Thursday, October 27, 2011

Anonymous – Operation Darknet

And now for something completely better!

After a rage against governments and big enterprises in the world, it seems the hacking group known as ‘Anonymous’ are putting their knowledge and technical skills for the good of all world population.

They’ve started and operation codenamed ‘Operation Darknet’.
The objectives are clear and simple. Destroy/dismantle all the possible webservers hosting child pornography.
the first ‘victim’ was Freedom Hosting where ‘Anonymous’ stated to dismantle more then 40 websites that hosted child pornography.
In my opinion, Anonymous group is know really using their knowledge and resources in something that really worst and will get a lot of support in the world to eradicate this kind of web content.

On they’re YouTube channel, Anonymous promises to get rid of more of this sites on a near future.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

OmniTouch – Microsoft Interface Investigation

The wearable multitouch!

Well, definitely the year of 2010 and 2011 will be marked up in history for the time where touch/gestures interface got prime time everywhere.
Microsoft, Apple and Google, are obviously the big companies on the spotlight to show new interaction technologies.

Also it’s important to remember that Microsoft has already showed in the year 2007 that interfaces were on of it’s big research projects with Microsoft’s Surface.
Then in the next years we have assisted to the “miniaturization” of the technology, some good advances with better, resistant displays and some good approaches where touch and sensors were very well interconnected.

Showing that touch interfaces are still a very important subject to Microsoft, they’ve showed a new thing in a partnership with the Carnegie Mellon University.
It’s called OmniTouch and promises to deliver reach interfaces everywhere. From the palm of an hand to the wall in your home.
It’s really a step further to have wearable interfaces, everywhere, anytime.

Take a look to the video:


For more information about OmniTouch visit Chris Harrison website:
Chris Harrison – OmniTouch

Hungarian Hackers Detention Video

Like the movies…

Like in the 1995 movie “Hackers”, in a time where the hacking scene was on an hype, it was released this month by the Hungarian police, a video showing the detention of various members of an hackers/movie pirates group called CINEDUB.

Microsoft Office 2007 Service Pack 3 Available

No hype for this one!

It was released today through Windows Update, Microsoft Office 2007 Service Pack 3.
With now major features added this update includes:

  • Previously unreleased fixes that were made specifically for this service pack. In addition to general product fixes, this includes improvements in stability, in performance, and in security.
  • All the public updates, security updates, cumulative updates, and hotfixes that were released through September 2011.

Like usual, Service Pack 3 for Microsoft Office 2007 is cumulative, so you don’t have to install Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 in order to install this one and everything deployed with SP1 and SP2 are also in SP3.

Here are the links:
Microsoft Office 2007 Service Pack 3 – Download
Microsoft Office 2007 Service Pack 3 - KB Information

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Stallman Declarations on Steve Jobs Death

When freedom is confused with fundamentalism…

Like usual, I’m getting back to old news I haven’t read…
Usually I don’t post nothing about it, unless I get really interested or, like in this case, I get “stunned”.
At 6th October 2011 in a very unpleasant comment after Steve Jobs death, Richard Stallman stated that:
”Nobody deserves to have to die (…). But we all deserve the end of Jobs' malign influence (…)”

Well, I had to read this twice because really couldn’t believe that the, so called open source guru, wrote something like this.
For you to get the all picture here’s the complete text from the official Stallman website:

"Steve Jobs, the pioneer of the computer as a jail made cool, designed to sever fools from their freedom, has died.
As Chicago Mayor Harold Washington said of the corrupt former Mayor Daley, "I'm not glad he's dead, but I'm glad he's gone."
Nobody deserves to have to die - not Jobs, not Mr. Bill, not even people guilty of bigger evils than theirs. But we all deserve the end of Jobs' malign influence on people's computing.
Unfortunately, that influence continues despite his absence. We can only hope his successors, as they attempt to carry on his legacy, will be less effective."

Many years will pass and I sincerely believe I will never understand Stallman and open source “fanatics”.
If what they defend it’s free choice, why to attack examples like Steve Jobs?
People could buy any tablet with Android, rootkit it and do what they want. But…and here’s the bull's-eye word…they’ve choose an Apple iPad or an iPhone, etc.

Who knows me personally knows that I’m not the biggest fun of Apple products but I don’t need to attack Apple, just need to choose other solution.
When people like Stallman criticizes a person for malign influence, well…what’s worst?
To give, consumers the opportunity to choose to buy an Apple product or who criticizes who sell it?

