SuperSite Blog

Long Zheng offers a bit of Windows 7 goodness to the community:

I’m announcing the availability of “Flickr Search Connectr” for Windows 7. If you have a copy of Windows 7 and the tubes aren’t blocked, I encourage you to try it for yourself.

So what is this voodoo you might be asking? Well this is actually a combination of two components, both carefully put together in a couple of hours by amateur programmer yours truly. The first is a OpenSearch Description File generator (also known as the “Search Connector” in Windows 7) and the second is a Flickr web service. Combined, they allow you to search and access images on Flickr right in the Windows 7 Explorer using the new “Search Federation” platform.

Nice! (Plus, kudos for “Connectr”. :)

Finally.

This is exactly what I said Microsoft should be when it announced that it would actually charge consumers to fix the security problems with Windows. No more:

To address the growing need for a PC security solution tailored to the demands of emerging markets, smaller PC form factors and rapid increases in the incidence of malware, Microsoft Corp. plans to offer a new consumer security offering focused on core anti-malware protection.

Code-named “Morro,” this streamlined solution will be available in the second half of 2009 and will provide comprehensive protection from malware including viruses, spyware, rootkits and trojans. This new solution, to be offered at no charge to consumers, will be architected for a smaller footprint that will use fewer computing resources, making it ideal for low-bandwidth scenarios or less powerful PCs. As part of Microsoft’s move to focus on this simplified offering, the company also announced today that it will discontinue retail sales of its Windows Live OneCare subscription service effective June 30, 2009.

Built on Microsoft’s award-winning malware protection engine, “Morro” will take advantage of the same core anti-malware technology that fuels the company’s current line of security products, which have received the VB100 award from Virus Bulletin, Checkmark Certification from West Coast Labs and certification from the International Computer Security Association Labs. The new solution will deliver the same core protection against malware as that offered through Microsoft’s enterprise solutions, but will not include many of the additional non-security features found in many consumer security suites.

Windows Live OneCare, one of the first all-in-one suites to be launched in the consumer market, includes a number of non-security features, such as printer sharing and automated PC tune-up. By shifting to focus on the core anti-malware features that most consumers still don’t keep up to date, “Morro” will be able to provide the essential protections that consumers need without overusing system resources, and will help more consumers have better protection against online threats.

“Morro” will be available as a stand-alone download and offer malware protection for the Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems. When used in conjunction with the ongoing security and privacy enhancements of Windows and Internet Explorer, this new solution will offer consumers a robust, no-cost security solution to help protect against the majority of online threats.

So this is good news. Very good news. But I have some concerns about the removal of “non-security features,” unless Microsoft sees fit to deliver them in a separate free offering. Both Windows Defender and Windows Live OneCare currently offer excellent tools to reduce the number of programs that start when Windows boots. But Microsoft is removing that tool (Software Explorer) from the version of Defender in Windows 7. And now that Morro is dropping the similar functionality in Windows Live OneCare, there’s no simple way for consumers to perform this vital service.

Also worth reading: A Microsoft Press Pass interview with Amy Barzukas, who is responsible for this new Morrow security tool.

UPDATE: Over five years ago, in July 2003, I wrote an editorial called Microsoft Needs to Offer Free Antivirus to its Windows Customers, in which I spelled out what I thought was a pretty obvious need:

Microsoft has a responsibility to bundle core antivirus technologies in Windows--for free, not for a monthly subscription fee--and that by doing so, the company will prove that it's more concerned about its customers than its relationships with certain partners.

Antivirus technology isn't an optional component anymore--it's more like a crucial part of the engine. If you're connected online, you should have antivirus protection; in other words, the car shouldn't even start unless this crucial component is enabled. This is just commonsense.

Come on, Microsoft, do the right thing. Customers come first.

Five years later and Microsoft apparently agrees.

Now explain to me why this won’t be part of Windows 7. A separate download is OK. But bundled into the OS is much better.

Microsoft unexpectedly released an update to the Zune PC software and device firmware today, bringing both up to version 3.1. Here’s the news from the Zune Insider blog:

The team has been doing a little extra work heading into the holiday season; in fact this week is a busy one. You are going to see some pretty cool things coming for Zune that we thinks you'll enjoy.

Starting today, Zune gets a little update which will bring a handful of free games, a refresh to Zune Social and incremental improvements to the software.

On the games front, we are giving away three new additions, Checkers, Sudoku and Space Battle, plus a new multiplayer mode and single player difficulty levels for Texas Hold’em.

