Adi's Tech Site | Category Archives: Microsoft

Microsoft Announces the XBox One

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Adi Khajuria Posted in Microsoft Leave a comment

Earlier today, Microsoft held a press event to unveil a new games console called the XBox One.

In terms of hardware specifications, we have:

8GB of RAM
a 500GB Hard Drive
802.11n Wi-Fi
8-Core CPU
Blu-Ray Drive
HDMI In/Out with support for 4k(Ultra HD)
USB 3.0
Ethernet
x86 Architecture (Which means no backwards compatibility with XBox 360 games)

Of course, when you get your XBox one, it will also come with the new Kinect camera. It will have full HD capability which means you will be able to send decent HD video out of it.

Every games console needs a controller, and this one is no exception. In this case, Microsoft have redesigned the controller(pictured left).

In terms of the software, users will be able to watch live TV on it and change the channel using voice commands. The Kinect camera will also come in handy because the will also sport a Skype app. A lot of podcasters rely on Skype as a way to bring guests on their podcasts so I am sure we will see people trying to hack their XBox One consoles so they can also plug a decent microphone into it. Microsoft has also announced that there will be 15 games which will be exclusive to the XBox one.

Another interesting point to note is that the XBox One will be running three operating systems: A cut down version of Windows 8, the XBox game OS and a third one to help everything work together properly.

So when will we be seeing the XBox One(you might ask)? Well, Microsoft have said that it would launch later this year. No details on pricing just yet though. However, we will see more information during E3 in June.

Windows 8.1 to be a free update

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Adi Khajuria Posted in Microsoft, Windows Leave a comment

You read the headline correctly folks! In a post on the Blogging Windows blog, Microsoft has announced that they will be making Windows 8.1(previously known as Windows Blue) a free update for current Windows 8 users. No official word on the actual release date of 8.1 just yet. However, Microsoft has stated that they will be making a preview version available on 26th June.

I for one am glad that it is going to be a free update. After all, keeping up with the latest and greatest in Windows operating systems can be quite a costly affair. In any case, I will be downloading the public preview edition so I can give you my first impressions, so stay tuned for more.

Update: You will be able to get Windows 8.1 from the Windows store on release day.

Microsoft Fined for not promoting alternative web browsers

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Adi Khajuria Posted in Microsoft, Web, Windows Leave a comment

The EU’s European commission has fined Microsoft €561 million(£484 million). The fine comes as a punishment for not promoting alternative web browsers made by it’s rivals as opposed to Microsoft’s own Internet Explorer(IE).

In March 2010, when users brought a new computer, or installed/re-installed Windows on their computer, they would get a screen which would allow them to choose rival web browsers. Choices included popular browsers such as Mozilla’s Firefox, Apple’s Safari and Google’s Chrome web browsers. People would be able to then download and install them. In February 2011, Microsoft took this feature out of Windows with the release of Windows 7 Service Pack 1. They said that this was due to a “technical error”. This screen was supposed to be displayed until 2014.

On one hand, this is down to a problem which a security researcher calls “the tyranny of the default”. The idea is that the average consumer would think that the option which was chosen for them by default is the best one available for them, because someone who is smarter than them chose that option. Since IE comes bundled with Windows, a some people would think that this is the best browser for them.

On the other hand, I think that this is good for something that consumers should have: choice. This is the kind of thing which also gets competitors in this space and other spaces to improve their offerings. It gets people aware that there are choices out there.

As this browser choice screen demonstrates, there are some great web browser choices out there. Of course, you have Firefox, Chrome, Opera and many others out there. I personally like Google Chrome and I encourage you to at least try some of these choices out since they are free. Even on iOS and Android, you have a choice of web browser. You don’t have to use Safari or whichever one ships with your mobile device, as there are choices. Most of them are free to download. If you can, then try some of these choices out for yourself and if you don’t like what you are trying then don’t use it. It’s that simple.

So this brings me onto a question for you to answer. What is your favourite web browser? Why do you like it? Let me know in the comments.

Microsoft Changes Office License Terms for Office 2013

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Adi Khajuria Posted in Microsoft Leave a comment

When you purchased a retail copy of the retail version of Microsoft Office 2010, you would be able to activate it on one machine and transfer that license to another machine. This was allowed if you had the old computer die or you had to re-install Windows on that machine.

However, with the Office 2013, this changes. You are allowed to activate a retail box copy on 1 computer and that’s it. However, if you have to wipe it clean or you want to transfer it over to another machine then you’ll have to buy another copy of Office 2013.

