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Windows 7 RC 1 now available for public consumption
Looks like Microsoft decided to pull the trigger just a hair early on this one. Windows 7 Release Candidate 1 is now available to the public at large. If you haven't gotten your hands on it, now's your chance to try it out well into 2010. What are you still reading this for? Hit up the read link to download. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Engadget Podcast 144 - 05.01.2009
Bogged down and confused with the latest spate of wild mobile speculations? Relationship troubles clouding your judgment? Lonely? Well Josh, Nilay and Paul -- your jovial (yet often enraged) Engadget Podcast crew -- are back for another installment to help you sort all that out. In a week heavy on rumors (Palm Eos, Microsoft "Pink" and the not-so-nano "iPhone lite") and laden with opinion (Windows 7 RC1, TiVo's sad state of affairs), join the boys as they delve deep into the abyss that is gadgetry. Sure, there might never be a Zunephone, but remember: the beauty is in the journey... or something. Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller Producer: Trent Wolbe Song: All That She Wants 00:01:13 - Palm Eos: super-thin, 3G, and headed to AT&T? 00:27:20 - Microsoft's "Pink" smartphone could rival iPhone on Verizon 00:29:00 - Microsoft reiterates what we knew: no first-party handset, no Zunephone 00:36:40 - Apple prototyping "iPhone lite" and MacBook Mini / media pad for Verizon? 00:46:30 - Samsung I7500 with OLED touchscreen powered by Android, dreams 00:57:42 - Windows 7 Release Candidate 1 impressions, insights, and expectations 01:10:05 - Ten years of TiVo: how far we haven't come Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast 1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com. Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget
Windows 7 RC and XP given extensions on life well into 2010
Whether or not Windows 7 does launch in October as previously suggested, those who have (or plan to get) Release Candidate will be happy to hear that Microsoft won't be pulling the plug until June 1, 2010, well over a year from now and 11 months after its initial expiration date. After that, you're gonna have to fork over the Benjamins for one of the retail SKUs if you wanna keep 7 alive. As for those still living in Redmond's past, the company's also extended the life of XP, at least for OEMs. Companies using the older OS will still be able to install it on netbooks for up to one year after 7's official shape date. Seeing as the new system's likely to have a more expensive licensing fee, it's probably the best move if the company plans on keeping that 96% grip on the netbook OS market. [Via gadgetmix] Read - Windows 7 RC extension Read - Windows XP extension
Windows 7 Release Candidate 1 impressions, insights, and expectations
As you may or may not know, Windows 7 Release Candidate 1 has been officially handed out to MSDN and TechNet subscribers today, and there are plans to unleash the heavily-hyped OS to the waiting public at large come May 5th. We had a chance to sit down with reps from Microsoft to discuss the new iteration of Windows (and the company's current frame of mind) more in-depth, and we've taken the new build for a bit of a spin around the block. Read on for an exploration into a few of the more delicious Windows 7 tidbits, as well as a full complement of our (potentially) enlightening observations.
Windows Home Server RC1 gets tested, reviewed
We know, you're perfectly capable of downloading the release candidate of Windows Home Server (or just waiting it out for the finalized version), but if you'd rather a stranger's machine be the test bed and suffer through those early adopter glitches, Terracode has done you the favor. In a fairly comprehensive review of WHS RC1, we're shown the relatively painless setup process, numerous advanced settings for automated backup, media sharing, and remote access, and even a glimpse into the DLNA streaming capabilities. While the overview took a very visual and numbers driven approach, it was derived that the Remote Desktop function wasn't exactly cut out for "intensive work," but overall, the software performed admirably and could very well be awarded a few extra gold stars if Microsoft irons out the sluggish kinks that were found. So, if you're still feeling anxious about pulling the trigger on trying this yourself, be sure and tag the read link to see what you're missing.
Windows Home Server RC1 available for download
Microsoft has just announced a tasty banana for all you code monkeys out there, in the form of the first publicly available download (well, for non-beta testers at least) of the widely anticipated Windows Home Server operating system. Release Candidate 1, as this build is known, is said to offer a number of improvements over previous betas, and is the first version that participants in the Code2Fame Challenge can use to work on their entries. So go ahead, get your download on, and try to whip up some WHS add-ins that'll net you a portion of the $50,000 prize package.[Via Windows Home Server Blog]
Apple Matters: Vista isn't so bad after all?
Hadley Stern at Apple Matters has penned a, shall we say, 'unique' review of the recent RC1 of Microsoft Vista. Since I need to spoil the article for my post here, I'll summarize: he likes it. Hadley found RC1 to be a vast improvement over earlier releases, regarding it as a usable, snappy OS. In fact, the whole experience led Hadley to question whether the lines and differences are going to be drawn anymore between Mac OS X and Windows if once Vista ships.In particular, Hadley sees Apple's advantage dwindling in terms of software and UI: "what is left? Better hardware? Perhaps. More software selection? Certainly not," but what I think Hadley is not accounting for is that 'more' does not definitively equal 'better,' not by a long shot. I'll admit it's been years since I've truly sat down at a Windows machine and worked on it or searched for software to do one task or another, but an ongoing discussion involving software quality, innovation and accessibility eludes to the possibility that a little consumer fish isn't always at an advantage in a massive, diluted software pond. In other words: there are reasons why Apple is praised so often for including things like iLife with their machines (which still stomps commercial Windows counterparts), and why the typical MacUpdate-savvy, RSS-aggregating Mac users are often asked where and how to find any decent software by their Windows-toting brethren.The most significant element of Vista Hadley steamrolled over is the truly massive and fundamental changes Microsoft is making to Vista's UI (whereby 'changes' could be interpreted as 'taking a sledgehammer to'). I'm not talking about just the Transparency Everywhere™ technology (that's an entirely separate conversation): this is about the radical redesigning and non-standard placement of traditional, basic elements like menu bars. Remember how much of an outcry ensued with Windows XP's slightly redesigned task bar and Start menu? Office dwellers were hurling themselves out of windows (and of course, forgetting to log out before doing so), claiming the apocalypse had arrived. While the Office 2007 camp has been receiving some eventual praise for the new 'ribbon' interface, I dare you to look at Office 2007, Vista's Windows Explorer, Windows Media Player 11 and IE7, and try to claim their UIs were forged from the same standards playbook.Take a look at this Microsoft blog with examples of how much Vista's new UI has shifted, and note the non-standardness of everything. Some apps now have 'button bars,' while others have been stripped of a menu bar entirely. How anyone could consider this as looking "very similar" to Mac OS X or even 'understandable by the common user' is beyond me. This is a lot worse than Vista merely being "ugly" - it's like someone taking a shotgun to the Windows UI, duct-taping the results for review and Ballmer slapping on his gold-plated stamp of approval while polishing his two left feet.Of course, from the guy who's trying to lay the OS down to sleep, I guess this all makes a little more sense. Let's just hope Mr. Stern is never actually faced with his 'desert island' decision, since after all: it still is a decision.
Microsoft reconfirms Vista's January ship date
"Aw, shucks guys, we were just foolin' around." After years of successive Vista delays, and keeping the computer world on edge for the past few months about even further delays, Microsoft is once again settling into their January launch window for Vista's consumer launch, with OEMs supposed to receive the OS in November. Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1) should be out early September, though the word on the street is that Microsoft isn't planning on finalizing Vista until October sometime, making RC1 a bit of a misnomer. What RC1 should be is light years ahead of Vista Beta 2, and it sure better be if Microsoft isn't kidding this time about a January launch.[Via CrunchGear]
