unnecessary

For all of you poor souls out there, who can’t afford an iPhone, here’s your chance. Simply leave a comment at this blog to win one. Good Luck

According to Tech, the blog

We know the following about Windows 7:

1. It will be released in late 2009 - This is perhaps the only solid fact that we know about Windows 7. Other than Windows Vista, all previous Windows versions have been released within at least 3 years of each other, so with Vista’s debut in January 2007 we can safely assume Windows 7 so be in stores by late 2009 (or at the latest early 2010).

2. It will be a minor release: According to Microsoft, every other release of Windows will be a major update, therefore, since Windows Vista was a major release, Windows 7 is set to be minor update. However there is still some chance that Windows 7 will be a major release. Firstly it bears a whole new version number, secondly since Windows Vista was largely a disappointing release, Microsoft might be compelled to make the next version much more interesting.

3. There will be both 32-bit and 64-bit versions: Although the official word so far is that Windows 7 will be 64 bit, it should be noted that when Windows XP was released, Windows Longhorn was planned to be a 64-bit version only. Since most of the PCs in existence today are 32-bit, with so signs of a radical shift to 64-bit anytime soon, Windows 7 should be released in both 32-bit versions.

4. There will be a new UI component: When Microsoft first drew up plans for Windows 7 (back when it was codenamed Blackcomb), there were rumors that the current UI will be replaced with an entirely new one, with some reference to a sort of radial-dial. Where are no chances for a complete overhaul of the current interface, MIcrosoft has been working on several new UI ideas, some of which may slip into Windows 7. Indeed, this might be a way to transition us from the current UI to the new one in future WIndows releases.

5. Hypervisor: Microsoft is currently working on a new hypervisor system codenamed “Viridian” with OS integration at the lowest level, and already Windows Vista includes extensions to boost performance when running on top of the Viridian hypervisor. We can expect Windows 7 to have a higher level of interaction with Viridian.

Nothing particularly fancy, but interesting none the less. There is a bit more sound speculation at the source.

This absolutely ugly mock-up poped up on the web a few days ago, and even though its obviously fake, it got everyone talking about PSP 2. But why isn’t anyone speculating Microsoft’s entry into the market?

Expect to see a version of Zune (or as I like to call it Xune) that doubles as a XBox portable in late 2007/early 2008. And of course new models of Zune will come sooner (Zune nano anyone?).

Don’t go expecting WinFS to pop up as a Windows Ultimate Extra, or as part of Vista’s Service Pack 1. Bill says it may take three years to get WinFS out of its doors. But you may still see it make its way into Windows ‘Fiji’ as part of most “data driven applications such as Windows Mail in Windows Vista, Windows Calendar, Windows Photo Gallery, Windows Media Player, and Microsoft Office applications such as Microsoft Office Outlook.” not to mention Windows Explorer.

The Second Web

Take one look at the Zune and you know that even though its a great media player, it’s not one to really create any splash in the digital music industry, and definitely not one to pose much of a threat to the iPod, the current leader in the media player market. Why?

Because Zune wasn’t meant to create a splash nor pose any threat to other competing products……yet.

To understand Microsoft’s strategy, you need to realize that the Zune is much more than a media player, its a platform. With the Zune out of the door Microsoft is not only gaining a customer base, but an assortment of accessories and services specific to the Zune, as well as media content providers.

A lot of work is being done on Zune as we speak, and the best part about it is that you’ll be able to get most of the planned features with a firmware update.

Here’s a list of some of the things planned:

- Buy songs, music videos, movies, TV Shows, etc. from the Zune Marketplace. You’ll also be able to purchase accessories online from Microsoft partners.

- Get a whole range of free content like artist interviews, video biographies, podcasts, etc.

- Get music from independent artists at a cheap price (anywhere from 0 to 50 points).

- Access the Zune Marketplace from your Zune, and buy/download content through your Wi-Fi connection.

