Mary Jo

Is this really a Microsoft Zune portable media player “in the wild”? Is there really some kind of new Microsoft gaming device manufactured by Razer in the works? We don’t know. (And apparently, some of the folks at Microsoft don’t, either.) All we can say is it’s getting tougher and tougher to separate fakes from […]

After cutting through some technical difficulties, we’ve finally posted some screen shots of Windows Vista test build 5506, passed on to us by tester sources. The screens show how Microsoft is planning to integrate Windows Live download links in the Vista Welcome screen, as well as integrate Windows Live Messenger instant-messaging code into the operating […]

From Microsoft Watch: Microsoft is poised to release to a select group of testers a new interim test of Windows Vista any day now, we hear. That build could be No. 5506 – or something slightly later, according to testers. In any case, we’ve seen from a few screen shots of Vista build 5506 that […]

From the ‘Strange But (Possibly) True’ Microsoft Files: It’s summer and the rumors are flowing freely. Here’s a sampling of a few of the ‘crazy but possibly true’ leads that have come our way in recent days. The Next ‘Express’ Frontier: Windows Live?: Microsoft is stepping up its campaign to win over non-professional programmers. Could […]

Microsoft has begun making good on its commitment to extend its Genuine Advantage anti-piracy program to the PC maker channel. Microsoft has started distributing “Get Genuine” kits to its channel partners, providing “a cost-effective solution to help them get legal, deepen your customer relationship, and be there as a trusted advisor,” according to the Softies. […]

Microsoft’s first set of Office Live services, due out by year-end, is aimed squarely at small businesses. But Microsoft has bigger – and smaller – plans for its software-service add-ons. Microsoft is working on plans to create new Office Live packages that will appeal to individual consumers, as well as to work-groups within larger companies, […]

From Microsoft Watch: The first iteration of Office Live, Microsoft’s services add-ons to Office, is aimed squarely at small businesses. But Microsoft is working on ways to make future Office Live deliverables appeal to individual consumers, as well as to workgroups within larger companies. Office Live release 1.0 is on track to go live before […]

From Microsoft Watch: Microsoft officials often cite “20” as the number of Windows Live services the company has fielded and/or is beta testing. But according to the Microsoft Live Feedback Web site, there are more than 40 Windows Live services and sites in the pipeline. There are even a few (Agora, Live Translation, Live Macros, […]

As predicted, hackers have begun exploiting the Windows vulnerability that Microsoft patched last week as part of security bulletin MS06-040. Unpatched Windows 2000 machines are being hijacked for use in IRC-controlled botnets. More attacks on other flavors of Windows could occur in cases where the MS06-040 patches are not applied. It’s not just Windows that […]

With Visual Studio Express, Microsoft has been looking to expand its base of programmers beyond traditional developers to include hobbyists. On August 14, Microsoft announced plans to extend further the VS Express family by delivering on August 30 a test version of the XNA Game Studio Express kit. Before year-end, the final version, which will […]