The team also did some great work the Zune Social visual refresh to make it easier to navigate, as well as adding a new feature called “like minded listeners,” which will let you see how compatible your music tastes are with other listeners and friends.

On the more techie side we focused on improving overall stability and performance in the Zune PC software and device firmware, such as improved play count reporting and content synchronization between the Zune software and the Zune device.

To get the new update, use the PC software, just click settings: check for updates.

Here are some shots from the update process…

Thanks to Jeremy M. for the heads-up.

Apparently, Visual Basic has gotten a bit too complex for the kiddie crowd, so a Microsoft employee is working up a simpler, old school version of the language called Small Basic:

Small Basic is a project that's aimed at bringing "fun" back to programming. By providing a small and easy to learn programming language in a friendly and inviting development environment, Small Basic makes programming a breeze. Ideal for kids and adults alike, Small Basic helps beginners take the first step into the wonderful world of programming.

• Small Basic derives its inspiration from the original BASIC programming language, and is based on the Microsoft .Net platform. It is really small with just 15 keywords and uses minimal concepts to keep the barrier to entry as low as possible.
• The Small Basic development environment is simple, yet provides powerful modern environment features like Intellisense™ and instant context sensitive help.
• Small Basic allows third-party libraries to be plugged in with ease, making it possible for the community to extend the experience in fun and interesting ways.

Be sure to check out the Small Basic blog and Small Basic Introduction (PDF) as well.

Thanks to Matt S. for the tip.

Thanks to the several hundred people who participated in my fourth give-away for my latest book, Windows Vista Secrets SP1 Edition. I’ve already notified the winners, so if you haven’t received an email from me, sorry, but there’s always next time. I will have the next give-away before the end of November and, no, international folks, I haven’t forgotten you. The winners names are available on the give-away page.

Typically, you get this with a new game, but if you’re curious about the new Games for Windows LIVE, here you go.

Brief Description

Redistributable package for Games for Windows - LIVE v2.0. Upgrades the version of Games for Windows - LIVE on a user's machine to version 2.0.

Now, if I could just figure out a way to launch the UI without buying a new game. :)

This blurb will be in Short Takes today, but I wanted to get it out there because I know I’m going to get 100 emails this morning from people telling me that Microsoft just launched their first online store.

No, they didn’t.

Don't be fooled into thinking that this week's launch of The Microsoft Store is Microsoft's first foray into selling its products via an online storefront. And please, dear God, don't try to tell me that they're somehow copying Apple, because they aren't. Microsoft has, in fact, been selling its products via the Windows Marketplace for several years now. And the only big difference I can see between that site and the new Microsoft Store is that the latter only sells Microsoft software and hardware, while the former also offers third party products. So why all the hoo-hah over Microsoft's new store? Because most of the people who write blogs and news articles in this industry have no understanding of the topic they're covering. Yeah, I said it. Even Microsoft got it wrong: In a posting to the Windows Experience Blog announcing the store, a Microsoft employee described the new storefront as "the first online store where you can purchase Microsoft products straight from the source." Which is curious, because I purchased Microsoft AutoCollage from the Windows Marketplace about two weeks earlier. And for the record, the Terms of Use page on that site notes that Windows Marketplace is a "service that Microsoft provides."

BTW, I believe that Windows Marketplace launched in 2004. Here’s a story about it. Yes, the article says the site will be “maintained” by CNET. But all of the legal disclaimers on the site and trademarks point to Microsoft’s ownership, as noted above. You’d think Microsoft, at least, would try to draw some distinction between Windows Marketplace and

And let’s not forget Microsoft’s other online stores like Xbox Marketplace and Zune Marketplace.

Long has posted a Windows 7 touch panning demo on his blog if you’re curious about this feature:

Microsoft today announced (but did not release) major updates to its Windows Live Essentials (apps suite) and Windows Live services, as part of the Wave 3 release set. Based on a recent interview with Brian Hall, I’ll be publishing a news story (on WinInfo) and a full preview (on the SuperSite) today. But I did at least want to give you a heads-up about what’s happening. Note that virtually none of this is available right now. Most of this will ship by the end of the year.

