News (393)

Microsoft makes Windows 7 name final

For the first time in recent memory, Microsoft has chosen to stick with its code name for a final Windows release. Read more »

Linux 'teething problems' affect netbook returns

The return rate on Linux-powered netbooks may be higher than that for Windows netbooks, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing for Linux, according to Linux vendor Canonical. Read more »

Windows XP gets another lifeline

Bowing to continued demand, Microsoft has again extended the life of Windows XP. Read more »

Ballmer hints at 'Windows Cloud'

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer told a crowd in London this week that Microsoft this month will show off its new development environment for internet-based applications, dubbed "Windows Cloud". Read more »

Vista shunned in business survey

A new survey shows Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system is still playing second fiddle to XP with business users, with more enterprises confessing to checking out the unreleased Windows 7 OS than its predecessor. Read more »

Early Windows 7 will be out at PDC

Microsoft confirmed on Wednesday in the US that developers attending a Microsoft conference next month will get an early version of Windows 7 to take home. Read more »

Google denies disassembling Vista code for Chrome

The source code underlying Google's Chrome web browser suggests Google used a reverse-engineering technique called disassembly to figure out how to use a useful Windows Vista security feature, but the company has denied doing this. Read more »

No email program for Windows 7

Microsoft has decided that Windows 7 won't include built-in programs for e-mail, photo editing, and movie making, as was done with Windows Vista. Read more »

Windows 7 gets closer

Although a public test version of Windows 7 is still at least a month away, Microsoft has hit a key internal milestone, according to several Windows enthusiast sites. Read more »

Google Chrome's open source ally: Microsoft

During Google's launch of its Chrome Web browser, the company went out of its way to acknowledge the debt it owes two open source projects, Firefox and WebKit. But Microsoft, an uncommon ally in the open source realm, might also deserve a tip of the hat. Read more »

Features (47)

50 significant moments from internet history

We take you through 50 defining moments of the internet. Read more »

Microsoft unveils the F# programming language

This article kicks the tyres on the September 2008 Community Technology Preview of F#. Read this brief overview of the programming language's features and environment. Read more »

10 ways the credit crunch will hit IT

As job losses mount and with HP announcing it will lay off tens of thousands of workers following its purchase of EDS, we look at what the crunch means for the IT industry. Read more »

10 surprising things about Windows Server 2008

When you take a look at Windows Server 2008, you'll discover big changes -- including some legitimate improvements. This article outlines a few of the unexpected aspects of the new OS, both good and bad. Read more »

Why Chrome will win and why it will lose

Google dipped its mighty toe into the increasingly crowded world of internet browsers today with the announcement of Chrome. We spoke to industry experts and Google's new rivals to find out why Chrome matters and whether the browser reality can deliver on the hype. Read more »

Brazil's love of Linux

Walk into the Ponto Frio electronics store at Sao Paulo, Brazil, which proudly displays a penguin-shaped logo, and you will find a healthy supply of Linux PCs alongside the usual Windows machines. Read more »

How to create a Blue Screen of Death

Feeling nostalgic about the Microsoft Blue Screen of Death, which used to plague desktops in the bad old days of Windows? No need to keep those feelings locked away. This handy guide will show you how to force your PC to recreate the infamous error. Read more »

Are you going to upgrade to Windows Server 2008?

There is a lot of hype in the IT industry when it comes to new releases of products. Look at the iPhone, Windows Vista, WiMax, OS X Leopard. This article digs through the hype to help you make a decision for yourself whether migrating to Windows Server 2008 will be worth it in the next 18-24 months. Read more »

Vista is sunk

It's not really a mid-life crisis, not really. But eighteen months after Vista appeared - and eighteen months before Windows 7 - Vista has bought a metaphoric red sports car and a new pair of tight jeans, and is getting ready to go on the pull. Read more »

Five ways Microsoft could change after Gates

Bill Gates has left the building and the question on many people's lips is: will Microsoft change as a result? What influence will Steve Ballmer have and how will the company's strategy alter without Gates? Read more »

Video (23)

Seinfeld, Wiimotes and Woz -- Club Builder

On this episode of Club Builder: Jerry Seinfeld is the new face of Vista, we learn how to make a cheap whiteboard, and Woz talks about Steve Jobs. Read more »

Tinfoil Time -- Club Builder

What does an ex-NSA scientist think about code reviews? Can Bill Gates predict the future? Will Windows 7 save Vista? All the answers in this week's Club Builder! Read more »

Charney: App vendors are the weakest security link

Microsoft now builds security into products such as Vista but attackers have shifted their focus to applications so software vendors are the weakest link, says the VP of Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing Group. Read more »

Windows 7: The anti-Vista

Microsoft is maintaining a cloak of silence around its next major release of Windows. ZDNet Editor in Chief Larry Dignan talks with blogger colleagues Mary Jo Foley, editor of All about Microsoft, and Ed Bott, editor of Microsoft Report, about the road map for Windows 7, including feature sets, timelines,... Read more »

