Facebook on Windows phone crashes. Correction of entry - PC Magazine

Microsoft and Facebook, said Thursday that they are in the process of deployment of a fix for the Facebook for Windows Phone 7 application, which has been suspended for some users.

In the meantime, representatives of the two companies recommended that users access to status updates and other information via the Windows phone 7 people Hub, a front end for the contacts of the user via social networks.

Facebook spokesman, "Microsoft and Facebook are aware that some people encountered problems while trying to access the Facebook for Windows Phone 7 application," said in an e-mail. "The Facebook functionality integrated in the Windows phone 7 people platform has been unaffected." Microsoft and Facebook are in the process of deployment of a patch and will restore the full functionality of the Windows Phone 7 application as soon as possible. »

"A Microsoft spokesperson said that" "Microsoft and Facebook are aware that the Facebook for Windows Phone 7 application is crashing for some clients.".

Jaime Rodriguez, a client of Microsoft evangelist, said in a Thursday tweet app was crashing since Tuesday. "Facebook for # wp7 team works with fb fixed crash that began Tuesday; PL chk app updates. People use provisional hub. "pL rt # wp7dev."

Microsoft has recently confirmed that the Windows phone 7 marketplace has reached 10,000 apps and it is therefore more rapidly than any other app store.

"The torrid pace of the creation of the app for Windows Phone continues to amaze me - and should give everyone with a good reason for phone to smile," Michael Stroh of Microsoft wrote on the Windows phone blog.

Additional reporting by Leslie Horn. For stories in tech, follow us on Twitter at PCMag @.

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Report: Microsoft more ethical than Google, Facebook or Apple - switched

by Amar Toor on March 18, 2011, at 09: 20 am Microsoft may not be useful as much money as Apple, but according to a new report from the reflection group, it is much more ethically sound. This year, the company received a spot on Ethisphere list of the "most ethical companies in the world," beating Apple, Facebook and Google. It is certainly far from the end of the 1990s, when Microsoft was facing accusations of tyranny corporate and antitrust trial. But much to change its image may have campaigned "corporate citizen" of the company.

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Is Internet Explorer 9 the new King of speed? -Computerworld (blog)

Internet Explorer, once unregulated derided as the laggard among browsers, seems to have gotten a fuel-injection of rocket with the release of Internet Explorer 9. It is so fast that we must ask: is the new King of speed?

Microsoft recognized that Internet Explorer 9 had to be fast. Web pages have more content every year and take more time to load. Increasingly, the browser replaces the function of an operating system - it is a way to run Web applications and services. A slow browser is the kiss of death.

To this end, Microsoft has developed a new IE9 JavaScript engine called Chakra. It uses multiple processor cores and compiles the scripts in the background. In addition, IE9 also uses GPU computer to speed up the rendering of graphics and text.

In my review of Internet Explorer 9 for Computerworld, I found that paid work. IE9 CADE competition on the SunSpider JavaScript reference. It took 280 milliseconds (ms) to carry out the tests, followed by the Opera 11.01 to Ms. 308.8, chromium 10.0.648 to MS 316,7, Firefox 4 Release Candidate to Ms. 319.1 and Safari 5.0.4 to Ms. 410.2 (I used a Dell Dimension 9200 with a processor Intel Core 2 Quad to 2.4 GHz and 2 GB of RAM running Windows Vista.) (I ran the three series of tests on each browser and on average the results.) You can see the results below.

In practice, there is no discernible difference between the first four. Ms. some here or there be noticed. Therefore even if IE9 is faster on this test, this does not mean that in a real experiment you will notice that it is faster. They were probably will produce even these tasks measured by SunSpider.

Of course, measuring JavaScript is only an indication of the performance of the browser. Microsoft and Mozilla are currently engaged in a spat very public whether the capabilities of GPU hardware acceleration of the IE9 or similar characteristics of Firefox 4 are similar. With no third party tests to compare, there is simply no way to know who is right.

