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CES 2009: Windows 7 Beta Going Live
During Steve Ballmer’s CES 2009 Keynote address tonight he more than confirmed the rumors that the Windows 7 Beta would be going public soon. It is going live on Friday and you can go and grab it from this link. You can find out more about Windows 7 here. I don’t think we’ll be installing the beta this weekend due to all the work we have ahead of us. (See how hard we’re working here.) So, if you go and grab it, make sure you post up your first impressions here in the comments or the GBM Forums.
More coverage of the Ballmer Keynote can be found on Engadget and Greg Hughes has some good audio posted as well.
Watch the CES 2009 Keynote Live
I just thought I would post up that the CES Keynote is being shown live if anyone wants to check it out!
Report Says PC Makers Will Offer Free Vista to Win 7 Upgrades Starting July 1
Mary Jo Foley is linking to information on the Tech ARP site that purports to lay out an upgrade policy for users who purchase Windows machines after July 1. According to the report a customer purchasing a Windows machine after July 1, 2009 through a date to be determined later) will be eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 7 when it is released.
Vista Home Premium customers can upgrade to Win 7 Home Premium, Vista Business to Win 7 Professional, and of course all of those Vista Ultimate customers can jump to Win 7 Ultimate.
Mary Jo’s post includes an update with a statement from Microsoft, but it is typical PR speak that neither confirms or denies anything, so we’ll see where this goes.
Why are Movie Apps Moving to the Cloud?
First Microsoft decided to move Windows Movie Maker to its Live suite of apps. If you haven’t tried out the cloud version, save yourself the trouble. It is a painful experience, and one I’m not looking forward to when the desktop client is dropped in Windows 7. (To be fair, I think it is still in beta.)
Now comes word that Apple wants to transition iMovie to an on-line app as well. Why?
2009 Predictions: Warner’s Take
Here we go with my predictions for what we’ll see, what we’ll talk about, what’ we’ll laud, and what we’ll moan about in the coming year. If I do say so myself, I did pretty well with my 2008 predictions, but that is no guarantee that I have any great leg up on what I’m sensing in 2009. After all, with the world still struggling to understand what the ramifications from economic news may or may not be, who really knows what we’ll be dealing with throughout the next year. The one prediction I’m sure about though is that by the end of 2009, there will be predictions for 2010.
That said, here we go (after the jump) with my predictions for 2009. Take ‘em or leave ‘em.
LucidTouch Becomes NanoTouch
We’ve seen demos of LucidTouch before allowing users to touch objects on a screen from behind so as not to have bulky fingers covering up buttons and objects the way they do on current touchscreens. The early prototypes were exciting but it looks like the consensus was that the machines were too big and bulky.
Well, now Microsoft and Mitsubishi are showing off a smaller version called NanoTouch, using much smaller devices (and smaller screens.) Check out the video after the jump.
GBM’s HP Magic Giveaway Winner Passes The Magic Along
When we launched our HP Magic Giveaway contest, we were genuinely hoping that the winner we picked would follow through on their promise to pass along the magic of giving. David Arpino, our winner in the HP Magic Giveaway contest, followed through on his promise. He’s been posting away in our forums about the prize package, playing with the HP TouchSmart (which he is keeping!), and yesterday presented all of his gifts ( and then some ) to The Restoration House, a non-profit ministry dedicated to helping single mother families.
Here is a picture of the presentation, a little writeup from David (there’s much more in the forums, so head over there), and a thank-you note from The Restoration House themselves. A huge thanks to HP, Microsoft, the Windows Live team, and Buzz Corps for helping make the lives of single mothers just a little bit easier.
IE Patch Now Available from Microsoft
Yesterday we told you about the serious Internet Explorer exploit that affected all current and past versions of IE, and we also told you in an update that Microsoft was readying a patch for today. Well, the patch is now available (get it here.)
This one sounds like you should do it now, if you use Internet Explorer.
Experts Advise Caution Because of Exploit in Internet Explorer
I’m seeing a lot of reports on this Internet Explorer exploit this morning so here’s sort of a public service announcement. Apparently Microsoft is acknowledging a severe exploit in IE (all versions of the browser) and some security experts are advising that you use another browser until the hole is plugged.
The BBC is carrying the story which is of course driving more reports. It certainly doesn’t hurt to take precautions, although Microsoft is saying that switching browsers may be a bit drastic and that they are working on it. Be careful out there.
More here.
UPDATE: Microsoft is readying an emergency patch to be issued on Wednesday, December 17, 2008.
Scoring My 2008 Predictions
The end of the year brings scores of predictions and posts, columns, and reports on what we’ll see in the next year. We each do predictions here at GBM. I’m gearing up for my 2009 predictions, but first here’s a look back at my 2008 predictions to see how much of a predictor I really am.
Actually I don’t think I did too badly.
The Final HP Magic Giveway Contests
The HP Magic Giveaway Contest is coming to a close, with only two days left of contest lauchings. Here are the sites launching for the next two days, so be sure to head over to these sites for your final chances of winning over $6000 in HP hardware, Microsoft and Windows Live software, and accessories:
Today:
Tomorrow:
2008 GottaBeMobile Awards Announced
In many ways, 2008 can be considered the year of mobile computing. The introduction of the Netbook has totally revolutionized the landscape of cost-friendly mobile computing. Couple that with the iPhone and its’ App Store, and the time to “go mobile” has never been more intriguing. If 2008 is any indication, 2009 could be a game-changing year as well.
With that, here are the winners for the 2008 GottaBeMobile Awards
Microsoft Brings SeaDragon to the iPhone
It seems everyone is jumping onto the iPhone platform these days and Microsoft certainly isn’t one to be left behind. Microsoft has released SeaDragon Mobile its first app into the iPhone store and there is quite a bit of attention on that app. Essentially it is a photo viewer, but what a photo viewer it is.
HP Magic Giveaway Contests You Need to Check Out
Here are the latest HP Magic Giveaway contests you need to be checking out:
- Eliax
- Stop, Drop & Blog ( one of my favorite new blogs )
- Living - In Theory
- GeeksRoom
- SlashGear
- OSNN
- Digital Home Thoughts
Microsoft Intros Thumbtack: Evernote-like Repository for Your Stuff
Microsoft is rolling out Thumbtack, a bookmarking service that allows you to clip and save info you find browsing around the web. One you save it in Thumbtack you can retrieve the info, sort it, categorize it, and hang on to it. You can access your data from any computer with a browser. If this sounds very Evernote-like to you, it does to me as well.
Thumbtack is a product of Microsoft’s Live Labs and it does have some interesting learning features and gadgets. As an example, using machine learning it will extract addresses and plot that address on a map. Other gadgets will allow you to compare items in your collection. Check it out or sign up here.
After the jump is a video of Thumbtack in action.