Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Folders and Photo Gallery announced - more to come this summer

Windows Live Folders and Windows Live Photo Gallery are set to begin limited managed betas, according to an announcement by Microsoft today.  Windows Live Folders, which we showed you when it briefly popped up back in May, is the first attempt at a "storage in the cloud" service for Windows Live.  The beta will provide 500mb of online storage at no charge, with a 50mb individual file size cap.  I talked to Chris Jones, Corporate Vice President, Windows Live Experience Program Management, who showed me around Folders and Photo Gallery, and while he expects Folders to be used for document storage, and not music, photo, or video storage, he expects Microsoft to be "very competitive" in the storage space they provide.

WL Folders Home Page
(click to enlarge)

Windows Live Photo Gallery is a new product, an "upgrade" from the Windows Photo Gallery that comes with Vista, and which will be available as a free download for Windows XP SP2 as well.  Windows Live Photo Gallery will provide enhancements, such as a stitching tool, and will make posting photos to Spaces, or Soapbox for videos, far easier than it is today.

Photo gallery with captions

Windows Live Photo Gallery will be available in a managed beta in 9 worldwide markets (US, in English and Spanish), China, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Japan, and Spain) with more to come.  Chris Jones made it clear that it's very important to reach a global market with these services, so expect to see more countries added quickly.

In addition, Jones says to expect more from Windows Live in the summer months and into the fall.  We should see a Windows Live Suite this summer, to be able to easily install multiple Windows Live "software plus services" products at once.

source-liveside

Monday, June 25, 2007

Windows Installer 4.5 Beta Accepting Nominations

The Windows Installer team is closing in on our Beta release of Windows Installer 4.5 so it's time to open the Beta program. As usual, the connect site at http://connect.microsoft.com is the host for the program. The Windows Installer 4.5 specific subsite is at https://connect.microsoft.com/programdetails.aspx?ProgramDetailsID=1506.

We're opening nominations ahead of our beta documentation and binary release. For now, the draft white paper "Agility Trends in Package Software" is posted at https://connect.microsoft.com/Downloads/DownloadDetails.aspx?SiteID=432&DownloadID=7300. The draft paper frames the problems we're targeting with the Windows Installer 4.5 release.

This paper is part of the information we offered the tools vendors on the Live Meeting call we had last month. I'm still working on improved broad live meeting logistics and a bit more polished demo that I'll provide later in the beta program. Your patience is appreciated as the information is gradually staged out of the Windows Installer team.

Thank you for joining our Windows Installer 4.5 beta program

Source: blogs.msdn.com

@Live.com e-mail Addresses Information

Looks like we finally have heard some news on when @live.com e-mail addresses will be released. Jacky Mok, another Product Manager for Windows Live in Toronto, has posted some information saying when they will be released, he says will be available "in the fall", along with "a rich family of products" around the same time.
According to the blog entry on livechronicles.spaces.live.com, there will be no migration of address names from current hotmail addresses, so if you have blank@hotmail.com, there's no guarantee you will get blank@live.cam. It's still on a first come, first served basis like every other e-mail services. Apparently country code addresses will only be available in countries outside the US, so that a Canadian will be able to get an @live.ca address, but not an @live.com one.
 source: MicroTechXP

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Leaders - Bill Gates

Everyone knows the most recent headlines about our country’s greatest leaders. In this feature, we’d like to shed some light on the lesser-known facts about these folks in hopes of giving you a little greater insight as to what makes them tick.