Windows Live Essentials. The Windows Live application suite will be updated to near-final RC status in the coming week (sans Windows Live Movie Maker, which will need many months more of development). You can expect a final release by very early 2009, based on feedback. Maybe even in December. There are new features all over the apps suite. Perhaps the most exciting are in Windows Live Photos, which now integrates in a fairly incredible way with the new Windows Live Photos services and, using Windows Live Sync, with all other installs of Windows Live Photos you make across all your PCs. That’s right: It will sync photo libraries automatically from PC to PC. Good stuff.

Windows Live Hotmail. Though Microsoft is still in the final phases of rolling out the new Wave 3 Hotmail UI, more features are coming. All Hotmail accounts will get free POP3 support for the first time and the ability to get and send email from multiple email (i.e. non-Hotmail) accounts. Storage is being upped considerably and the new calendar component is going final.

Windows Live Messenger. Microsoft’s IM client will deeply integrate with all of the new Wave 3 cross-network goodness (see below), making it one of the key hubs for sharing and connecting with friends. The “What’s New” feature is being updated dramatically to support this (so I might  have to actually turn it back on; it’s just noise in the current release).

Windows Live SkyDrive. Storage is being upped from 5 GB to 25 GB and consolidated with several other Live services, including Windows Live Spaces (blogging) and the new Windows Live Photos.

Windows Live Groups. A new services for collaborating, sharing, and connecting online with friends. Will include shared calendar functionality, shared storage, shared email addresses, and shared instant messaging.

Windows Live Home and cross-network integration. Microsoft has partnered with over 50 of the top social networking services online to make Windows Live the center of your online experience. This is pretty incredible stuff, but a new version of home.live.com will aggregate everything you and your friends are doing online and give you a central console for exploring and sharing. It looks really interesting.

Windows Live Photos. Microsoft, finally, is creating a dedicated photo sharing service. Storage via Windows Live SkyDrive.

There’s more, but I gotta save something for today’s SuperSite article. See you in a few hours.

Update: I’m told these are most probably fake. Oh well: I do think the Zune UI would be a good fit for Windows Mobile.

Smartpone France has some interesting photos that appear to show off the UI for Windows Mobile 6.5, Microsoft’s new stop-gap release between today’s Windows Mobile and what I hope will be a completely new mobile OS based on Windows 7. We can only dream. In the meantime, I’m surprised no one noticed that the shot on the right is clearly based on the Zune device UI…

Thanks to Sebastian V. for the tip. For the record, the Zune UI is a wonderful idea for Windows Mobile, and it’s proven to work well on this small form factor screen type.

I just received the following info from Microsoft, and I have to say, these are pretty slick-looking phones:

With several highly anticipated phones on the market this week, Windows Mobile is getting ready for an exciting holiday season! Each one of these phones is also a great example of the power of the Windows Mobile to provide partners the ability to customize on top of the platform giving people choice and flexibility when purchasing a phone.

Xperia X1

Today Sony Ericsson announced that the Xperia X1, which has enjoyed success across various regions around the world, will be available in the U.S. in time for the holidays. 

One of the key things you will notice on the Xperia X1, beyond the great hardware, is that the Windows Mobile software has been tailored to create a unique experience for customers. The Xperia X1’s unique panel user interface is at the heart of the device’s ability to create and adapt consumer’s experiences, and with up to nine panels available to display at one time it’s easy to find the information and entertainment content they need.

HTC Fuze

Yesterday HTC and AT&T announced the availability of the Fuze. This phone features HTC’s TouchFLO 3D touch-screen user interface for easy gesture-based navigation and one-touch access to a range of functions including e-mail, text messaging, a music player, and 3.2 MP camera.

Last weekend’s Gears of War 2 Zune 120 contest is over, and after conferring with the winner, I can report that Chad Smith of Vancouver, British Columbia has won. I’ll be sending Chad the Zune device this week and, if last weekend was any indication, he will continue owning me at Gears 2 mulitiplayer. If I remember correctly, Chad was in the last GOW2 game I played over the weekend, right before midnight Sunday night, and he outscored me handily. Granted, it’s not hard.  :)

Anyway, congrats to Chad and thanks to everyone who participated.

Updated! OK, I guess this was inevitable. Two Three separate hacks are available to get some Windows 7 features working in Windows Vista. The first, for the new calculator utility, is sort of dubious, but the second two—for Aero Snaps and Aero Shake—are great ideas.

Windows 7 Calculator for Windows Vista

Aero Snap Beta - AeroSnap is a simple but powerful application that allows you to resize, arrange or maximize your desktop windows with just drag'n'drop. Simple drag a window to a side of your desktop to snap it or drag it to the top to maximize. When you drag it back to the last position, the last window size will be restored. Really easy, isn't it? It also works with multiple monitors!