So, IE9 is the new King of speed? Until objective tests on the GPU acceleration is available, it is difficult to know. But at least he is caught up in the competition, which is a big step forward for the browser.

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Nokia CEO Stephen Elop: Work on the first Windows Nokia phones began - TechCrunch

President and CEO of Nokia (and former CEO of Microsoft) Stephen Elop told Reuters that mobile telephony giant began work on the first smartphone based on Microsoft software.

The tidbit of news comes about a month after the company Finland announced the partnership with Microsoft with a series of organizational changes and management.

Leader of Nokia, who have been transferred to this role after leaving his position as President of the Microsoft Business Division, has also commented on speculation that Microsoft could file an attempt to acquire Nokia:

I am unaware of a strategic interest that Microsoft would have in the rest of the company.

Where a partnership was formed around what they are really interested in, then what would be an acquisition make another good year of the antitrust investigation, huge disruptions, delays?

Elop said that he hopes to produce a Nokia-Windows phone later this year, although we may have to wait until 2012 to start really see the fruits of their work.

It is better to disorder: decision Nokia to empty its software platform to Microsoft of the unproven Windows phone software already were 29 per cent off the coast of its price.

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New Microsoft Outlook screenshot fled, still not designed for tablets - Gotta be Mobile

new Microsoft Outlook screenshot fled, still not designed for tablets

I can't express the spark of hope, that I felt when I opened my feeds this morning and read the title "How Microsoft will be Revamp of bureau for the tablets" Business Insider. Here, I thought that, even in the wake of the iPad, we would continue to see no preparation of concessions and I was right.Posted by winreview.ru screenshots reveal that Microsoft Outlook win the Ribbon interface in the window, not only in the individual elements. The navigation pane Gets a cure of youth with transferred in a row at the bottom with a Metro appearance shortcut buttons. Looks very clean and attractive, but adding the Ribbon in the main Outlook window simply unifies the interface of Microsoft Office, while Metro type buttons are buttons that have been redesigned and moved just existing. While the large buttons on the Ribbon make it easier to use on tablets, these changes are simply compressed specific. Frankly, it's embarrassing that anyone who think they are.

Now, I'm a little ticked to Matt Rosof at Business Insider for me greedy with false hope, the fact is, it is absolutely correct that restart Windows is not sufficient to make a success with Microsoft tablets. Their major applications, particularly the Bureau, should make the big jump (we read an insider's why this is a not already happen). Unfortunately, these screenshots do not show this happening.

Perhaps Microsoft will follow example of Apple with iWork and release tablet own versions of Office as a separate apps. Perhaps they finally get you a clue and some third-party modules fantastic (and now), as the Tablet for Outlook improvements, incorporate Office (as much as I proposed years ago). Or maybe they'll just keep trucking even avenue and hope for a different result that look clean Apple Tablet market. I still hope for one two elders, but the points in the history of the latter. Oh, the insanity…

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HTC arrive (Sprint) - PC Magazine

The arrival of HTC finally brings Windows Phone 7 Sprint, with easy to use Microsoft and excellent desktop software interface. But without 4 G, this cell phone do not provide the best Internet experience, the carrier has to offer.

Physical and telephone performance characteristics

The arrival is a classy, businesslike phone, made of grey metal and plastic touch. 4.6 By 2.3 by 0.6 inches (detectors) and 6.5 ounces, it's a little heavy, as it is a kind of neutron star material; that density it helps to feel expensive. The front of the phone is a standard 3.6 inch 800-by-480 LCD, but the slide on the screen to the right and something unusual occurs: the display moves above and tilts as a mini laptop, revealing a great QWERTY keyboard five ranks.

I have mixed feelings about the hinge. Sometimes, it's great: it reduces glare outside and indoors it can sit on your desktop phone. I am concerned, but he will be stuck over time, and arrival suffers problem all landscape format Windows, make the telephones. A large part of the Windows phone operating system does not work in landscape mode, so you're left with this portable small on your desktop where the interface elementas are laterally.