Bill Gates

  • William Henry Gates was born on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington, USA.
  • His father William was a corporate lawyer, and his mother Mary was a schoolteacher.
  • By the age of 17, Gates had sold his first computer program, a time-tabling system for his high school, for $4,200.
  • Gates scored 1590 on his SAT standardized test. The top score for the test is 1600.
  • Gates told his university teachers he would be a millionaire by age 30. He became a billionaire at age 31.
  • While at Harvard, Gates co-wrote Altair BASIC, which became Microsoft’s (then called Micro-Soft) first product.
  • He met his wife, Melinda French, in 1987 at a Microsoft press event in Manhattan while she was a worker for the company. They would go on to get married on New Years Day in 1994. 
  • In 2002, Bill Gates was considered more idolized than Chinese Communist leader Mao Tse-tung in a poll of teenagers in Hong Kong and China. The survey was conducted by the City University of Hong Kong.
  • In 2005, Gates was honored with the title Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II of England.
  • As of the March 2007 issue of Forbes magazine, Bill Gates has been listed as Number 1 on “Forbes’ Richest People” list for 13 years in a row. His current net worth is about $56 billion.
  • Gates has recently announced that he will be reducing his involvement at Microsoft and will be devoting more time to his charity work.
  • He is currently having a building named after him at Carnegie Mellon University, called the Gates Building of Computer Science.
  • Gates is the current owner of the Codex Leicester — a 72-page collection of Leonardo da Vinci’s scientific writings. The writings are a mixture of observations on water properties, astronomy, and rocks and fossils. Gates puts the Codex on public display once a year in a different city around the world.
  • Bill Gates earns $250 every SECOND; that’s about $20 million a DAY and $7.8 billion a YEAR!
  • If he drops a thousand-dollar bill, he needn’t even bother to pick it up because in the four seconds it would take him to pick it up, he would’ve already earned it back.
  • The US national debt is about 5.62 trillion. If Bill Gates were to pay the debt by himself, he could finish it in fewer then 10 years.  

 

Source: www.achievemax.com

Microsoft tests WLMessenger updates via Windows Update

Using Windows Update, Microsoft has quietly rolled out an update for beta testers using the next version of Windows Live Messenger. The obvious advantage is having the option of being able to update yet another Microsoft product in the same familiar place. The Windows Update client in Vista downloads the update, creates a restore point, install the update - and it can do this all without any user-interaction, if you should choose to. The description of WLM 8.5 Beta 1 Update 1 is as follows: “This update is being used to test how Microsoft Updates are distributed for Windows Live Messenger. While there are no actual changes to Messenger at this time, it's important for Messenger Beta testers to receive this update. Thanks for helping test Messenger!
There may not be any “actual changes” but nevertheless the build number has changed from 8.5.1235.0517 to 8.5.1238.0601. The update seemed to go fine for me, what about you?

source- neowin.net

Friday, June 22, 2007

Internet Explorer 8 Beta to begin later this year

  One of the members of thehotfix.net forums confirmed that he received a mail from Microsoft saying that the Beta version Internet explorer 8 would be released later this year along with Windows Vista SP1.There is no information on when the exact date would be. However, since mainstream support for XP doesn't end until April 2009 Microsoft will support IE 8 to Windows XP users.

But in the same way that IE 7 was released, there will be 2 versions: one that is built on the security settings of Vista, and the other one on the settings of XP SP2 or SP3.So it will be a good news for all the Windows XP users who can also use Internet Explorer 8.More information will be provided when available!!!

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Microsoft To Change Windows Desktop Search In Vista SP1

The changes to be made to "Desktop Search" are in compliance with a complaint filed by Google earlier this year. In a filing made jointly with the Justice Department on Tuesday night, Microsoft said it would change the search feature as part of the first service pack for Windows Vista. In the filing, Microsoft talked for the first time about when service pack one (SP1) for Windows Vista would arrive, saying a beta version will come by the end of the year.
Background on the complaint made by Google:
This complaint, filed by Google earlier this year, relates to the desktop search functionality in Windows Vista that enables users to search for files located on their computer. This desktop search functionality in Vista, referred to as “Instant Search” in Microsoft’s promotional materials, allows users to enter a search query into a text box and receive a list of results from the hard drive that contain the search term, either in the name of the file or program, in the full text of the file, or in the keywords associated with that file. The desktop search functionality relies on an index that is updated whenever files on the computer change.
Google’s complaint contends that desktop search in Windows Vista is a new “Microsoft Middleware Product” under the Final Judgments. Regulators said Tuesday: "Plaintiffs are collectively satisfied that this agreement will resolve any issues the complaint may raise under the Final Judgments, provided that Microsoft implements it as promised." Under the agreement, Microsoft will create a mechanism whereby both Computer Manufactures and users (or Consumers) will be able to choose a default desktop search program, just like they can choose a rival browser or media player as there default program, even though those technologies are built into Windows. 
 

Source: Winxperts.net

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Windows Server Code Name "Centro" is coming in the next few weeks

Today I just got an Email from Microsoft Connect saying that they will be releasing the CTP version of Windows Server code name "Centro" within a few weeks.Here is what the mail reads-

Big News! Microsoft is planning to release a Community Technology Preview (CTP) of Windows Server Code Name "Centro" in the next few weeks. We look forward to your continued participation with Windows Server "Centro" and are really excited to receive your feedback on the upcoming CTP. The team is looking for confirmation we have it right, and your feedback can and will directly impact the design of this exciting new product!

