Some TomTom GPS Systems Shipped With Virus
Simply amazing.
31 January 2007
Microsoft Set To Open R&D Center In China
Microsoft Set To Open R&D Center In China
Microsoft is gearing up to start R&D in China. This makes a lot of sense to me. In my opinion, China will soon become the biggest user base for computers and the internet. By getting a foothold in China, MS will be able to get a foothold in this rapidly expanding market. They need to do this as many of their competitors are already trying to secure beachhead there.
Microsoft is gearing up to start R&D in China. This makes a lot of sense to me. In my opinion, China will soon become the biggest user base for computers and the internet. By getting a foothold in China, MS will be able to get a foothold in this rapidly expanding market. They need to do this as many of their competitors are already trying to secure beachhead there.
30 January 2007
Check here to see if your PC is ready for Vista.
Here is a link to a small tool from Microsoft that will tell you if your system is ready for Vista. It will point out hardware and software that may be an issue for you if you plan on upgrading your current system.
Microsoft Vista Upgrade Advisor
Microsoft Vista Upgrade Advisor
I guess I'm going to have to wait for Vista bliss...
My copy of Vista has not shipped yet and won't be doing so for another week, at the earliest. Well, I guess I'm stuck unless I go out and buy one at Best Buy or something.
29 January 2007
Windows Vista Released: Let's Party!
Windows Vista Released: Let's Party!
Microsoft is holding its official release party for Vista tonight in New York City. It appears to be quite the production from the news reports. I would have loved to be there. Wow. Pretty geeky, huh? So what. This is Microsoft's most advanced release to date and I am excited about it.
The pundits have written about all of the drawbacks and lack of hardware and software to take full advantage of it's features. We have also read about the apparent lack of innovation here. Aside from the lack of hardware and especially software, I disagree with a lot of those comments. I have never been a Microsoft fanboy, but I do see a lot of potential for this new OS. Gaming, for one, should reach technological levels that have not been seen before on the PC platform. Check out Crysis. The interface is refreshing with tons of little features to make everyday computing more interesting. Hopefully, security will be robust enough to keep up with the latest threats.
I was tempted to go pick up a copy at the local brick and mortar tomorrow morning, take the day off, and tinker. I'll wait for the copy I ordered to get here. My copy of Vista Ultimate should be en route as I type this. I am ready to upgrade one of my boxes and start digging around the retail version of the OS.
I'll let you know how I make out.
Rock On.
Microsoft is holding its official release party for Vista tonight in New York City. It appears to be quite the production from the news reports. I would have loved to be there. Wow. Pretty geeky, huh? So what. This is Microsoft's most advanced release to date and I am excited about it.
The pundits have written about all of the drawbacks and lack of hardware and software to take full advantage of it's features. We have also read about the apparent lack of innovation here. Aside from the lack of hardware and especially software, I disagree with a lot of those comments. I have never been a Microsoft fanboy, but I do see a lot of potential for this new OS. Gaming, for one, should reach technological levels that have not been seen before on the PC platform. Check out Crysis. The interface is refreshing with tons of little features to make everyday computing more interesting. Hopefully, security will be robust enough to keep up with the latest threats.
I was tempted to go pick up a copy at the local brick and mortar tomorrow morning, take the day off, and tinker. I'll wait for the copy I ordered to get here. My copy of Vista Ultimate should be en route as I type this. I am ready to upgrade one of my boxes and start digging around the retail version of the OS.
I'll let you know how I make out.
Rock On. 25 January 2007
Will Vista's Enhanced Security Make Gaming More Restrictive?
Will Vista's Enhanced Security Make Gaming More Restrictive?
Here's an interesting article I read on Yahoo.com. It is a short piece on some of the perceived pluses and minuses in the new OS. I want to address the fear of new controls making it harder for developers. I am not a game developer, but I am sure they will figure out how use these features to their benefit.
It seems game developers are skeptical of Microsoft's security endeavors when applied to games. Developers and distributors fear it will make for an inconvenient gaming installation and usage experience.
I tend to disagree with these notions. From what I have read, Vista's security policies and procedures will be different, but will prove to be no more of a nuisance than previous "features" introduced to the OS and web browser.
Today's gamers, especially younger folks, are incredibly savvy when it comes to their games and computers on the whole. They will figure out how to use these features. A few extra clicks will not stop people from installing games on their systems.
What somewhat worries me, are less technically inclined parents finding these features confusing, ultimately discarding any safety nets implemented into the OS.
I think parental controls are a good thing, in general. Parents should be more involved in what their children are exposed to. Microsoft is attempting to meet these needs with their new controls. Hopefully parents will learn how to use these features they have been given.
Bravo, Microsoft for trying.
By the way, Direct X 10 is going to rock. Saving my pennies for a DX10 capable video card...
Here's an interesting article I read on Yahoo.com. It is a short piece on some of the perceived pluses and minuses in the new OS. I want to address the fear of new controls making it harder for developers. I am not a game developer, but I am sure they will figure out how use these features to their benefit.
It seems game developers are skeptical of Microsoft's security endeavors when applied to games. Developers and distributors fear it will make for an inconvenient gaming installation and usage experience.
