Posts Tagged ‘Windows 7’

If Windows 7 doesn’t work, it’s your fault

When, like Microsoft, you’ve suffered more criticism for your operating system than Tom Cruise has for his height, you have to really think deeply when you launch something new.

You could go out and continue to tell people that you’re very clever. But then they’d be a little more reluctant to believe you.

You could tout Windows 7 as the brainspawn of a whole new generation of terribly clever engineers. But then consumers might have a vision of an operating system created by pot-smoking, pot-bellied youths with the body odor of mousetrapped rats.

So you reach the conclusion that you’ve listened to both the great washed and unwashed out there and designed a new operating system completely according to their needs.

Full story plus video :

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10381692-71.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

Windows 7, Vista zero-day flaw reported

A security researcher has said there is a zero-day vulnerability affecting Windows 7 and Vista.

The flaw in Windows 7 could allow an attack which would cause a critical system error, or “blue screen of death,” according to researcher Laurent Gaffie.

Gaffie wrote in his blog that the flaw lies in a Server Message Block 2 (SMB2) driver.

“SRV2.SYS fails to handle malformed SMB headers for the NEGOTIATE PROTOCOL REQUEST functionality,” wrote Gaffie in a blog post Monday.

Gaffie said he had contacted Microsoft. Comments on his blog by other users said that the flaw could lead not only to denial of service, but could also lead to remote code execution.

Computer security publication “The H” wrote on Tuesday that its German sister publication had tested the proof-of-concept code, and that while the exploit had caused a reboot on Vista, the exploit had not worked on Windows 7.

Metasploit creator HD Moore said in a tweet on Tuesday that an SMB bug appeared to have been introduced into Vista SP1. Coder Josh Goebel said in a blog post that he had added the exploit code to Metasploit.

Microsoft had not responded to a request for comment at the time of writing.

Source :

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10346664-83.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

Microsoft releases preview of Windows 7 embedded edition

Microsoft has released a technical preview of its new Windows 7-based embedded edition, the company said Tuesday.

Designed to run on everything from ATMs to digital photo frames, Windows Embedded Standard 2011 is now available for download as a trial edition. The finished version is expected in the second half of 2010.

The community technology preview of Windows Embedded gives businesses and developers a chance to evaluate it on their devices and offer feedback to Microsoft. The company said that Windows Embedded lets manufacturers choose only those components they need to drive their equipment, eliminating the need to develop a full platform on their own.

Windows Embedded is used in a variety of markets, including industrial automation, entertainment, and consumer electronics. In the business world, the software is typically found in thin clients, kiosks, medical equipment, and point-of-service devices. On the consumer side, Windows Embedded is used in GPS devices, gaming consoles, networked TVs, and portable media players.

Microsoft said the latest embedded version offers several new features. Businesses will be able to manage their devices using Active Directory group policies and virtual desktops. The new edition will support 64-bit CPUs, the Windows Aero interface, and Windows Touch for touch screens. Windows Embedded Standard 2011 will also incorporate Internet Explorer 8 and Windows Media Player 12.

To help manufacturers, the company will offer Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist certification, a preparation kit, and training software. More information can be found on the Windows Embedded Training site. The company will also let businesses and developers register for free Webinars.

Source :

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-10322875-75.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

Mac OS Snow Leopard: Great news for Windows 7, too

OS X 10.6 includes Boot Camp 3.0, a new collection of software drivers that make Windows run much better on Mac hardware.

(Credit: Screenshot by Dong Ngo/CNET)

Every time I see the “I’m a Mac/I’m a PC” ads on TV, I can’t help but wonder, “Why not both?” And it has never been a better time for that.

It’s been a three weeks since I first got my hands on Apple’s new Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. (If anything, this means lots of hard work benchmark testing the product while trying to keep my mouth shut about it till now, which was even harder.)

Overall, personally, I found that while the new Mac OS doesn’t warrant a “wow,” it’s still definitely worth the $29 upgrade price.Mac users can read more about Snow Leopard in my colleague Jason Parker’s full review. On the other hand, for Windows users, especially Windows 7, the release of Snow Leopard is straight-on great news.

Full Story :

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10315168-1.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

Windows 7 to get NY launch

Apparently Microsoft isn’t doing everything with Windows 7 differently from how it did Windows Vista.

As was the case with Vista, Windows 7 will get its formal launch< in the Big Apple. CEO Steve Ballmer will preside over the Oct. 22 event, with the usual array of hardware partners showing off their latest wares.

Microsoft used a human billboard to help mark the NY launch of Windows Vista.

(Credit: Caroline McCarthy/CNET News)

But that’s not the only Gotham event for Microsoft in October. The company is also doing a consumer open house at the Park Avenue Armory, led by Robbie Bach, on Oct. 6. Microsoft plans to highlight everything from the Zune and new phones to hardware products like keyboards and mice.

Microsoft is hoping to turn that event into an annual event.

New York was also the site of Vista’s launch, which included a fancy lunch at Cipriani with the press, a human billboard as well as a trip to Best Buy for Steve Ballmer.

Microsoft finalized the code for Windows 7 last month. It will hit retail shelves and start showing up on new PCs on Oct. 22, though some large businesses with volume licenses can already get the code if they wish.

Source :

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10319392-56.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

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