Windows Server "Centro" is built on Windows Server 2008 and provides an integrated server and management system for midsize businesses. The upcoming CTP includes many new Windows Server 2008 Beta 3 based components, as well as updates to the server applications that shipped in Windows Server "Centro" Beta 1 (updated versions of System Center Essentials 2007, Exchange Server 2007 and ISA, as well as new updates to setup, Active Directory domain join functionality and a host of other improvements). The team has done a tremendous amount of work to ensure a smooth experience for you. How are we doing and what do you think of our progress? Let us know!

To install Windows Server "Centro", you need three physical servers and the associated network hardware. Ideally, the servers should be configured identically, although this is not a requirement. The minimum hardware requirements are as follows:

· 64-bit (x64) processor
· 60 GB hard-disk drive
· 2 GB RAM Management Server (4 GB recommended)
· 2 GB RAM Messaging Server (4 GB recommended)
· 2 GB RAM Edge Server
· DVD-ROM drive
· 1 network adapter (2 in the Edge Server

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Microsoft Releases Windows SteadyState, not for Vista

Windows® SteadyState™ is now available. (Windows SteadyState was formerly known as Microsoft® Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP.) Whether you manage computers in a school computer lab or an Internet café, a library, or even in your home, Windows SteadyState helps make it easy for you to keep your computers running the way you want them to, no matter who uses them. Windows SteadyState is easier to download, set up, use, and maintain than Shared Computer Toolkit.
Windows SteadyState runs on genuine copies of Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home Edition, and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. And, Windows SteadyState is offered at no charge to Windows Genuine Advantage customers!
SteadyState Helps Make it Easier to Manage Your Shared Computers Shared computers are commonly found in schools, Internet and gaming cafés, libraries, and community centers. It is increasingly common for owners, teachers, or non-technical personnel to manage shared computers in addition to their many other responsibilities.
Managing shared computers can be difficult, technically challenging, time-consuming, and expensive. And what’s more, without system restrictions and protections, users can inadvertently change the desktop appearance, reconfigure system settings, and introduce unwanted software, viruses, and other harmful programs. Repairing damaged shared computers can require significant time and effort.
User privacy is also an issue for shared computer environments. Shared computers often use shared user accounts that make Internet history, saved documents, and cached Web pages available to subsequent users.
Windows SteadyState provides a more effective way to help defend shared computers from changes by untrusted users and unwanted software installations. It can also help safeguard system resources.
What’s New in Windows SteadyState
Windows SteadyState includes many new features and enhanced capabilities. Windows SteadyState is not simply a redesign of the Shared Computer Toolkit; we listened to you, our customers, to better understand how we could provide a solution that could really help you manage and maintain your shared computer environments.
It’s Easier to Use

  • Easier to set up – Windows SteadyState installation has been simplified to include User Profile Hive Cleanup Service (UPHClean). Additionally, the improved Windows Disk Protection feature in Windows SteadyState does not require repartitioning.
  • Easier to use –
    • The Windows SteadyState UI has been redesigned to help make common tasks easier to manage from one location.
    • With simplified user restriction settings, you can choose a High, Medium, or Low restriction level for each user account.
    • Windows SteadyState enables you to import and export user accounts from one computer to another.
    • Ongoing support efforts include a fully-revised Windows SteadyState Handbook (included in both PDF and XPS formats), updated Help content included with the download, new online demos, and the new Windows SteadyState Community Web site.
It’s More Secure for You and Your Users
  • Increased Protection for All Users – Windows SteadyState includes more Windows and program feature restrictions, as well as support for Windows Update. Windows SteadyState also enables you to restrict user access to local programs.
  • Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) – There are significant risks to running a non-genuine copy of Windows. Only genuine Windows customers are able to receive Windows product downloads, Windows updates other than security-related updates, and special offers. Windows SteadyState requires that your copy of Windows is genuine before installation. For more information, please visit the Windows Genuine Advantage Web site.
Features Included with Windows SteadyState
Windows SteadyState includes the following features to help you manage your shared computers:
  • Getting Started – Provides the initial steps to help you during your first time use of Windows SteadyState.
  • Windows Disk Protection – Help protect the Windows partition, which contains the Windows operating system and other programs, from being modified without administrator approval. Windows Disk Protection helps protect the Windows operating system and all files on the computer from permanent change. Any changes made by shared users when they are logged on to the computer are removed when the computer is restarted. Windows SteadyState allows you to set Windows Disk Protection to remove all changes upon restart, to remove changes at a certain date and time, or to not remove changes at all.
  • User Restrictions and Settings – The user restrictions and settings can help to enhance and simplify the user experience. Restrict user access to programs, settings, Start menu items, and options in Windows XP. You can also lock shared user accounts to prevent changes from being retained from one session to the next.
  • User Account Manager – Create and delete user accounts. You can use Windows SteadyState to create user accounts on alternative drives that will retain user data and settings even when Windows Disk Protection is turned on. You can also import and export user settings from one computer to another—saving valuable time and resources.
  • Computer Restrictions – Control security settings, privacy settings, and more, such as preventing users from creating and storing folders in drive C and from opening Microsoft Office documents from Internet Explorer®.

