Activity for November 18

Review - Microsoft Zune
4.0 (Sep 15, 2009)

I'll have my HD as soon as UPS delivers it. But, to be prepared, I downloaded this software.

It's not necessarily bloated. The setup package is a ZIP file that breaks down into many smaller programs. There are separate 32 and 64 bit setup packages in English, French, and Spanish. There's also a setup for .NET and numerous Windows updates, necessary to run the software. There's also a firmware upgrade for the device.

I must add that I have been scouring the Internet for days to find a comprehensive, and not superficial review. I have yet to find one that told me other than the bare essentials that you can read in an ad on Best Buy or Amazon. How does the web browser work? What can you do with it? How easy it is to connect to your home wireless network? Can you synch or stream music from your home PC? What is the quality of reception of the HD radio?

In response to all these reviewers, I don't really care about subscribing to some software store, as I already own 124 gig of music. I'm not looking for games or apps. I am buying the player to play the music I already own. I don't really care about the UI, as I tend to pick out some music, put the player in my pocket, and listen to the music. I don't care about constantly diddling with a UI or impressing other people with it.
Review - FolderShare
14.0.1331.0415 Beta (Apr 23, 2008)

I would like to try using it, but when I install it on my computer, it says it's checking my account on the server, and it comes back to me saying that I need to download a newer version at www.foldershare.com. I try downloading from that website and still keep getting the same message. If I can't install it, I can't try it. If I can't try it, I can't rate it.

And to top it all off, when I try and register with my personal Email address, it says that account has already been used. But, when I log into to their server using this account, and ask to reset my password and send me the new password, it says that account doesn't exist!
Review - Microsoft Windows Live OneCare
1.5.1890.34 (Apr 12, 2007)

Use this software at your peril. I bought a 3-machine license and installed it on 2 different XP machines (Media Center and Pro). While installed, I couldn't get an Internet connection. After I uninstalled it, I found my firewall to be completely trashed. I cannot start the traditional MS XP firewall, even though I get constant harrassing reminders to do so. I would, but I can't. I even ran the Live One Care cleanup tool (twice!), and still no firewall.

Also, I am so disgusted with recent MS "upgrades" trashing my machine, I turned them off and restored my machine to earlier, happier days when at least I could boot my machines.

Normally, I am a huge Microsoft supporter, but I am starting to waver.
Comment - Don't forget to upgrade to Firefox 3.6 beta 3 today
1.5.1890.34 (Nov 18, 2009 - 6:57 PM)

3.5.5 is working fine for me. Why change for the sake of change? I'll wait till Mozilla pushes down the update.
Comment - PDC 2009 Post-keynote Day 2: What are we learning today?
1.5.1890.34 (Nov 18, 2009 - 6:55 PM)

"Now, think about that for a bit: The implication here is that the development team cannot work on the operating system and the Web browser at the same time. This from the company that used to argue that the two components were inseparable."

There are other inferences that could be drawn here as well. My suggestion to you would be to talk to some Microsoft employees at the conference before jumping to conclusions.

Microsoft is not lying to you or covering up anything. Some components are common to both the browser and to other parts of the OS. If you pull the browser and all its components out of Windows, it would break Windows. Why don't you settle this once and for all by talking to a few developers at the conference. To anybody who knows a little about the components that make up Windows and the components that make up IE, and who understands who related software components cannot always be developed in parallel, because of dependency requirements, this is not a mystery or some kind of conspiracy on Microsoft's part.
Comment - Myka announces its latest Linux-based 'net top box'
1.5.1890.34 (Nov 7, 2009 - 5:35 AM)

In case you want more information now, here's a link to more information. http://www.myka.tv/ There are videos, descriptions, and the all-important list of specs, the video and audio formats supported, and a rear view, showing all the interfaces.
Comment - Sophos study suggests Windows 7 UAC's default setting is self-defeating
1.5.1890.34 (Nov 5, 2009 - 5:10 PM)

I agree. This "non-story" is all over the Internet, blindly repeated on every blog.
Comment - Performance drain: The first public perception test of the Windows 7 era
1.5.1890.34 (Nov 5, 2009 - 11:21 AM)

"If that were true for everyone besides a few folks for whom the notion that stuff doesn't matter really, really matters, then Windows 7 really would be "Vista Service Pack 3" (it is, after all, internally numbered "Windows 6.1")."

In changing a service pack of Windows, MS bumps the build number and the service pack number, not the Major and Minor version number.

Windows Vista was Windows 6.0, build 6002, Service Pack 2. Windows 7 is Windows 6.1, build 7600.

When a new named version of Windows is released, that's when they bump the major and/or minor version number. For example, Windows 95 was Version 4.0. Windows 98 was Version 4.1. Windows ME was Version 4.9. And, YES, is does matter.