Monday, October 24, 2011

Windows Phone – Nokia N800 Teaser

The hype for new Nokia with Windows inside!

After last week unofficial leaked images of Nokia N800 surfaced the Internet, and some people found out a teaser trailer about it.
Nokia N800, previously know as Sea Ray, it’s one of the newest and first Nokia line-up Windows Phone machines and it’s very similar to Nokia N9.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Windows 8 – Fast Boot Experience with UEFI

The past/future technology it’s coming soon and strong!

Well, UEFI or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface has been here for quite some time.
It was called the new future of BIOS or Basic Input/Output System, by the way, and few people gave it a lot of importance besides the good looking boot experience we could have.

After 13th September (well, a few day before on Channel9) everyone started to talk a little bit more about UEFI.
The 8 seconds boot performed by a machine with an SSD, UEFI and Windows 8, turned everything more interesting.

With UEFI, the boot experience is fast, safe and beautiful, leading to higher customer satisfaction. This is in fact true, for the sake of all studies that indicated that a normal user, usually believes that he has a good or a “bad” machine, based on the boot time.

At Microsoft’s Build Conference 2011, there was a session just to show the virtues of UEFI and Windows 8.
Take a look:
Microsoft Build 2011 - Delivering a secure and fast boot experience with UEFI

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Windows 8 and USB 3.0 Working Together

Coming soon near you!

USB 3.0 it’s around us for a while but after seeing Microsoft’s Build demos, It’s kind of obvious that the actual RTM versions of Windows don’t take all the smoke out of the technology.
There’s just an hype about this that Microsoft dedicated a session to explain how Windows 8 takes advantage of this.

It’s quite impressive to see all the demos where USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 get tested side-by-side and we see that the performance gains are just incredible.
Also, I think it’s important to be advice that the speed we see on the demos are greatly enhanced by the SSD used on them.

To view the Microsoft’s Build Conference Video:
Microsoft Build 2011 - Understanding USB 3.0 in Windows 8

Windows 8 – The New Remote Desktop Experience

Real good news!

.: Improved graphics remoting
.: Metro Style user interface
.: Support for new range of networks (WAN; Mobile Devices; etc.)

A lot of good news for everyone like me that relies a lot on Remote Desktop access.
This new version that will be shipped with Windows 8 shows that Microsoft’s Remote Desktop team group it’s listening to what users need and want.

RemoteFX
What before was a piece of technology it’s now the name that Microsoft calls for the full fidelity remote experience in Windows Server 8

From the presentation, Microsoft seems to be really compromised with RemoteFX, that now works in WANs and it’s more adaptive to network conditions.
Also USB Redirection get a new boost with the new RemoteFX technology.
But…the great news about the new Remote Desktop it’s that now it can be used with a physical GPU or a virtual/software GPU! Remember that this was a biiig problem for a lot of people with older servers.

Metro Style Remote Desktop App
The primary objective of this app was to create a nice way to remote desktop using the touch UI, so this app it’s what you’ll probably use on your tablet if you need to connect to a remote machine.
This app it’s all touch friendly, also allows you to use the multi-touch interface remotely independently of the destination machine.

To view the Microsoft’s Build Conference Video:
Microsoft Build 2011 - Remote desktop experience in Windows 8

Windows 8 – Running on MAC Computers It’s Now Possible

Windows 8 on an Apple

Thanks to Parallels Desktop 7 software, it’s now possible to run Windows 8 on an Apple MAC computer without rebooting.
This is still an experimental functionality but makes possible to MAC users to see how Windows 8 could run on their machines.
Parallels Desktop 7 costs 80 dollars and users can have a trial period of 14 days.

To know more about Parallels Desktop:
Parallels

Monday, October 10, 2011

Windows 8 – Boot Performance Assessment

A huge percentage of users assess their machine performance by the time they take to boot.

Here’s a nice tool that was presented in Build Conference 2011.
The idea here it’s, specially for OEMs, to get their machine image as fast as they can.
This presentation takes a closer look to the new Hybrid Boot applied on the new Windows 8.

Microsoft Build 2011 - Introduction to Boot Performance Assessment

Friday, October 7, 2011

Windows 8 – Windows Performance Recorder

Substituting xperf and xboot

image

The Windows Performance Recorder it’s just a new tool to use instead of xperf and xboot.
WPR makes it possible to capture and analyze different aspects of a system and in different scenarios. Also makes it very easy because can be used using a GUI.

