iTunes 10 available today; new social network Ping

Posted Sep.01, 2010 under Apple/Mac

iTunes 10 is available later today, sporting several new features that change how you browse and discover content. This update also comes with a brand new icon, as Apple felt that the CD was outdated and that we as a whole are moving to digital downloads.

Apple has looked more at how screen real estate will be used, and how it can be optimized. With that in mind, the company has decided is that in list view, if there are five or more songs in a row with the same album, then the album art will be shown instead of the repeated text of the album title.

Coming with the new update is Apple’s new social network, Ping. Ping is designed to help users find new music, concerts, and connect with friends. This will work much like a hybrid of Facebook and Twitter. You will be able to follow your friends and artists, and they will be able to post images, videos, posts, and show recent activity. Naturally, you will have to setup up a profile associated with your iTunes account to use this feature.

On an artist’s page you will be able to see their favorite songs, posts they have made, as well as their next concerts. There will also be a “Follow” button so you can get all of their updates right on your main page.

For your friends, Ping will show their recent songs, posts, concerts they are going to, and people they are following. Privacy however has not been overlooked as you have the option to make all content available to everyone, or you can keep it in a close circle of friends. When viewing profiles and feeds, videos and photos, or photo galleries are able to be accessed right from that page.

Ping will has over 17,000 concert listings, you will get custom song and album charts based on your friends, and you can post your thoughts and opinions. Ping will also be available on the iPhone and iPod Touch. In the iTunes store on the mobile devices, there will be a “Ping” button.

iTunes 10 is available today, right here, to 160 million iTunes users in 23 countries.

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Microsoft goes all double rainbow with Windows Live Photo Gallery

Posted Sep.01, 2010 under Microsoft, Windows Live

Microsoft has gone all double rainbow today in Redmond.

The software giant has pumped out a promo video for its Windows Live Photo Gallery application. The twist you ask? It features Paul “Bear” Vasquez, famous for his excited reaction to a double rainbow. The Microsoft workers invited bear to Seattle in order to film the special video.

“When I first showed the Windows Live team the famous “Double Rainbow” video back in July they thought it was hilarious. But when I said I wanted him to come and do a video with us, they looked at me as if I had been seeing rainbows all day…they thought I was kidding. I e-mailed Bear that night and sure enough, he responded, and with great enthusiasm,” wrote Microsoft worker Connor Lanman in a company blog posting today.

But what does it mean? Well Microsoft called on Bear to show him how to capture a full on double rainbow with Windows Live Photo Gallery using the panorama stitch feature. The video is light-hearted and comic and shows an un-usual side of Microsoft which is genuinely funny. Enjoy.

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Windows 7 Family Pack returns October 3

Posted Sep.01, 2010 under Microsoft, Windows 7

Microsoft announced today on their Windows Team Blog that the Windows 7 Family Pack will be making a return to the market, just in time for the one-year anniversary of Windows 7′s retail debut.

Windows 7 Family Pack will allow consumers to upgrade any three computers in their house-hold to Windows 7 Premium. Consumers can upgrade either their Windows XP or Windows Vista PCs to Windows 7 Premium, with compatible hardware. But don’t worry if you are worried if your hardware can handle it, you can download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor through Microsoft.com to check whether your computers are Windows 7 ready.

Consumers should take note that they need Windows XP or Vista Starter, Home Basic or Home Premium to be eligible for the upgrade, and the Family Pack is only meant for upgrading.

Windows 7 was released nearly a year ago, on October 22, 2009. The OS originally released to manufacturing over one year ago. Microsoft announced that Windows 7 is the fastest selling operating system in history, selling over 175 million licenses to date. The company is projected to sell 300 million by the end of 2010.

Microsoft’s success with Windows 7 began before the product was even widely available. Released in October 2009, the operating system has received praise from consumers, businesses and the media. In November 2009, Windows 7 managed to surpass Apple’s Snow Leopard market share in just two weeks. In early February it was revealed that Windows 7 had reached 10% market share in just three months.

Windows 7 has also driven an uptake of 64-bit computing. According to ChangeBASE research, conducted with senior IT decision makers, more than 65% of businesses hoped to migrated to Windows 7 within 12 months of its release. Over 50% of those migrating will be choosing the 64-bit route. Microsoft confirmed earlier this year, that nearly half of all Windows 7 PCs run 64-bit versions.

The Family Pack was discontinued last year, but Microsoft is bringing it back on October 3, 2010, at least while supplies last. Windows 7 Family Pack will sell for $149.99 USD and can be picked up at your local retailer or online at the Microsoft Store.

Windows 7 Family Pack will be available in the United States, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Australia and many other markets.

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Windows Phone 7 released to manufacturing

Posted Sep.01, 2010 under Microsoft, Windows

Microsoft has officially finished Windows Phone 7 today. The software giant has officially released Windows Phone 7 to manufacturing (RTM).

The final build and code has been shipped to Microsoft’s hardware and carrier partners to allow them to integrate their own software and services before devices ship later this year. Paul Thurrott notes that there has been several last minute changes to Windows Phone 7 including:

  • Facebook contacts filtering in the People hub
  • Facebook “Like” capability from the People hub
  • Various user interface updates, including a new Search button in the contacts list.

Windows Phone 7 the most thoroughly tested mobile platform the folks at Redmond have ever shipped. According to Microsoft they had nearly ten thousand devices running automated tests daily, over a half million hours of active self-hosting use, over three and a half million hours of stress test passes, and eight and a half million hours of fully automated test passes. Microsoft has had thousands of independent software vendors and early adopters testing Windows Phone 7 and providing feedback.

“We are ready” said Terry Myerson, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of Windows Phone engineering. “This has been one of the most incredible product development efforts I’ve ever been a part of. Today’s milestone is exciting not just because of what we’ll deliver to customers later this year, but how it sets us up for success over the long term in the mobile space… we’re really just getting started.”

Windows Phone 7 is expected to be available in October for those in Europe and November for those in the US. If you’re interested in more about Windows Phone 7 then please see our in-depth preview.

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