- Add upto 5 friends with whom you can share music without the “3 day 3 play” restriction. [not sure if it will have another form of restriction]

- No “3 day 3 play” restriction on music not purchased from the Zune Marketplace.

There are some other stuff planned that may fall through, one of which is quite interesting. Microsoft is planning on placing a small (10-20 seconds) audio advertisement at the end of certain songs, currently only indie labels. You’ll be able to stream and listen to these songs on your Zune for free, however you’ll still need to pay to download them. Apparently you may listen to the songs as many times as you want but you’ll have to listen to the ads each time as well. If this plan comes through and the program expands to all major record labels, the Zune might be you pass to all the music you ever wanted. Personally I feel that this is a great idea, where we get the music, and record labels get their money from the advertisers.

Over at Liveside.net there is a article on Windows Live for TV, previously known by the codename “Nemo” and now by codename “Orbit”. Here’s the features:

• Browse millions of Spaces in rich 3D graphics with new Gallery views and full keyword search
• Find out what your friends have been doing and saying on Windows Live Spaces
• Have real-time text and voice conversations*
• Call your friends’ mobile or landline telephones by signing up with Verizon Web Calling to make affordable domestic and international calls**
• Easily navigate with your mouse, keyboard or a TV remote (remote navigation requires Microsoft Media Center Remote and IR)
• Make free PC-to-PC calls to other Windows Live Messenger users.

*Both parties must have compatible webcams, microphones, and speakers
**Requires voice calling in Windows Live Messenger Client.

Check out the Orbit Team’s blog In Orbit.

You can try it out yourself. Here’s the Sign Up Link and the Download Link.

TechCrunch has put up a rather interesting article about whether blogs that don’t allow user comments are in fact true blogs.

…The current definitions of “blog” in most dictionaries don’t mention reader comments at all when defining the term. Wikipedia says only that “the ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs.” According to these sources, the minimum requirement for a web site to be a blog is that it have content, and that it be sorted in reverse chronological order.

I believe the term “blog” means more than an online journal. I believe a blog is a conversation. People go to blogs to read AND write, not just consume. We’ve allowed comments here on TechCrunch since it started. At times, user comments can be painful to deal with. But they also keep the writer honest, and make the content vastly more interesting.

Should the definitions of “blog” be revised to exclude journals that do not allow reader comments? …”

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Happy New Year to you from Google. Browse more Google Holiday Logos

A handful of pictures surface in Flickr a few months back, which seemed to be a revision of Aero. It never appeared in Vista, but might very well be a theme that’ll appear as a Ultimate Extra.

You can see the pictures on Flickr at their full size.

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This article is out-pf-date: Go to Tech, the blog to find out about Windows 7. The successor to Windows Vista.

Windows Vista has been released for a month now to business, and is going to
be released to the general public in a month (January 30). For those who haven’t
been following Vista’s development, it is worh noting that even though Vista
comes 5 years after XP, it is a rushed product.

Originally set to be a relatively small update to XP, to be released in 2003,
it was re-envisioned as a major release, with revolutionary technologies such as
WinFS (a new file system), Palladium (security system), Avalon (graphics system)
and Indigo (communications system).

As the years went on, the folks at Microsoft found out that they are in over
their heads with it, and following numerous delays and feature-cuts and
slimdowns and a complete development restart in late 2004 - early 2005, they
finally got on track of a much simpler OS. Nonetheless Windows Vista is a huge
improvement over previous versions, and has many great features that makes it a
must have (despite what many might say).

It doesn’t really matter if Vista is a success or not, Microsoft cannot wait
another five years to release another Windows. People are becoming more aware of
the choices they have, and Linux is no longer a hobbyist OS, and that day isn’t
far away when it becomes simple enough to be a viable alternative to Windows.

And that is why Microsoft is planning a “Vista R2″, codename ‘Fiji’. From
what little information is available we know that this will be a minor release
sometime in 2008.

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