The telephone arrival performance is mixed. RF reception is frankly excellent: I successfully made several calls in an area very weak signal. But while the listener is nice and loud, some of my test calls were interrupted by audio artifacts, such as the POPs and clicks. Transmissions through the main CMI were perfectly understandable, but a bit windy with a slight hiss in the background. The speaker is quite quiet almost unnecessary. I got 4 hours and 32 minutes of time to talk about, what is acceptable, but not much for a 3 G phone.

I matched the arrival easily with a Bluetooth of Aliph Jawbone Era helmet ($129, 4.5 stars) and activated by the voice dial system pleasantly clear.

Apps and Internet experience
Windows Phone 7 has compatibility unparalleled with setups of Microsoft office, including a fantastic Exchange client and integrated Office software document. The Web browser is bad, either. It is therefore regrettable that the arrival of Internet speeds are so slow.

The arrival is devoid of 4 G WiMAX, which accelerates the Net access on HTC Evo 4 G phones epic Samsung 4 G $249 (4 stars) and two Sprint$ 199 (4 stars). But it is slow for 3 G. When I tested the arrival directly against an Evo using the browser on DSLReports speed test and two downloadable speed tests (Ookla on the Evo) and bandwidth on the arrival, I was significantly slower speeds on the arrival of five of the six timeswith no result arrived more than 663 Kbps towards the bottom and 510 Kbps up. Other top sprint smartphones leave this phone in the dust. At least the arrival has Wi - Fi and it easily connected to our secure WPA2 network.

As all phones Windows for the time being, the arrival is based on now older first generation 1 GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon processor, which offers beautiful performance. The arrival is perhaps phone best gaming of the Sprint, with the many excellent games among the 10,000 applications on the Windows phone market. But note that Sprint has yet not all phones based on chip Nvidia Tegra 2, which provides higher gaming performance.

Microsoft, Sprint and HTC have improved the standard Windows phone software with a couple of apps and a big feature: copy and paste. Copy and paste has worked for the text in each application, I tried, with a warning: you need to zoom in beyond a certain point to be able to operate on the words, see them highlighted and copied. This can be very frustrating.

You can get several useful applications through the portal of hub of HTC. There is a Notepad, lamp, Equalizer graphic, photo, but especially an application enhancer very cool called "Careful telephone", which made things as increase the volume of ringtone if the phone is in a bag and turn off the ringtone if you flip phone on a table. That stuff is treated and should be a default feature.

Contribution major Sprint is a propulsion TeleNav GPS application that locked in my location quickly and accurately and works perfectly in landscape mode. It is a big bonus on Microsoft maps app that works correctly with the keyboard open.

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Google teaches IE9 of Microsoft to love the open video codec - Register.

Google has released its plug-in for the addition of the open source and free of rights VP8 codec video to the browser of Microsoft Internet Explorer 9. IE9 - which made its official debut Monday - uses the royalty-encumbered codec H.264 and Microsoft made clear that he has no intention of VP8, including on its own.

In a blog in January, Google has indicated that a plug-in has been on the road.

Google open source codec VP8 may last under a royalty free license, rolling in a format of major media called WebM. The format was quickly adopted by Mozilla Firefox, Opera and Google browser Chrome, but Apple and Microsoft were blocked with H.264. Apple and Microsoft are part of the MPEG patent pool - the only licences H.264.

With WebM, Mountain View hopes to create a video codec royalty-free standard for use with the HTML5 video tag. The web giant continues to use the equipped with H.264 Adobe Flash on YouTube, saying that HTML5 does not even any video sharing site requires. But a part of the problem, Google says, is that the major browser manufacturers have not yet agreed on a common codec.

