microsoft

After weeks of speculation, Microsoft has confirmed that it will release an emergency patch fix for a critical zero-day flaw in its Internet Explorer web browser. The patch, which applies to attacks targeting Internet Explorer (IE) 6 and IE7, will ... be released later today. Emergency patches are relatively rare for Microsoft, which typically only releases its fixes on the second Tuesday of every month. However, the March Patch Tuesday was a light affair , owing to the fact that the zero-day issue being addressed today had only recently been revealed. Windows XP and Vista Users Vulnerable It's ... (view more)

It's been a year since Microsoft first announced Project Natal , its add-on for the Xbox 360. The system, which is based on motion-sensitive gameplay and meant to directly compete with the Nintendo Wii and Sony's upcoming Move, is expected to get ... its official unveiling on June 13. The date in question just happens to fall in the middle of the Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3. In the past the show has been the launch pad for upcoming products in the video game industry. At one time it was an enormous Sin City-based event, but in recent years it's been downsized and will this year be held ... (view more)

While Windows 7 might be eating the competition for dinner, as of late Microsoft has not been so lucky in the smartphone market. In fact, the Redmond-based company's share of the pie has dipped considerably as rivals Google, Apple and Research in ... Motion (RIM) sap the popularity of Windows Mobile. According to a recent report from industry analysts ComScore, Windows Mobile's share of the American market dropped an astounding 4 points during the period October 2009 to January 2010. It's a huge dip, with Microsoft's mobile operating system plummeting from 19.7 per cent of the smartphone market ... (view more)

Microsoft appears to have accidentally confirmed that it will release a tablet computer called 'Courier'. The device would be marketed as a rival to Apple's upcoming iPad. Rumors of the Microsoft Courier device go back to last September, when leaked ... documents showed a design for a twin-screen device with no physical keyboard. The concept was of a multi-function design that could: Be held in portrait mode like a book with facing pages Landscape mode with the top screen display and bottom screen touch keyboard Or hinged back on itself and used as a tablet or "slate" PC. At the time, though, it ... (view more)

Microsoft has told developers more about its forthcoming Windows Phone 7 operating system. There'll be more tools for application creators to produce apps easily, while the firm has indicated it is aiming the system itself at the consumer rather ... than business market. The details came at MIX10, an annual Microsoft event for developers. While Mix covers all aspects of online technology, mobile systems are becoming a more important part of the event as that market grows. Copy And Paste Gets Cut One revelation that's attracting a lot of attention among developers is that the system itself won't ... (view more)

Steven Sinofsky Microsoft's president of Windows Live division yesterday discussed Microsoft's highly-anticipated Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) at the MIX10 conference in Last Vegas. Building hype was clearly at the top of his agenda, but not escaping ... the presentation was this tidbit: IE9 won't run on Windows XP. "We've built Internet Explorer 9 from the ground up on top of the Windows 7 platform," Sinofsky giddily reported to his Sin City crowd during Internet Explorer general manager Dean Hachamovitch's keynote address. (Source: seattlepi.com ) Internet Explorer 9: New Graphics Engine Sinofsky ... (view more)

It appears Microsoft won't wait until April's Patch Tuesday to release a fix for a recently revealed zero-day vulnerability found in the company's popular web browser, Internet Explorer. The company is, according to reports, working furiously to get ... the patch out soon, but hasn't guaranteed it will arrive here before next month. Releasing emergency patches is rare for Microsoft. However, if the situation warrants fast action the company has demonstrated in the past that it will jump days or even weeks ahead of its monthly Patch Tuesday releases. In this case, Microsoft's March Patch Tuesday ... (view more)

It's being reported that the first Service Pack for Windows 7 (Service Pack 1) will be released before the end of this year. Critics suggest the early release may be an attempt to stimulate purchases among corporate users. The reports stem mainly ... from TechARP, a Malaysian hardware site with a strong record of accurately predicting Microsoft release dates. (Source: theregister.co.uk ) Windows 7 Service Pack 1: Cumulative Fixes A service pack is a collection of security updates, bug fixes and software improvements. It brings together updates which have been issued through Windows Update since ... (view more)

Microsoft yesterday unveiled its March Patch Tuesday offering, and by comparison to recent months it was a relatively calm affair. Only two security bulletins addressing eight vulnerabilities were announced, but they were joined by a warning related ... to a new zero-day Internet Explorer flaw which does not yet have a fix. Both of the bulletins Microsoft released in accordance with its March Patch Tuesday have been designated "important". That's a big step down from this past February's Patch Tuesday , where about one-fifth of the 26 vulnerabilities were considered "critical," Microsoft's ... (view more)

Many small businesses were put off the Windows Vista operating system (OS) because of early complaints about compatibility problems and its tendency to bog down older machines. However, positive reviews of the new Windows 7 have finally started to ... shake upgrade fears amongst smaller companies, and Microsoft says they're starting to see these firms make the shift away from previous stand-by Windows XP. Microsoft's claim that small businesses are diving into Windows 7 after taking a pass on Windows Vista was made by company Vice President Brad Brooks during an interview earlier this week. " ... (view more)