“Due out on Oct. 10 are six security updates meant to patch issues identified in Windows, with an additional four updates aimed at fixing vulnerabilities in Office. Both sets of updates will include patches for product flaws rated by Microsoft as critical, the firm’s most severe class of security problem.”

[Source: PCMag]

I’d love to sink my teeth into this new OS, but until someone can confirm that it’s safe to use on a critical machine, I’m a bit leery.

Can anyone from MS confirm that this thing is safe? Scoble?

Update: 8:45am, the Windows Vista site is experiencing heavy load and are refusing download requests. Should clear up shortly.

Update 2: You can get your product key to make it all nice and legal at this link.

Update 3: Just confirmed that I won’t be putting the new OS on my main machine. Here’s a disclaimer from Microsoft:

Note: This is beta code and should not be used in a production environment or on a main machine in the home. Beta 2 is intended for developers, IT professionals and technology experts to continue or begin their testing of Windows Vista. Before you decide to use Beta 2, you should feel comfortable with installing operating systems, updating drivers, and general PC troubleshooting. Some risks of using beta operating systems include hardware and software incompatibility and system instability. If you have concerns about installing this beta software on your computer, we encourage you to obtain the final release version of Windows Vista when it is available in 2007.

[Source: NeoWIN.net Via: Scobleizer]

[tags]Windows Vista, Beta 2, Microsoft, Scoble[/tags]

NoteTag is suppose to be the first Adobe product related to bloggers, with the new product it’s going to be easier to take notes and afterwards make a post about it, or add it to del.icio.us

It’s still on the development stage and will support RSS on the future.

NoteTag Video Demo
NoteTag Overview by an Adope persona – Brian Riggs

[Via: AMCP Tech Blog; Source: MicroPersuasion]

[tags]adobe, notetag[/tags]

Last friday a big flaw was discovered on the Symantec Antivirus software – business version – which could cause files and programs to be edited, deleted or removed.

It’s not a big flaw, it’s a huge one because the users that are at risk don’t need to open a file or visit a site to get hacked/infected, they just need to have the Symantec software installed. Again, how strange is that?

Mike Puterbaugh, from eEye Digital Security, comments:

It is a flaw that can be triggered from another location and provides the attacker with system-level access.

On a better note, the people at Symantec have said that…

Fixes have been identified for all affected products, and work on these fixes is ongoing

[Via: ZDNet]

[tags]symantec, flaw[/tags]

Some clever fellas (people call them hackers) found a big asshole on Microsoft Word. In simple words its something like… when you open the .doc file thinking you’re about to read a normal document, a trojan comes along which installs unwanted software that lets the intruders:

- have access to personal information such as passwords
- take screenshots
- download more trojans
- execute commands (format c:\ ?)
- control the webcam

The trojan is called BackDoor-CKB!cfaae1e6 and the conclusion is that someone will have remote access to your computer.

Take note:

• Microsoft is working on a fix for this mess, it will be available on 13 June. Until then, don’t open any unknown and suspicious word file
• For now, the targets are big Asian organizations

[Source: TechWorld]

[tags]microsoft, word, trojan, hackers[/tags]

Microsoft recently published the minimum requirements for Windows Vista, and there are some notable things.

You can have what MS calls a “Capable PC” – runs Vista but not to its full potential. In this case, the computer will need to have at least a 800MHz processor, 512 MB of RAM and a graphic card that supports DirectX9.

Or you can opt for “Premium Ready PCs” – which will make the Vista experience much better. The specs go higher than ever for this one:

• 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1
• 1 GB of system memory
• 128 MB of graphics memory
• 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space
• DVD-ROM Drive
• Audio output capability
• Internet access capability

So, do you have what it takes to pleasure Vista?

If you don’t know the answer, use the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor Beta*.

*a small beta application that you can run on your current Windows XP-based computer to find out if it’s ready for an upgrade to Windows Vista

More information at Windows Vista website

Via You’ve Got Mail and ClaudioFranco – both Portuguese bloggers

[tags]windows, vista[/tags]

Simply put: VMware Player is a software application that lets you run multiple Operating Systems (think: Mac, Windows and Linux) on one computer. Cool, huh?

If you’re really interested in starting this journey and can’t use the program properly, don’t rest until you read the tutorial available at J_K9 Linux = Step by step instructions and easy to follow.

This could be that special piece of software you have been waiting for years… or not.

More info at VMware.com

Take note:

This might be old news but it’s good news, (that I found after searching our Gadget Blogs List) so it’s worth it.

Via Pomocon

[tags]vmware, windows, mac, linux[/tags]

At CeBit last week, Microsoft showed the new visuals of Office 2007. What do you think of it? Pretty? Ugly? Not bad? There are 2 versions in case you didn’t know: blue and black.

If you don’t like it, don’t worry! It’s suppose to improve after the next beta version and related tests, they are happening this week.

“The code refresh is another step toward offering a high-quality testing experience for the public Beta 2, which is on track for sometime this spring. The best way to get ready for the 2007 release is to sign up for updates”

Sign for the updates where? Right here

Check more previews of PowerPoint, Excel and other applications, at the Office User Interface Blog.

[Via PCMag Source: eWeek]

[tags]Microsoft, Office 2007, Preview, CeBIT[/tags]

The creators of the Opera browser must be happy because the latest version – Opera9.0 – passed the ACID2 test, making it the 2nd browser ever (first being Safari) to have a OK reply from the test.

In case you’re wondering, Acid2 test is an application to help browser vendors make sure their products correctly support features that web designers would like to use.

If you want to know more about it, visit their homepage or read the guideline about what the test consists of. Or you can skip that and read the conclusion part, that explains why the smiley image is here.

Acid2, when rendered correctly, consists of one line of text (Hello World) and a 14×14 grid of squares inside a containing block where a smiley face can be seen. Each square is 12px high and 12px wide. The face has a yellow background with a black facial outline around it.

Mark Wilton-Jones, a technical writer for Opera, has a nice article about the relationship evolution of Opera and the acid tests, including screenshots of some test/versions – check it out here.

[Via: Slashdot]

[tags]opera, acid2, browsers[/tags]

- Windows Starter 2007
- Window Vista Home Basic
- Windows Vista Home Premium
- Windows Vista Business
- Windows Vista Enterprise
- Windows Vista ULTIMATE

There will be 2 versions of some editions available, bring the grand total to 8. Not sure which one I want yet, but the Windows Vista Home Premium looks like a possibility.

[Sources: WindowsIT Pro, Gizmodo]

[tags]Windows Vista, Microsoft[/tags]