The Tecker

Sorry about the third post in a row...

But The Windows 7 Beta download limit has been extended to January 24, even if the downloads exceed 2.5 million. (Mainly because they already have)

So please try it out and tell us how you like it or don't.

Ok, now here it is people! The Windows 7 Beta release servers are up again but remember, the download is only available to the first 2.5 million people who download it. After that, the beta won't be able to be downloaded.

So ready, set, go get it! [Windows 7 Beta]

PS: please don't be stupid and rely on Windows 7 as your daily machine because it is in Beta still. Secondly, read the list of known problems so you know what problems you could face [Release Notes]. Finally, this Beta expires on August 1, 2009, so have another OS that you can use when this one expires.

Have fun and tell us what you think about Windows 7 in the comments!

Microsoft has released the Windows 7 beta to the general public after its mention at the CES. This means you do not have to download it via torrents because Microsoft released it on their site! [Windows 7 beta...]

Sorry, it would be there. Except the demand crashed Microsoft's servers. Oh well.

No, we'll post the link as soon as it comes back up!

This year the Annual CES show will be a real snooze. Bill Gates won't even attend because last year was his last one, and so Steve Ballmer will have to try to rally up the crowd.

Problem is, everything has already been announced.

• Windows 7 will hit public beta (not the torrent version that's out)
• Windows Mobile will get Flash by March (before iPhone!!!!!111)
• Two Halo games for Xbox 360 (yum)
• Better home networking (heard that one before)

[via Gizmodo and TechCrunch]

Microsoft had submitted a patent for a "pay to use a part" scheme that allowed users to pay a fee and temporarily use more powerful resources via a cloud-like approach.

Basically, what this meant was that if you wanted to use a more powerful processor, all you had to do was click a button in this Microsoft program and it would charge you a fee and then allow you to use a more powerful processor from a server or something similar.

However, the patent office rejected it but saying that too many parts of the patent had already been patented, and that the patent was too vague to be granted.

Tell me what you think about it!

Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool has found and removed the "AntiVirus 2009" virus from 400,000 computers so far.

[via Slashdot]

Not sure if this is true or not because I do not own a Zune, but it seems as if all 30gb HDD Zunes have frozen up at around 2:00 this morning or so, and have not been able to be reset or anything.

Everyone's seems to be frozen up at the loading screen, the loading bar fills up and then it just stops.

Tell me if it has happened to anybody.

UPDATE: Microsoft does know about the problem and they are working hard to fix it... Just be patient people!

We are aware that customers with the Zune 30GB are experiencing issues with their Zune device. We are actively working now to isolate the issue and develop a solution to address it. We will keep customers informed on next steps via the support page on zune.net (zune.net/support).” - Zune spokesperson

UPDATE 2: Microsoft said that this problem is to be blamed on a bug in the software due to 2008 being a leap year, and your Zunes should work next year (yes, tomorrow.) Let's hope that M$ fixes this by 2012 though!

[via... the World.... and Wall Street Journal]