RSSMicrosoft Update Enters Beta Testing
By David Worthington | Published March 22, 2005, 7:28 PM
As expected, a beta program for the Microsoft Update (MU) service has opened up to solicit feedback from testers and troubleshoot prior to the site's scheduled launch later in 2005.
The site unifies Microsoft's patching services and will be the primary destination for updates to Windows, Office and other applications. Microsoft Update was first announced by Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates during his RSA Conference 2005 keynote.
"Update consolidation is a natural extension of the original Windows Update philosophy. Separate Windows and Office update mechanisms are burden for customers, one that needs to be remedied," said Jupiter Research senior analyst Joe Wilcox of the beta.
Over 25,000 testers will be participating in the MU pre-release program, mostly drawn from the same panel of testers as the Windows Update version 5 beta.
Jupiter's Wilcox noted the large tester base is necessary for Microsoft Update trials. "An automatic update mechanism is something Microsoft has to get right first time; version three success isn't good enough. The large number of testers will help Microsoft work out the ugliest, potential problems ahead of official availability."
Microsoft MVPs, customers and partners will also be participating in the test to even out the population to include individuals who are proficient in Office, Exchange and SQL.
As of Tuesday, testers are being asked to fill out End User License Agreements (EULA) before they can take part in the beta program. Those selected will be asked to submit bug reports, participate in surveys and newsgroup discussions.
Nate Mook contributed to this report.
Actually, Microsoft Update has been in beta for several weeks. Last week they posted an update that integrates Microsoft Genuine Advantage into the update sequence. You can't even check for updates now without first validating.
By the way, there isn't any restriction prevent anyone from trying this out. Just go to update.microsoft.com. Warning: Once you sign up, you can't go back to V5. There are no Active-X objects in Internet Explorer for Microsoft Update, so you can't just delete some easily accesible files to revert back to V5.
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|Microsoft need to utilize the update to stop the piracy of Windows and office, ETC.
How to do it is easy: (just an quick idea)
- put any component of checking the pirated version in many update/ software such as ( windows media player, security update, windows update, spam filter, etc)
and then in specific time (even without connecting to internet), give warning and disable the pirated computer or ask them to reactivate it, if it is original. if not disable the computer and they will buy the original.
- It is very easy to track the serial number of pirated computer as many computer using single serial number around the world.
so it just microsoft want to do it or not.
Lets wait. :)
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|MSFT already have a similar system in place for genuine OS users. If you are downloading any new software (WMP10 for example), you need to either enter your licence key or install an ActiveX control.
There is already controls to stop piracy - think XP SP2 that checks for pirated licence keys prior to installation.
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|No. user still can use the windows xp pirated version (SP2) with windows update. and it still updating it.
Microsoft also need to put small update (silently) to windows xp and windows Xp sp1 computer, so when they did not update/ install SP2 and others at 14 april. their computer got warning and after that cannot work if they did not reactivate it (if it is illegal)
Otherwise microsoft cannot stop the piracy.
This also must be applied to Microsoft Office products too
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|I think that no matter piracy problems, Windows computers still need to be updated. The pirated versions will be blocked out receiving updates and could help spread worms and viruses. But you could still use autoupdate right?
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