Source: www.microsoft.com

Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack Version: 3

Users of the Microsoft Office XP and 2003 programs Word, Excel, or PowerPoint—please install all High-Priority updates from Microsoft Update before downloading the Compatibility Pack.
By installing the Compatibility Pack in addition to Microsoft Office 2000, Office XP, or Office 2003, you will be able open, edit, and save files using the file formats new to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007. The Compatibility Pack can also be used in conjunction with the Microsoft Office Word Viewer 2003, Excel Viewer 2003, and PowerPoint Viewer 2003 to view files saved in these new formats.

Download link- http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&DisplayLang=en

Microsoft Unveils New Version Of IPTV Platform

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) unveiled the latest version of its Internet television software platform, which it promises will offer features that will set the telecommunications companies apart from the cable providers. The Redmond, Wash., software titan is the key vendor to the highest- profile Internet protocol television, or IPTV, deployment in the nation: AT&T Inc.'s (T) U-verse service. But the rollout has met with frequent hiccups, and Microsoft has largely been blamed for the problems.

Microsoft is changing the name of the platform to Microsoft Mediaroom from Microsoft TV IPTV Edition. It's the third version of the software platform. With the latest edition, the company believes its problems are behind it. "It's all brand-new technology," said Microsoft spokesman Jim Brady. "All that fine-tuning is behind us. Now the platform will really start to flex its muscles and show its capabilities." Microsoft unveiled the new version of the platform Monday at the NXTcomm telecom industry trade show.

View: Full Story

Microsoft launches new-look MSN for mobile phones

The MSN Mobile Team at Microsoft launched a redesigned MSN portal optimized for mobile phones on Sunday, stepping up its offering at a time when more powerful devices increase the demand for richer content on handsets. However mobile Internet use still represents only a fraction of computer-based Web usage, but that could change with companies like Microsoft who see increasingly powerful mobile phones and faster networks opening the door for new services and content.

“We firmly believe there is an inflection point here,” said Phil Holden, Microsoft’s director of mobile Web services. “There’s a new battle, a new frontline developing on the mobile phone.”

Microsoft’s new MSN Mobile portal available at http://mobile.msn.com offers news, sports information, entertainment features and access to services like e-mail, search, maps and instant messaging all on one page. And what’s great is that when a user accesses the portal, the MSN platform detects the handset and optimizes the site for that device, adjusting things like font sizes for different screens.

source- liveside

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Vista Recovery Command Prompt

As good as the recovery console in is Windows-it really aint that secure at all. Did you know that the Command Prompt tool found in Vista’s System Recovery Options doesn’t require a User Name or Password? And that the Command Prompt provides Administrator level access to the hard drive? For multiple versions of Windows? All you need is a Vista Install DVD and you’re all set to go.

Just boot from the DVD and select the Repair option:

Then select the Command Prompt:

Here you have full access to this computer, not only as an administrator but also as a system account user. After this you can insert usb-memory and copy any non-encrypted file from this computer to usb-memory and steal information without leaving any marks to the system or event viewer logs.
Also, you could for example copy SAM-file (contains names and passwords of local users) from c:\windows\system32\config to usb-memory and start cracking computer’s user password at remote computer.

A cracker can:
1. … copy files from hard disk to USB, floppy or network server
2. … create / modify / delete files and folders
3. … use most of the MS-DOS like commands
4. … use this method in Vista, XP, 200x

To protect you computer or workstation, try to:

setup bios boot order so that booting from other media than hard disk is not possible

  • setup startup password from your bios (mainly in home computers)

  • use hard disk encryption software, if possible (such as bit locker)

  • encrypt files and folders using EFS, if mechanisms above are not possible

    This kind of reminds you of a Windows XP Home feature. The Administrator account password for XP Home is blank by default and is hidden in Normal Mode. But if you select F8 during boot for Safe Mode, you can access the Administrator account and have complete access to the computer.

