Microsoft knows that Nintendo is the console company that “puts more smiles on more faces,” so it doesn’t really bother trying to compete on the “happy factor”. Instead, Microsoft wants to invade your dreams, filling them with mouth creatures. The company’s newest creative idea is for the iNiS developed Xbox 360 singing game Lips, in which a man is haunted by a stalking pair of sentient, lyric-forgetting lips. Thanks to Kotaku.

Only just yesterday, marked the 25th anniversary of Microsoft’s first ever Operating System “Windows 1.0″. It’s hard to believe that without it 1.0 we wouldn’t have XP/Vista or the new Windows 7. Windows 1.0 was one of the first Operating Systems to feature a proper Graphical Interface. It also included some advance features (for its time) like being able to copy and paste, a calender, a note filer, a clock AND one of the first games ever to be integrated into the earlier operating systems, Reversi!

Wow! So many features. For only $99! Here’s a funny video of Steve Ballmer the chief executive of Microsoft (one of the more enthusiastic employees). He was the second person in the world to become a billionaire, see what he was like before he became rich in this video:

When I started up Microsoft WWT (WorldWide Telescope) I saw a rather impressive view of the universe. It was an undistorted view of the night sky with all the constellations and their brightest stars. Microsoft WWT is put simply a piece of software that enables your computer to function as a virtual telescope, bringing together imagery from the best ground and space-based telescopes in the world. It is Microsoft’s equivalent to “Google Sky” however I believe WWT is a lot better, you can literally look back in time. Here’s a nice introductory video that outlines some of the main aspects of WWT:

In the video they mention how “intuitive” WWT is. I actually have to agree with this. It really is a simple, easy-to-use application for any would-be astronomer or anyone that has an interest in the cosmos. I’ve been using this app for about two hours now and I’m still finding some very interesting features. Figuring out how to use WWT fairly simple I think almost anyone can use it. The thing I like about this GUI is that is is not distracting, you don’t have clashing colours or windows open everywhere or place marks all over your sky view.  The only “addition” to the sky view is that constellations are outlined by a box..

You can see that WWT brings crystal clear images of almost anything within a certain range. Looking at some of the galaxies and their infinite number of stars really is quite spectacular. It has kept me amused for hours and should keep anyone that also has an interest in cosmology entertained for a fair amount of time too. WWT does not require a very high spec machine to run. The System requirements are:

• Microsoft® XP SP2 (minimum), Windows® Vista® (recommended)
• PC with Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 2 gigahertz (GHz) or faster, recommended
• 1 gigabyte (GB) of RAM; 2 GB RAM recommended
• 3D accelerated card with 128 megabytes (MB) RAM; discrete graphics card with dedicated 256-MB VRAM recommended for higher performance
• 1 GB of available hard disk space; 10 GB recommended for off-line features and higher performance browsing
• XGA (1024 x 768) or higher resolution monitor
• Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing and scrolling device
• Microsoft® DirectX® version 9.0c and .NET Framework 2.0
• Internet connection

I think Microsoft have a lot going for them at the moment. They have several projects up their sleeve with ones such as Windows 7!! And their Vista Static Driver Verifier.. No doubt WorldWide Telescope will be a hit. You can download it here. Comment on what you think of it!!

Links

TechCrunch | Daily Galaxy

Many of you might already know that Microsoft has shown us some more features for Windows 7 at this weeks PDC (Professional Developers Conference). In particular they demonstrated a good deal of the new Task bar features. They also had a full 5 minute demonstration of “Aero Peek” which allows you to peek through various parts of Windows 7 to clearly see windows that are hidden behind and their content. Check out this video I think its fairly impressive. It has some great new ideas that I would like to see in Windows 7.

I’m not really sure if I like the new task bar design though. It looks a bit too much like the “dock” and on top of that it has the ugly looking start menu button included, I don’t think it suites, however I think the features in the task bar are spot on, switching windows and temporarily viewing things that are open looks like a breeze. Though I’m sure the people at Apple will find something in Windows 7 and state that Microsoft copied from them.. Here’s another great video of another great feature in the new task bar:

So far I think Microsoft have done very well in showing off their new OS in its BETA stages. All the new features are likely to be the main selling points for this OS.. I would most definitely consider buying a copy when it is released. As long as you don’t need a grunty - high spec machine to run it. Microsoft are on the right track this time and hopefully everyone else will think so too!