Aero Shake - Free utility Aero Shake brings the Windows 7 Aero Shake feature to your pre-Windows 7 computer.

Thanks to EJ for the tip on the first two and to Robert B. for the third.

My Windows 7 Feature Focus series begins today, btw. Stay tuned…

You know, there are certain staples in the world of Microsoft bashing. The publicly-located informational flat-screen display showing a blue screen. The jokes about what it would be like if Microsoft made cars. You know, the usual.

But one thing you don’t see very often is Microsoft Office crashes. Well, maybe you do. I’m guessing someone will inevitably chime in with a complaint in this area, which is of course a third staple in the world of Microsoft bashing: Disagreeing with a readily provable fact. But anyhoo, I actually had Word crash on me today. And I have to tell you, that never happens. Never. And I use Word every single day. Obviously.

So which are you more unlikely to see? This:

Or this?

Actually, I can think of one exception the “Office never crashes” rule. If you install iTunes and use it to sync Outlook with an iPod or iPhone, Outlook crashes all the time, thanks to Apple’s buggy sync software.

I’m sure there’s a commercial in there somewhere.

The iPhone is just the most curious mix technology, and anyone who tells you it’s perfect should be immediately suspect. Some of the iPhone is laugh out loud perfect. But much of it is just deeply flawed, with no fix in sight. I love the iPhone, I hate the iPhone. It’s the ultimate Apple product, in other words. Beautiful but frustrating.

This comes to light in a number of ways, and almost every single time I use it. Just the latest example: Yesterday, my wife was flying home from Phoenix and her multiple attempts to call me on the iPhone as I headed to the gym would be funny if it wasn’t so typical. The iPhone is a lousy, lousy phone and it disconnected us so often she eventually just called the gym so I could talk on a reliable phone. (My trainer, also an iPhone user, just laughed in understanding. This happens to him all the time too, he said.) On the other hand, after the gym, I was able to neatly manage email using its awesome Mail application while waiting for lunch, and the iPhone handles that task with both ease and elegance. When I got home and sat down in front of the computer, I had much less email to deal with, having already filed away the chaff. I love how well the iPhone works for that purpose.

(I was talking to my wife about this last night after she got home and noted that I rarely use the phone stuff anyway. And good thing, as the iPhone almost useless as a phone. I noted that if I could just get pervasive Internet access on the iPod touch, I’d get rid of the iPhone and get a “normal” less-complicated and less-expensive phone just for phone calls. Let’s just say that my wife’s freebie phone from Verizon always works and leave it at that.)

Anyway, I’m obviously not the only frustrated iPhone user. A new site called Please Fix The iPhone has been set up to catalog users’ frustrations, and some of the top requests are pretty darned obvious needs. Hopefully Apple will take the constructive nature of this site to heart and fix the top requests first. Note that unlike the national newspaper reviewers, I’ve mentioned virtually all of these issues and feature requests in my own reviews of the iPhone. It’s funny how some people are able to overlook obvious problems as they trip over each other trying to out-compliment Apple. But there are real problems. They include:

1. Lack of MMS support

2. Wireless sync (non-Bluetooth)

3. Copy and paste

4. Use SMS in landscape mode

5. View Flash content in Safari

6. Make Safari crash less frequently

7. Fix the Camera application so that you can click a picture more easily

8. Uninstall/hide built-in iPhone applications

9. Video recording

10. Stop reloading multiple Safari pages when navigating back to them

If you’re not familiar with the iPhone, the number 1 and 3 requests above work in tandem to perform what is, quite possibly, the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen on the device: When someone does try to send you an MMS message, it appears in the SMS application with a link to a Web page so you can go and view the content. (So much for the iPhone’s multimedia prowess, eh?) But the link includes a user name and password. Since you can’t copy and paste (a la complaint number 3), there’s no way to actually view that content without either memorizing the user name and password, and switching repeatedly between Safari and SMS, or by … get this … writing down the user name and password on a piece of paper and then manually typing that info in after you go to the linked Web page. The whole thing is utterly broken, but then that’s how the iPhone experience works. It’s either dazzling or retarded.

BTW. A site like this for Windows Mobile would be pointless since the entire OS needs to be dumped and rewritten from scratch. Sounds like a good use for that MinWin kernel Microsoft can’t stop talking about, no?

Thanks to Robert J. for the link.