Even after Google released WebM, browser Chrome of the company continued to offer H.264 as well. However, in mid January, the company announced that it would finally decrease codec encumbered by royalty of his browser. This is a not yet actually happen, even if the world assumes that it a. chromium 11 starts this month, and it includes H.264.

Google tells us, however, that it still intends to remove H.264. And to further relocate industry to WebM, it is give IE9 users the option of installation of a plug-in that adds WebM to new browser from Microsoft. Google has the habit of doing such things. The company already offers a plug-in - Google Chrome Frame - adds the Chrome rendering and JavaScript engines for older versions of Internet Explorer, essentially transforming Microsoft Google browser browsers.

You can download here the WebM IE9 Google's plug-in. Google calls it an overview of the technology, and works with IE9 on Windows 7 and Windows Vista. ®

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Graphics chips AMD online coup de pouce in IE9 - InformationWeek

AMD said it has adapted its range of chip processors and graphics next generation to take full advantage of the capabilities of the hardware acceleration integrated in Internet Explorer 9 - meaning of systems users of AMD should get a high-speed Internet in the new Microsoft browser experiencewhich was published Monday.

AMD said it worked with Microsoft to ensure that its line of accelerated melting treatment units (APUS) and processing units (GPU) graphics Radeon fully support capacity of IE9 to offshore of tasks of intensive calculations, such as HTML5 graphics rendering, to specialized hardware on the desktop of the user.

"Best applications, video playback, games and General Web page interactivity will define the next generation Web experience," said John Taylor, Director of AMD customer product and marketing of software.

By focusing Fusion APUs to IE9 and GPU Radeon, Taylor said AMD is "help users unlock the full potential of their PC" and giving them access to the graphics online to next generation made with HTML5 and DirectX 11 technology.

Microsoft officials, said capacity of hardware next client IE9 will help bring online and graphical games on an equal footing with desktop applications.

"For too long the Web we appreciate has been relegated to second class status,", said Ryan Gavin, Senior Director of Microsoft Internet Explorer. "To experience rich, dynamic and quick, that we get with native applications, the Web today is relatively flat. "That changes with Internet Explorer 9," said Gavin.

Microsoft officially launched IE9 Monday to the South by the festival of tech and media Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. In addition to support for hardware acceleration, it includes a number of new features, as the interface uncluttered and better control of privacy.

With IE9, users will find a design that is less cluttered toolbars, icons and controls. While most of the functionality of previous versions is always present, many are confined to the background as Microsoft has sought to create a browser that puts more emphasis on the Web display content rather than on its own interface.

In terms of protection of personal information, IE9 adds Microsoft follow-up calls Protection Lists functionality, which allows users to control how Web sites to share their stories of visualization with other Web sites. Monitoring Protection lists works with software for organizations of the privacy of the Web as Abine, the choice of privacy, TRUSTe and EasyList.

IE9 also allows users "pine" sites of their favorite in the task bar Windows 7 - a feature which could also be a boon for Web publishers. IE9 is now available as a free download from the Microsoft Web site.

Attend a free webcast on the construction of a foundation for a successful enterprise 2.0 strategy. Sometimes March 16.

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Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 arrives: 10 reasons to Use It - eWeek

Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 arrives: 10 reasons to use it

Microsoft has officially launched Internet Explorer 9. The browser, which is currently boasted by many authors already as the best version of the software of the company has never emerged, follows a long line of predecessors who wins sometimes clients above and at other times has failed miserably. But it's a new day for Microsoft and Internet Explorer. The time has come for the company to face browser of Google's Chrome with full force.

But perhaps now Windows users are asked to use Internet Explorer 9. Some of these people are using previous versions of the browser and may be happy with it. Others could use Chrome, Firefox or Opera and could not understand the thinking of moving to the latest browser from Microsoft.

But the clear truth is every Web user unique regardless of the browser they use should now try Internet Explorer 9. It is faster, easier to use and has enough of the additional enhancements to coax any user to download the browser and use it.

Keep reading to find out why consumers and corporate clients should start surfing the Web with Internet Explorer 9.

