Windows 7 boot screen

I read on the Windows 7 developers blog an interesting post about the new boot screen of Microsoft's new operating system.
Seems like there were some really creative people at work. I can only recommend the link :o)

Windows 7 in Virtual PC

Since the beta of Windows 7 is out there for a while, some may not try it on their physical system but wanna try it out on a Virtual PC.

Brian Keller, technical evangelist over at Microsoft released a nifty tutorial on his blog.

Free Windows 7 Beta available

Microsoft released their Beta version of the Windows Vista successor Windows 7 today.
Get it here. So far it looks more than just a even more shiny version of Vista but take a look by yourself.



UPDATE:
Only 2.5 million beta user accounts are available so better hurry up.
Oh yeah, and at this very moment the servers are more than just busy. Hope Microsoft gets this to work soon.

UPDATE 2:
Microsoft put the download website offline temporary... :-(

Playstation Home Beta Invitation

These days I read Sony sent out some new invitations for their Playstation Home beta program and lucky as I am these days I found one of these email in my mailbox this morning ^^
Stay tuned for some inside action reports.

new Playstation Home beta accounts

Do you want to get into Home? Do you wish Sony would allow you to show how interested you are in being a part of the expanded Beta? All you have to do is download the new Home theme that will be available in the store today. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? I’m so excited!

Sony is using a variety of factors to determine who will be in the expanded Beta. PSN usage and other things will be a part of this evaluation. Of course the detailed process of evaluation was not explained. So Home enthusiasts, PSN lovers, and Playstation users should get that theme today.

Here is the official post from Jack Buser:

Later today, the PLAYSTATION Store will be updated with a PlayStation Home theme. By downloading the theme, users are submitting an application to join the PlayStation Home Beta test community. We will be using a variety of criteria including activity on the PLAYSTATION Network to determine eligibility for the Beta community. Existing beta testers have automatically qualified to be part of the expanded beta.

We’re really excited about this milestone and want our most loyal fans to be a part of the evolution of PlayStation Home.

In Europe, SCEE is also beginning their expanded closed beta, directly targeting consumers who have been most active on PLAYSTATION Network and PLAYSTATION Store. SCEE will be in email contact with their PSN audience very shortly.

Playstation Home Download

You've probably seen the screens and videos of Sony's Second Life clone called "Home".
Anyway, the Beta program started some weeks or even months ago but it is not open for the public yet.
Hmm, guess who uploaded the Playstation 3 installer package on his lovely server? This time it is not me but the Sony guys seems to have forgotten their own link. Hehehe.
So grab here the download file from the playstation.net servers.

BTW: You can either download the file on your PC and transfer it via USB key to the PS3 or you simply visit koteshi.com with your PS3 webbrowser and save the file directly on the Playstation's harddisk.

Windows Media Center Fiji Beta - reloaded ?

During some research I noticed that there were some great news for fans of Beta versions. Microsoft not only invites new beta users for the Windows Vista Media Center successor at Microsoft Connect but on the chinese written blog thinknext.net a few screenshots surfaced showing the first milestone of Windows 7.

How to increase Vista file transfer speed

Maybe I am sure you noticed that the file transfer rate in Vista isn't really faster than than in Windows XP. I would even say it is way slower...

Hmm, seems like Mircosoft noticed that. As a beta tester of the new Windows Server 2008 Microsoft released the two new hot fixes KB938194 and KB938979 on July 31 which are not open for the public yet. The latter uses some new algorithms to accelerate file transfer.

After some tests, I come to the conclusion that it really boosts the transfer rate by 50-80%.

So lets hope "normal" users don't have to wait till Windows Vista Service Pack ;-)

***********************UPDATE***********************
Here comes the download link for the two updates. But Remember, it is still beta.

Microsoft Photosynth Preview

About a year ago, I saw an amazing video of the Microsoft Live Lab's project called Photosynth at a MSDN event. Everybody who say it just was astounded.
Well, enough talk here's a sample video:




And here's the link to test it by yourself:
Microsoft Live Labs

Longhorn Server Beta 3 released

A few days ago Microsoft released the third beta of its Windows Server 2003 successor.
You can download the beta here and luckily it runs under Virtual Server 2005 R2 so no need to setup a whole new maschine. I gave the Windows Server - Project"Longhorn" 1.5 GB RAM in VS2005R2 and it runs really smoothly.

Some of the new features include the now called Powershell, a new command line prompt and the Windows Vista like possibility to search trough every folder and menu.
This and the MMC 3.0 are really nice to work with. So enjoy the beta :)

PS: The final is not expected before 2008 so you have plenty of time for testing.