Comment Re:Microsoft (Score 4, Informative) 226
And what is coming out of Facebook that is so "innovative"? Hack? I mean, come on...
Comment "should" (Score 4, Informative) 226
There are a lot of articles about what Microsoft "Should" be doing recently. IMO Microsoft is already going above and beyond when it comes to providing students free developer tools: https://www.dreamspark.com/
Start-Up Founders On Dealing With Depression 257
v3rgEz (125380) writes "Founders at a number of Boston startups shared their stories of building and growing a company while battling depression. One founder didn't even realize he was depressed until glucose and blood tests came back normal, while another said it was worse than her life struggles growing up in the projects. All shared different coping mechanisms. Any advice for dealing with the same?"
Comment Re:Too little too late.... (Score 2) 387
2) Allow users to load different "skins" like you can on Linux or Android. Metro interface for tablets/phones, Win 7 for desktops. Don't like the one you have? Restart, choose new skin, done. 3) Open source the GUI and allow others to create their own GUI's and sell them in the MS App store. Or give them away. Whatever..just give people choices.
These last two have been possible since at least Windows XP. Windows allows you to replace the shell with whatever you want. This is the whole idea behind Classic Shell: http://classicshell.net/
Comment Re:Big deal. (Score 1) 387
You can search on Windows 8.1 from a side pane that doesn't obscure the whole screen. Win+S.
Submission + - Microsoft to Offer New "Windows for IoT" version for Free to OEMs
SmartAboutThings writes: Microsoft today said it will make Windows free of charge for phones and tablets with screens smaller than nine inches, a move designed to help boost the company's market share. Microsoft didn't say what version or type of Windows is covered under this new policy— but most likely we're talking about a new Windows version. "Windows for Internet of Things" or "Windows on Devices" could be its name, as we've seen information on a "Windows on Devices" website offering a short glimpse this new version. Besides smartphones and smaller tablets, this new Windows version will also become available for IoT devices and other wearable gadgetry.
Submission + - How Microsoft brought Cortana to life (theverge.com)
electronic convict writes: Named after an AI character in Halo , Microsoft's new 'personal assistant' Cortana aims to take on Siri and Google Now. This background story from The Verge explains how Cortana kept her name (narrowly avoiding something awful like 'Microsoft Personal Digital Assistant Home Premium,' why she keeps a 'notebook' of everything she knows about a Windows Phone user, and just how strong her ties to Halo are (they're surprisingly deep).
Submission + - Microsoft Finally Relents: Start Menu Returning in Windows 9
JDG1980 writes: Microsoft's announcements at today's Build conference indicates that the change of leadership just might be having some effects on the company's flagship product. It looks like Windows 9 will bring back the Start Menu that so many users missed in Windows 8. It won't be exactly the same as the Windows 7 menu (there's a live tile section off to the right), but it will be a lot closer, and won't hog the whole screen.
Another common complaint about Windows 8 is that the full-screen paradigm for Metro apps – while it may work OK with a tablet or phone – doesn't fit well on a multi-tasking desktop with a large screen. To fix this, Microsoft will allow Metro apps to run within a window on Windows 9 – similar to what can currently be done with Stardock's ModernMix.
Another common complaint about Windows 8 is that the full-screen paradigm for Metro apps – while it may work OK with a tablet or phone – doesn't fit well on a multi-tasking desktop with a large screen. To fix this, Microsoft will allow Metro apps to run within a window on Windows 9 – similar to what can currently be done with Stardock's ModernMix.
Submission + - Microsoft Announces Windows 8.1 Update
SmartAboutThings writes: As expected, at the Build 2014 event currently taking place in the Moscone Center, San Francisco, Microsoft has announced the first update to Windows 8.1. Albeit the update has leaked before, it now has become official. It comes with improvements especially for mouse and keyboard users, such as the minimize button that now works inside modern Windows apps. Also, switching between Win 32 and modern apps is now also possible form a single place. The Start center comes with a the PC Settings tiles and the power button. Right mouse click features have also been added to the Start screen. Also, the Windows Store will be redesigned in the coming days. Windows 8.1 Update will be made available on April 8, ironically, when support for Windows XP is discontinued.
Comment Re:Bad law... (Score 5, Insightful) 232
Not only as "an" example, the video featured an Apple II (I think), an Apple MacBook Pro, an Apple iPad, and then an Apple iPhone all in succession during a discussion about how patents lead to inventions which change society. I mean... really?
Comment Re:Stupid (Score 4, Interesting) 49
I told my wife about the Google balloon idea and she said to me "What, you mean like in Gossip Girl?"
Apparently there is a story line in Gossip Girl (circa 2008) where one of the main characters is convinced to invest in a project to bring internet to Africa via balloons. In the end it turns out he's a scam artist and it was all a hoax. But I guess someone at Google saw it and said "Now wait a minute..."
Apparently there is a story line in Gossip Girl (circa 2008) where one of the main characters is convinced to invest in a project to bring internet to Africa via balloons. In the end it turns out he's a scam artist and it was all a hoax. But I guess someone at Google saw it and said "Now wait a minute..."
Comment Re:MIT researchers? (Score 1) 70
In academia, most of the actual research is done by PhD candidates. The PIs get the funding and then disappear from the project for three years until it's time to get more funding.
Comment Re:How many unhatched chickens? So many. (Score 1) 251
Once operating systems have native 3D printing support (i.e. allow a printer to be plugged in and work without needing to install any third party stuff) , the technology will be pretty mature.
I guess it's mature: http://blogs.windows.com/windo...
Comment Re:For the ones arguing that M$ gave 10 Years Noti (Score 2) 367
Wouldn't we have Microsoft's own incompetence with Windows Vista to thank for that?
Comment Re:For the ones arguing that M$ gave 10 Years Noti (Score 1) 367
What industry standards exactly? If these ATM companies went with any other vendor, they would have already had to upgrade their OS years ago due to EOL.
