Category: Windows

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.

View: Source

Tags: , , ,
1 Comment

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.

View: Source

Tags: , , ,
1 Comment

Internet Explorer 9 UI revealed

Posted Aug.25, 2010 under Microsoft, Windows 7, Windows Vista

Long-time Microsoft journalist Mary Jo Foley (ZDNET) appears to have come across the real thing. We’re now around 20 days out from the expected launch date for the IE9 beta, but it seems that Microsoft Russia have gotten a little ahead of themselves and posted an official screenshot of IE9. We confirmed this screenshot is real through sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans.

The site has since been pulled (of course), so the above screenshot is all you’ll get for now. The screenshot doesn’t feature a date/time, but it does show off the ‘new’ IE9 icon in the taskbar. Although it’s always hard to trust an online translator, Mary has found out the following:

  • Tabs can be ‘torn off’, and possibly ‘snapped’ via Windows 7′s Aero Snap feature.
  • Dragging a ‘pin’ from the address bar creates a link on your taskbar.
  • There’s a combined search and address bar (as with Google’s Chrome).
  • IE9 only has one menu, consolidating the six menus found in IE8.

Although suggested sites appears to be missing, along with a few other icons we’ve been used to seeing along the top of an IE browser window, there still appears to be home, favorites and settings buttons in the top right-hand corner of the window.

Like it or hate it, this one definitely seems to be on the money. It’s simpler, as we’ve been promised, and the design fits in well with what Microsoft has been putting out lately. Can you wait 20 days?

View: Source

Tags: , ,
1 Comment

Windows Live Essentials 2011 beta 2 available now

Posted Aug.17, 2010 under Microsoft, Windows 7, Windows Live, Windows Vista

Microsoft has just released the next major version of the Windows Live Essentials 2011 beta suite. The package comes with a number of improvements, bug fixes and added features.

Microsoft originally released a Windows Live Essentials beta on June 24. Essentials includes the popular programs Windows Live Movie Maker, Mail, Writer, Sync, and Family Safety. The Windows Live team has aimed to ensure that the next version of Windows Live Essentials takes advantage of Windows 7 fully. All applications now use the new ribbon UI and integrate further into Windows 7 by using Jumplists. Windows Live Sync is also included which keeps your files synchronized on the web and across multiple PCs.

Microsoft also introduced several new features for Windows Live Photo Gallery, including photo fusing to blend photos together and improved facial recognition.

Download Windows Live Essentials 2011 beta refresh (English full installer)

Build number: 15.4.3001.809.

Some applications carry a different build number, so here is a master list of the versions:

  • Movie Maker – 15.4.3002.0810
  • Messenger – 15.4.3002.0810
  • Mail – 15.4.3002.0810
  • Photo Gallery -15.4.3002.0810
  • Sync – 15.4.3001.0809
  • Family Safety – 15.4.3001.0809
  • Writer – 15.4.3001.0809

View: Source

Tags: , , ,
2 Comments

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner