Peter Galli

Microsoft has made the second release candidate for Windows PowerShell available for download from its Web site. PowerShell is a command-line shell and scripting language that gives IT pros better control of system administration. It brings a new scripting language and consistent syntax and utilities that accelerate automation. RC2 includes direct ADSI support to allow […]

REDMOND—The reason Microsoft Research exists is so that Microsoft will still be here in 15 years time, Rick Rashid, the senior vice president of research, said here on Sept. 26. “I hope that fifteen years from now there will still be the same vibrant environment we have now, where we have been able to build […]

Open Source Development Labs isnt sitting idle while overbroad software patents that threaten open-source developers and users are issued. So says Diane Peters, OSDLs general counsel, in defending an OSDL project known as OSAPA (Open Source as Prior Art) that has come under criticism from Richard Stallman, founder of the Boston-based Free Software Foundation. The […]

Microsoft is considering offering incentives to users of its new video-sharing service, Soapbox on MSN Video, which launches early next year. The service represents Microsoft’s attempt to compete in the user-created content sphere dominated by rivals like YouTube. Adweek reports that MSN has plans to compensate popular video creators, and will also offer inducements to […]

Microsoft has released an interim build of Windows Vista to its usual testers as well as to some 100,000 of the participants in its Customer Preview Program. Build 5728 includes ongoing fit and finish work based on the feedback Microsoft has received on Vista Release Candidate 1 since its release on September 1. The build […]

Microsoft released an interim build of Windows Vista to its usual testers, as well as to100,000 of the participants in its Customer Preview Program, on September 22. Build 5728 was delivered to testers via TechBeta, TechNet, TAP and MSDN, while the 100,000 CPP participants were chosen at random to get even greater diversity in the […]

Amazon.com has given Brian Valentine, who was head of Windows Vista development until he resigned recently, stock incentives worth more than $12-million at the current share price. The stock award was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and gives Valentine 400,000 shares which will vest between September 2008 and September 2012 at a […]

Nokia, the world’s largest mobile phone maker, will offer Microsoft’s Live Search for its Mobile Search platform. The Live Search feature will be available for Nokia’s N-Series multimedia phones as well as for phones that use its S-60 software.

Just in case you didn’t already know this, Windows Vista is shipping with four tiers of user interface experience, from the new Aero Glass to Vista Standard, Vista Basic and Windows Classic. The istartedsomething blog has 28 screenshots that compare the four different interfaces.

Are Microsoft and the European Commission set for a major showdown? Or is all the talk of a possible delay when Windows Vista ships in Europe and concerns about the new security features in the operating system just more bluster between the two sides? Microsoft has been speaking out of both sides of its mouth […]