I’m noticing a not-so-subtle change in the force. I spent the better part of the week listening to Barack Obama, and I’m a moderate-to-conservative guy. Policies aside, he’s a persuasive man. Anyhow — I’m also a Windows guy for the most part, but have been known to ride (and occasionally cross over) that fence, as well. Recently, a new business/work venture has me experiencing the need to be ultra-portable from time to time, meeting and working potentially from who-knows-where. So, given the current tax situation and the “workability” needs, I broke down and dropped by the Apple Store last night and — after having visited the store four times and carefully considering the available options — I bought a MacBook Air. My friend Matt patiently watched while I substantially delayed our arrival at the movie theater. Good sport, that Matt.

In case anyone’s keeping track, the current game score in the Hughes household Windows vs. Apple system showdown is: Windows 2 (technically 3 if you count the roomie’s machine), Apple 2 (or 3 if you count the iPhone). I’m not a Switcher, but I am an Adder.

VMWare Fusion, a very cool app that will let me run Windows apps on the Mac, is coming soon. I will write up my experiences at some point with that process, with a focus on how it works from the perspective of an IT guy. There are — plain and simple — certain apps that are only available on Windows that I need to use, so it will provide me with both worlds, at the same time. You can learn about Fusion here.

Everyone and their brother have already posted reviews and articles about the MacBook Air, so no point in me rehashing the obvious. Here are my initial highlights:

• Keyboard — Backlit, brightness auto-adjusts, nice keys, quiet typing.
• Screen — Excellent backlight, also auto-adjusts, bright and contrasty.
• Thin — Well, duh. And light, too. That was what got me to look in the first place.
• Battery — Not going to get the advertised 5 hours, but I have pounded it pretty hard for about 2.5 and its still advertising an hour left on the battery (first charge)
• Close-lid-sleep-wake-up drill — Nice and quick. I like that.

Also, I picked up the “incase” brand neoprene sleeve case they had at the Apple store, which is really very nice. I am already liking it. Great protection and hey, it’s all black. :)

I got home, opened it up despite being very tired, ran through the setup (nice, easy, and cool), eventually climbed into bed and watched this past week’s episode of Lost in HD on the ‘net. The Air is a great computer for that, too. I like.

One of the most important things to me in terms of purchasing a new cell phone is how well it could be used on the Internet. Long before the iPhone, I wanted a device that gave me full e-mail and Web support so that I could always be connected wherever I was, but whenever I took a look at some of the available devices on the market, I was never completely impressed. A few of them came close to delivering the results I wanted, but in the end, they just didn’t do the job. Of course, all of this changed when the iPhone came along.

I have to admit, I was slightly skeptical about the abilities of the iPhone when it was first announced, but after it was released and I was able to try and buy one, I realized that it was the best thing to ever happen to mobile Web browsing. I honestly can’t imagine using any other mobile device to surf the Web now that I’ve seen what the iPhone has to offer in this area.

Because of this functionality, it only makes sense that people are using their iPhones to do a lot more than simply call their friends and family. For the first time ever, people are actually enjoying the ability to use the Internet on a mobile device, and even though it’s not as quick and convenient as a regular desktop or notebook computer, they’re spending more time accessing the Internet on the iPhone. The iPhone is still a relatively new product, but how many people are using it to surf the Internet in comparison to other mobile platforms? Once again, Net Applications has some answers for us, and the numbers shocked me.

First of all, the most active operating systems on the Internet are going to be the major operating systems for desktops and notebooks like Windows, OS X, and Linux, but their mobile counterparts are making a name for themselves as well. According to Net Applications, the percentage of users browsing the Internet on the iPhone and its embedded OS X operating system is .09% while the percentage of users browsing the Internet on all Windows Mobile devices combined is .06%. Therefore, the iPhone wins under these circumstances.

I’ve used Windows Mobile before, and I can tell you from personal experience that using the Internet on that platform is not exactly pleasant. It’s better than what some of the other platforms offer, but it still doesn’t compare to the iPhone in any way, and the numbers show that. As we continue to make the move to a more mobile and connected world, Internet access is going to be tied into almost everything that we do on our cell phones and other mobile devices, and Windows Mobile is going to have to provide a better online experience if Microsoft hopes to get more of their users to actually use Windows Mobile to access the Internet, because right now, the platform just doesn’t do the trick.

This article has been republished with the kind permission of our friends at OSWeekly.com. For more computer news, go give ‘em a look or Subscribe to OSWeekly.com’s RSS Feed!

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A group of researchers headed by Dr. Benny Pinkas from the Department of Computer Science at the University of Haifa succeeded in finding a security vulnerability in Microsoft’s "Windows 2000" operating system. The significance of the loophole: emails, passwords, credit card numbers, if they were typed into the computer, and actually all correspondence that emanated from a computer using "Windows 2000" is susceptible to tracking. "This is not a theoretical discovery. Anyone who exploits this security loophole can definitely access this information on other computers," remarked Dr. Pinkas.