1. It is fast

All measures, Internet Explorer 9 is the fastest browser, that Microsoft has ever released. The browser has an improved JavaScript engine named Chakra and uses hardware acceleration early to deliver Web pages to users more. The idea behind the improved speed of Internet Explorer 9 is to rely on components of PC of today including the CPU and GPU to get faster users to their favorite Web sites. So far, it seems that Microsoft has achieved this goal.

2. A greatly improved interface

One of the biggest problems with previous versions of Internet Explorer has been the design of the browser. It is ugly. Rather than put the navigation experience first, Microsoft has forced users to deal with too much clutter around a Web page. Who went, finally. In Internet Explorer 9, Microsoft has created a clean and simple interface that puts the navigation in the heart of the experience. It's nice to see.

3 This is terribly Chrome-like

It is clear after the loading of Internet Explorer 9 that Microsoft has taken a few cues from Google. This company Chrome browser has the design simple and uncluttered, now has Internet Explorer. He also has the Omnibox that allows users to enter Web addresses and search the Web in one place. Option of Microsoft, which performs the same action is called a single box. In addition, the appeal of chromium is speed. But, as indicated above, it seems that speed may be a key element for Internet Explorer 9.

4 Pinned Sites feature is nice

Microsoft has the luxury to be the company that not only designs the browser, but also supports the operating system on which it runs. Thus, he was able to bring the fallen on some Sites Internet Explorer 9. This feature allows users to save their favorite Web sites of the Windows 7 taskbar for easy access. Pinned sites are similar to launch applications on the desktop. It is a nice service.

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Starwatch consumer | Microsoft browser includes-non-track functionality. Google... - Kansas City Star

Privacy Internet

The most recent Internet Explorer browser, released Tuesday by Microsoft, is the first browser names to include a feature-non-track to help people to stop monitoring of their activities online. Mozilla has said it will include such a feature in the next version of Firefox, but Google's Chrome and Apple Safari have not yet said if they will follow suit.

Google test

Google Inc. have been plans start implementing test a mobile payment service in stores in New York and San Francisco in four months, leaving shoppers use their phones to sound procurement.

The company will pay for the installation of thousands of systems of special fund of VeriFone Systems Inc. which accepts payments in specially equipped with mobile phones.

The project would be put Google in a field growing of companies are experimenting with a technology that allows consumers to pay for products and services by leveraging a device against a registry to the Fund, giving them an alternative to cash or physical credit cards.

Fees on eBay

Requirements are to be modified to avoid charges for the list of items to be auctioned on eBay. The new rules will allow the users up to 50 articles list each month at any starting price and let them add the "buy it now" option lists free of charge. EBay has tinkered with his schedule in recent years. Changes such as those announced Tuesday are designed to encourage more people to the list for sale items.

Electricity consumption

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved a rule aims to encourage users of electricity to reduce consumption in an effort to maintain low prices. Rule will require electric to pay users network operators to reduce energy consumption of the electricity market price when it is cost-effective to do so, the Agency said Tuesday in a news release.

Reminder

The sundress sleeveless Chelsa girl imported by Matilda Jane LLC of Fort Wayne, Ind., was recalled because buttons can detach, posing a choking hazard. Dresses are sold to events sales at home and online from 1 February to 25. They were manufactured in China. For more information, call 260-424-3511; Visit www.matildajaneclothing com. or reminder email @ matildajaneclothing.

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Cakes, accounting, and a beauty of Microsoft-Dell - PCWorld

It's not always easy to leave behind your time-tested technology, especially when current systems aren't broken. But Microsoft teamed up with Dell and found two small businesses willing to take the leap. The goal was to transform the companies as examples of the tech brands' new hardware, operating systems, and applications.

Microsoft and Dell offered to pick up the tab and do all the work to migrate the small businesses from outdated legacy systems to current technologies.