Take a look at this small video:
Microsoft Build 2011 - Windows Performance Recorder

Windows 8 – Microsoft Build Conference Best Of

Best of the best.

After last month’s most important conference yet to Microsoft this year, and because I couldn’t go to BuildWindows conference, I’ve download some of the video sessions that happened there.

I the next couple of days I’ll be posting some of them and the most relevant in my opinion.
So stay tunned for my Build Conference Best Of.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Steve Wozniak – Remembering Steve Jobs

A friend for all times.

CNet website released an interview with Steve Wozniak about his very good friend Steve Wozniak.

http://cnettv.cnet.com/steve-wozniak-remembers-steve-jobs/9742-1_53-50112727.html

Steve Jobs 1955 - 2011

So long…incredible visionary!

It’s with a great sadness that I’ve just turned my TV on to see a truly notice that I was not expected.
Despite the long illness, Steve Jobs was one of the persons that I just couldn’t away from this world.

Even yesterday I’ve posted an article about him and Bill Gates, for me some of the most important persons of the last century.
I can’t stop thinking that he died just 1 day after the first Apple event where he wasn’t the great host.

Former Apple’s CEO and founder and he’s 21, the great tech visionary that oversaw the launch of Macintosh, iPhone, iPad, founded also Pixar, has fought cancer for years.

For his family and friends I just want to give my sincere condolences.

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Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Windows Tablet – Since November 2002

Ahead on it’s time?

Although Apple made the real hype, I believe we need to give credits to someone that on November 7, 2002 in New York City showed of a new way to interact with very based Windows XP O.S.
Using a pen/stylus for input instead of a traditional keyboard and mouse was shakeup to the market at that time.
Also at that time, the man which this article is about made a statement: “This is big. Don’t doubt me!”.

Well…at this time we can surely say that he was right, but the implementation was really wrong.
With an operating system or an UI that clearly wasn’t adequate to input with a pen, the hardware high prices and a lot of other factors made Windows Tablet PC only a market niche worldwide but with Microsoft still believing on other forms to interact with technology. Microsoft Surface it’s one good example, and obviously later with Microsoft Kinect.

With the introduction of Windows 7, a new breathe seemed to be on the horizon with hardware vendors, like HP, creating products designed specially for Windows 7 using touch input.

Again, an user interface that didn’t suit users made everything stand still.
But…Bill Gates was right, definitely looking back, he was completely right!

Then…another Technological Midas made it’s point, showed that Apple was looking to market with eyes wide open and took the crown.
Although Apple’s offers a lot more, if we look to what most users talk about iPad, it’s about the fantastic UI. Here’s where Microsoft failed (also the technology advanced), the user interface that Apple picked up just great and made tablets/slates market, one of the largest in the technology world.

Nowadays Microsoft seams that it learned it’s lesson, reinvented itself and next year Windows 8 will show up everywhere looking to show that there is nothing wrong with admitting their mistakes.
With a real UI designed essentially to tablets, an O.S. that now runs on ARM processors, an huge market share, a very well acceptance of Windows 7 and of course, the big Microsoft’s marketing machine, makes predictable that Windows 8 could have a very nice future.

At the end…not wanting to get credits off Steve ‘God’ Jobs, I believe that Apple really done a fantastic job with a a very nice idea (in a big part a Bill ‘God’ Gates idea) from Microsoft and created a brand new way to interact with the world and made the market grow again.
Let’s see if Microsoft still gets the chance to prove that it still has a word to say on it.

Last words for Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Two personalities that collided for a long time but along the years had defined a lot in the world has we know it.
Although they’re both away from Microsoft and Apple, their legacy is undoubtedly priceless and their vision of the future will still be with us for a long long time.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Microsoft Zune Production Ends

An expected announcement.

Well, rather then a notice, this is more a confirmation.
On an official announcement reproduced by CNET website Microsoft informs that it will maintain all Zune services and all warranties will be preserved for already bought and future buys, because sells will continue until the end of stock.

With this announcement Microsoft seems to maintain the idea to keep Zune has a multimedia service sub-brand to be used on Windows Phone 7, Xbox 360 and probably….Windows 8.

Windows 8 Developer Preview – Product Keys

Just a curiosity.

Although there is no need to use a product key on Windows 8 Developer Preview, like it happens on Windows 7 setup, the product key for the operating system it’s not asked during install but you can always add it at any time.

Some users noticed that when the reinstall (or reset) their Windows 8 Developer Preview, they got asked about the Product Key, and although there’s a ‘skip’ button, some people were curious about this.
So curious that Microsoft decided to unveil this on their own forums, just to satisfy the community.

