the windows are closing on Windows (XP and Vista)

Support is ending for some versions of Windows.

April 13, support for Windows Vista without any service packs will end...

and on July 13, support for Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) will end.

If you're running one of these versions after support ends, you won't get security updates for Windows.

"An unsupported version of Windows will no longer receive software updates from Windows Update. These include security updates that can help protect your PC from harmful viruses, spyware, and other malicious software, which can steal your personal information..."

"...To continue support, make sure you've installed Windows Vista SP2.

"...To continue support, make sure you've installed Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3)."

"There's no SP3 for the 64-bit version of Windows XP. If you're running the 64-bit version of Windows XP with SP2, you have the latest service pack and will continue to be eligible for support and receive updates until April 8, 2014...

"Even if you have an unsupported version of Windows XP or Windows Vista without any service packs, Windows will continue to start and run as usual."

"Total Recall", book review

"Total Recall: How the E-Memory Revolution Will Change Everything" is a book written by Gordon Bell and Jim Gemmell, former researchers at Microsoft Research. The book is dedicated to their of colleague, Jim Gray, who was lost at sea in 2007.

The forward is written by Bill Gates: "What would happen if we could instantly access all the information we were exposed to throughout our lives?..."

OK...I'll take it further: what if every piece of information there ever was could be accessed? We're not there, and I doubt that we will ever get there. But, what if?...

(And, we're off and running.)

Here's a small pre-summary. This book should be a good read for various kinds of people. Like people who collect...anything. Those interested in data management. Those who have a difficult time being organized, and those who are very organized. What to keep. How to keep it. It covers a broad scope of considerations for many.

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Chapter 1, third paragraph: "...each day I'm losing a little bit more of my mind. By the way, so are you."

That should have been the first paragraph. But...oh, well. It's a very powerful, and true, statement.

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There's mention of the movie "The Final Cut", which I've never seen...but the description of it in the book has made me want to. Per Lions Gate Films: ...“The Final Cut” is set in a world where “Zoë Chips” are placed in the brain at birth to record one’s entire life, providing footage which is edited into a “Rememory”—a film shown at your funeral...

The book also explains that "cutters can make 'saints out of criminals'" as a character in the movie "does with the life of a child abuser. The movie also shows protesters with placards demanding 'the right to forget' and darkly depicts the lengths to which some people might be willing to go to get their hands on the private life recordings of a political enemy."

Interesting. The "flip-side", if you will. What about considerations for those who prefer the naturalness of not being able to remember everything? I've never considered that there are some who appreciate that part of humanity.

I have often thought about what "data" I want to be available to certain people after I'm dead. And have considered plans on how to make it obvious.

There are things I have gained acces to on storage devices and networks that I'm sure others had no intention for anyone to know about. I've often thought about how they might feel if they learned that I, or someone, was aware of something that was thought to be private. (I've never revealed to anyone that I am aware of their secrets...I do want a lot of people to know how much they can trust me, but I suspect telling them could cause them embarassment and make them uneasy. I don't want to do that to them.)

As stated in the book, there are many benefits to being able to access elusive data. And, there can be negative results for some in being able to recall bad memories.

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In Part Two of the book, Chapter 6, the position is taken that: "Textbooks should be replaced by tablets, notebooks, PDAs, or evern cell pones..."

And I STRONGLY agree. It is in the best interest of this country, our communitities, and our families for our populace to have access to as much information as possible as conveniently as possible. How to do so is a different extensive debate for other venues. If we don't lead, odds are we shall follow...

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When I went to the book's website, I was surprised to find a quote from the CEO of Evernote. But it passed... after all, we are considering saving "everything".

The book is available in hardcover, and eBook (Adobe Reader and ePub) formats.

Google over Bing?

The Catalyst Group has issued "Google vs. Bing – Search Engine Preference", a report that compares Microsoft’s new search engine with Google's.

"Our goal for this study was to gather users’ general impressions of the Google and Bing search engines, including overall functionality, presentation of content, and overall fit with user expectations and needs. We also wanted to see how much attention users paid to advertising space on the two sites."

(from the report)

"Most users preferred the Bing visual design and thought that it was slightly better in terms of organization and refinement options."

Overall reasons for preferring Google

• Familiarity

• Enhancements in Bing not enough to convert

• Already using other Google apps

free developer and designer tools from Microsoft

Microsoft is offering DreamSpark, Professional Developer and Designer tools, to college/university students at no charge...

You can get:
* Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition
* Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition
* Expression Studio (includes Web, Blend, Media and Design)
* SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition
* Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition, with SP2

As well as:
* SQL Server 2005 Express Edition
* Visual Studio 2005 Express Edition
* XNA Game Studio 2.0 (with 12-month Creators Club trial membership)
* Virtual PC

They’re the complete and full professional grade versions.

To be eligible, you must be "a currently enrolled student attending an accredited university, college, junior college, community college, or a tertiary/higher education institution with digital student ID credentials (e.g. username and password) provided by your school, organization or another identity provider listed as a verification source on the DreamSpark Student Status Verification page..."

https://downloads.channel8.msdn.com/

sending (error) information to Microsoft

We've had some discussion about the Microsoft Online Crash Analysis (MOCA): feeling uncomfortable about submitting information, some do not want to send the report. I ask all to reconsider, and DO send it...