I tend to disagree with these notions. From what I have read, Vista's security policies and procedures will be different, but will prove to be no more of a nuisance than previous "features" introduced to the OS and web browser.
Today's gamers, especially younger folks, are incredibly savvy when it comes to their games and computers on the whole. They will figure out how to use these features. A few extra clicks will not stop people from installing games on their systems.
What somewhat worries me, are less technically inclined parents finding these features confusing, ultimately discarding any safety nets implemented into the OS.
I think parental controls are a good thing, in general. Parents should be more involved in what their children are exposed to. Microsoft is attempting to meet these needs with their new controls. Hopefully parents will learn how to use these features they have been given.
Bravo, Microsoft for trying.
By the way, Direct X 10 is going to rock. Saving my pennies for a DX10 capable video card...
24 January 2007
Microsoft Pays Blogger For Edits To Wikipedia
Microsoft Pays Blogger For Edits To Wikipedia
I am not sure how I feel about this. On one side, I would expect a company to want to make sure that the information posted on such a website is accurate as well as fair, especially Wikipedia. The Wikipedia has gained huge popularity over the years. The people who run Wikipedia try very hard to make sure that their editors and posters are accurate. They will even put a disclaimer at the top of a questionable entry warning users that their may be bias in the article.
However, many people still view Wiki entires as a definitive source. Many colleges and educational institutions forbid the use of Wikipedia as reference for this very reason.
On the other hand, it could appear that Microsoft wanted to make sure that criticisms were kept out of the post. A lot of Wiki entries have sections explicitly labeled "Criticisms".
Could they have been caught being sneaky?
Could Microsoft have been intentionally trying to make sure that their Wiki entry was was slam free?
Could this just be the tip of the iceberg where large companies will start using their massive financial resources to attempt to control the flow of information? A new trend?
I don't know. Let's hope not.
I am not sure how I feel about this. On one side, I would expect a company to want to make sure that the information posted on such a website is accurate as well as fair, especially Wikipedia. The Wikipedia has gained huge popularity over the years. The people who run Wikipedia try very hard to make sure that their editors and posters are accurate. They will even put a disclaimer at the top of a questionable entry warning users that their may be bias in the article.
However, many people still view Wiki entires as a definitive source. Many colleges and educational institutions forbid the use of Wikipedia as reference for this very reason.
On the other hand, it could appear that Microsoft wanted to make sure that criticisms were kept out of the post. A lot of Wiki entries have sections explicitly labeled "Criticisms".
Could they have been caught being sneaky?
Could Microsoft have been intentionally trying to make sure that their Wiki entry was was slam free?
Could this just be the tip of the iceberg where large companies will start using their massive financial resources to attempt to control the flow of information? A new trend?
I don't know. Let's hope not.
Well, here I am. I am now a blogger. Will anyone actually read this?
Hi Readers,
This is my very first post to my very first blog.
I know. I know.
I am not sure how you found this page, maybe it was the errant click during some obscure web search, or maybe you thought you were going to some other person's blog. I guess it doesn't matter how you got here. I appreciate the fact that you read this far.
"If you consider yourself such a geek, how come you haven't had a blog since it was still only the realm of the uber-geeky?", you ask.
Well, let me try and explain. I never thought I had anything interesting to say. I never had a cool trick or creation that I wanted to show the world. You know what I am talking about. The website, post, or video that everyone seems to want to see. Good Morning America material.
I guess I never really got the point of a blog. So it's this online diary that a person can spill his or her guts to world, share baby pictures, complain about work, etc. I never considered my life that interesting that someone would actually take 5 or 10 minutest to read and not ask for that time to added back to their life after reading it.
After looking at many other blogs, I think I finally "got it". I want to use this precious space to talk about things I find interesting in the computer and technology space. I will post links and commentary to stories and subjects that I find interesting. If you feel compelled to respond or would like to merely sit back and read, it is up to you. If you find my ramblings annoying, feel free to look at something else. I won't be hurt. Well, maybe just a little...
Thanks again for reading this and let's have some fun!
Doug
This is my very first post to my very first blog.
I know. I know.
I am not sure how you found this page, maybe it was the errant click during some obscure web search, or maybe you thought you were going to some other person's blog. I guess it doesn't matter how you got here. I appreciate the fact that you read this far.
"If you consider yourself such a geek, how come you haven't had a blog since it was still only the realm of the uber-geeky?", you ask.
Well, let me try and explain. I never thought I had anything interesting to say. I never had a cool trick or creation that I wanted to show the world. You know what I am talking about. The website, post, or video that everyone seems to want to see. Good Morning America material.
I guess I never really got the point of a blog. So it's this online diary that a person can spill his or her guts to world, share baby pictures, complain about work, etc. I never considered my life that interesting that someone would actually take 5 or 10 minutest to read and not ask for that time to added back to their life after reading it.
After looking at many other blogs, I think I finally "got it". I want to use this precious space to talk about things I find interesting in the computer and technology space. I will post links and commentary to stories and subjects that I find interesting. If you feel compelled to respond or would like to merely sit back and read, it is up to you. If you find my ramblings annoying, feel free to look at something else. I won't be hurt. Well, maybe just a little...
Thanks again for reading this and let's have some fun!
Doug
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