Various security vulnerabilities in different computer operating systems have been discovered over the years. Previous security breaches have enabled hackers to follow correspondence from a computer from the time of the breach onwards. This newly discovered loophole, exposed by a team of researchers which included, along with Dr. Pinkas, Hebrew University graduate students Zvi Gutterman and Leo Dorrendorf, enables hackers to access information that was sent from the computer prior to the security breach and even information that is no longer stored on the computer.

The researchers found the security loophole in the random number generator of Windows. This is a program which is, among other things, a critical building block for file and email encryption, and for the SSL encryption protocol which is used by all Internet browsers. For example: in correspondence with a bank or any other Web site that requires typing in a password, or a credit card number, the random number generator creates a random encryption key, which is used to encrypt the communication so that only the relevant Web site can read the correspondence. The research team found a way to decipher how the random number generator works and thereby compute previous and future encryption keys used by the computer, and eavesdrop on private communication.

"There is no doubt that hacking into a computer using our method requires advanced planning. On the other hand, simpler security breaches also require planning, and I believe that there is room for concern at large companies, or for people who manage sensitive information using their computers, who should understand that the privacy of their data is at risk," explained Dr. Pinkas.

According to the researchers, who have already notified the Microsoft security response team about their discovery, although they only checked "Windows 2000" (which is currently the third most popular operating system in use) they assume that newer versions of "Windows", XP and Vista, use similar random number generators and may also be vulnerable.

Their conclusion is that Microsoft needs to improve the way it encodes information. They recommend that Microsoft publish the code of their random number generators as well as of other elements of the "Windows" security system to enable computer security experts outside Microsoft to evaluate their effectiveness.

Tags: windows 2000, windows 2k, security loophole, windows security

In a previous article, I had mixed feelings about the new Microsoft Surface project, as it was really difficult to understand where the market for such a thing would be. Then I watched some new footage on DL.TV and I will admit, even as a Linux guy, that I was blown away.

Consider for a moment what will happen if Microsoft is able to get this technology down to the home user for the cost of today’s home PCs. I’m not saying that keyboards and mice would become a thing of the past, but I could see them evolving into virtual devices to better suit Surface-like advancements. Remember those old virtual keyboards that were once available for the Palm Pilots? Imagine something like this as your future keyboard… it could happen.

Hasn’t This Already Been Done Once Before? One thing that I have been seeing over and again is that Microsoft Surface has already existed for some time. Reactrix anyone? Even still, it has been my understanding that we are talking apples and oranges to this end. In short, while Reactrix is so common that many of today’s shopping malls feature them to entertain the kids, to compare what it can do to Surface is almost criminal in ignorance.

But what about this innovation? Ah, now this would be a little more difficult to explain away, as it does look a lot like the Surface that we have been viewing in all of the demo videos. I would submit that despite the claims made on DL.TV that Surface and the contraption was shown before at TED (a conference), the visuals are identical in many respects. It certainly does get the mind going, doesn’t it?

Ready, Get Set, Go to Market! Like most things Microsoft, I suspect that it will not matter a single bit whether or not the Redmond giant actually is offering something that was created by the company itself. In the end, it will be about the industry as a whole embracing this technology or rejecting it. And that is where Microsoft needs to focus their efforts, while their engineering crew works on getting everything ready for prime time.

Form Factor Matters. One other challenge that I’m anxious to see overcome is getting this technology into a PC form factor that the whole family can enjoy. As long as the intuitive nature of human-to-PC input is honestly being considered, I believe that a small learning curve will be tolerated by most potential users. In the end, seeing success in its current form will be key for Surface technology to eventually progress into a form factor that will gain the imagination of the casual home user.

What do you think? I’m curious. Do you see Microsoft Surface becoming the eventual standard the way Windows-like operating systems are today? I believe there is a strong possibility here, yet I will reserve any final judgments until I have finished reading the commentary from our OSWeekly.com readers first.

This article has been republished with the kind permission of our friends at CoolTechZone. For more news about the gadgets that make the world go ’round, go give ‘em a look or Subscribe to CoolTechZone’s RSS Feed!

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Tags: microsoft surface, user interface

Computerworld reports:

Microsoft Corp. and flash memory maker SanDisk Corp. today partnered to build a new generation of USB drives and memory cards that lets users carry a personalized desktop and applications to any Windows PC.

The joint effort will devise a replacement for SanDisk’s U3 Smart Technology, the existing platform for securing USB and memory card data, running applications directly from a flash drive and customizing public computers with a user’s own settings. Microsoft will be responsible for the software side of the new, as-yet-unnamed platform, while SanDisk will handle the hardware.

If you’d like to get an idea of what this might look like, swing by the U3 Web site and take a look at what’s available today.

