Microsoft

Microsoft today showed off three new mice they have created with the help of two Chinese artist to celebrate the  2012 Chinese New Year. The three mice are limited edition so if you like them snatch them up.

Two Wireless Mobile 3500 Mice, feature artwork designed by Nod Young, who was inspired by the Dragon Ball Z cartoon. My girlfriend would love his mice as she loves Dragon Ball!

Artist Lin Xu incorporated a five-finger claw into his design on the Arc Touch Mouse. The five-finger claw symbolizes nobleness.

The Wireless Mobile Mice 3500 are available now for $34.95 in both the red and gold (designs are the same), and the Arch Touch Mouse will be available soon for $69.95. No exact date as to when it will be available. All three mice would make great holiday gifts too!

For more information visit the Microsoft Hardware Blog.

A few months back Microsoft showed off some lovely artist edition mice, that our sister site CuteGeek.com had a chance to check out.

Today Microsoft announced a new addition to the Artist Edition line, with the Touch Mouse Artist edition. It is a mouse that features multi-touch technology that allows you to use gestures, and provides a faster navigation experience. I have used a Microsoft Touch mouse for about a week now and it’s the best thing ever. Using two and even three fingers to at a time just makes navigating and working easier, at least for me.
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Today Microsoft pushed an update for the Netflix app on the Xbox 360. The Update adds Xbox 360 Kinect Support. I have tried it out and posted a video below. But all I can say is “REALLY THIS IS IT?”. You are only able to use the kinect to browse through suggestions. Really LAME if you ask me. I am really disappointed in the app but I have to admit I do like where Microsoft and Netflix are going with the App. I can’t wait for it to have full Kinect control.

Microsoft now has a webpage where Windows Phone 7 users in the US can know if and when an update for their windows phone 7 device will be available. The site currently list six devices, one of which already has the update, and five others with the update being scheduled and others the update being tested.

You can access the webpage by clicking here.

I guess I won’t be seeing my Samsung Focus update anytime soon according to that schedule. 

The above headline should never need to be written. A company should never “brick” or render any product that a customer paid for useless. The company should replace the product if this happens accidentally and pay a fine for seriously inconveniencing the customer.

And exactly what mechanism is in the phone that “bricks” it and renders it useless anyway?

Much of the updating problems stem from the halcyon days of AOL, the company that perfected the slipstream update. Back in the 1980s and 90s, when AOL pretty much owned the online segment of the industry, the system would tell you that it needed to make an update when you tried to log off. For the next 15 minutes, AOL would be plugging in all sorts of new code.

I found that this process worked well.

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Today Microsoft introduced a new line of wired mice called the Express Mouse. The Express Mouse is a sleek looking mouse that works on any surface with out the need of a mouse pad, and will eventually be available in five colors come June. The first two Express Mice will be available in Grey and Red starting in April.

They will be priced at $19.95 making them cute and affordable.

Microsoft today also announced that for $29.95 you can get your hands on the LifeCam HD-3000 which if I am not mistaken is the most affordable HD webcam on the market. The HD-3000 can shoot video in up to 720p format and with its TrueColor Technology can deliver vibrant colors in even the darkest or brightest of light settings.

For more information on both the Express Mouse and HD-3000 visit http://www.microsoft.com/hardware

Microsoft announced Tuesday that Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is now available for download via the Microsoft Download Center.

Most people will get Windows 7 SP1 via Windows Update, Microsoft said. For those updating a single PC or a home PC, the company recommends that you wait for that update.

“Remember – for Windows 7, SP1 will help keep your PCs well supported by delivering ongoing updates, many of which have been made previously available through Windows Update,” Microsoft said in a blog post. “It does, however, include client-side support for RemoteFX and Dynamic Memory which are two new virtualization features enabled in Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.”

Microsoft released the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 to its OEM partners on February 9, and they were made available to current customers of the Windows Volume Licensing program, as well as subscribers to Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) and TechNet, on February 16.

Dynamic Memory allows Windows Server Hyper-V administrators to increase virtual machine density without sacrificing performance, scalability, or security. RemoteFX allows for the virtualization of the Graphical Processing Unit (GPU) on the server side to deliver next-generation rich media and 3D user experiences for VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructures).

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Microsoft on Monday started rolling out an update to Windows Phone 7 devices, though it is not the larger update promised by Steve Ballmer during his CES keynote that will include features like cut and paste.

“This update is a relatively small one,” Microsoft said in a blog post.

Monday’s update – the first for the platform – “is designed to improve the software update process itself,” Microsoft said. “So while it might not sound exciting, it’s still important because it’s paving the way for all future goodie-filled updates to your phone, such as copy and paste or improved Marketplace search.”

Microsoft will send out the update in waves. When it hits your phone, the device will display a message that says a software update is available. Connect the phone to your PC or Mac and follow the on-screen instructions. Users that installed the Zune software or Windows Phone 7 Connector might have to update that program first and then use it to update the phone.

In January, Ballmer said the first major Windows Phone 7 update will add two components: cut and paste; and improved app performance when loading and switching apps. Customers can expect to see apps and games that load even faster, he said.

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Today I had the honor of attending the Microsoft Open House and Windows Phone 7 announcement. I was pretty excited because I have been hearing so many good things about windows phone 7. However I didn’t expect it to be much. I expected plenty of hype and no follow through, pretty much like last year with Windows Mobile 6.5. All hype and no play.

But after sitting through the hour long press conference I finally was able to get my hands on the phone and all I can say is “HOLY SHIT”. The thing is amazing the os is simply beautiful. When I first saw the tiles I didn’t like it, I thought it was a lame attempt to be cool but it all jives and flows together. I purchased a new iPhone because I thought Windows Phone 7 would be lame and now I am kicking myself. Anyone want to buy my iPhone 4? It’s a month and 3 days old. I seriously would sell it to anyone who wants it, it is the 32 GB model. 

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Microsoft today released the ARch Touch Moise, the first mouse designed to flatten so you can easily take it with you and curl or pop upwards for comfort. The mouse also features a capactive touch scroll which eliminates the click wheel.

The Arch Mouse is available for Pre-Sale on amazon.com, bestbuy.com and buy.com for $69.95 and will ship in early December. The mouse will be available for sale online and in stores in January 2011.