Vista UAC prompts unexpected, not intuitive: Microsoft

Scott Charney, who heads up Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing division, admitted this week that Windows Vista's User Account Control (UAC) prompts are unexpected and not intuitive. Read more »

Why Vista UAC can't stop malware: Microsoft

User Account Control (UAC), the 'annoying' security feature in Windows Vista, will not stop malware from infecting PCs, according Roger Grimes, a member of Microsoft's software security team. Read more »

Microsoft looks to hardware for protection

Scott Charney, VP of the Trustworthy Computing Group, talks about some "fundamental engineering changes" that have to happen to properly secure software -- including binding Windows and other apps with PC hardware. Read more »

Microsoft rocks -- Club Builder

Microsoft's internal video about Vista and SP1, OOXML as a Microsoft's marketing tool and more. Read more »

Buzz Report: The humiliation of Vista

Vista's descent is complete with one internal Microsoft video. Also, Blockbuster + Circuit City and special correspondent Brian Cooley. Read more »

Vista's annoyance was planned?!!? -- Club Builder

We shouldn't be surprised that Vista's security prompts were designed to be annoying. We also look at the new security paradigm and how playing dumb can help defend piracy. Read more »

Blog (46)

XP stays on life support for longer

Staff [blogs:syslog] -- This week's Roundup looks at Microsoft's decision to extend the life of Windows XP, the release of Microsoft Surface SDK, Firefox's new Geode plug-in, Yahoo's new tool -- Smush It and more. Read more »

Windows 7 is Vista--

Staff [blogs:syslog] -- The prevailing consensus is that Windows 7 will be Vista++, but it may actually be Vista--, as Microsoft confirmed that they would be removing the built-in programs for e-mail, photo editing and movie making Read more »

Is software development international?

Staff [blogs:syslog] -- A quick glance across the developer agenda for the next couple of months sees a number of our industry favourites hosting the European versions of some of the events and meetings that have been staged stateside this summer. Read more »

Confirmation: Vista is about nothing

Staff [blogs:syslog] -- The man who has made a career from making humourous observations on the mundane things in life, is bringing his skills to promoting a slighted OS. It looked good on paper: get Jerry Seinfeld, one of the world's most successful clean comedians, to promote Vista. But was it really thought through? Read more »

Windows XP's last hurrah

Staff [blogs:syslog] -- The mere fact that Microsoft will stop widespread sale of Windows XP at the end of the day has been a topic here and elsewhere for months. The most immediate question is, with Windows XP moving off the stage, just where is Windows Vista? Read more »

XO to run XP

Staff [blogs:syslog] -- When Bill Gates says that everything in the world should be a computer, what he means is that everything in the world should be running Windows. Read more »

RIP: iPhone carrier monopoly

Staff [blogs:syslog] -- Each time an iPhone launch story appears, one can almost feel thousands of credit cards shudder in collective fear. This week the landscape for the iPhone began to crystallise with confirmation of multiple carriers and a very good indication that the iPhone in Australia would be 3G. Read more »

Do vendors read their own EULAs?

Staff [blogs:syslog] -- If you've ever had Safari installed under Windows then you were a software thief -- until last night. Read more »

What to Expect in Java SE 7

Staff [blogs:syslog] -- At the Sun Tech Days Australia Conference last week, I attended Chuk-Munn Lee's presentation "Java SE 6 Top 10 Features and Java SE 7". Here are some features we can expect to see in Java SE 7. Read more »

Microsoft says "open sesame"

Staff [blogs:syslog] -- While you may have been out last night watching the latest Rambo adventure with Sly Stallone making war for war's sake, Microsoft was busy declaring a truce with the open source community. Read more »

Others (1)

Sneak peek at Tech.Ed 06

In this picture gallery we take a look behind the scenes at Tech.Ed 06. Read more »

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  • Staff XP stays on life support for longer

    This week's Roundup looks at Microsoft's decision to extend the life of Windows XP, the release of Microsoft Surface SDK, Firefox's new Geode plug-in, Yahoo's new tool -- Smush It and more. Read more »

    -- posted by Staff

  • Chris Duckett The good and truly awful celluloid depictions of computers

    Ever wonder why your lawyer uncle leaves the room whenever you turn over to Boston Legal? Or why your forensic science cousin can't stand crime drama? You know the answer: it’s the horrid trivialisation and dumbing down of an occupation to make it appear entertaining. Sometimes it is so unbelievable that it actually hurts and yelling at the screen is the only outlet. Read more »

    -- posted by Chris Duckett

  • Brendon Chase Apple's iPhone engineers to tour Sydney, Melbourne

    Aussie developers will be able to get up close and personal with some of the iPhone engineers in November to learn how to build applications for the platform. Read more »

    -- posted by Brendon Chase

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