If you remember, a week or so ago, I posted a huge rant on how Microsoft released buggy and problematic SP’s in both Vista SP1 and XP SP3.  In that post, I promisd to post an update when the Symantec Registry Cleaner was released.  Well, it has been released, and it does in fact, work.

I ran it on 2 of the 3 PC’s in my house that have been upgraded to SP3. It removed almost 5000 bad registry keys on my Gateway 700GR desktop, 0 on my daughter’s Dell Latitude C610; and I have yet to run it on my older Sony Digital Studio PC (don’t ever buy one of these… ICK!)

Anyway; the free registry cleaner can be found here.  The installation and execution instructions are pretty simple and easy to follow, so everyone should be ok in running it. If you have XP SP3 installed, I would download it, run it, and see if there are bad keys in your registry REGARDLESS if you’re experiencing problems or not.

I’ve been wondering lately if Microsoft needs a lesson in Software Development 101…

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been watching the fiasco that is Windows XP SP3 play out.  With so many problem reports hitting Microsoft, their Vendor-Partners, and eventually, the news, you would think that a little preventative medicine would have been applied to the situation. And honestly, it’s really making me wonder – did MS and their V-P’s do enough testing before kicking XP SP3 and Vista SP1 out the door?  With all of the crap that’s been hitting the blogosphere, it’s pretty obvious… Nope.

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Speculation, speculation… I wonder who’s going to take the Vista plunge…or not. 

Over the last few weeks, there’s been a lot of chatter over operating systems.  Who’s ready for this SP, or that, on this OS or the other… Who’s going to install them or wait it out for a while…that type of thing. I’ve heard a people grimacing over XP EOL and Vista, as well.  What is even more interesting is that some of my IT management team has been saying that they may blow by Vista entirely in favor of Windows 7.

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In a move sure to get people excited about their Advance 08 conference slated to start on Tuesday of next week, Microsoft issued a vague and ambiguous press release that contains 292 words - and spends 112 of them saying essentially - “oh well, life goes on” pointing out “…that it is continuing to explore and pursue its alternatives to improve and expand its online services and advertising business. “.

“In light of developments since the withdrawal of the Microsoft
proposal to acquire Yahoo! Inc., Microsoft announced that it is continuing
to explore and pursue its alternatives to improve and expand its online
services and advertising business. Microsoft is considering and has raised
with Yahoo! an alternative that would involve a transaction with Yahoo! but
not an acquisition of all of Yahoo! Microsoft is not proposing to make a
new bid to acquire all of Yahoo! at this time, but reserves the right to
reconsider that alternative depending on future developments and
discussions that may take place with Yahoo! or discussions with
shareholders of Yahoo! or Microsoft or with other third parties.

“There of course can be no assurance that any transaction will result
from these discussions.

Like two forever flirting romantic characters on a TV series, I wish they’d just go and do it already instead of dragging this out forever.

Link: Microsoft’s Press Release - About Nothing

This is definitely a moment in OLPC’s history of big changes as views are conflicting on what the mission should really be about. This week, we have two important announcements: Microsoft is officially pushing Windows XP into the XO and Sugar Labs is no longer dedicated to the XO but will now offer the possibilities of building a “learning ecosystem” on all platforms.

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Today I will be flying to Seattle for a Microsoft facilitated Mobius Event. I hope to be able to share a lot of Windows Mobile coverage with you over the next few days, but at the moment I have no idea exactly what or which companies will be covered. I just know that John Starkweather and the gang will have once again managed to line up an exciting list of OEMs who will speak with us directly. Whatever happens, I will share everything with you that I can.

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When Mac clone maker Psystar started shipping hardware complete with a jury rigged copy of the Leopard operating system , many observers predicted the operation would quickly be shuttered by an Apple legal challenge. According to widespread reports, Apple’s end user license agreement bars running their OS on anything but genuine Apple hardware. Enter Microsoft which according to this story today from PC World is launching a program to provide lower cost versions of Windows XP Home to manufacturers provided they limit the hardware hard disk size to no larger than 80 GB, single core processors of no more than 1GHZ, no more than 1GB RAM, the screen size to 10.2 inches and bar the use of touch-screens. Is it just me or does this Microsoft restriction come dangerously close to mirroring the same type of influence that Apple exerts over their OS. Granted Microsoft doesn’t directly benefit from imposing these restrictions, but because the limitations could bar purchasers from stripping out the Windows XP Home OS and loading an Open Source OS, it seems a tad restrictive.

Via: PC World - Microsoft to Limit Capabilities of Cheap Laptops

What’s the first thing you think of when you think of Microsoft? I bet it’s not simulated robotics leagues. But from now on it just might be, as today they are unveiling RoboChamps.

According to the information I received, “RoboChamps is built on top of the Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio(MSRDS) 2008 CTP, and uses that product’s robust, physics enabled simulation environment to remove the barriers of entry that exist for many today. This simulated league provides individuals with immersive 3-d environments, simulated versions of robots, and compelling scenario-specific challenges where they can win real robots.”

You have to be 18 to enter, but otherwise…game on.

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The Wall Street Journal and other publications are reporting that Microsoft has begun testing Albany, a subscription based model for their popular Office software suite as well as some other applications.

From the Microsoft PressPass:

With just a few clicks, “Albany” subscribers will be able install the whole package, which includes Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007, giving them the latest versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote for their personal and school projects; Windows Live OneCare to help keep viruses at bay and their computer fast and healthy; and Windows Live Mail, Messenger and Photo Gallery so they can connect and share with others. Albany also installs the Microsoft Office Live Workspace connector on the Microsoft Office toolbar, so users can save documents to their own dedicated online workspace and invite friends and classmates to collaborate and share.

This bundle is in contrast to other companies such as Google and Salesforce who have enjoyed growing success with so called “cloud computing” software that runs on their servers and only requires the user to access the program through a web browser.

Link: Wall Street Journal: Microsoft Tries Selling Software Via Subscription Based Model
Link: Microsoft PressPass: Microsoft Launches Beta of New All-in-One Service for Consumers

I just received news of a “Spooktacular” Sale from Astraware; the long and the short of it is that you can�get some spooky savings on six of their games by purchasing between October 27th and October31st. Club Astraware members get an even better deal.

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