Mary Jo

Google reiterated its intentions on August 27 to get into the hosted applications business. But no one should equate the so-called “Google Apps for Your Domain” bundle with Microsoft Office. Look what’s in the “GoogApp” pack: Gmail, GoogleTalk, Google Calendar and Google Page Creator. No Word, Excel or PowerPoint competitors here. Google Apps for Your […]

From Microsoft Watch: When we first stumbled onto the Windows Live ‘Agora’ code name a month or so ago, we weren’t quite sure what it was. But thanks to a little sleuthing by Liveside.Net and others, we now know that Agora will live up to its codename and be a marketplace for Windows Live services. […]

Following some confusing back-and-forth with Microsoft, we believe we now have an accurate update on exactly who is designated to receive (legally) Windows Vista build 5536 – and when. As of August 25, the build was available for download via the Microsoft Connect site for Technology Adoption Program (TAP) and TechBeta customers. The week of […]

Here’s yet another new Windows Live service that Microsoft is launching. Known as “Windows Live Essentials” – not to be confused with Office Live Essentials – the new service will bundle e-mail, instant-messaging, security services and other Windows Live entities, plus Windows Live Dashboard – into a “seamless whole.” Microsoft is seeking beta nominees over […]

Looks like Microsoft won’t be taking a page from its Xbox playbook – not in its entirety, at least – with its Zune portable media players. According to a Federal Communications Commission filing, Toshiba looks like it will be manufacturing “Argo” players that will make use of the “Pyxis” service that will be part of […]

When Microsft inked an ad deal earlier this week with Facebook, industry watchers got all caught up in tit-for-tat, consolation prize assessments. But few are looking at the eventual showdown that is bound to happen between Windows Live Spaces and MySpace. Is there still room for Microsoft-MySpace collaboration? Or is it just a matter of […]

After weeks of waiting for a new, official Windows Vista test build, testers got their fix on August 25, when Microsoft posted release number 5536 for download. The new build is available to a pre-selected set of technical beta testers only. The new release is designated as a “pre-RC1,” or pre-Release Candidate 1, build. The […]

From Microsoft Watch On August 25, testers were downloading furiously the latest interim Windows Vista bits. Only a select set of technical beta testers get access to Vista 5536, designated a “Pre-Release-Candidate 1” build. Microsoft asked 5536 testers to check specifically for memory leaks, app and device compatibility problems and issues that would prevent users […]

Microsoft quietly added video to the list of searchable entities that are part of the Windows Live Search beta. Interested beta testers can go here to give Windows Live Video Search a whirl. Testers also can test drivethe search functionality for news, feeds, macros, products, academic content, and more, as part of the Windows Live […]

Contrary to earlier reports, Microsoft is not cutting another Vista feature (at least not today. A Microsoft exec at TechEd Australia misspoke. Microsoft will not eliminate the ability to play HD-DVD and/or Blu-Ray content on 32-bit Vista machines. “It is up to the ISVs providing playback solutions to determine whether the intended playback environment, including […]