    SOURCE: MSBLOG

  • Thursday, June 14, 2007

    Microsoft Math 3.0 Trial

    According to an independent survey conducted by Microsoft, 77 percent of teachers and 73 percent of parents claim math and science are the most difficult homework subjects for students. To help with this problem, Microsoft developed a new resource.

    Introducing Microsoft Math!

    With Microsoft Math, students learn how to solve equations step-by-step while gaining a better understanding of fundamental math and science concepts.

    Microsoft Math has these great features:

    The Graphing Calculator, with extensive graphing and equation-solving capabilities.

    • Step-by-Step Math Solutions that guide students through problems in subjects from pre-algebra to calculus.
    • The Formulas and Equations Library, with more than 100 common math equations and formulas to help students identify and easily apply the right equation.
    • The Triangle Solver, a graphing tool that students can use to explore triangles, and understand the relationship between different components to solve sides, angles, values and formulas.
    • The Unit Conversion Tool lets students quickly and easily convert units of measure including length, area, volume, weight, temperature, pressure, energy, power, velocity and time.
    • New! Ink Handwriting Support works with Tablet and Ultra-Mobile PCs, so students can write out problems by hand and have them recognized by Microsoft Math.

    Download the free 30-day trial version now

    source - bink.nu

    Wednesday, June 13, 2007

    Windows Live-Project Shutter

    A photo is more than just a second captured in frame. It speaks more than a thousand words. It tells of a thousand stories.
    Now, you have the chance to tell your stories and share them with the world! Capture the unique moments that best depict the verve of your home city and submit original works to the 3 categories below:

    Food CategoryCulture CategoryArchitecture Category

    Photographers who display originality and artistic flair will not only be honoured in our Gallery showcase but stand to win awesome prizes! For inspiration, check out the works from our guest photographers in the Gallery now.
    Submission ends 29 June 2007 so hurry!
    That's not all. Join the Project Shutter Community to connect with fellow shutterbugs and participate in a rich host of activities now!

    Here is the link-http://www.projectshutter.com/

    Tuesday, June 12, 2007

    Microsoft Office Outlook Connector beta for Hotmail/Office Live Mail

    The Microsoft Office Outlook Connector beta that Andre Da Costa spotted last week is now available for download from the Microsoft Download Center. As announced at the Windows Live Hotmail launch, it is free for all users, with no Genuine Advantage validation required.

    From the download page:

    Outlook Connector Beta enables you to use your Live Hotmail accounts within Outlook:

    • Read and send your Office Live Mail/Windows Live Hotmail e-mail messages.
    • Manage your Live Mail Contacts.
    • Use advanced options for blocking junk e-mail messages.
    • Manage multiple e-mail accounts in one place.

    With a paid subscription, Outlook Connector Beta enables these additional features:

    • Manage, share, and synchronize your Windows Live Calendar in Outlook.
    • Access your Tasks and Notes.

    While its a nice addition for those who need the powerful features that Outlook offers, regular users will probably prefer the new Windows Live Mail beta that is available. It'll be interesting to see if Windows Live Calendar support makes it into Windows Live Mail beta now that synchronisation with Outlook is classified as a premium feature. Interestingly enough, the non-beta version of the Outlook Connecter (the old one) is still available.

    Screenshots

    Update: Validation is only required on the non-beta build.

    Saturday, June 9, 2007

    Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.0 Public Beta Now Available for Download

    The Microsoft Solution Accelerators Team is happy to announce the release of the  Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.0 Public Beta . Windows Vista Hardware Assessment is an automated software tool that helps business customers and consultants make informed decisions about desktop deployment and migration to Windows Vista. Specifically, this tool provides users a very quick way to inventory and assess PCs network-wide for their hardware and device readiness. Through auto-generated readiness reports, organizations can more quickly identify computers that can migrate to Windows Vista “as is” without any hardware upgrades and others with recommended hardware upgrades.

    The Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.0 Public Beta , an agent-less network-wide assessment tool, includes three frequently-requested features:

    · Customized Inventory – Users may now choose computers of specific organizational units (or OU’s) within an Active Directory domain/forest where the inventory would be conducted.

