Earlier, I made a post in which I described the upcoming Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) and explained what all of the hype was about. Now, the Redmond company has released the 1.0 Beta, and anyone can download MSE directly from Microsoft. On Microsoft’s page for MSE, a link to Microsoft Connect is provided from which users can fill out a quick survey (seven questions) about security, and upon completion, users can download the Beta for Windows 7 (x86 and x64), Windows Vista (x86 and x64), or Windows XP (x86 only).

Microsoft provides a quick explanation on their official page:

You’re too busy to spend a lot of time worrying about protecting your PC. With Microsoft Security Essentials Beta, you get high-quality protection against viruses and spyware, including Trojans, worms and other malicious software. And best of all, there are no costs or annoying subscriptions to keep track of.

Security Essentials is easy to install and easy to use. Updates and upgrades are automatic, so there’s no need to worry about having the latest protection. It’s easy to tell if you’re protected – when the Security Essentials icon is green, your status is good. It’s as simple as that.

When you’re busy using your PC, you don’t want to be bothered by needless alerts. Security Essentials runs quietly in the background, only alerting you if there’s something you need to do. And it doesn’t use a lot of system resources, so it won’t get in the way of your work or fun.

Remember that you will need to meet the minimum requirements:

• For Windows XP, a PC with a CPU with clock speed of at least 500MHz and at least 256MB of RAM
• For Windows Vista and Windows 7, a PC with a CPU with clock speed of at least 1.0GHz and at least 1GB of RAM
• VGA (display): 800×600 or higher
• Storage: 140MB of available hard-disk space
• An Internet connection is required for installation and to download the latest virus and spyware definitions.
• Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher, or Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or higher.

A second build will be released to the public later this summer, which will be either a Beta Refresh or a Release Candidate, and then the final build in the fall (either before or around the release of Windows 7). However, interestingly enough, the Beta build (1.0.1407.00) is lower than that of the leaked build (1.0.2140.0), so users of the leak could be advised to keep their current version and those who do not have MSE already may wish to obtain the leaked copy.

Download

Related posts:

1. Microsoft Security Essentials (Morro) Leaks
2. About the Microsoft Security Essentials Public Beta
3. Windows 7 Beta To Be Released On January 9
4. Does It Really Matter When The Windows 7 Beta Will Be Released?
5. Microsoft: Non-Genuine Windows 7 Will Still Receive Updates
6. Microsoft We Have A Leak

1.0, b1, beta, beta refresh, Microsoft, microsoft connect, minimum requirements, morro, mse, rc, rc1, release candidate, security essentials

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A recent Business Week article entitled Windows 7: Microsoft vs. the PC Makers outlines the problems that PC Makers like Dell, HP or Sony have with Microsoft’s Windows 7 price expectations. According to the article PC Makes have to cope with lower hardware sale prices, the rise of the low cost netbook market and Microsoft’s expectations. Microsoft is expecting PC Makers to pay $50 for the Windows 7 Home Starter Edition which is two to three times the price that they currently pay for Windows XP licenses. Windows 7 Starter has been designed for the low cost market only which means that Microsoft does not allow PC Makers to license the operating system for larger notebook or desktop computer systems.

More interesting than that is the comment of Mike Abary, a senior vice-president at Sony’s (SNE) Vaio PC unit, who mentions that Windows 7 Home Premium would raise the price of larger notebooks by $200.

The cost of Windows could rise more sharply on other machines. Microsoft has told PC makers the $50 Starter Edition will be available only for netbooks with screen sizes smaller than 10.2 inches and chips that aren’t capable of playing most games or watching video. Larger netbooks would have to use Windows 7 Home Premium, which would add $200 to a unit’s cost, says Mike Abary, a senior vice-president at Sony’s (SNE) Vaio PC unit.

The question here is if the $200 is a special price for PC Makers or the retail price of the Windows 7 Home Premium operating system. Only 16% of all users who have voted in our latest poll expect Windows 7 to cost $201 or more with an additional 16% thinking that it will cost between $151-$200.

Would you buy Windows 7 Home Premium if it would cost $200 or even more than that?

Related posts:

1. New Poll: How Much Will Windows 7 Home Premium Cost?
2. The Netbook Debate
3. All Windows 7 Editions Will Run On Netbooks
4. New Limitations For Some Windows 7 Editions Revealed

buy windows 7, dell, hp, mike abary, pc makers, sony, Windows 7, windows 7 home premium, windows 7 home starter, windows 7 price

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With Windows 7 and Snow leopard each nearing their respective release dates, the hype for the two operating systems is reaching its peak. Let’s go over what each OS is bringing to the table in terms of features, market, and performance.

I’ll start with a short description of what both operating systems mean for each company.

Windows 7: A product that’s turned a lot of heads, especially those who believed that Microsoft was dead and done after the lackluster reception that Vista received. The product has received quite a positive welcoming by the internet community with the leaked betas, and MS can only hope that attitude towards W7 remains steady through October 22nd.

OS 10.6: A refinement of an operating system that many believe is already the most advanced OS on the market. Apple is looking towards the 64-bit processing world with this release, 64-bit optimization is the primary feature of this release. This release is meant not only to add more speed and utility to the everyday user’s experience, but it also takes a big step towards using Macs in the business world with its Microsoft Exchange support. With the Mac community growing every day, Apple hopes to refine and revise its technology to allow simplicity of use more and more each day.

Now for the comparison of features.

Windows 7: A brand new taskbar that is reminiscent of the Dock present in OS X. It allows you to drag and drop programs to the taskbar so that you can launch from anywhere at anytime, without having to dig through explorer. That being said, even Explorer, the name for the Windows file catalog, has been updated for search speeds. The indexed-searches are much faster than those indexed in Windows Vista, allowing for a more convenient and easy to use Explorer. Along with these two features, W7 also receives enhanced performance with multi-core processors, advanced touch/handwriting recognition, a new version of Windows Media Center, support for virtual HDDs and more.

OS 10.6: Almost all programs have been rewritten to include full 64-bit optimization, providing a more streamlined experience throughout the entire operating system. Grand Central Dispatch is a new technology in 10.6 that follows suit with the “theme” of 64-bit improvement. This is what allocates the tasks across the multiple cores as well as what allows programmers to finally optimize their Mac programs for the 64-bit computer. Another new technology, OpenCL, allows developers to open up the use of the graphics card to much more than just Photoshop and Aperture. It strengthens the current use of the card and also makes way for more many more usages down the road. Along with these features also come Quicktime X (an enhnanced, streamlined Quicktime client), a more speedy Finder, new looks for Exposé and Stacks, faster backup/bootup time and more.

