to view its amazing features.
DeepEarth is a mapping control powered by the combination of Microsoft’s Silverlight 2.0 platform and the DeepZoom (MuliScaleImage) control. At its core, it builds on these innovative technologies to provide an architecture for bringing together layers for services, data providers, and your own custom mapping elements together into an impressive user experience.
Live Services also featured a special application by Microsoft called Windows Live Messenger Web Toolkit which consists a set of controls and libraries that enables the user to connect Windows Live Messenger users and their friends in a Network pattern concept. A video demonstration is also included in this insightful article.
The Windows Live Messenger Web Toolkit provides Web sites with three core benefits: User acquisition-Your Web site visitors can help you build your audience on the fly by inviting their friends to your site through instant messaging.
Deeper engagement-The toolkit allows people on your Web site to easily chat with their Messenger friends or others on your site, keeping them their longer.
Return traffic-Bringing people back to your Web site is difficult when the only weapon in your arsenal is email. Using Messenger functionality you can break through the inbox chatter and remind people why your service is so great and worth using.
INTRODUCING B.I.N.G. AND ITS FEATURES
Tech Crunch featured an article by Michael Arrington recently that gave us a bit more info about BING (But It’s Not Google) search engine from Microsoft.
I expected the worst and was pleasantly surprised. The images search was better (more relevant) that what I was getting at Google. I also tried some searches that I normally use Google for and most of the same results came up, in roughly the same order (meaning I could use this thing for real after all). The only problem I see is breaking the habit of using Google. That Bing is actually competent and useful for search is really surprising. MS nailed it.
Tech Crunch also highlighted an article by Erick Schonfeld encouraging the more frequent use of BING based on numerous positive reviews and tests.
Bing, Microsoft’s latest effort to compete in search , is now live on a “preview” site. The key thing to pay attention to is the guided search assistance on the left and the different experiences for the travel, images, video, maps, news, and shopping tabs.
LAY OFFS OF WORKERS AND LOSES OF HALF A BILLION ON THE WEB IN THE LAST QUARTER
Every empire has its occasional downfall, and thus was the case with Microsoft when the economical crisis arrived this year. Tech Crunch featured a sad day in Microsoft’s history as Robin Wauters explains in one of its articles.
In the midst of declining earnings, Microsoft announced today that it will be laying off up to 5,000 people over the next 18 months, or about five percent of its total workforce. Of that amount, 1,400 are losing their jobs today. Microsoft also says that it will continue to hire and that the net headcount reduction over the next 18 months should amount to between 2,000 and 3,000. The layoffs, along with salary freezes, the elimination of contract workers, lower marketing spending, and other measures are expected to reduce operating expenditures by $1.5 billion this fiscal year.
And with the economical crisis looming large upon every business, even Microsoft was not spared of huge loses in recent times as Erick Schonfeld explains in a Tech Crunch article.
Overall, Microsoft’s quarterly net profits declined 11 percent to $4.17 billion for the fiscal period ended in December. Operating profits were down 8 percent to $5.94 billion. If you drill down to the individual operating businesses, every business unit except for Servers and Tools suffered from lower operating profits. The Client division (Windows) took the biggest hit, with operating profits down $440 million to $2.95 billion. (Windows revenues were down 8 percent to $3.98 billion).
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