microsoft

The death knell tolls for Windows XP. The decade-old operating system is no longer being shipped to PC makers -- otherwise known as original equipment manufacturers, or "OEMs". The kill date came officially on October 22nd, which was Windows 7's ... first birthday. The news comes as little surprise to most, given that Microsoft had already cut off options to pre-install Windows XP back in 2008 . (Source: pcmag.com ) Windows 7, Vista Can Be Downgraded to XP Some fans have continued to enjoy access to the uber-popular Windows XP -- particularly users of low-end PCs like netbooks, and ... (view more)

After four years of relative quiet, the video game console market is once again heating up. Nearly half a decade after Nintendo set the standard for motion-sensitive gameplay with its Nintendo Wii console, Microsoft is countering with the Kinect ... peripheral for its Xbox 360, and the Redmond-based firm is spending big, big bucks on advertising in hopes that it will be a success. Microsoft to Spend $500 Million On Kinect Advertising According to reports, Microsoft will spend an estimated $500 million on marketing alone in promoting Kinect, a system add-on for its Xbox 360 console. The peripheral ... (view more)

On Tuesday, Microsoft unveiled Windows Embedded Automotive 7, a Windows platform specially built for use in new vehicles. The system includes several new features that should drastically enhance the driving experience, including speech recognition ... operations, touch screen controls, hands-free Bluetooth, and perhaps most unique of all, entertainment and information options ranging from satellite maps to music and third-party applications. Bringing Tech Together Behind the Wheel Gartner Industry Advisory Service Manufacturing group vice president Thilo Koslowski says the use of a Windows 7 ... (view more)

High-profile executive and software visionary Ray Ozzie has announced he is leaving Microsoft. It's a move that has prompted great speculation in the tech industry, including whether or not the company will remain effective in its plans for online ... computing. Ray Ozzie a Key Figure of Microsoft Ozzie was Microsoft's Chief Software Architect. That's not a precisely defined term, but one could draw conceptual parallels with the work of a traditional architect: a software architect makes the key design decisions about how software should be built and how it will operate. Given Microsoft's line of ... (view more)

After weeks of wreaking financial havoc on web users around the world, the dreaded Zeus Trojan is finally showing signs of weakness. Microsoft this week announced that their free malware cleaning tool has targeted the virus, going so far as to ... report the removal of Zeus from 275,000 Windows computers in less than 7 days. Zeus, also referred to as Zbot, is a devious collection of software (a " crimeware kit") that allows hackers to create customized malware that can be used to infect PCs. Zeus is most commonly programmed to target usernames, passwords and other information needed to ... (view more)

According to a recent report from Microsoft, the Redmond-based software company removed 6.5 million botnets from Windows machines during the first period of 2010 -- which is more than double the number eliminated by the firm over the same period in ... 2009. Botnets Used to Spam, Spread Malware, Steal Secrets In simple terms, a botnet (or "robot network") is a group of infected PCs that are under control of a few (or 1) individual. Typically, a PC becomes infected by visiting a malicious website, or by opening a malicious file or email. Once a computer is infected with botnet malware, ... (view more)

Microsoft Junk Email Filter for Outlook 2007 (October 2010) Keep yourself safe from unwanted (and often dangerous) spam emails. This Microsoft update provides the Junk E-mail Filter in Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 with a more current definition of ... which e-mail messages should be considered junk e-mail. http://www.microsoft.com Microsoft Junk Email Filter for Outlook 2003 (October 2010) Like the above, this Microsoft update provides added protection for users of Microsoft email application Outlook 2003 by upgrading the Junk E-mail Filter. http://wwww.microsoft.com This freeware software ... (view more)

Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system (OS) has received great reviews since its October 22, 2009 launch, but many home users and businesses continue to employ older versions of Windows, particularly XP. According to a new report, however, the next ... twelve months could prove critical for Microsoft, with predictions that an enormous number of consumers will make the shift to Windows 7. Windows 7 Report Based on September 2010 Poll The report stems from a late September 2010 poll of 115 different IT clients by independent analyst firm Directions on Microsoft. It finds that currently only about ... (view more)

Microsoft yesterday announced that its next monthly security update due on October 12th, popularly referred to as " Patch Tuesday ," will include a record 16 Security Bulletins -- the most ever released at one time by the company. The bulletins ... address a total of nearly 50 vulnerabilities. Almost All Windows Versions Susceptible to Exploits Of the nearly 50 vulnerabilities to be addressed this next Patch Tuesday , four have been rated 'Critical,' Microsoft's most serious designation for security threats. Another ten are marked 'Important,' the second-highest rating, and two more are ... (view more)

Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows 1.0.2498.0 Microsoft Security Essentials is a free download from Microsoft that helps to keep your PC protected against malware and virus threats. It's simple to install, easy to use, and always kept up to ... date so you can be assured your PC is protected by the latest technology. http://www.microsoft.com Cloudmark DesktopOne 1.0.1040 Cloudmark DesktopOne is a free Anti-Spam Solution to protect your inbox from spam, phishing and viruses. It features a quick, easy, and automatic setup. http://download.cnet.com This freeware software program is brought to ... (view more)