Both operating systems show a movement towards each others target market. Windows 7 features more user-centric capabilities that allow the operating system to be more customizable (the ability to disable multiple features is a great example of this) than any other Windows release to date. I see W7 as what Vista could and should have been – I believe it’s finally a legitimate successor to Windows XP. OS 10.6 seems to be just what Apple needs to reach out to businesses, which is a great move. Snow Leopard should keep the Mac market growing, as its new technology will allow more gaming capabilities through OpenCL and hopefully garner more third-party developers for the growing Macintosh userbase.

Apple’s looking towards the future and Microsoft’s fixing its past. Both operating systems appear to be on an even playing field, and I for one am anxious to see how both of these milestone releases are received.

Related posts:

1. Windows Client Feature Comparison
2. Windows 7 Market Share Climbing
3. Even More Features Can Be Turned Off In Windows 7
4. Internet Explorer 8
5. Microsoft: A Past and Future
6. Internet Explorer 8 Can Be Uninstalled In Latest Windows 7 Build

10.6, apple, Microsoft, os x, Review, Snow Leopard, windows, Windows 7

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Is this the road to RTM? Wzor has posted details about what could possibly be the RTM schedule. Although Microsoft is keeping a tight lid so far on what that exact schedule might be. Have a look. As reported from neowin.net.

• FINAL ROADMAP FOR WINDOWS 7 [CLIENT-SERVER]:
• 6/1 – 6/19 BUILDING RTM ESCROW – already assembled RTM ESCROW.
• 6/22 – 7/10 RTM RECALL – assembly and search for candidates to the final RTM release.
• 7/10 WINDOWS 7 RTM FINAL BUILD TARGET – build day “gold code”.
• 7/13 WINDOWS 7 RTM SIGN-OFF – the date of signing the final RTM release!

While this is great news, if it is true, I am holding off for a fresh Retail copy of Windows 7. But it does mean that we might be one step closer to the Oct. 22nd release of Windows 7.  Which is fantastic, if Microsoft puts on a great marketing plan.

Related posts:

1. Updated Windows 7 Release Schedule
2. No Windows 7 In 2009?
3. Assembly of Windows 7 RTM Started?
4. Does It Really Matter When The Windows 7 Beta Will Be Released?
5. Windows 7 SP1 7227 Leak
6. Windows 7 Official Release Candidate Is Build 7100

7100.0.winmain_win7rc .090421-1700, windows, Windows 7, windows 7 retail

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Microsoft have confirmed the rumour that it has decided to give a much longer span of time for businesses to choose whether or not they want to downgrade their computers from Windows 7 to Windows XP after purchase.   The original deadline was only 6 months, which would have been a disaster for many corporates who haven’t even upgraded to Vista yet, or don’t plan to upgrade to Windows 7 within that period.

The new deadline for companies to roll back their purchases to XP is April 23, 2011. However, if one attempts to downgrade after the April 23 release date, they can scale down only to Vista. It was an unexpected, yet considerable move by the corporate giant to give businesses and consumers a chance to test drive their new operating system with the ability to return to one which they know is stable.

The downgrade only applies to Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate purchases, which is a bit sneaky as corporates will be paying a huge price premium for an OS they won’t be using.

Could this be a bad move by Microsoft? If they do happen to release a version of Windows 7 that is covered in bugs, then this could lose new users right off the bat. The public in general does not want to pay for patience, and the arrival of a service pack to fix the problems that could arise wouldn’t come for months. It seems Microsoft is trying to prepare for the worst by offering this, but they could easily be shooting themselves in the foot. Luckily, however, Windows 7 does appear stable enough for release. But as we all learned from Bill Gates, anything can happen.

Related posts:

1. Microsoft Outlines Windows XP Downgrade Rights
2. Microsoft To Allow Downgrades To Windows Vista And Windows XP
3. Windows 7 RC Free For A Year
4. Ballmer On Windows 7 And Windows Vista
5. Windows 7 Release Candidate Delayed
6. Windows XP To Windows 7 Upgrade Confirmed

date, downgrade, release date, Windows 7, windows 7 downgrade, windows 7 to xp

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Microsoft and Apple: Ever-competing entities who own two completely different parts of the computer market. With Microsoft finally buckling its seat belt and driving towards the modern consumer, what exactly is Apple doing to keep up as MS creeps closer and closer to their side of the market?

With the release of OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) set for this September, it appears that Apple is changing its game. The initial details of the release were simple: make the operating system faster and more optimized for 64-bit processing. This would have been fine 6 months ago, but after Windows 7 hit the news Apple has decided to try and add more than just speed. But is it really working?

This writer certainly doesn’t think so. The updates and features of OS X don’t really hold a candle to the strides made by Microsoft with Windows 7. I’ll go over the differences  OS 10.6 and 10.5 as well as compare them to Windows 7 so that you can decide who’s really driving innovation this time around.

Mac OS X.6 has plenty of speedboosts. These include wake-up time, back-up time, and the time it takes to load a page on Safari. Almost all of the applications have been reprogrammed to fully utilize the 64-bit processors that are present in all current Macintosh models. The criticism with this is that it’s the main feature of 10.6 (64-bit optimization), which Windows has had for years. Just goes to show what really happens when you rely too much on proprietary software with an operating system – it just doesn’t keep up.

Other new features of the OS are minimal – they’re the kind of thing that deserves patches, updates, et cetera. Things like a slightly new look for Expose and Stacks, smaller install size, chinese character input on the multitouch pad, and the list goes on. These seem not to be the makings of a revolutionary operating system, but rather one giant patch for the current one. However, as Apple’s new slogan for 10.6 is “The world’s most advanced operating system – now fine tuned”, maybe the Mac addicts will be satisfied. I for one, however, simply don’t see the justification for (edit) any pricetag on what should simply be a patch. My Macbook’s operating system will remain 10.5 only.

Related posts:

1. Coming Up: Windows 7 RC Test Updates
2. First Windows 7 Beta Patch Fixes MP3 Bug
3. All Windows 7 Editions Will Run On Netbooks
4. Microsoft: A Past and Future
5. Will Windows 7 Be Worth Buying?
6. Microsoft: Non-Genuine Windows 7 Will Still Receive Updates

apple, Innovation, os x, Review, Snow Leopard, Windows 7, windows 7 beta

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It’s time for our first competition on Windows 7 News! Enter today for a chance to win a fantastic prize.