Tags: u3, microsoft, sandisk, computerworld, flash memory, portable app

Xboxic is reporting that a major update will be pushed to all Xbox-live connected Xbox360s on Oct 31st. It will contain a whole slew of updates, most notably the addition of support for HD-DVD playback (additional hardware required) and the ability to output in full 1080p HDTV resolution. Be sure to connect your Xbox 360 in the next few days and let it download this exciting update!

Tags: xbox, xbox 360, microsoft, gaming, hdtv, 1080p

Microsoft Corp. today plans to release a renamed, updated version of its small-business accounting program that it said makes better use of online services.

The Redmond company also plans to debut a new, free version of the program for simpler or smaller businesses.

The free product, called Office Accounting Express 2007, provides full cash- and accrual-based accounting, Microsoft said.

Tags: microsoft, accounting, free, office accounting express

We know that Microsoft has been pretty tight-lipped about its upcoming Zune device, so this video is particularly interesting. The crew over at The Bleeding Edge got into a super-secret, underground Zune party held in Seattle’s Tabella night club, and was able to capture an exclusive hands-on Zune video demonstration. The video focuses on the Zune user interface, including the menu system and a few of the personalization features that the device offers. If you are interested in the Zune in the least bit, you should check this one out.
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Since IE 7 went to RC-1 yesterday, I’ve been hard at work seeing if it made any particular difference in the errors I outlined in my last post about IE 7 Beta 3 (Bye Bye IE 7). And it DID make differences.
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In a particularly Microsoft-ish move, Amir Majidimehr (VP of Consumer Media Technology Group at Microsoft) managed to try to deny an earlier report that another feature had been cut from Vista, yet admit that consumers may not get the feature that is supposed to be there. This is according to an article from The Inquirer posted today.
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Such is the mindset at Microsoft these days or so it appears. This time, though, the feature axed is not another feature of Vista lost in its inexorable efforts to push the box out the door in time for the Christmas rush. At least, it won’t be a major loss.
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Yes, it’s true - I’ve had to say goodbye to IE 7 (for now).

It’s a case of To Print or Not To Print. My system, it seems, is one of the who-knows-how-many that generate a critical error when trying to print from Outlook 2003 (up to date).
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Robert Levine of The New York Times writes:

During the last decade, the cost of recording and producing music and video has plummeted, giving amateur auteurs a chance at stardom. But at the same time, the expense involved in making video games has gone up: the development kits needed to create games for the consoles made by Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo cost thousands of dollars, and those companies usually send the kits only to established producers.

Microsoft is trying to change that. Today the company is expected to announce the fall release of a product called XNA Game Studio Express, a basic version of the company’s game authoring tools that will let aspiring designers write games on a PC and test them on an ordinary Xbox 360. (To test games, the designer pays $99 a year to translate the game from the PC into the Xbox format.) [Source: The New York Times]

Tags: microsoft, console gaming, new york times, designer kit, xbox design, robert levine

Bill’s moving onward and away from Microsoft. While he will likely still maintain a level of title, his active duties are most definitely changing focus as he call it quits.
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It’s unfortunate, but Microsoft’s WGA program is one their ‘acceptable losses’ programs that they allow to continue even though it is totally obvious that it does not work as it should.
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Well, it had to happen. Ever since Microsoft cut Windows 9x/ME users adrift, people have been holding their breath. We’ve been waiting for that moment when the first serious security threat developed. That is now a reality. Is there hope?
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Finally!

Now all of us not lucky enough to be Microsoft MVPs or rich enough to pay for a rather high-priced MSDN subscription ($2000+) will be able to get our hands on a copy of the new baby from Redmond. At this point, Microsoft must have less than three months to get the final release candidate out the door, IF it can keep to the schedule it’s still defending.
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The folks at RealTechNews write:

Microsoft reserves 20% of your available bandwidth for its own purposes (suspect for updates and interrogating your machine etc.) Here’s how to get it back:
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Michael Santo of RealTechNews writes:

Although the codebase used to compile the different versions of IE7 is the same, the version of the browser provided in Vista will have a slightly different name, meaning “Internet Explorer 7+.” Aside from Vista-only features provided by the OS, such as Protected Mode, Parental Controls, and improved Network Diagnostics, there are no differences between the two browsers.
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Michael Santo of RealTechNews writes:

I found this “translation” of the Windows XP Home EULA, and it’s interesting to get it translated into non-legalese. Of course, I’ve never really taken the time to read it (plus I own Professional, not Home). It’s also posted on LinuxAdvocate.org, so I’m sure there’s a slant, but it’s still interesting. Here are a few snippets.

You agree that at any time, and at the request of “content providers,” Microsoft may disable certain features on your computer, such as the ability to play your music or movie files.

You agree that Microsoft can automatically and without your consent put new software on your computer.

Microsoft (and anyone else chosen by Microsoft) may collect information about your computer and may share it with other companies, but this should not include personal information about you. (listed twice, though not verbatim). [Source: LinuxAdvocate.org]

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