Skype gets video messaging

Posted on February 16, 2013 by Adi Khajuria Posted in Microsoft, Skype Leave a comment

There has already been a couple of changes to Skype already. First, you could use it to do instant messaging, audio and video calls with your Facebook friends as well as Skype contacts. You can also log into Skype with your hotmail/MSN/outlook.com account. At the time of writing, I can confirm that Skype is allowing people to try out video messaging. Video messages will appear in the chat section of the Skype window and you will be able to send a video message which is up to 3 minutes long. It’s available right now to users in the UK and in the US on Mac and iOS and Android but not on Windows PCs or Linux PCs.

Windows 8 Selling well

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Adi Khajuria Posted in Microsoft, Windows Leave a comment

We’ve had Windows 8 available to us for just over a month now and a few computers that come with Windows 8(or Windows RT). So how has Windows 8 faired? Well, Microsoft has announced today that they have sold 40 million licenses. This also outpaces the uptake in the number of Windows 7 licenses during its first month after launching.

Microsoft replacing COA stickers with BIOS-embedded product keys

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Adi Khajuria Posted in Microsoft, Windows Leave a comment

Up until the release of Windows 8(Microsoft’s latest operating system), laptops have come with special stickers. These stickers would display the product key for the copy of Windows installed on your computer. However, with the release of Windows 8 this changes. Instead of having a sticker on the bottom of the laptop, the product key will be embedded in a chip known as the BIOS of the laptop.

This is all well and good, but what happens if you’re in a situation where you need to re-install your copy of Windows 8? Well, the installer will simply just pick up the product key right from the BIOS.

First of all, I think that this is one way which Microsoft is trying to get rid of piracy(which I approve of). I for one have heard of many occasions where people would try and pirate a legitimate copy by copying the product key from a legitimate stick on the underside laptop. This will make it a lot harder for pirates to do this or even peel the stickers off. Whilst it’s a good measure by Microsoft, I’m sure someone will still figure out a way to get around that.

On the other hand, there have been lots of instances where a laptop might have a product key stuck on the back but that may have faded away. With the new BIOS-embedded product key system in a Windows 8 laptop, some parts of this problem will be solved.

The third issue I have with this one is downgrade rights. People who don’t like Windows 8 might want to downgrade to Windows 7, so with the product key being embedded into the BIOS chip, how would a downgrade be handled?

Disclaimer: For the record, I do not advocate, condone, promote, glorify, approve of or endorse piracy in any way, shape or form.

Internet Explorer 10 preview now available for Windows 7

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Adi Khajuria Posted in Microsoft, Windows Leave a comment

Have you upgraded to Windows 8(Microsoft’s latest operating system for PCs)? If so then you would have already used the new version of Internet Explorer(AKA IE10). However, users still on Windows 7 can now get their hands on a preview version of IE10. You will be able to try out everything that the new version has to offer for free. You can get it from the IE test drive downloads page.

For the record, I’m an avid Google Chrome user but I will of course download it and check it out for myself.

Have you downloaded and tried out IE10 for Windows 7? If so then leave a comment below and let me know what you think?

Microsoft releases security patch for Internet Explorer

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Adi Khajuria Posted in Microsoft, Windows Leave a comment

Last week, I reported that there was a critical security flaw in Internet Explorer(the web browser that comes with Windows PCs). However, the people at Microsoft have been hard at work and have finally released a security patch for it. It’s now available from Windows Update. If you have your Windows updates set so that they are automatically downloaded and installed, then you won’t have to do a thing.

Critical Zero-Day Exploit found in Internet Explorer

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Adi Khajuria Posted in Microsoft Leave a comment

Security Company Rapid7 have found a critical zero-day exploit in Internet Explorer. At the time of writing, Microsoft have not released a patch. However, Rapid 7 have strongly advised people to switch to another browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

I don’t know about you, but this is why I have Opera, Firefox and Chrome on my computers. I always make sure that they stay as up-to-date as possible. Whatever browser you use, make sure that you keep it as up-to-date as you can. Not only that, but I also make sure that I keep my anti-virus/internet security software up-to-date with the latest patches and other software updates.

On a side note: If you don’t have any internet security software or anti-virus software then I would highly recommend checking out ESET’s NOD32, Smart Security 4 or CyberSecurity for the Mac. Alternatively, check out Kaspersky Internet Security or Kaspersky Anti-Virus.