technology

In light of developments last week, regarding Windows 7 using a browser ballot screen to select a browser, Microsoft have now announced they're planning to scrap the E versions of Windows 7. We have now decided to alter that launch plan. In the wake of last week’s developments, as well as continuing feedback on Windows 7 E that we have received from computer manufacturers and other business partners, I’m pleased to report that we will ship the same version of Windows 7 in Europe in October that we will ship in the rest of the world....

Full details over on the Windows blog. Here's the quick rundown: Starter (typically only found on low-cost netbooks) to Home Premium: $79.99. Home Premium to Professional: $89.99. Home Premium to Ultimate: $139.99 Unlike Windows Vista, using Anytime Upgrade only takes about 10 minutes, and doesn't require a full system upgrade like with Windows Vista which could take anywhere up to a couple of hours. The Family Pack, which includes 3 licenses for Home Premium is $149....

A few people have asked me what the hashes are for the final bits of Windows 7. These are confirmed: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit: Name: 7600.16385.090713-1255_x64fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRMCULXFRER_EN_DVD.iso Other name: en_windows_7_ultimate_x64_dvd_X15-65922.iso SHA-1: 326327CC2FF9F05379F5058C41BE6BC5E004BAA7 CRC: 0x1F1257CA Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit: Name: 7600.16385.090713-1255_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRMCULFRER_EN_DVD.iso Other name: en_windows_7_ultimate_x86_dvd_X15-65921.iso SHA-1: 5395DC4B38F7BDB1E005FF414DEEDFDB16DBF610 CRC: 0xC1C20F76 Windows 7 Professional 64-bit: Name: en_windows_7_professional_x64_dvd_x15-65805.iso SHA-1: 50127304441A793EE51B3F501289F6599A559E9F CRC: 502C42C1 Windows 7 Professional 32-bit: Name: en_windows_7_professional_x86_dvd_x15-65804.iso SHA-1: 697FA06554502FB21D30275273B25747299C020D CRC: 578725D1 Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit:...

The new swish Office 2010 splash screen has got a fair bit of attention. They are quite nice looking. Here's the one from Outlook 2010:

By default Windows 7 no longer shows the Recent Items list in the Start Menu by default. Instead it prefers to use the Jump lists, for example Windows Explorer will show recent folders etc, Windows Media Player will show frequent or recent albums played etc. But you can still enable the Recent Items list if you're being nostalgic. Right-click on the Start Menu Select Properties from the menu, this will open the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window Select Customize....

It looks like Microsoft and the European Commission have come to an agreement where Windows 7, instead of being browserless, will include a ballot screen to select any web browsers to install. While this will be less annoying than going and finding a copy of Internet Explorer, it certainly raises other concerns. For starters, which browsers will be included on the ballot screen, and how will any selection be made? Doesn't this move even more anti-competitive?...

Disgusting, absolutely disgusting. Not happy with ruining the Earth, the advertising industry now looks to expand into space. A new company is looking to sell advertising on the Moon, by using robots to carve out patterns in the lunar regolith. Bidding starts at $46,000. Their website claims "twelve billion eyeballs looking at your logo in the sky for several days every month for the next several thousand years". Well for starters it's a little grim they expect humanity to only be around for several thousand years....

Microsoft has announced that Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 have now been released to manufacturing. This means that MSDN and Technet subscribers will be able to get their hands on a copy from August the 6th, Volume Licence customers from the 7th of August and Microsoft Partner Program members can get it from the 16th, Action Pack subscribers from the 23rd. Here's the press release: Steven Sinofsky, President of the Windows Division, has just announced on the Engineering Windows 7 Blog that Windows 7 has reached the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) milestone....

Saturn V carrying Apollo 11 rolls towards the launch pad. Lift off Moments after first stage seperation Looking back at the Earth from about 180,000 kilometres away On their way home What was left behind Nice work Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins, and the half a million or so other people who worked towards this goal.

With it looking like Windows 7 is just days away from being completed.  I thought it might be an idea to go over the applications and features that are absent from Windows 7, a lot of stuff is missing, and it will no doubt surprise people how much stuff has been stripped out compared with Windows Vista. Windows Mail - gone The most backward step in my opinion is the removal of Windows Mail formally Outlook Express....