windows

LG KS20: Windows Mobile without the bulk

LG has launched its first Windows Mobile 6 phone and, if it were a cake, all the fat people would be queueing up around the block to get their hands on not just one, but a whole box. Arms would flail, rolls of gadget-obsessed fat would bounce around and almost everyone would come away injured. And hungry. But LG won't care because it'll be too busy telling the world about this Prada-esque beaut--the KS20.

With it's big ol' touch-sensitive screen, its push e-mail support, its gloriously fast HSDPA connectivity, and its divine styling, it's not … Read more

Vista SP1 coming sooner for some

Often, when Microsoft finishes the code for a new product, it is available almost immediately. That's why it was a bit of a surprise when Microsoft said last week that it had finished Windows Vista Service Pack 1, but that customers would have to wait until March to get it.

On Monday, Microsoft reversed course and said it would make the code available to volume license customers on Friday, with Technet and MSDN developer program members having access to the software later this month. The masses will still have to wait until next month, Microsoft said.

"For general … Read more

Five quick Windows speedup tips

There's one thing all Windows users have in common: They all want the OS to run faster. Here are five ways to turn your tortoise PC into a hare.

Go the one-click route with the "best performance" option in the Visual Effects settings. In Windows XP, right-click My Computer, choose Properties > Advanced, click the Settings button under Performance, and then select the Visual Effects tab. In Vista, press the Windows key, type performance information, press Enter, and click Adjust Visual Effects in the left pane. In both OSes, you can choose Custom and deselect the options … Read more

Sony Ericsson to do first Windows phone

Update: 10:25 p.m. with photo, more details

Handset maker Sony Ericsson is announcing plans for its first Windows Mobile device, a move aimed at boosting the company's presence in the North American smartphone market.

The first product is a business-oriented phone with a QWERTY keyboard, but a family of devices is expected. Over time, Microsoft hopes Sony Ericsson will leverage its camera and music expertise to help build more consumer-oriented devices.

"They've really got some great consumer brands that we'd love to partner with and bring to Windows Mobile," Microsoft Vice President Pieter … Read more

Survey finds Ubuntu is the fastest-growing Linux distribution

I've written before about the data collected from Alfresco's Open Source Barometer survey. While originally a survey of 10,000 members of Alfresco's "content community" (i.e., those who register with Alfresco to download white papers, documentation, etc.), the survey now includes a swelling population of the community, with 35,000+ members.

The data becomes even more significant when you consider Alfresco's customer base: a high percentage include the world's leading financial services, media, publishing, government, and educational institutions.

So when I see Ubuntu at 23 percent of Alfresco's Linux user base (second only to Red Hat at 35 percent), with 51.3 percent of Alfresco's users choosing to deploy on Linux (with a scant 26.5 percent opting to deploy on Windows), I take notice.

When I see Red Hat and Ubuntu pulling away from the rest of the Linux pack (Debian, SUSE, etc.), it gives me pause. It makes me think that maybe, just maybe, customers actually care about freedom. Maybe they don't think about it in Richard Stallman terms, but they think about it.… Read more

What the Linux desktop gives that Mac OS X and Windows don't

Lest someone accuse me of disliking the Linux desktop (which, by the way, I do :-), I thought this post was interesting, as it details things that Linux can do but Windows and Mac OS X can't.

Not all the distinctions are accurate (at least, not for the Mac), but on balance it's a good list. Here are a few of the most significant (in my opinion):

Linux doesn't need defraging [Nor does the Mac - not really] Upgrade to the newest version legally and without paying money Have the latest version of the OS run faster than the previous version on the same hardware Install twenty programs with one command [I can't remember the last time I wanted to do this, but presumably it's important for some...?]… Read more

Get ready for Vista and XP updates

Microsoft has been quietly readying several Service Packs for its operating systems. Windows Vista SP1 has undergone several public release candidates, but CNET Reviews' Rob Vamosi got his hands on a copy of the real deal, not due out until March. The verdict? You'll have to click through to find out.

CNET News.com's Ina Fried got word of private beta testing of Windows XP SP3--that's right, I said Service Pack 3. Although it's nearly six months away from being ready, Microsoft promises that SP3 will contain the usual security fixes, but no word on … Read more

Microsoft releases new XP SP3 test version

Microsoft said Friday that it has issued a second near-final "release candidate" version of Windows XP Service Pack 3. The move follows the company having finished the first service pack for Windows Vista.

"Yesterday, we released Windows XP SP3 RC 2 to private beta testers," the software maker said in a statement. "This release catches the build up on previously released hotfixes and responds to critical feedback from previous betas."

The software maker repeated that it plans to finalize the XP update by the end of June, but added its customary hedging that its &… Read more

First Look: PhotoContacts for Windows Mobile

Oh sure, anyone can assign a photo face to a contact on their Windows Mobile phone. But how many can also resize images, associate tasks with a contact, and send text messages from their digital black book?

If you guessed "anyone using the application named above," give yourself a gold star. For about twenty bucks, PhotoContacts for WindowsMobile and Pocket PC rolls your contact list into a stylish wrapper with better people skills than your default address book. Could this application be for you? Check out pros and, yes, a few cons, in this First Look video before … Read more