Posts tagged Microsoft

Microsoft Zune HD Unpacking

2 years ago

by admin in MP4

Sure, it was fun to have Ballmer run us through a little demo of the new Zune HD, but we’d be remiss in our duties if we didn’t spend some time manhandling the device ourselves. We managed to track down the beast and toy with it a bit, and we must say… the thing kind of rocks. In your hand the Zune HD has a nice, solid feel, with good heft to it and a surprisingly thin profile. The OLED screen looks absolutely stunning — even at severe viewing angles, colors were super bright, edges were crisp, and text looked beautiful. The UI is an extension of the existing Zune interface, but way tricked out in this version, with lots of flipping images, scaling text, smooth scrolling, and an extreme emphasis on simple visual navigation. While the OS isn’t finished, we didn’t notice a single hiccup while jumping through menus or playing back HD video. We’ll definitely have more on this in the near future, but for now, you’ll have to manage with this handful of images.

[from engadget ]

d7 features hands on HandsOn Microsoft zune zune hd ZuneHd

Windows Mobile’s App Sharing Feature Isn’t Really Sharing At All

2 years ago

by admin in Mobile Phone

Remember how the Windows Mobile App Marketplace was going to let you share apps with up to five phones at no additional cost? Well, Microsoft has a very liberal definition of the word “sharing.”

Turns out it’s just a feature to let you transfer apps to a new phone when you replace your last. That’s a nice little feature, don’t get us wrong, but it’s definitely not the same thing as allowing customers to share apps with friends and family. To quoth Microsoft:

As outlined in the terms of use for Windows Marketplace for Mobile, this ability is limited to phones owned by the person who purchased the application. Application sharing is not permitted. We believe people will find a high value in mobile applications they purchase through the Windows Marketplace, and we will also be offering a refund policy that will make it easier to shop for applications with confidence.

This is quite a bit of backpedaling from the original statement, in which Microsoft senior planner Daniel Bouie said, “We feel comfortable that using our LiveID system to help connect products to five devices is a great balance of the needs of both developers and end users.” Sucks for us, but Microsoft has to avoid pissing off developers to get their Marketplace going. [Boy Genius Report]

app sharing apps Marketplace Microsoft share Sharing Windows Windows Mobile

Windows 7: The Complete Guide (Now With RC1!)

2 years ago

by admin in Computer

Sat May 23 2009, 165,017 views (Edit post, Set to draft, Slurp)

We’ve covered Windows 7 from rumor to release candidate, which you can currently download and install for free. Now, it’s enchilada time: Here’s everything of value that we learned about Win 7, packed in a complete, easy-to-read guide.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

BONUS CHAPTER: All the Release Candidate 1 Details You Can Eat
• Where to get it for free (For general installation instructions, see Chapter 1, below)
• Special assistance for installing RC1 on older netbooks
• The best surprise new features, including over-the-net music sharing, and XP mode
• 10 things you MUST know, including required system specs, known glitches, upgrade options and how to get those trippy wallpapers
• The first benchmarks: Windows RC1 vs Windows Vista

Chapter 1: Installing Windows 7 Beta, and Getting It Ready to Use
Now that the Beta download period has ended, it’s time to put bits to metal, if you haven’t already. And if you are looking for alternative installations—from netbooks to emulators—better read up first.

Chapter 2: How To Use Windows 7, or Why The New UI Is So Great
Windows 7 is Microsoft’s biggest user-interface overhaul since Windows 95. It’s no surprise, then, that even Windows veterans could use a crash course on how to use it.

Chapter 3: Device Stage Hardware Fun, Plus More Productivity Tips
Device Stage, the instant recognition of cameras, printers and other peripherals, is candy for the gadget-addicted, but knowing what works and what doesn’t definitely matters.

Chapter 4: Windows Media Player and Media File Compatibility
Music and movies—not only are they more important than they were when Vista came out, but they also come from more sources in more formats. Windows 7 attempts to master them all.

Chapter 5: Couch Tricks: New Features for Windows Media Center
Our favorite “10-foot” media software shows up in Windows 7 with loads of new features—if you haven’t yet seen why Media Center makes even TiVo look dated, you better pay attention.

Chapter 6: Important Changes to Networking and Security
When it comes to life online, there’s no way to underestimate advances in networking and security. Windows 7 is full of them, and it pays to know what they are and how to use them.

Chapter 7: Natural Interfaces: Pen, Touch and Multitouch
Windows 7 comes of age at a time when the keyboard and mouse are giving way to newer more instinctive controls—luckily, it’s got many of those controls built right in.

Chapter 8: Got Troubles? Here’s How To Shoot ‘Em Down
Even a good operating system can be bad once in a while. During the Beta test, we’ve had our share of issues. Here’s a discussion of many of the problems that can be solved, and a few that can’t.

Is there something missing, a discussion you were hoping to have but aren’t seeing here? We want to be thorough, so let’s have it. Go ahead and hit us up, either in direct emails or to our tips line, with the subject “Windows 7 Guide.”

[from gizmodo ]

Feature Microsoft microsoft windows PC RC1 software Top Win 7 Win 7 tip Win 7 tips Windows windows 7 Windows 7 guide Windows 7 manual Windows 7 RC1 Windows 7 tip Windows 7 tips Windows guide Windows manual Windows software

Microsoft’s Portable Xbox ZuneX

2 years ago

by admin in Digital Product

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These leaked photos of the ZuneX (ZX-1000) may or may not be Microsoft’s handheld device that combines the Zune with the Xbox. But we do have specs. And it may be a phone.

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Mimbee.tv’s got a grainy shot from a conference that may or may not be real, a shot of a guy holding a ZuneX in his hand that looks more photoshopped than not, and a list of specs:

• 4-inch display at 640×363 resolution
• Custom Intel LV Atom DualCore 733MHz processor
• Custom Nvidia BLowFish chipset
• 128MB RAM
• 40 hour music, 14 hours of video, 9 hours of gaming and 6 hours of gaming with the wireless on
• 4 analog buttons, 2 shoulder buttons, an analog stick attachment
• 32GB flash storage
• Support for Bluetooth headphones
• SIM Card tray (it’s a phone! Maybe!)
• Xbox Live Arcade Games
• ZuneX Originals
• OnLive Ready game streaming (now we’re just getting a little ridiculous)
• WMV, H.264, MPEG-4 and DivX support

It’s still solidly in rumor territory and will probably stay that way until at least E3. If we had to judge from the specs, it’s slightly too good to be true. As if someone NOT working at Microsoft wrote up their dream specs for a handheld.

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