So here they are:
Windows 8 Server Developer Preview – 4Y8N3-H7MMW-C76VJ-YD3XV-MBDKV
Windows 8 Developer Preview – 6RH4V-HNTWC-JQKG8-RFR3R-36498

Like noticed by Microsoft itself, this product key only work on Windows 8 Developer Preview versions.

Windows 8 – Keyboard Shortcuts

Everyone more efficient!

At the present time, I believe there are 2 kinds of users, in terms of keyboard usage.
We have the 1st group of people that primarily uses the mouse the most of the task and uses the keyboard simply to write…And we have the 2nd group of people that uses a lot of mouse but has a natural need to do their work more quickly, to get the things done in a blink of the eyes.

Well…with Windows 8 and using the new Metro UI I believe that will be more and more people getting to the 2nd group.
Although or maybe…because, this interface breathes slates and smartphones, it’s nature makes the use on PCs more likely to use keyboard shortcuts to get things faster.
So, thinking on this, here’s a nice table with a lot of shortcuts to use, some old and some new:

Global Windows 8 Shortcuts

WIN + Q Opens search
WIN + Z Applications options
WIN + Spacebar Changes language / keyboard layout
WIN + Y Shows desktop
WIN + W Search system parameters
WIN + F Search files
WIN + I Opens settings
WIN + K Opens connection settings
WIN + O Disables display rotation
WIN + C Opens start menu
WIN + V Switch between notifications
WIN + Shift + V Switch between notifications (inverse)
WIN + Enter Activates narrator
WIN + PageUp Moves tiles left
WIN + PageDown Moves tiles right
WIN +  Shift Moves display separator left
WIN + . Moves display separator right


Windows Explorer Shortcuts

A To open the “special features”
C e O copy selected file(s)
C e P Copy the system path to a file or selected folder
C e F Copy a folder
D Delete selected folder(s) or file(s)
E Edit selected file(s)
H Show file version history
M Move file(s)
N New folder
P and S Insert tag
P and R Show file properties
P and E Open with…
S and A Select all
S and N Deselect
S and I Invert selection
R Rename select file(s)
T Cut
V Paste
W Create new document from available templates

Monday, October 3, 2011

Windows 8 – Removing Metro Interface

For geeks, puritans and nostalgic

Well, we just need to face it.
The “good” old Windows UI it’s gone. For a lot of aspects but this in particular I need to bowing to Microsoft.
Cutting way one interface that was the essence of and operating system (it’s called Windows for the good sake!) it’s something that very very few enterprises can do in the world.
Just a company with a lot of resources, intellectual and financial, can risk something like this in times that a mistake can make billions on damage.

That said, if you just don’t like it, you’re a 120% geek, puritan or nostalgic, the good news is that Microsoft also thinks in you and not just the new ‘slates guys’.
If you really really want to get you good' ‘n old look and feel of Windows 7 please, follow this steps:

1. Open registry editor (Start –> Run –> regedit.exe –> OK)
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
3.
Now create a DWORD called RPEnabled and set it’s value to 0
4. Close everything, restart your machine and voilá a Windows 8 with a Windows 7 UI

If you change your mind and want to give Metro UI a new chance, follow the previous steps again and change the RPEnabled value to 1.

Windows 8 – Booting Up in 8 seconds

It seems 8 it’s really the magic number

w8_03

While there is not an official announcement that Windows 8 will really be called Windows 8 when it hits the RTM version (but everyone suspect it will…) it seems that the number 8 will be intrinsically related to the new Microsoft operating system.

A lot of users evaluate their machine performance by the quickness to boot up so, after some studies Microsoft concluded that 57% of PC/Desktop users and 45% of notebook users, normally turn their equipment completely off instead of take them into an hibernation state.
The most frequently reason to do this, it’s because users want 0% power loss when their note using their machine.

With this in mind, Microsoft decided to take a little work on Windows 8 boot time and really made an amazing job. The final magic number it’s 8 seconds which is really impressive.
It’s important that we should take in consideration some factors like the used technology (UEFI; SSD; etc) but after testing 20 PC’s it’s proved that Windows 8 really improves boot time if you compare it with Windows 7 on the same machine.

w8_00

There’s also a video showing of this fast boot experience:

To know more about what’s Microsoft doing with boot time, visit this website:
Building Windows 8 – Delivering Fast Boot Times in Windows 8

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