We’re giving away a fantastic Omni or SumoSac beanbag worth just under $199 USD, courtesy of the generous folks over at Sumolounge.  These are not the lumpy, $20 uncomfortable beanbags you used to have in the corner of your bedroom. Sumolounge’s beanbags are designed for the 21st century ad feature a durable finish of rip proof nylon

The Omni beanbag is a super-sized beanbag that will fit any room, and offers 10 versatile positions and comes in 10 groovy colors.  The SumoSac chair is finished in soft, machine washable microsuede and is available in 4 very popular colors. Both are guaranteed to stay fluffy and comfortable.

Check out the pictures of some very cool (and sexy!) people ‘modelling’ the sumolounge beanbags:

Still not sure?  Then maybe this video will convince you:

Now, I can’t promise you that your Sumolounge beanbag will come with 8 Playgirls, but don’t let that put you off entering the competition!

How To Enter

To enter all you have to do is to tell me where in the world the picture in the Windows 7 Wallpaper below was taken:

To find out the answer then check out our Windows 7 Wallpaper galleries (clue: gallery 8).

Rules:

• Competition ends 22:00 GMT 3rd July
• All entires must be sent to me as a PM in the Windows 7 Forum

No related posts.

Competition, wallpapers

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Recently there has been quite a bit of turmoil about project “Morro,” as Microsoft announced last November that they would halt development of Live OneCare and replace it with Morro, a new security solution. And now, right before the retirement date of OneCare, Microsoft has announced that it will release a public beta of Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) on June 23rd (the beta will be updated over the summer), OneCare’s replacement. According to Microsoft, MSE will be a basic, light-weight security solution that has no performance impact on Windows, and to top it off, free. According to a Microsoft representative, MSE will be what we have all waited for:

To address consumer demand for quality anti-malware protection that’s easy to get and doesn’t slow down system performance, Microsoft Security Essentials has been designed as a no-cost anti-malware solution that provides consumers with quality protection from threats including viruses, spyware, rootkits and trojans. It will be offered directly from Microsoft and has been designed to be hassle-free and is focused on delivering quality protection that’s easy to use.

MSE also has very low system requirements:

• For Windows XP, a PC with a CPU with clock speed of at least 500MHz and at least 256MB of RAM
• For Windows Vista and Windows 7, a PC with a CPU with clock speed of at least 1.0GHz and at least 1GB of RAM
• VGA (display): 800×600 or higher
• Storage: 140MB of available hard-disk space
• An Internet connection is required for installation and to download the latest virus and spyware definitions.

MSE will coincide with the release of Windows 7 later this year (final release date could be as early as September), and will be completely free and available to all users (regardless of architecture) of Windows XP (XP only gets an x86 version), Vista, and Windows 7, assuming that the user passes a Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) check. Unfortunately, MSE will not have a managed firewall, no photo backup capability, and cannot manage a home network; however, it is built on the same trusted framework of other Microsoft products such as OneCare (of course) and Windows Defender, so it appears to be quite promising.

Microsoft decided to create MSE because too many PCs are unprotected. Most OEM PCs only come with a trial version of a protection suite, and the rare full versions usually expire within a year or two. Even worse, most users disable the free solutions provided with Windows, such as Windows Defender and Windows Firewall. MSE has emerged to protect those who are vulnerable, by integrating itself with the other free solutions by Microsoft while adding a degree of real-time protection due to its new feature called Dynamic Signature Service (DSS), which submits unknown viruses to Microsoft’s servers and checks to see if a solution has been provided. Best of all, MSE is quite silent, running entirely in the background, almost never annoying the user with pop-ups, and only scanning during idle times. The only catch is persuading the OEMs to include MSE instead of a third party suite. Considering that these PC manufacturers make money by preloading paid security solutions, it will be interesting to see how Microsoft tries to entice the larger makers to include MSE in their line-ups, or whether Microsoft succeeds whatsoever.

Nonetheless, MSE could prove to be one of the best solutions on the market considering that over 450 million users regularly use Windows Update. Add to that figure the amount of users on the SpyNet service, the new DSS, Windows Defender, and the doomed OneCare, Microsoft has a tremendous amount of telemetry to use in protecting its userbase. In fact, Microsoft plans to publish new signature updates three times a day, along with the core engine every month.

Of course, the real test will be whether or not these massive amounts of virus signatures will provide a highly effective degree of detection; although, so far, MSE looks as though it may take over the security market.

Related posts:

1. Microsoft Security Essentials (Morro) Leaks
2. Microsoft To Release Free Anti-Virus Software Morro Soon
3. First Security Patch For Windows 7 Pre-Beta
4. Public Windows 7 Beta To Be Expected in December
5. Public Windows 7 Beta News
6. Sophos Say Windows 7 Security Worse In Some Areas

Tags: anti-malware, anti-virus, defender, firewall, malware, microsoft security essentials, mse, onecare, protection, Security, virus, Vista, windows, Windows 7, windows live, XP

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According to the Engineering Windows 7 blog:

Only 15% of the beta users kept the default theme. 77% of the beta users created a custom theme by changing one or more elements of the inbox themes.

This means that the majority of people want to customize their computers to suite them… (Nothing new!)

This guide shows some ways to customize Windows 7 using the Windows Registry Editor by modifying settings that can’t be changed from the “Personalization” window. Since these tweaks modify the Windows Registry, it is advisable to perform a backup of your registry using ERUNT (or any other means you use).

To open the Windows Registry Editor:

• Click on the Start
• Type “regedit” in the search bar
• Choose “Yes” if a “User Account Control┝ message appears

To go to a specific key in the windows registry:

• Click on the arrow sign next to the key’s name to expand it.
• For example if you want to open “HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware”: Click on the arrow next to “HKEY_CURRENT_USER” then click on “Software”

To create a new value:

• Right-click anywhere on the right side in the Registry Editor
• Choose “New”
• Click on the type of value that you want to insert

To modify a value:

• Right-click the value
• Choose “Modify…”

The following tables contain information about the values that need to be added/modified to apply the tweaks:

Windows 7 Task Switcher

The task switcher allows users to switch between open windows using the keyboard shortcut: ALT+Tab

Go to : HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelDesktop

Value	Type	What it does affects	Data
CoolSwitchColumns	String	Sets the number of columns of the cool switch	NUMBER Default= 7
CoolSwitchRows	String	Sets the maximum number of rows in the cool switch	NUMBER Default = 3

Windows 7 Desktop Slideshow (64-bit)

The desktop slideshow automatically changes the wallpaper after a set time interval. The user selects the images he/she wants to use in the slide show, the time interval and whether or not to shuffle their order. All this can be modified through the “Desktop Background” window, however the following can’t:

AnimationDuration – In 64-bit versions of Windows 7, there is a ‘fade’ animation that occurs as a transition between the images. This animation takes about 1 second.

Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelPersonalizationDesktop Slideshow

Value	Type	What it does affects	Data
AnimationDuration	DWORD (32-bit)	Sets the time taken by the animation in milliseconds	NUMBERRemember: 1000 gives 1 second

There’s another DWORD (32-bit) value called “Interval” that sets the time at which the images change, however it seems to only work when data entered is the same as those available in the “Personalization” window. If a value given is “1000″ for example, which means the desktop background has to change every second (crazy! I know), it still takes 10s to change. I think this is deliberately done by Microsoft, because if people were able to set the time interval to a very short period of time (below 10 seconds), it would overload the computer’s memory.

Windows 7 Logon Screen Background

See Customizing the Windows 7 Logon Screen…

Slow Motion Aero (64-bit)

This tweak shows the aero animation, such as the transition that appears when minimizing a window, in slow motion when a user holds the SHIFT key. It works with Windows Vista as well.

Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsDWM

Value	Type	What it does affects	Data
AnimationsShiftKey	DWORD (32-bit)	Whether or not to show aero animations in slow motion when the SHIFT key is held	0 = Disabled 1 = Enabled

After changing the data of the DWORD value, the “Desktop Window Manager” has to be restarted for the tweak to take effect. Here’s how:

• Click on the Start
• Type “cmd” in the search bar
• Under “Programs”, right-click on “cmd.exe”
• Choose “Run as administrator”
• Choose “œYes” if a “User Account Control” message appears
• Type in the Command Prompt window: “net stop uxsms & net start uxsms” (without quotes)

PLEASE NOTE: For this tweak to work, animations should be enabled.

If you need any help or have difficulties, just ask in the Comments.

Related posts:

1. How To Modify Hidden Settings of Windows 7 Screen Savers
2. How to Display the “Close, Restore,…” Menu In The Windows 7 Taskbar
3. Windows 7 Tweaks
4. Customizing the Windows 7 Logon Screen
5. Master List Of Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts
6. Shortcut To Create New Folders In Windows 7

Tags: Aero, build, Cool Switch, Customize, desktop, Desktop Window Manager, DWM, Microsoft, operating system, os, regedit, Slide show, Slideshow, Slow Motion, Task Switcher, Theme, Tweak, Windows 7, Windows Registry Editor, windows vista

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As it’s well known, the taskbar in Windows 7 is different to those in previous operating systems. One of its new features is ‘Jump lists’ that appear when a user right-clicks a window’s icon.

Unlike earlier versions of Windows, when a user right-clicks a Windows 7 item, he can no longer: Move, Maximize/Restore or Minimize its window(s) because a jump list appears instead of the old menu with these options.

Nevertheless, users can still do so by holding the SHIFT key while right-clicking. This opens the old menu with the (mentioned above) options. If multiple windows of the same application are open, the user is given options that affect all windows, such as closing, restoring/maximizing, minimizing and arranging them.

I think that there are other simple, but useful things that can still be discovered in Windows 7 (such as the Shortcut to Create a New Folder in Windows 7).  If you want more keyboard tricks, then check out Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts.

Related posts:

1. A Close Look At The New Windows 7 Taskbar
2. Tweak The Windows 7 Taskbar With Taskbar Overlord
3. Display Icons And Text In The Windows 7 Taskbar
4. The biggest flaw with the Windows 7 taskbar
5. How To: Change the Number Of Jump List Items
6. The Windows 7 Taskbar

Tags: Applications, Close all, jump list, jumplist, Menu, Microsoft, Minimize, Move, Open, operating system, os, Restore, right-click, SHIFT, taskbar, windows, Windows 7

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Windows 7 build 7260 has been leaked in x86 only as a VHD by WZor, and it appears that SoLoR (a highly trusted uploader) has provided an ISO on Mininova. SoLoR has been the source of many leaked builds, and many users have already confirmed that 7260 is indeed legit.

However, this is not the RTM we are waiting for. There are several candidate builds, and Microsoft is currently working on selecting one to use as the RTM. Each build assembly takes place in different locations and different times, so the RTM build number will not be 100% confirmed before June 24th (although it may be leaked) (this is according to WZor) and may not be confirmed until July 13th (again, according to WZor), but any assembly after June 15th could end up being the final build. Build number 7200 is reserved for the final build, but there could be several compiles of 7200 before one is actually selected to be the RTM build. We will know the final build when it is signed off by Microsoft, and this will be the build that is put on the shelves of stores in October.

According to WZor, the latest RTM candidate build is 7263 (6.1.7263.0.win7_rtm.090619-1900). This build number could go up if Microsoft is not happy with this build either, and decides to compile and test another build for RTM. Also, there were recently many misconceptions about a statement on WZor, which said that the RTM would be leaked after June 19th. However, some translators confused this and had mistaken it for saying that the RTM would be leaked on June 19th, so don’t download any “RTM” builds yet on P2P networks until something can be confirmed.

But as for 7260, it appears as though RC keys still work with this build. Here is the file information:

CRC32: 94312278
MD5: CE665F1A3987AE0F751CE35EC8085707
SHA-1: BBABA1469705935A55DD6CB47E2DDBE939B02D4F

Note:

Build 7268 has leaked to some P2P networks and reported on KezNews is fake. Don’t download it. It is just 7068 with a mistake in the file name.

Related posts:

1. Windows 7 Build 7260 RTM Leaked
2. Assembly of Windows 7 RTM Started?
3. Windows 7 Milestone 1 Build 6519 Leaked
4. Windows 7 Build 7022 Leaked
5. Windows 7 Build 7201 Leaked
6. Windows 7 SP1 7227 Leak

Tags: 7260, 7268, build signing, candidate build, leak, Microsoft, RTM, rtm signing, Windows 7, Windows 7 E, wzor, x86

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It seems as though the European Union (EU) is not happy with Windows 7 E although Microsoft went out of their way to produce an SKU specifically for that region as they have announced that they plan to continue the anti-trust case, saying that Windows 7 E does not provide a “genuine consumer choice.” The EU has been harassing Microsoft for years, even leading Microsoft to cancel a hearing and have to deal with anti-trust regulators. This is why the software giant chose to release Windows 7 E, which is basically Windows 7 without Internet Explorer (IE), and then offer the ability to add or remove components of the operating system after install, attempts to appease the EU and its competitors.