The makeover project focused on two distinctly different businesses: Cupcake Royale, a chain of boutique cupcake bakeries, and a family-owned accounting firm, Balin Accountancy. Each has unique computing needs, yet initially relied on Windows XP and other legacy applications and hardware.

These two companies accepted the challenge to explore the impact of Windows 7 and other current tools on their businesses. From the beginning of the project in the fall of 2010, I spoke with the owners and employees to learn why they continued to rely on older platforms and tools. I heard their concerns about making the switch, and followed up afterward to see how they adapted, and if upgrading was an experience they would recommend.

Meet the Players

Cupcake Royale creates delicious cupcake treats in the Seattle area, but it also focuses on community involvement and social responsibility, using all-natural, local ingredients and environmentally sustainable packaging.

Making cupcakes is not a computer-intensive business, but with four scattered stores, Cupcake Royale had six laptops and four point-of-sale systems that rely on Windows. However, the company had been reluctant to jump on the Windows 7 bandwagon--so much that it had even opted to downgrade newer PC purchases to Windows XP.

Further south, Balin Accountancy is a family-run accounting firm in San Diego. Balin had PCs running Windows XP with Microsoft Office 97 and a Windows 2000 server running Lotus Notes.

The CPAs at Balin have a much different clientele than Cupcake Royale, and conduct more of their day-to-day functions on a PC--but the two are very similar to each other, and probably to a vast majority of small businesses when it comes to embracing new technology.

Better the Devil You Know...

Neither business had a particular problem with Windows 7 or other newer technologies. The comfort of familiar and reliable Windows systems made them reluctant to go through the pain and expense of an upgrade.

"We invest in cutting-edge accounting software because that is our main focus, but not operating system or productivity applications," says Josh Balin, owner of Balin Accountancy. "These are just tools, and they work as is. There is no reason or point for us to be on the cutting edge."

Windows XP and older productivity and server platforms weren't "broken," but that doesn't mean there wasn't significant room for improvement. Employees were frustrated with the speed and performance of the older equipment. Balin also wanted better remote access capabilities and tools to cut back on paper usage.

Cupcake Royale was also interested in reducing paperwork, minimizing its carbon footprint, streamlining communication, and improving productivity so managers could spend more time focusing on their core job of making and selling cupcakes.

Making the Switch

Microsoft wanted to demonstrate the capabilities and value of its newer technologies--including better performance, collaboration, communication, and productivity. Dell wanted to demonstrate its new, more "holistic" approach to IT consulting to focus on solving problems and filling IT needs, rather than just pushing a current product line.

Even without the expense and burden of performing the upgrade, Cupcake Royale and Balin Accountancy had many things to be apprehensive about. There is no direct upgrade path from Windows XP to Windows 7, so transitioning from one OS to the other had some potential for hiccups. Moving to new hardware, switching messaging platforms, and other changes could lead to downtime and lost data.

Microsoft and Dell provided each company with about 10 new PCs, each outfitted with antivirus software, Office 2010, and Windows 7 Professional. Cupcake Royale got Dell Vostro 3500 laptops and Balin Accountancy got Vostro desktops.

At Cupcake Royale, the Microsoft and Dell teams spent some two weeks planning and executing the migration. The end result was a virtually flawless switch. There were some minor problems with network and server settings and getting users connected with the VPN, but Microsoft and Dell worked those out. E-mail access was offline for five minutes or so during reboots while the server was updated. Individual users were offline for about an hour as their systems were updated and profiles migrated, but they went right back online as if nothing had happened.

At Balin Accountancy, Microsoft and Dell booked four days to migrate hardware and software--which included replacing the Windows 2000 Server running Lotus Notes with a new Windows Server 2008 machine running Exchange Server 2010. They accomplished the project in about three days.

Microsoft also provided users at Cupcake Royale and Balin Accountancy with some orientation to the new environments, with introductory training on Windows 7 and Office 2010 to familiarize users with the features and conventions of the newer software.