Windows Vista: The Missing Manuel - Written by David Pogue

Description

Windows Vista is Microsoft’s most important software release in more than a decade. It offers users an abundance of new and upgraded features that were more than five years in the making: a gorgeous, glass-like visual overhaul; superior searching and organization tools; a multimedia and collaboration suite; and above all, a massive, top-to-bottom security-shield overhaul. There’s scarcely a single feature of the older versions of Windows that hasn’t been tweaked, overhauled, or replaced entirely.

I just thought this book would be useful for some people and it is quite popular from what I have heard. Also David Pogue is probably one of the best authors for this kind of book. With Microsoft’s newest operating system, Windows Vista, the lack of it coming with a manual has made an oppourtunity for others to fill the gap. This wonderful guide to Windows Vista can easily serve as the manual that should have came with Vista. The guide is filled with hundreds of screen shots and a large number of step-by-step instructions for using almost all Vista’s features. The guide has been organized into eight parts, they include:

• The Vista Desktop
• Vista’s Software
• Vista Online
• Pictures & Movies
• Hardware & Peripherals
• Media Center
• PC Health
• The Vista Network

Some notable points in this missing manual are that the author also discusses the options of either upgrading from XP to Vista compared to the clean installation of Vista. And whether or not you should buy a new PC that handle vista or use an existing one. This manual also contains comments on all of the five versions of Windows Vista.

Pogue is great at providing an expert user’s perspective on working with the operating system efficiently. The Manual is written so that one almost feels that one is getting a one-on-one, hands-on lesson, in using Windows Vista. There is good reason that Pogue has been described as one of the “world’s best explainers.”

This is most likely the best guide out there for the average vista user wanting to know more about the operating system or for someone that just wants to learn how to use it on a day to day basis. David Pogue mentions all the important tips and tricks that one needs to know to enjoy the experience that is Vista.

Buy the Book | Book Website

I found this great guide that could help tune Vista into its best. We belive this could help as it is directly from Microsoft site.

Description

Improve Performance Quickly and Easily
This guide focuses on performance improvements on a single computer, but also takes a look at some of the tools used in enterprise environments to help make performance tuning manageable on a much larger scale.

Windows Vista and SP1 focus on delivering greater performance and overall system responsiveness. By striking a balance between speed and responsiveness, Windows Vista and SP1 deliver a level of performance that has the greatest positive impact on the system’s usability.This guide looks at the following areas of performance improvement:

• Making configuration changes that help a computer feel more responsive when you use it.
• Using hardware to boost the actual physical speed of a computer.
• Making configuration changes that help a computer to start faster.
• Making the computer more reliable may help increase performance.
• Monitoring performance occasionally so that you can stop problems before they get too big.

Supported Operating Systems: Windows Vista; Windows XP

You can download the guide here and can choose .pdf format or xps. Please post your comment before to share your thoughts and experiences with this guide.

Enjoy Tweaking!

FireFly is one of the first games to be on Microsoft Surface. I think Microsoft Surface would be one the coolest technology that would change the way we use our computer. I am looking for something that would just help me avoid typing all of this. I hope it come in the future. 

Firefly Game on Microsoft Surface (Video)

While i was reading some of my friends blogs an idea popped into my head. I started to google on how to run an operating system on your Play station Portable (PSP). I found that we able to run 2 major operating system, Windows and Mac.

So what does it do?

Well, check the screenshots below and thats basically what you can do using this mini operating system.

New Stuff in this version on XP:

- Internet Explorer 7
- My PSP (My Documents…)
- PSPTunes (iTunes)
- Control Panel
- User Login etc

It installs Windows Vista desktop on your PSP.
You can play Games, sign in MSN Messenger, Many Applications, Your Control Panel, My PSP (like My Computer).
That all in a small file (6146 KB)
(pspWxp) will NOT harm your PSP!
Also has Troubleshooter

I cannot give you the link from where you can download it as it is ILLEGAL!

The mac version has

- Features:
“Additions” folder for easy access to user created applications.
“Aqua” and “Dark Aqua” look.
Contains 10 applications including “Address Book”, and “System Preferences”.
Custom user desktop pictures.
Daily news provided by IGN.
Exclusive online media downloads.
Over 65 links ranging from “Email”, to “Travel”.
Standard 12 hour digital clock.
Sony PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) exclusive.
“X5 Developer” available via “Software Update” for creation of X5 applications.
Zero error source code.

This article is just to give you more knowledge of what happening in technology world. So i hope we keep it that way.

Thanks