Microsoft’s choice to release Windows 7 E came not long before the ruling on the case of anti-trust charges against Microsoft, which accuse the software giant of abusing its position as the dominant software company by including IE with its operating system, and as such, shielding IE from competiting products. Ever since the charges were first brought against Microsoft, the Redmond giant has insisted that IE is the basis of all internet in Windows and that removing IE simply isn’t possible while maintaining system integrity. And now that Microsoft has invalidated earlier statements, it hopes that by removing IE from Windows 7 will allow it to avoid the anti-trust ruling that it very well may receive. However, it appears that the EU is not buying it:

The European Commission notes with interest Microsoft’s announcement of its plans for Windows 7, and in particular of the apparent separation of Internet Explorer (IE) from Windows in the EEA. The Commission will shortly decide in the pending browser tying antitrust case whether or not Microsoft’s conduct from 1996 to date has been abusive and, if so, what remedy would be necessary to create genuine consumer choice and address the anticompetitive effects of Microsoft’s long-standing conduct. In terms of potential remedies if the Commission were to find that Microsoft had committed an abuse, the Commission has suggested that consumers should be offered a choice of browser, not that Windows should be supplied without a browser at all.

The EU has basically decided that simply removing the browser is the wrong path to take, stating that “Microsoft has apparently decided to supply retail consumers with a version of Windows without a web browser at all. Rather than more choice, Microsoft seems to have chosen to provide less.” Microsoft has done this before when it released Windows without Windows Media Player (WMP), but it easily skirted around those restrictions by also offering the standard version of Windows that included WMP, which was much more popular than the alternative. But now Microsoft recognizes that it will not get by with such a tactic again as it now insists that it will not provide a version of Windows with IE in Europe.

Even the third party browsers have something to say, as shown in an email to Ars Technica by Opera in which they explain their views on Microsoft:

We note with interest that Microsoft now seems capable of separating IE from Windows. However, we do not believe that Microsoft’s move will restore competition for desktop browsers. Most users get their operating systems from the OEM channel and Microsoft will recommend that OEMs pre-install IE8. As such, users are unlikely to be given a genuine choice of browsers. We believe that the idea of a “ballot screen” is better: when going online, users will be asked which browser(s) they prefer to use. The browser(s) of choice will the painlessly be installed and ready for use.

At the moment, the EU is still deciding whether or not the bundling of IE has been abusive, and if so, what punishments they should apply. It’s quite possible (and likely) that the EU will force Microsoft to bundle competing browsers with Windows in order to offer a fair choice. It will be interesting to see whether or not similar charges are brought against other suppliers such as Apple, who have included Safari with their Mac OS X.

Related posts:

1. Microsoft Removes Internet Explorer From Windows 7 In The European Union
2. Microsoft To Release Free Anti-Virus Software Morro Soon
3. Microsoft: A Past and Future
4. Windows 7 Boot Speed Benchmark
5. Technical Preview of Kaspersky Anti-Virus For Windows 7
6. Windows 7 Speeds Up Web Browsers

Tags: anti-trust, Ars Technica, chrome, eea, EU, european union, firefox, ie, internet explorer, Microsoft, MSFT, OEM, opera, safari, SKU, trust, Windows 7, Windows 7 E, windows media player, wmp

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According to the Russian news portal, WZor, the assembly of the RTM (Release to Manufacturing/Marketing) may have taken place. The RTM refers to the final stage of development of software before the GA (General Availability), where it will be made available commercially (22nd of October). This information is not confirmed yet, however the Microsoft Connect website shows evidence of this from the announcement:

IMPORTANT NOTICE: ALL file downloads will be OFFLINE from Friday, June 19th at 7:00 pm PDT until Sunday, June 21st at 4:00 pm PDT for a system upgrade. Also, Microsoft Connect will be offline this Saturday, June 20th from 9:00 am – 11:00 am PDT for a version upgrade.

This could mean that the website is being renovated due to release the RTM builds of Windows 7. Again, this information is still not confirmed as the Russian news portal still doesn’t have adequate information about the signing of the release and the technical parameter of the final RTM builds.

Related posts:

1. US Law Enforcement Have Started Windows 7 Tests
2. Beta For Localized Windows 7 Editions To Start
3. Windows 7 Release Candidate Expected In February
4. Technet Publishes Windows 7 RC Information Accidentally
5. Internet Explorer 8
6. Windows 7 Release 23 October?

Tags: 7260, 7261, 7262 winmain, Assembly, June, leak, Micrsoft Connect, operating sysetm, os, Release to Manufacturing, Release to Marketing, RTM, win7_rtm, Windows 7, wzor

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Microsoft has released a beta version of the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 4.0 which makes it easier for ” Microsoft customers and partners to quickly identify what servers, workstations, and network devices are in their IT environment”. The toolkit can be used to “discover all computers within Active Directory and workgroup environments” that include “hardware and device inventory, hardware compatibility analysis, and generation of actionable, environment-specific IT proposals for migration to most major Microsoft technologies”.

The following new features have been added in the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 4.0 Beta:

• Windows 7 Hardware and Device Compatibility Assessment
• Windows Server 2008 R2 Hardware and Device Compatibility Assessment
• Virtualization Candidates Assessment for Hyper-V R2 Server Consolidation
• Integration with the Microsoft Integrated Virtualization ROI Calculator
• Inventory of VMware Server Hosts and Guests
• User Interface and Proposal Customization for Partner co-branding
• Enhanced Usability and Improved Inventory Performance

The Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 4.0 Beta can be downloaded from the Solution and Accelerators website over at Technet.

Related posts:

1. Windows 7 Client Software Logo Program Toolkit Alpha Released
2. Windows Server 2008 R2 To Be Shown At PDC 08
3. Native Support for Virtual Hard Disks in Windows 7
4. Public Windows 7 Beta To Be Expected in December
5. Hardware Virtualization Check
6. Microsoft is learning from the past

Tags: Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit, network devices, Windows 7, windows 7 software

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Lately it seems as though more and more people are switching to Mac based operating systems, Microsoft delays and cuts back on promising projects, and the GNU/Linux marketshare grows every day. No matter what, there is one factor that stands out, regardless of whether or not Microsoft’s product is better, and that is the simple fact that Microsoft is losing it’s marketshare as each day passes.