"Microsoft actively analyzes all error reports and prioritizes them based on the number of customers affected by the Stop error covered in the error report. We will try to determine the cause of the Stop error you submit, categorize it according to the type of issue encountered, and send you relevant information when such information is identified...we might need to collect a number of similar error reports from other customers before a pattern is discovered...

"...No personal information is written to your hard drive or shared outside of our service."

Some of the information I have seen informed me: what was causing a conflict or problem, who the manufacturer is, which device is involved, etcetera.

Microsoft gives Yahoo three weeks to do a deal

Microsoft on Saturday issued an ultimatum to Yahoo, giving the Internet search pioneer three weeks to enter formal merger negotiations and conclude a deal.

The software giant threatened to launch a proxy fight to unseat Yahoo's board of directors, as well as take its case straight to Yahoo investors should no deal be reached in that period.

And as a further cattle prod in getting a deal consummated, Microsoft threatened to lower its existing bid, citing how Yahoo's value will be hurt if it needs to resort to such hostile means.

"If we have not concluded an agreement within the next three weeks, we will be compelled to take our case directly to your shareholders, including the initiation of a proxy contest to elect an alternative slate of directors for the Yahoo board," Steve Ballmer, Microsoft chief executive, stated in his letter to Yahoo's board of directors. "The substantial premium reflected in our initial proposal anticipated a friendly transaction with you. If we are forced to take an offer directly to your shareholders, that action will have an undesirable impact on the value of your company from our perspective which will be reflected in the terms of our proposal."

Microsoft initially offered an unsolicited buyout bid of $31 per share for Yahoo back on February 1.

Microsoft offers free support for Vista SP1 installs

Vista users encountering problems when they upgrade to Service Pack 1 can breathe easier: the company is giving away free support for those installing the service pack.

The transition to the service pack has not been problem-free for many users, some of whom have seen their computers fall into endless reboot cycles and struggled with broken applications after installing the upgrade.

Normally, only Windows Vista users who bought the retail product would be eligible for free support but, for SP1 installation, even users with an original-equipment-manufacturer copy of Vista on their computer can get Microsoft's help, according to the official Vista blog.

"We are offering free-of-charge support to anyone who is having issues installing Windows Vista SP1," Microsoft blogger Brandon Le Blanc said.

Unlimited installation and compatibility support is available at no charge until March 18, 2009, according to the Microsoft Service Pack 1 support site.

There are three options available under the free support plan for U.S. users: e-mail support, which will be answered within one business day; online chat, which has a current waiting time of around 40 minutes; and call, available only for users who have a software-assurance agreement, professional contract, TechNet subscription, or MSDN subscription, or for those who come under the Microsoft Partner Program.

Support will be handled on a case-by-case basis, a Microsoft spokesperson said, and the user will always be advised if costs are involved.

Whether enterprise customers will also receive support without cost will depend on their agreement, the spokesperson added.

Microsoft Surface Launching April 17 with AT&T

No, Microsoft hasn't suddenly transformed its 30-inch, multi-touch Surface into a big-ass cellphone. It has, however, chosen AT&T to launch the world's first Surface into retail. Shoppers in New York, Atlanta, San Antonio, and San Francisco will be treated to what amounts to the novelty (at least initially) of learning about a device (Samsung BlackJack II, pictured) by simply placing it atop the Surface. They'll also have the ability to explore interactive coverage maps. Later, users will be able to drag ringtones, graphics and video and drop it into "the phones." Note their use of "the" and not "your" phone in the press release. Nevertheless, we're happy to see Microsoft get the technology out the door on its long march towards consumerdom.

Vista Service Pack 1 - Available for Download

Everyday about 1pm I get a text message sent to me about what's new in Tech. So, today's "Tech Tip" was "A major package of updates and security fixes for Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system will be available for download." I thought it would be at least a couple of days.

I immediately went on Ustream to see if Andy was randomly broadcasting. I browsed around some other tech show to see if anybody might be talking about it.

I stumbled upon "The Tech Buzz" where they actually called Microsoft to find out if the Service Pack was available. They told them that it was available. They are doing an official install of Vista Service Pack 1. It took them about 45 minutes to install it.

If anybody is interested in downloading Vista Service Pack 1, here is the link:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b0c7136d-5ebb-413b-89c9-cb3d06d12674&DisplayLang=en

If you install it, let us know how it goes and if you had any issues!

Good Luck!

iPhone gets third-party support

Adam Pash reports on Lifehacker that "Today, Steve Jobs and the folks at Apple have announced their official support for third-party applications along with Enterprise support for push email and calendars, Activesync and Exchange support..."
This is an extension of the earlier report concerning support for Microsoft's Exchange server...MORE

"sticky keys"

George called asking for help with a "locked keyboard": he had held down some keys, and now is having problems using the keyboard.

(We did not have a lot of time left in the show so we took his telephone number, and I called him at a later time.)

After talking with George and his wife, I thought "Sticky Keys" may have been enabled. I was correct.

Look for an icon in the system tray...

Windows Hardware Compatibility Lists

Use Internet Explorer to view the site...

"The Windows...Hardware Compatibility List is a comprehensive list of logo'd products – both Devices and Systems - that are compatible with Windows..."

E3 press conferences

They're streamable and downloadable...