Jody Hall, owner of Cupcake Royale, switched from an older model MacBook Pro to a new Dell laptop, and says the hardest part was getting reacquainted with Microsoft Office and Outlook. "I really appreciate the new Outlook, though."

Full Speed Ahead

A number of variables were involved, but factoring the cost for the new hardware, software licenses, and the time and effort of the Dell consultants, projects like these would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $15,000 each. To do something similar on its own, a business would have to consider whether such an upgrade is really worth the investment-or even possible. After all, it's easy to upgrade when someone else is picking up the tab, and when the vendors are ensuring the switch goes smoothly.

I asked each company if, knowing what they knew after the upgrade, they would have been willing to invest their own time and money on such projects.

Probably yes, says Josh Balin. "Speed and efficiency are critical. Saving 15 minutes per day per professional translates to bottom-line dollars. The new systems are much less frustrating and reduce stress for our workers, and doing the math on the increased productivity, the upgrade would pay for itself in a relatively short time."

Cupcake Royale's Jody Hall agrees that the change made her company faster and more efficient. In addition, the company is using the Windows 7 Problem Steps Recorder tool to create training tutorials, and using SharePoint to host the company training manual online and to provide a workflow for new employees.

Is an Upgrade Right For You?

Josh Balin believes that many small businesses mask a fear of change as a fear of cost--hiding behind the expense of upgrading to justify clinging to familiar tools rather than embracing new technology.

That may be true for many businesses, but there are probably an equal or greater number where the reverse is the case: companies that are anxious to adopt new hardware and cutting-edge software, but simply don't have the discretionary budget. The fact that new hardware and software would likely boost productivity and efficiency and pay for itself over a relatively short amount of time doesn't help if the money simply isn't available in the first place.

Still, looking at Cupcake Royale and Balin Accountancy, there are plenty of benefits and advantages to upgrading to newer hardware and software for those companies that can afford the investment. If this experiment proved anything, it is that newer hardware and software can yield significant productivity and efficiency improvements regardless of the platform or vendor, even if the current systems aren't broken.

If you're an IT solutions provider serving the small to midsize business market, and you'd like to learn how you can contribute to PCWorld Tech Audit, send mail to techaudit@pcworld.com. We're always looking for more talented pros.

Tech Audit is written and produced in cooperation with IT professionals in the field. All recommendations and opinions expressed represent the independent judgment of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of PCWorld or its editorial staff.

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Microsoft confirms that Zune HD is not quite dead yet - Hot hardware

So wait. The Zune HD is not dead? Hmm. After hearing that Microsoft a transition from the Zune HD hardware and focusing more on software, it seemed easy to assume that the Zune as a self-contained equipment icon was dead. But it is not quite take the case again. Microsoft is quite obvious that Windows Phone 7 would be their focal point this year, and aspects of the integration of media took to Zune somewhat.

But now, DaveMac-MS - development manager of affairs for the Zune hardware - is something a little different. He claims that he is still the title I have just mentioned, which would not be possible if the Zune was dead. He was quick to note that at Microsoft, nobody has officially given any information on the future of the Zune hardware, and to treat anything you hear as the rumor for now. Here is its headline quote, that:

"Here's what you should knowledge - all consumer electronic products have a life and the Zune HD is old 18mo." We have been completely clear about Zune hardware this year as WP7 phones, and we continue to sell and support fully the Zune HD product line. And as I promised - we continue to bring new apps and games to the platform. Most of those who are in the works, I promise. »

It is just interesting reading. On the one hand, it helps convince readers that the Zune is not "dead". But on the other hand, it sort of Zune advice is on the way to, or at least that Microsoft evaluates this option. There is no doubt that the Zune simply never managed to best the iPod at his own game. He never close. Continue to support a product that the public has clearly ranked second best is something that Microsoft will have to decide for themselves, but even if the Zune was found "alive" for the moment, we doubt that it will stay healthy too long.

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