Microsoft is growing weaker day by day as the software giant shrinks in size, and this depression recession has not helped, whether we’re pulling out of it or not. Just three years ago, I remember that I never heard of people talking about switching from Windows, and those who did were laughed at; yet nowadays, it seems as though the Mac is the “next big thing,” and all of the gear heads (including myself) have switched to using GNU/Linux operating systems as their primary. Microsoft has been hit with too many anti-trust cases and accused of being a monopoly too many times, and although these are primarily in Europe, Microsoft is simply no longer the all powerful colossus it once was.

There are many prime examples of products replacing Microsoft’s own as they are superior, faster, and more and more often, free. Windows Media Player is one such product, as it is laughed at by GNU/Linux and Mac users as they tout their own applications such as Amarok (I myself am a proud user of 1.4), iTunes, Banshee, or even VLC if you’re not using it to manage a library. Internet Explorer is most likely the best example, as it was surpassed long ago by Opera, Safari, Firefox, and now Chrome (or Chromium), for which most modern tests use increments of IE’s speed to compare the competitive browsers’ speeds.

Even major applications such as Visual Studio and Microsoft Office are being overtaken by competitive applications and suites such as KDevelop and Code::Blocks for VS, and OpenOffice (OOo) or KOffice for Microsoft Office (this goes for almost everything, such as Microsoft Virtual PC, for which there is VMWare and VirtualBox). Even with this in consideration, Microsoft also tends to spend three or more years in between most major updates, whereas users of OOo, Code::Blocks, KDevelop, etc can expect to wait only about six months between major releases.

On top of increasing competition, Microsoft also has to deal with the fact that this competition is gradually taking Microsoft’s customers, and as such, profit. Microsoft is being forced to cut back as each product loses its battle, such as Microsoft Encarta, Microsoft Money and more. Even such projects like WinFS are also being canceled or held back left and right, which promise major improvements and a unique future for Windows.

What remains to be seen is how Microsoft can respond. Windows 7 is an excellent product and Microsoft is still kicking, I am not trying to say otherwise. Windows 7 has many excellent strong points such as WMP12, VHD booting, excellent hardware compatibility, a high level of security (for Windows), speed, and so forth. Windows 7 could very well slow down the progress of Apple and the FSF on the operating system front and maybe even turn the tide; nonetheless, as the Internet grows and cloud gets bigger, platform independence is inevitable. The cloud is the future, and products such as Windows, Mac OS X, and GNU/Linux distributions will eventually be left behind or just a shell of what they are now as the distinctive line between the cloud and the physical grows thinner and thinner.

Nevertheless, this is not a future to turn away from. The abandonment of Windows and other OSes is imminent, but the best choice. Instead of arguing over which platform is the best, we should stand shoulder to shoulder and look for the horizon and recognize that change is inescapable. The next generation of computing is impossible to prevent, so instead of succumbing to bias, keep an open mind and watch the next software war carefully.

Related posts:

1. Microsoft is learning from the past

Tags: apple, cloud, encarta, future, gnu/linux, market share, Microsoft, money, monopoly, os x, past, software giant, trust, WinFS

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Windows 7 Forum

Related posts:

1. New Windows 7 Forum
2. Join The Windows 7 Forum
3. Windows 7 Forum
4. The Windows 7 Forum Passed The 3000 Member Milestone

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I have 3 Media Center PCs in my home, two of which I proudly built myself.   What I love about Windows 7 Media Center is that it is even easier to use than Vista Media Center, rather than new functionality being added just for the sake of it.

One feature that I was hoping would be improved in Windows 7 Media Center was better theme support.  Unfortunately this isn’t so, but over at Theme7MC they are creating a list of some great 3rd party themes for Windows 7 Media Center.  The gallery below has a few images to whet your appetite:

Windows Media Center has never looked so good!  Installing a Windows 7 Media Center Theme is easy if you follow these instructions:

Installing themes with installers

• double-click to begin the installation process then follow the directions on-screen to complete the installation.
• Once you’ve completed the installation process you will most likely need to run a shortcut to enable the new theme.
• Find the theme’s start menu listing in Start -> Programs and locate the shortcut to enable the theme.
• Then right-click the shortcut and select “Run As Administrator”.
• Once the process begins a black window and a patch dialog will appear. Double check to be sure that the two input dialogs point to “C:windowsehomeehres.dll” (this location make be different depending on the location of your Windows installation) and press “Start”.
• Once the process has completed successfully, restart your Media Center.

Installing themes with patches

• Before installing a theme that uses a patch you should backup your “ehres.dll” file. Open Windows Explorer and browse to “C:Windowsehome” and find “ehres.dll” then copy this file to a safe location. Make sure you now have two copies of this file before continuing, one in the original location and one in a safe location.
• To install a theme that comes with a patch file you must first make sure you have ownership of the ehres.dll file located in “C:Windowsehome” (This location may vary depending on the location of your Windows installation). To do this first download and execute the own.reg file located here.
• Then open Windows Explorer and navigate to “C:Windowsehome”. Find the “ehres.dll” file, right-click and select “Take Ownership”. If you do not see “Take Ownership” listed you haven’t installed the own.reg file correctly.
• Once you have ownership of the “ehres.dll” file, run the .exe patch file included in the theme download as an administrator by right-clicking the file and selecting “Run as Administrator”. Make certain that the two input dialog boxes say “C:Windowsehomeehres.dll” (Again, this location may vary depending on the location of your Windows install) then press “Start”. When the patch process completes restart your Media Center.

Enjoy!

Related posts:

1. Hide Windows 7 Media Center Startup Strips
2. A Close Look At Windows 7 Media Center
3. Windows 7 Build 6956 Media Center Screenshots
4. How To Create Custom Windows 7 Themes
5. Windows 7 Themes For Windows XP
6. Customize Windows 7 Action Center Notifications

Tags: Theme7MC, themes, Windows 7 Media Center

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We’ve just created a new poll “How Much Will Windows 7 Home Premium Cost?” which you can find in the sidebar.  Windows 7 Home Premium should be the best selling Windows 7 product.  Will Microsoft price Windows 7 to shift off the shelves quickly, or will they charge an extortionate amount like the $269.99 for Windows Vista Home Premium when it launched?  Get voting now!!

The results of our last poll “How Much Would You Pay For Windows 7?” seems to indicate that many readers are prepared to pay a significant sum for Windows 7:

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

I’m not sure if this is because Windows 7 is such a great product, or because readers are expecting it to be expensive!

To see the results of previous polls, click here.

Related posts:

1. New Poll: When Will You Buy Windows 7?
2. Poll: When Will Windows 7 Launch?
3. When Will You Buy Windows 7 Poll Results

Tags: buy windows 7, poll, windows 7 home premium

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Robert published an article not long ago in which he outlined how to customize the Windows 7 logon experience. The article might have been a bit techy for some users as it involved working with the Windows Registry and system files.