    · Flat-File Import of Computers – Users can now target a specific set of computers for the inventory and assessment by importing a specific flat file of computers (such as computer host names, NetBIOS names, or Fully Qualified Domain Names - FQDN).

    · Office 2007 Hardware Assessment – Users may now assess their desktop computers for compatibility with Office 2007 system.

     

    Source: windowsvistablog.com

    Tuesday, June 5, 2007

    Windows Messenger 5.1

    Today Microsoft released the latest version of Windows Messenger.Windows Messenger allows real-time communication with other contacts who are using instant messaging (IM) services including those provided by the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) as offered by Microsoft Office Live Communications Server. Windows Messenger also provides connectivity to the Microsoft .NET Messenger service and Exchange 2000 Server Instant Messaging Service.

    Windows Messenger 5.1 replaces Windows Messenger 5.0 and is the required version of Windows Messenger to take advantage of certain new features in Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005:

    * Federation (sharing IM and presence between two or more organizations)
    * Advanced architecture (higher availability and failover support)


    For a complete list of fixes and changes in this version of Windows Messenger 5.1 please see KB article 899283.

    If your organization uses Microsoft Windows XP Multilingual User Interface (MUI), download the Windows Messenger 5.1 Multilingual User Interface Package.

    Download here

    Win Tickets to the U.S. Live Earth Concert From MSN.com

    MSN is giving away 17 pairs of tickets to lucky users of LiveEarth.MSN.com.


    REDMOND, Wash. — June 4, 2007

    Who: As the exclusive online media partner for Live Earth, MSN.com is giving people a chance to win tickets to the U.S. Live Earth concert at Giants Stadium. Live Earth, a monumental music event, will bring together more than 2 billion people to combat the climate crisis. MSN is the exclusive online destination for Live Earth information and live on-demand concerts, photo galleries, interactive tools and more.

    What: Through four promotional opportunities beginning today, visitors to the LiveEarth.MSN.com site can win tickets to a Live Earth concert taking place on July 7 (7/7/07). Live Earth is a 24-hour, seven-continent concert series that will bring together more than 100 of the world’s top music acts to deliver a call to action to an audience of over 2 billion people to combat global warming.

    MSN Live Earth Sweepstakes

    Participants will watch video clues to answer three trivia questions about climate crisis and green information on LiveEarth.MSN.com. MSN® will give away five pairs of Live Earth concert tickets, along with hotel and airfare.

    More information here

    Saturday, June 2, 2007

    Soapbox Is Now Open For Full Video Viewing

    We have just opened Soapbox on MSN Video for full video viewing.You no longer need to be signed into the service to view Soapbox videos!However just as before, you still need to sign in to upload, comment, tag or rate videos.The Embedded Player is also available for full viewing and embedding.While it might not be visible, we have spent the last month working hard on improving our backend, to make encoding and performance as scalable as possible.

    We are also now conducting proactive filtering of all uploaded content, using technology from Audible Magic.Audible Magic bases their filtering on the video's audio track and their database is being updated constantly.By using this technology, we see this as an important step to ensure the viability and success of Soapbox over the long run. We are committed to provide a great experience for people to find and share their personal videos on Soapbox on MSN Video.

    Source- Soapbox official blog

    Friday, June 1, 2007

    Windows Live Spaces Photo Contest

    Microsoft has started up a promotional contest for its Windows Live Spaces blogging service. The contest focuses on amateur photography: “Just post pix to your Windows Live™ Spaces, enter them in the contest, then get your friends to vote daily for your chance to win prizes!” In case you missed it, there are three steps (four if you don't have a WLS account):


    * Create a Space: Create your very own site and blog in minutes with Windows Live™ Spaces. Then post your photos and enter the Get Real photo contest!
    * Post Your Pics: Show off your best real-life moments. REAL friends. REAL stories. REAL connections. You submit up to 15 of your best photos daily for a chance to win REAL COOL prizes! Learn more below.
    * Vote for Favorites: It's time to see which dog will have his (or her) day. Did you beg your friends to "pick me"? The best in show each day wins a prize and is then entered to win the Get Real Grand Prize, a Toshiba 42" Hi-Def LCD TV along with a Canon PowerShot G7 digital camera. Daily vote limit: 1 vote per person and 5 votes per IP
    * Win Prizes: It wouldn't be a real contest without real cool prizes, now would it? Check'em out!

    View: Prizes
    News source: Get Real! Photo Contest