Here’s Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore demoing Mango, the next release of Windows Phone 7. Looks interesting–especially if the version of IE does indeed feel more like IE9 for Windows than it does like Windows Phone 7′s IE, which is one of the operating system’s weak spots.

As Jared wrote recently, Microsoft is moving Windows Phone in a contrarian direction, focusing less on apps and more on building features like search and social stuff directly into the OS. It could work–and at least it’ll give Windows Phone its own distinct personality. But it does multiply the number of things that Microsoft needs to nail to make the OS appealing.

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Attention all you design techies out there! Our friends over MuttonBasher.com are having a little design contest to come up with a new, creative design for there Facebook and Twitter accounts. So if you think you have some Photoshop skills, or at least know how to use Microsoft Paint, head over to MuttonBasher.com for more details.

Prizes include:
1600 Microsoft Points
or
$20 Playstation Network Card

Oh, and while you are there, be sure to follow them on Twitter. Happy button mashing.

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We knew good and well the next iteration of Windows would be generally available this fall, but now we’ve a date to circle in our datebooks: October 22nd. Yep, the fourth Thursday in the tenth month of this year will mark the first date in which you — the general consumer — can purchase Win7, which gives you plenty of time to figure out which of the 94 variants will suit you best. Have fun!

via: Engadget

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This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn’t want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back — so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We’ll be handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff or companies stop sending things. Today we’ve got a copy of Red Alert 3 for Xbox 360 on offer.

Go here to enter.

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This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn’t want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back — so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We’ll be handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff / companies stop sending things. Today we’ve got a Microsoft PC gaming pack, which includes a SideWinder X8 mouse, a SideWinder X6 keyboard, a LifeChat LX-3000 headset, a custom mouse pad, plus PC versions of Fallout 3 and James Bond: Quantum of Solace.

Go here to enter.

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The Dell Mini 10, the Mini 9′s successor, which is due to start shipping later this week will come with a “fixed” 1GB of RAM, meaning, it won’t be upgradable according to Dell. Does this mean that the RAM is soldered in, or fixed on the motherboard? Anyways, it’s probably a result of the netbook licensing limitations they have with Microsoft.

via: gizmodo

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According to a report, Microsoft Corp. will be giving away free Windows 7 upgrades to people buying PCs with Windows Vista until as late as January 31 of next year. This is to encourage consumers to keep buying Windows Vista PCs, this year despite Windows 7 ‘s looming release.

The report, from the Malaysian blog TechARP.com, which has called similar details correctly in the past, is another clue that Microsoft plans to release Windows 7 before year’s end.

Citing purported confidential memos from Microsoft, TechARP.com had earlier reported that the Windows 7 Upgrade Program will begin July 1 of this year.

That would mean that any Vista PCs purchased between then and January 31, 2010 are eligible for free upgrades to Windows 7.

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via: PCWorld

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With Windows 7 Beta getting positive reviews, more rumors are emerging that Microsoft’s new operating system will be available before Christmas. But Microsoft is still refusing to admit that Windows 7 will be ready by the end of this year and insists on the January 2010 release date.

Windows 7 will be available at retail by Christmas this year — say both The Inquirer and CNet News, according to different sources. The Inquirer quotes Microsoft techie Mark Russinovich, who said in a webcast that Windows 7 “will be sent for manufacture three years after Vista did the same, which was in October 2006.”

On the other hand, CNet’s Ina Fried quotes “PC industry sources in Asia and the U.S” saying that “they have heard things are on track to launch by this year’s holiday shopping season.” CNet also says that Microsoft is prepping a program to offer Vista users an inexpensive alternative to updating to Windows 7.

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via: Infoworld

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Microsoft said it has organized a global response to the Conficker (Downadup) worm to disable domains targeted by Conficker. For the fifth time, Microsoft announced a $250,000 bounty to find the source of the worm – a strategy that’s worked four times already, and most recently led to the conviction of the author of the Sasser worm back in 2005.

Called a “reward program”, Microsoft said that the bounty is based on the firm’s “recognition” that launching the code into the wild was a “criminal attack”.

“Microsoft wants to help the authorities catch the criminals responsible. Residents of any country are eligible for the reward, according to the laws of that country, because Internet viruses affect the Internet community worldwide,” the firm said in a statement. “Individuals with information about the Conficker worm should contact their international law enforcement agencies.”

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via: TG Daily

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