Category Archives: In the News

Tech news and opinions

Windows 7 beta 1 and Windows Vista SP2 coming next year

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Microsoft announced yesterday that it will be releasing Windows 7 Beta 1 on DVD on their US tour next year. They have also announced that they are hoping to have Windows Vista Service Pack 2 finished and shipped by July next year.

They have now finished a test version of Windows Vista SP2 beta and this is publically available today. Information is at http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/10/24/windows-vista-service-pack-2-beta.aspx and can be downloaded through a customer preview program (CPP) along with the Windows Server 2008 SP2 beta at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/dd262148.aspx. You must currently be a subscriber to either Technet or MSDN to download however a public version will be available in a few days.

I will take a look at Vista SP2 beta soon and report back.

BBC One and BBC Two go live online in the UK

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Yep, if you are online in the UK at the moment (and you have a TV license), you can now watch BBC One and BBC Two live for free. This adds to the already showing BBC Three, Four, And News channels. 

They say the service is currently in BETA but it is generally good and stable.

Head over to BBC One or BBC Two to take a look!

Windows Media Center for Windows 7 something to look forward to!

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Well, according to Gizmodo, Windows Media Center for Windows 7 looks like something to seriously look forward to. Take a look at http://gizmodo.com/5095414/10-really-cool-windows-7-media-center-features/.

Listed there are a number of features that really appeal to me being an avid Windows Media Center user in Windows Vista. Take a look for yourself.

If you are someone who uses on-demand TV and music services as well as streaming live TV from TV tuners, this is going to be fantastic.

Let’s hope the public beta of Windows 7 coming in about a months time will be worth the wait!

Windows 7 ready for Christmas next year?

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I was very shocked when I found that it has been reported that Windows 7, the operating system succeeding Windows Vista (see http://www.geekonthepc.co.uk/2008/10/30/windows-7-what-do-you-think/) may well be installing while we are eating our Christmas Lunch next year.

Yes, Microsoft has apparently told system and engineering partners that Windows 7 will indeed be ready for Christmas 2009. 

The last time that Microsoft actually managed to get Windows ready in time for the Christmas/Holiday season was Windows XP which was launched in October 2001.

Also, it has been rumoured that there will be a BETA on Windows 7 the week before Christmas 2008 and that we’ll have a release candidate by the second quarter of next year.

Do you think Windows 7 will be ready for Christmas 2009? Will you try the BETA this Christmas?

I’ve got my doubts… it’s not like Microsoft has always been perfect with timing!

Virgin Media starts demoing 50MB broadband

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It was confirmed yesterday that 200 customers in a town called Warrington in Cheshire have been invited to demo 50MB broadband for 2 months at no extra cost. Customers who agree to the offer by the 18th November will receive a new modem. In exchange for the upgraded speeds, they will have to fill in a few questionaires.

Warrington was chosen because “a high proportion of  Virgin Media customers in Warrington are already using higher speed packages”.

The firm has upgraded it’s network to support DOCSIS3 standards. 

The company will release their new package, the “XXL” package, mid next year.