The Windows 7 Logon Screen Rotator is a computer program for the Windows 7 operating system that is much easier to use. It has been designed to rotate the logon screen on every logon. The main benefit of using this program is that it does not require the user to tamper with the Windows Registry at all. Up to ten different logon screen images can be added to the software program that get then rotated automatically.

New logon screen images can be added by clicking on the Choose Image buttons which will open a file browser window. The application itself will take care of the rest and rotate the logon screen images from then on. You can download the software directly from Neowin.

Related posts:

1. Windows 7 Logon Changer
2. Automatic Logon Into Windows 7
3. Windows 7 To Support Logon Background Customization
4. How To Modify Hidden Settings of Windows 7 Screen Savers
5. Customizing the Windows 7 Logon Screen
6. Winfox Adds Jumplists To Firefox In Windows 7

Tags: Windows 7, windows 7 logon, windows 7 logon background, windows 7 logon customization, windows 7 logon screen rotator, windows 7 software

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In a post yesterday, Bill Calder of Intel has explained Intel’s choice to (eventually) drop the Centrino branding and explain their motivations to adopt a Core family in which it is easier for the customer to understand the difference between each processor’s capabilities.

Centrino is not done yet, but it will be phased out and eventually eliminated as Core branding takes its place. Intel is simply modifying the Core chips’ brandings to reflect different levels of power and make it easier to understand the level of hardware under consideration, as explained by Calder:

It is important to note that these are not brands but modifiers to the Intel Core brand that signal different features and benefits. For example, upcoming processors such as Lynnfield (desktop) will carry the Intel Core brand, but will be available as either Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 depending upon the feature set and capability. Clarksfield (mobile) will have the Intel Core i7 name.

According to Deborah Conrad, also of Intel, “in the back half of this year you’ll begin to see Core i5 and more Core i7s coming to market. Then by the first part of next year you’ll begin to see Core i3, and i5, i7.”

However, this does not mean the end of all branding other than the Core chips series for Intel, as Calder introduces plans to retain the Celeron line (a cheaper line of Intel PCs) along with their new Atom series for netbooks:

We will still have Celeron for entry-level computing at affordable price points, Pentium for basic computing, and of course the Intel® Atom™ processor for all these new devices ranging from netbooks to smartphones. For PC purchasing, think in terms of good-better-best with Celeron being good, Pentium better, and the Intel Core family representing the best we have to offer.

This simply means that Intel is attempting to simplify its mystifying lines (Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad) of Core derivatives, consolidating them under a single Core line, all while making it easier for the average consumer to select a PC that fits their needs and their budget.

Calder then ends with a final note:

This will be an evolutionary process taking place over time, and we acknowledge that multiple brands will be in the market next year including older ones, as we make the transition. But overall this is a good thing, designed to make it easier and more rational over the long run.

What do you think? Do you think that this will also help to boost sales in a stagnant computer industry as both Microsoft and Intel focus on making their products easier for the average user to understand?

No matter what happens, it will be interesting to see how such actions by major industries affect the future of Windows.

More information can be found here (along with Deborah Conrad’s video).

Related posts:

1. Intel Say Windows 7 Improves Multi-threading Performance
2. Which Intel CPUs Support Virtual XP Mode?
3. No Windows 7 For Intel Atom N270 and N280 netbooks?
4. ATI To Release New DirectX 11 Graphics Cards In Time For Windows 7 Launch
5. Windows 7 Core Presentation Deck
6. Windows 7 Benchmarks

Tags: core series, i3, i5, i7, intel, processors

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One of the new features that have been added to Windows 7 is “Windows Touch”, which allows users to use their fingers to perform tasks instead of the keyboard and mouse.

According to Microsoft, multi-touch technology will make tasks such as resizing windows, rotating images and scrolling easier. Microsoft has also introduced a “Touch Pack” for Windows 7, which contains various applications and games that relay only on touch. Also, some claim that this feature might affect the future of PC gaming.

So it’s not strange to see that already some companies have released laptops with touch screens such as Dell Latitude E6400 XFR and  HP TouchSmart tx2z. I believe that very soon this might become a standard in new laptops after Windows 7 hits the market.

However, not everyone agrees. For instance James Kendrick, an avid Tablet PC user who was recognized in 2005 with the Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award in Tablet PCs, mentions in his blog:

I have used laptops with touchscreens for a good while and while it’s cool to be able to touch the screen to make stuff happen it’s pure fluff.  I find that after an initial “gee-whiz” period of tapping the screen I stop touching the screen at all and go back to using the keyboard and pointers like I do on notebooks without touch.

Why?  Because it’s not natural to be touching the screen on a laptop.  It’s uncomfortable to do and more importantly it forces the user to remove their hand(s) from where they rest normally.  This breaks up the natural flow of things and like I said it’s actually uncomfortable to do.  That’s why I find myself not touching the screen after a short bit and so having the touch interface soon addsnothing to me.

Would you dig deeper in your pockets to buy a touch screen just to zoom in/out and rotate images using your fingers??

Related posts:

1. Windows 7 Multi-Touch Video
2. Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7
3. Enabling Multi-Touch In Windows 7 Beta
4. Master List Of Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts
5. Windows 7 Multi-touch demo at D6 Conference
6. Input technologies

Tags: display, laptop, Marketing, Microsoft, monitor, operating system, os, screen, touch, touch screen, touchscreen, Windows 7

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In my day to day computing, I am faced with a problem. Every computer that I use at work (a call center while I am in college) has Windows XP SP3 as its operating system. I myself have made the jump from XP to Vista to Windows 7, for Sean Marshall Studios and also for my family’s personal computers. Granted XP is a very stable and reliable operating system that has performed well. But in my opinion it is far too outdated. I understand that it is time and money to “retrain” IT departments and staff on a new OS. But the benefits just might outweigh the so called “cost” of retraining.

Lets delve into why it cost money to retrain the staff of a business. You hire a person do a specific task with a computer, not knowing their level of knowledge with a computer (this applies to business as a whole, not every business runs XP. Or, hires people without a decent level of computer skills, I understand.) But to train any employee on any skill, costs money. So in the long run it very easily can be seen as an investment to “retrain” an employee on a new OS. Technically they have already have been trained. Given the fact that windows operating systems are not that different from each other. A jump to a new OS can be very, very easy.

