Author Topic: Interesting Software and System News (Read 2841277 times)

bob3160 · « **Reply #3330 on:** June 30, 2012, 03:40:23 PM »

Quote from: DavidR on June 30, 2012, 03:13:19 PM

That would then beg the question, why can the update only take forward the documents. Honestly the deeper you dig on this the greater the smell of hypocrisy/desperation on the part of MS to make win8 a success rather than another Vista.

A question I posed at the Microsoft store:
Why was I able to update the OS from Windows 7 to Windows 8 Consumer preview but, could only save my user information when I did the upgrade
to the current Windows 8 Release Preview (Build 8400) No one was able to give me an answer and I'm still waiting for an answer from MS.

Lisandro · « **Reply #3331 on:** June 30, 2012, 07:47:45 PM »

Quote from: bob3160 on June 30, 2012, 03:40:23 PM

No one was able to give me an answer and I'm still waiting for an answer from MS.

Let's wait...

bob3160 · « **Reply #3332 on:** July 11, 2012, 05:52:34 PM »

An alternative to Apple's iTunes software

rickz · « **Reply #3333 on:** July 11, 2012, 10:07:09 PM »

It's a shame it doesn't support the older regular ipod.
Thanks for the info though, Rick

Dch48 · « **Reply #3334 on:** July 12, 2012, 01:29:21 AM »

Microsoft is pulling the plug on the Windows Sidebar and all gadgets.

CraigB · « **Reply #3335 on:** July 12, 2012, 10:24:06 AM »

Quote from: bob3160 on July 11, 2012, 05:52:34 PM

An alternative to Apple's iTunes software

I wouldn't really say it's an alternative, you still have to have itunes installed to be able to download and install firmware updates and also to be able to recieve any apps over 50meg.

polonus · « **Reply #3336 on:** July 12, 2012, 10:36:24 AM »

Hi Dch48,

By some this is being considered a "dishonest" move to promote Windows 8: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/uk/w8itprogeneral/thread/9c39e965-cd3b-4e4d-98e1-158315a3629d (Technet posting author = VeryBoringNickname) and from that

Quote

Because we want to focus on the exciting possibilities of the newest version of Windows, the Windows website no longer hosts the gadget gallery.

polonus

Asyn · « **Reply #3337 on:** July 12, 2012, 10:38:56 AM »

More here: http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Microsoft-advises-disabling-Windows-Gadgets-amid-vulnerability-fears-1636895.html

bob3160 · « **Reply #3338 on:** July 12, 2012, 12:34:01 PM »

Free ebook: Introducing Windows Server 2012

Dch48 · « **Reply #3339 on:** July 12, 2012, 09:56:47 PM »

Quote from: polonus on July 12, 2012, 10:36:24 AM

Hi Dch48,

By some this is being considered a "dishonest" move to promote Windows 8: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/uk/w8itprogeneral/thread/9c39e965-cd3b-4e4d-98e1-158315a3629d (Technet posting author = VeryBoringNickname) and from that
Quote
Because we want to focus on the exciting possibilities of the newest version of Windows, the Windows website no longer hosts the gadget gallery.

polonus

No, it's much more of a security issue, even according to Microsoft.

polonus · « **Reply #3340 on:** July 12, 2012, 10:30:06 PM »

Hi Dch48,

After reading more about that I could also lean to what you say there, but it is just a too simple way out for the issue. On the other hand why are they using that as an excuse as they had similar security issues back in 2007 with Vista (to come up now suddenly with a Fix it to get rid of it shortly before the official launch of W8. See: http://www.biztechmagazine.com/article/2007/11/securing-sidebar BizTech magazine link article author by Tony Bradley posted Nov 08, 2007...
So did they suddenly woke up to a security issue they already were aware of in 2007 or are they just wanna go on with Windows 8 with less "sidebar load"?

polonus

DavidR · « **Reply #3341 on:** July 12, 2012, 10:38:14 PM »

Interesting, I have win7 32bit starter edition on my acer aspire one netbook and both my gadgets are still on the desktop and working. Though the win7 32bit starter edition is much crippled, I don't believe it has the Sidebar feature, but you can get gadgets (or I found a way).

But if you try to get more you get the Because we want to focus on the exciting possibilities of the newest version of windows, blah, blah, blah.

There is little on that page about security other than Gadgets installed from untrusted sources can harm your computer and access your computer files. Great so Microsoft is saying that the Windows Desktop Gadgets is an untrustworthy source, well I can fully understand that as I don't completely trust microsoft's ~~sharp~~ practices.

If their really is a security issue, what is wrong with them patching it.

So I rather feel that this is more to do with them trying to push win8 metro style apps.

polonus · « **Reply #3342 on:** July 12, 2012, 11:12:15 PM »

Hi DavidR and Dch48,

There is yet another side to it.

Quote

Considering the way Microsoft is pushing Touch based features and apps, the computer industry may lean towards touch sensitive screens for all types of computers including desktops and laptops. This could lead to massive popularity of Metro Apps over traditional Windows 8 in the next couple of years

quote author = Tony Young, link comes from dotnet spider twitter. The security issue given there is

Quote

Metro Apps do not have access to all the system APIs for security reasons

,

polonus

DavidR · « **Reply #3343 on:** July 13, 2012, 12:39:34 AM »

I honestly don't give a stuff if all monitors will be touch screen, a large screen monitor used on a desktop doesn't lend itself to being used as a touch screen.

Who is going to work for hours with their arms at shoulder level using a touch screen, your arms would be dropping off in no time flat.

The one size fits all approach is not appropriate and to tell everyone that is what they are going to get, just makes them mad and is hardly going to make them switch.

And before Bob, et all say there is a utility/hack not to have to use the Metro interface, why the hell are M$ so damn intent on ignoring this as an option in the OS, that people even have to do this.

bob3160 · « **Reply #3344 on:** July 13, 2012, 04:20:52 AM »

Quote from: DavidR on July 13, 2012, 12:39:34 AM

I honestly don't give a stuff if all monitors will be touch screen, a large screen monitor used on a desktop doesn't lend itself to being used as a touch screen.

Who is going to work for hours with their arms at shoulder level using a touch screen, your arms would be dropping off in no time flat.

The one size fits all approach is not appropriate and to tell everyone that is what they are going to get, just makes them mad and is hardly going to make them switch.

And before Bob, et all say there is a utility/hack not to have to use the Metro interface, why the hell are M$ so damn intent on ignoring this as an option in the OS, that people even have to do this.

The metro apps do have a purpose and are especially nice if you want to be constantly informed of what's going on with your emails, your friends on Facebook and Skype, the news, the blogs you follow, etc etc. The current icons on your desktop just can't be used for that.
If you want to use your programs, simply go to your "old" desktop.
As with anything new, there is a learning curve but overall, Windows 8 is a vast improvement over Windows 7.