Business

An add-on Microsoft slipped into Mozilla Firefox last February now leaves the browser subject to an attack. The threat is being categorized as a " browse-and-get-owned " situation in which hackers lure users to a compromised website. While Microsoft ... and Mozilla have been browser rivals for years now, their respective agendas have never been to cause any direct harm to one another. The two companies have an unspoken understanding that marketing campaigns and external advertisements used to lure potential users is the most ethical way to win the battle. Now, Microsoft is being made to look ... (view more)

According to a new study, almost 9 out of 10 PCs currently used by businesses are capable of running Windows 7. That's almost double the equivalent proportion when Vista launched. The figures come from IT assessment firm Softchoice. Rather than ... conduct an opinion poll, it gathered the information from the actual set-ups of 248 clients with a total of more than 450,000 Windows computers. The research found that 88 per cent of the computers met the minimum specifications for running Windows 7. That compares with a similar study the firm carried out on Vista's release which found just 50 per ... (view more)

A recent survey conducted by online retailer Retrovo reveals that the majority of PC buyers will take a "wait-and-see" approach before buying Windows 7. Microsoft insists that many of the problems plaguing Windows Vista have been fixed with Windows ... 7, but that remains to be seen. Of the 448 respondents polled, 47 per cent of the PC users surveyed plan to read reviews of Windows 7 before upgrading their machines to Microsoft's new operating system. About 12 per cent of respondents plan to definitely upgrade and 38 per cent said they would not. A total of 3 per cent responded that ... (view more)

Apparently, throwing a Windows 7 party in honor of the new Microsoft operating system is not enough. The Fox network has recently announced an exclusive one-night partnership with Microsoft featuring the ever-controversial grown-up cartoon, "Family ... Guy". The idea for the partnership was instigated by Microsoft in the hopes of generating more interest in Windows 7. Special to Air in November The partnership will not be evident during the 9 p.m. Family Guy timeslot, however. Rather, a special half-hour television special, with the working title "Family Guy Presents: Seth and Alex's ... (view more)

Apple has been criticized over its refusal to refund users who buy iPhone applications ("app") that don't work properly. In most cases, the firm only gives refunds if the app fails to download correctly, but not if the app itself is faulty. The ... issue gained attention when it was raised by New York Times blog writer Eric Taub. He complained that the refund policy means users don't have any opportunity to try an app and get their money back if it is of poor quality. (Source: nytimes.com ) Apple Refusing Refunds for Broken Apps However, David Coursey of PC World notes that in some ... (view more)

With Windows 7 on the verge of public release, Microsoft is already in the initial planning stages for its replacement: Windows 8. 128-Bit Architecture The rumor was acknowledged by Microsoft employee Robert Morgan, who confirmed that not only did ... his employer have a name for the "new" newest operating system, but that plans have begun for proposed features as well. Among those ideas being bounced around for Win8 is a platform which is set to support a 128-bit architecture. Morgan announced, via his LinkedIn profile that he has been part of several "research and development ... (view more)

The next wave of Patch Tuesday remedies will see a total of thirteen bug patches shipped out for immediate repairs. Among the thirteen, Microsoft ranked eight of the patches marked "critical." (Source: theregister.co.uk ) The purpose of the patches ... is to reduce the number of flaws in the coming weeks. However, the latest offering is set to mend 34 vulnerabilities, making this the largest number of security holes ever recorded by Microsoft, edging out the previous Patch Tuesday record of 31 fixes this past June. Microsoft Makes Public Aware The exact details for the planned fix have ... (view more)

It looks almost certain that Microsoft will be redesigning European editions of Windows 7 and its predecessors to offer users a clearer choice of which Internet browser they'd like to use. However, the changes won't be introduced until well past the ... October 22 launch of the new operating system (OS). The European Union will soon begin official testing of a menu system designed by Microsoft. The new menu is meant to answer criticisms that the Redmond-based firm has an unfair advantage by including Internet Explorer as the only browser shipped with Windows. If approved, it could mean the ... (view more)

Computer manufacturers have been accused of excessive shipping charges for a supposedly free Windows 7 upgrade scheme. The fees mean some buyers could wind up paying as much as $17.03 for shipping: far more than the actual costs of delivering the ... upgrade. According to the free Windows 7 deal, people who buy Vista machines before the Windows 7 release date of October 22nd, 2009 will be able to get a "free" copy of Windows 7 upon its release. The aim of the scheme was to minimize the drop in computer purchases over the summer among people who'd otherwise have waited for the new system rather ... (view more)

Microsoft is taking a two-pronged approach to making sure customers know which hardware and software is compatible with Windows 7. It's launching a database of compatible products as well as running a special labeling scheme. The campaign is mostly ... aimed at making up for the Vista debacle, where many applications and devices had compatibility problems when the OS first launched in early 2007, creating a bad impression that lasted even after many of those problems were fixed. The firm will be anxious to ensure customers do not view Windows 7 in the same manner. Windows 7 Compatibility Center ... (view more)