Does that mean retraining every single person in the entire company? No, simply put, Windows 7 or Vista is not that different from XP. The difference is the new operating systems incorporate new features that can help your employees work more efficiently.  If you put the same 10 icons on a desktop, and that is all your employees will ever need, then how does the OS call for “retraining”? It is essentially the same programs your employees work with everyday. I will get into compatibility in a bit also. Plus Windows 7 can be made to look like almost any previous version of windows. So in appearance it would be the same thing they are used also.

This is time for the IT departments to step up. They need not to say “let’s just keep using what works”, but instead “lets use what works better.” They should be prepared, and well versed in Windows 7 already. If not maybe you should ask who you have employed in your IT department. Of course there will always be another company not willing to take a chance with a new OS. But the truth of the matter is, the sooner the better. I don’t know if the Mac folks know this or not. But there are WAY more people and businesses that use a windows machine. I can name thousands of business that use XP on a daily basis for everyone of their employees. Thousands…

As the owner of a business, Sean Marshall Studios, I happen to be my own IT department, along with everything else. So I feel a strong need to stay current on everything that makes my business happen. From advertising for new clients, or using basic word documents (MS Office 2010 soon, yeah.) I switched to Windows 7 as soon as the beta (7000 x64) was available in January and have never looked back. I’m not going to get into why I did not like Vista 64. But never the less, I was not a happy camper and felt the need for a change. Low and behold, I got a nice surprise. Windows 7 is faster, more stable, and overall a better OS to use than any previous version of Windows.

Many features in Windows 7 allow me to be more productive. The new Aero features! The Snip it tool and so on and so on. But there is one feature I would like to discuss as it is secret. Well not really anymore but it was at one time; “XP Mode”. This is a new feature that Windows 7 will offer in the RTM.  It is available now for testing with the Windows 7 Release Candidate (7100), and will be available until July. Basically it allows you to run a “virtual copy of Windows XP SP3” on your Windows 7 desktop. (Notice it is not a Vista mode.) Meaning any argument about certain drivers, programs, applications not working or being “not compatible” are not viable. You can have Windows XP in Windows 7, in one package. I highly dig the concept of Microsoft’s idea. They have millions of customers still using XP. The customers did not want to go with Vista because of bad PR or whatever. So now they get XP with Windows 7.

But in the end, one day Microsoft will stop supporting XP as an OS. Meaning there will not be any more security patches or fixes. Meaning you are left vulnerable. But the future is, it might never die because it is going to live on virtually on Windows 7 and maybe 8 and maybe even Windows 9. Whatever that might be… I bet it will be fantastic. We will see.

Anyway all I guess I am saying is it would better to switch to Windows 7 when it is released in October. Rather than wait till you are forced to make a switch and play catchup with the rest of the business world. Truth be told. Some of us are already here. We are just waiting on you realize the truth. Windows 7. Then Windows 8. And so on…. or until somebody makes something better. Who knows? Until next time.

Related posts:

1. Windows 7 For Small Business
2. Why Windows 7 Works For The Average User
3. Windows 7 Expectations
4. Microsoft To Allow Downgrades To Windows Vista And Windows XP
5. Input technologies

Tags: Buisness, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 7 7100 x64, XP

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The news that Microsoft would only allow OEMs to offer Windows 7 to Windows XP downgrades for the first six months after the Windows 7 release made the rounds on various technology news sites two days ago. This basically meant that businesses and individuals would be able to downgrade to Windows XP Professional if they purchased a new computer system running Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Ultimate before May 2010. The only downgrade after that six month period would be to Windows Vista.

This plan could be a potential disaster for companies that decided to skip Windows Vista as most analysts predicted a 12-18 month period after the Windows 7 release before companies would begin using the operating system.

According to a Channel Web news article Microsoft is going to offer Windows XP downgrades until at least April 2011 or until the release of Windows 7 SP1.

Microsoft late Tuesday said it will give customers that buy new Windows 7 PCs the option of downgrading their machines to Windows XP Professional until April 2011, or until the release of a Windows 7 Service Pack 1.

Related posts:

1. Microsoft To Allow Downgrades To Windows Vista And Windows XP
2. Windows 7 RC Free For A Year
3. Microsoft confirms Windows 7 2010 Release Year
4. Windows 7 Release Candidate Delayed
5. Windows 7 Upgrade Pricing
6. Ballmer On Windows 7 And Windows Vista

Tags: downgrade, Windows 7, windows 7 downgrade, windows 7 vista, windows 7 xp, windows xp downgrade

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The usual way of creating a new folder in previous Windows operating systems was to right-click on a blank space in the window or computer desktop and select the new folder option. There was no keyboard shortcut available that could be quickly pressed to create that new folder.

This has apparently changed in Windows 7 as it is now possible to create new folders with the keyboard shortcut [Windows Shift N]. All you need to do is press this keyboard shortcut whenever you want to create a new folder. The only thing left to do is to type in the name of the folder if you want to change it and hit enter to save the changes.

thanks Samir

Related posts:

1. How To Create Custom Windows 7 Themes
2. Open In New Process Added To Context Menu
3. Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts For Managing Windows
4. Trick To Expand The Windows 7 Send To Menu
5. Fix BSOD Problems After Last Windows 7 Update
6. Master List Of Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts

Tags: How To, new folder, Windows 7, windows 7 how to, windows 7 shortcuts

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It seems that the frequent leaks that make their way to the Internet are not limited anymore to various Windows 7 builds (read about the Windows 7 build 7260 leak here) but also to other Microsoft software products in the making. Latest leak is Microsoft’s new antivirus solution Morro which was announced only recently. Morro has been renamed to Microsoft Security Essentials recently and could become an integral part of the Windows 7 security.

Windows 7 lacks an antivirus software program and Microsoft Security Essentials is the product that aims to fill the gap. Microsoft Security Essentials has now been leaked to the Internet. Leaks are available for Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. As Lee over at the Download Squad put it: Now it is possible to protect the leaked installations of Windows 7 with the leaked antivirus solution Microsoft Security Essentials. Oh, the irony.

Users who think about installing the security software should make sure they understand the implications. Microsoft Security Essentials is a product that has not been released yet which means that Microsoft will not be responsible for any problems that might occur.

Related posts:

1. List Of Windows 7 Leaks
2. Microsoft To Release Free Anti-Virus Software Morro Soon
3. Microsoft We Have A Leak
4. Will Microsoft Be Able To Stop Windows 7 Build Leaks?
5. Windows 7 RC Leaks
6. Microsoft China Leaks Offical Windows 7 Logo

Tags: antivirus, microsoft antivirus, microsoft security, microsoft security essentials, morro, windows 7 antivirus

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