Microsoft’s internet explorer browser is close to a beta of the version 9. Sometime in september more exactly.

The new version will support modern standards like HTML5, better java, better usability, better interface and more.

A new icon and UI is also on the menu with Internet Explorer 9. Here is a screen capture of the new browser Microsoft is going to release next month as beta.

Microsoft just announced via @microsoft twitter account that the latest version of Windows, Windows 7 is a success (but that’s well known by now, related to the Vista problems and downgrading users in the first year) and that they sold 90 million copies to date.

Merit well earned, the public reception was great for Windows 7 and will continue to do so in my opinion.

As Microsoft announced, they just released the update that makes Windows 7 harder to activate without genuine licence.This update closes all the used ways to bypass the legal activation on Windows 7, again, not supporting piracy here but I’m sure this update will be “in force” for 1-3 weeks at best. People always find ways around things like this. The update is said to check for 70 known activation exploits by checking the local PC.

The update is called (like any other generic update) “Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB971033).” for 64-bit systems and probably x86-based Systems if you own a 32-bit os flavor.

The description of the update reads : “This update to Windows Activation Technologies detects activation exploits and tampering to key Windows system files. These exploits try to bypass regular Windows activation and are sometimes included with counterfeit copies of Windows.”

Windows 7 installation is easy and very intuitive, you just pop in the DVD and boot the computer with the dvd drive as the first boot device, but sometimes is not that simple, Windows 7 was made to run smooth not only on full featured PC’s and notebooks, but netbooks too. The netbook trend is getting bigger and bigger by the day. One thing these small computers lack is the optical drive. The only way to install an OS is via USB flash drives. Well if you are into doing this, it’s your lucky day.
There is a new software at http://wudt.codeplex.com/ made specially to create bootable USB flash drives with Windows from an .iso disk image.

This was possible for long time but the full procedure included the user knowing medium-advanced CMD commands and the notions of partitioning a flash drive and such. Now the whole process is automated and fast too.

As you all know, 22 October marked the official release date for Windows 7 RTM to the public. We, i also know that a lot of people use Windows 7 as main OS for some months now and will continue to do so.
Windows 7 has been completed some time ago and today it is available to all who want this upgrade, and trust me , if you are sick of XP, Vista doesn’t cut it anymore, you must at least try Windows 7.
The problems are extremely few to none, and as i said some time ago, majority of Vista’s problems came from poor drivers and poor software updating to take advantage of the new features included then.
Windows 7 works perfectly with the vista drivers and not only that but from what I’ve seen, 80% of manufactures offer drivers for vista/7 in a single pack and that is pretty cool.
I am now using Windows 7 Ultimate x64 and works like a charm, and it did so from some time now. Much faster and snappier in some areas (when compared to vista).
Vista is still more “mature” and that’s understandable for a OS that got to it’s 2′nd service pack.
If you are interested on this matter , go to TechSpot and read the “What You Need To Know” article about Windows 7.
In my opinion, this is a nice update. I’m curious about what impression will it create for the masses of PC-using people out there.
Something to add ? Leave a comment !

As of today, Windows 7 is available to download from Microsoft’s tech websites, MSDN and Technet. There is the standard version of Windows 7 ,and the enterprise versions too.
Currently the only language is English, but more versions will come soon and the “Starter” version of Windows 7 too. So get your browsers pointed to MSDN or Technet now and get the official Windows 7 RTM.
The final version for us, the rest, will be available on October 22 this year.

A bug in Windows 7 RTM has been detected, the problem does not implies any security risk or other “door” for hackers to take advantage of.
The problem appears when the “chkdisk” command is called via the command prompt, and after not much time the user can detect that all the ram memory is taken by the process (memory leak).
This is a nasty one for the people out there that use this command, but no worry, Microsoft announced that the problem is more a “driver-controller” problem, rather then a OS fault, and it can be fixed with windows updates (patch).
ChkDsk is the command that calls the system integrated hard disk checker and error correction tool. But on a average user install of Windows 7, this command is not likely to be called so often, the problem will be if this bug was present on the server (Windows Server 2008) where this command will be used much more often for administration and integrity scanning.
Anyway, for the home user, this will likely go unnoticed.

Steven Sinofsky : “today after all the validation checks were met, we signed off and declared build 7600.16385 as RTM.” So there you have it people. Windows 7 testing and hassle it’s over, even if it was fun while it lasted. Now the windows team is pushing to the SP1 fixes and improvements.
Technet and MSDN subscribers will have access to the Windows 7 RTM on August 6.
I’m waiting to see the mass of people react to a windows version that is 80% vista in design.

A couple of days ago, Windows 7 build 7600 surfaced on the net as the “RTM” but wait, after just one day, a new build 7600 with a new sub build appeared. Probably another will be out soon. The last build that is available now at the known places for this is Windows 7 build 7600.16385.090713-1255 , and the old one was 7600.16384.090710-1945
From information available on the web, there is no “new things” and that’s kind of strange, i know that windows 7 has some new sound themes, but the default one is still vista. And what about the screen-savers ?
Maybe next “sub-build” will give a more final look on windows 7.
And back on the story, this time Microsoft got it right, all the people i know that tested this builds were more then satisfied and waiting for the RTM. Sadly in Europe there will be the incomplete version.

A well known Russian site just announced that Microsoft’s latest operating system just got to the RTM phase, now following general availability after October 22 this year.
The final build string could be 7600.16384.090710-1945 and as you see from this number,it was compiled on 10 July 2009, 2 days ago to be more specific. There is not much information on the quality of this RTM and/or the new improvements and final addons (wallpapers, screen-savers, sounds, etc…) but the rumor is that there won’t be too much until the final build will be out in the wild.
From the lest leaked builds, Windows 7 was rock-solid and the overall feeling was fresh and nice, opposed to Vista’s feeling that was mainly due to poor hardware support by hardware companies.
This being said, keep close for more info on this subject and a big review of the final windows 7 once it will be in my possession.