Microsoft

Microsoft has finally set the official date for the release of its much-anticipated Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1), due February 22nd, 2011. A service pack is a cumulative collection of bug fixes, patches, updates, and includes major changes to the ... operating system. In a recent announcement, Microsoft said Windows 7 Service Pack 1 was at the Release To Manufacturing (RTM) stage in its development, meaning the code is currently being shipped to PC and server makers. (Source: betanews.com ) Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Download For those who can't wait, Microsoft says subscribers to its TechNet ... (view more)

Google claims that Microsoft (via the Bing search engine) has been copying search results and presenting them as their own. The accusation comes after Google hosted a "sting" operation that caught Microsoft in the act of "borrowing" Google-hosted ... data. The covert plan saw the implementation of 100 obscure queries (that served as decoys) within Google search algorithms. For example, Google named one particular code "mbzrygiys" and linked it to smartphone maker Research in Motion (RIM). Interestingly enough, this same code (and a few others) appeared in Bing search results, proving that the ... (view more)

One of the world's most prominent PC makers has announced it will release a 10-inch Windows 7 tablet computer later this year. The company, which is currently ranked second in annual global PC shipments, said the device will be for consumers "who ... need greater mobility, as well as IT organizations that demand control, security, manageability, and integration with existing infrastructure investments." Dell's calling the device, which will use an Intel processor, the Windows 7 Business Tablet. The company says consumers should be able to pick one up sometime this summer, though a precise release ... (view more)

Just how did Microsoft fare last quarter? Pretty well, according to company chief financial officer Peter Klein, who recently indicated that strong consumer support for Kinect and Windows 7 resulted in better than expected earnings. Total quarterly ... revenue has been pegged at $19.95 billion with $6.63 billion in net income. Those numbers are based on surprising growth in a number of different areas, including the company's Business Division, which saw revenue grow 24 per cent over the same period in 2009. (Source: eweek.com ) Windows 7 Sales Surpass 300M Plateau Windows 7 has certainly proven ... (view more)

Microsoft plans to release fixes for twelve security bulletins tomorrow, three of which have been deemed "critical". Those who don't bother with the update could find themselves vulnerable to several remote code execution threats. Microsoft started ... the year quietly with a small set of patches for its January Patch Tuesday. That's changed this month, as the company now prepares to fix three "critical" and nine "important" bulletins. Flaws in Every Version of Windows Addressed Arguably, the most serious issue addressed on Tuesday will be a much-needed fix for Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) ... (view more)

Microsoft is hoping to encourage Chinese web users to try the Bing dictionary with an added feature that appeals to the country's karaoke fans. Karaoke (now commonly referred to as "KTV") is one of the more preferred activities in China, with KTV ... clubs a staple on many street corners in the Far East. With the new "KTV function", Microsoft is hoping to introduce cutting-edge technology to the core principles of karaoke in making the experience of learning a new language fun for all parties. Microsoft Technology Artificially Maps Movements The feature works by first extracting sample sentences ... (view more)

Despite Microsoft's recent success of Kinect and Windows 7, the once-dominant web browser Internet Explorer (IE) has fallen on tough times. According to a recent report, Internet Explorer market share has fallen to new lows -- despite a newsworthy ... IE9 beta debut, which had 2 million users download Internet Explorer 9 beta in just two days. In contrast, Google's Chrome browser is steadily advancing in popularity. January 2011 represented a record month for Chrome, which cracked the 10 per cent market share barrier for the very first time. Chrome's first public release was September 2, 2008. ... (view more)

Microsoft has issued a formal warning that all versions of the Windows operating system (OS) are vulnerable to a new exploit. The vulnerability could allow attackers access to sensitive data (such as passwords) after a user unknowingly clicks on a ... malicious web link. The flaw is related to the way online content is viewed via the web browser Internet Explorer (IE). According to the Wall Street Journal, Microsoft late last week admitted that the vulnerability exists and that it affects every version of Windows, from Windows XP to Vista, Windows 7 and even Windows Server. Malicious Web Link ... (view more)

Microsoft stands accused of redirecting a significant amount of MSN-related searches to Bing, thus increasing Bing search results by a substantial margin and leaving MSN search trends to be grossly misrepresented. The logic behind this decision is ... to present one impressive search figure to would-be advertisers instead of having two mediocre search figures under the same banner. Reports suggest that the number of MSN headlines that lead individuals to Microsoft's Bing search engine has jumped between 20 and 50 per cent this past quarter. (Source: ditii.com ) In a recent statement made to USA ... (view more)

An Italian consumer agency is suing Microsoft because it experienced difficulty getting a refund for an "unwanted" copy of Windows 7 which came pre-bundled with a new PC. If it gets as far as a verdict, it could set a legal precedent. The case ... involves Vincenzo Donvito, a man which resides in Florence, Italy. He bought an ASUS Eee PC netbook that came pre-bundled with the starter edition of Windows 7 already installed. Donvito later decided he did not want to use Windows 7 Starter and instead wanted to replace it with an alternative operating system (OS) for his Eee PC. (Source: ... (view more)