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Microsoft gave us an early preview of Windows 8

Microsoft to date still hasn’t delivered a response to Apple’s iPad tablet, and the software leviathan might be taking matters into its own hands.

Sources at DigiTimes claim that Microsoft has talked with Texas Instruments and Taiwanese OEMS about possibly distributing a Microsoft-branded Windows 8 tablet by 2013.

According to the source, “Microsoft plans to copy its branding strategy from product lines such as Xbox 360, Zune, Kin smartphone and TV, to compete in the tablet PC segment.”

To date, the Microsoft-branded Xbox 360 line has been one of the company’s rare hardware success stories. Microsoft’s other hardware products haven’t had much luck: The Kin smartphone, Zune PMP, and Microsoft-branded televisions have, for lack of a better word, flopped. Microsoft revealed the core functionality of Windows 8 earlier this month at the D9 conference.

Microsoft didn’t return our request for comment. But company representative Frank Shaw did tweet this morning: “Nothing like starting the day with a hot steaming cup of speculation.”

The move seems unlikely from a business standpoint. Developing a Microsoft-branded tablet could sour its relationship with other Windows 7 and Windows 8 hardware suppliers, something that Microsoft can’t afford to lose. However, computer manufacturer Acer has already expressed discomfort about some of Microsoft’s tablet plans: The company’s CEO J.T. Wang claimed that Microsoft is imposing “troublesome” restrictions on makers of processors who are making Windows 8 tablets.

Wang didn’t elaborate on what those restrictions are. But it’s possible that Microsoft’s strategy with Windows 8 will be similar to its approach with Windows Phone 7, in which the company issues a strict list of criteria to phone manufacturers, requiring their handsets to contain specific hardware in order to run Microsoft’s operating system.

See Also:

• Windows 8 Tablet OS Is Just Windows 7 With a New Skin
• Microsoft Patching Up Windows Phone 7’s Ragged Update Process …
• How Microsoft Hit CTRL+ALT+DEL on Windows Phone

After the first day of E3 2011 wrapped, a handful of tech companies invited press to sample their wares at ShowStoppers inside the Icon Ultra Lounge near Staples Center.

Originally posted at E3 2011

This article was written on July 27, 2007 by CyberNet.

We’ve talked about Secunia’s online software inspector before. It doesn’t require that you download any application, and it operates completely through your browser. The purpose of using it is to find out-dated software on your computer. You may not see much of a threat in running an older version of an application, but your computer can be left vulnerable to attacks when it comes to things like web browsers or instant messengers.

A report by Secunia back in May stated that 28% of the applications being used are out-dated. With more than 33% of users running an old version of QuickTime, Secunia said "all it takes is one unpatched Quicktime vulnerability and a provocative video title to compromise a lot of visitors."

A new tool by Secunia called the Personal Software Inspector (PSI) hopes to make it easier for Windows users to know when there are new versions of their applications available. PSI is currently in a Beta state, but it is a free downloadable application that a user installs instead of being web-based like before. It examines the files on your computer (mostly EXE, DLL, and OCX files), and collects version information from them to be sent to Secunia’s File Signatures engine to make a comparison.

The great thing about this tool is that it sits in your System Tray constantly monitoring for more insecure software installations. If one is found it will give you the instructions needed so that you can upgrade to the latest version.

It’s important to know that this does not check for malicious software or whether your computer has already been compromised…it is just checking to see if you’re running the latest version of more than 4,200 applications.

Here are the benefits of using Secunia PSI:

• The Secunia PSI will be available free of charge
• Calculates your unique Secunia System Score
• Automatically scans your computer
• Enables you to update Insecure/End-of-Life software
• Provides Direct Download Links to security updates & patches
• Detects and advises on more than 4,200 applications
• Direct correlation between thousands of Secunia Advisories and your specific system and software
• Secure SSL encrypted connection to Secunia

I decided to try this out for myself on a computer I knew was running an out-dated version of Firefox (it’s my server which I don’t use for anything other than backups). I wanted to see what it would do, and what upgrade option it would offer me. It actually found that Internet Explorer 7 was out-dated as well as the version of the .NET Framework I was running. Firefox was the only one that offered a direct download link (clicking on it pulled up my default browser and initiated the download immediately), but the .NET Framework offered a link where I could receive more information:

Overall, I’m really impressed with this application and I think it has earned its place on all of my computers. It’s nice that Secunia is developing such an extensive application that is capable of monitoring more than 4,000 different programs for updates. I believe that it is the first of its kind to do this on such a large scale, and hopefully people will begin using it.

Download Secunia Personal Software Inspector
Thanks for the tip ’s’!

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

Related Posts:

Secunia PSI Gets Improved InterfaceUltimate Software Update Monitor?CyberNotes: Secunia Software InspectorCyberNotes: Free Windows Software Update CheckersAre your Apps Secure? 28% Chance They’re Not!

The venerable gaming franchise will come to Facebook this summer with a game that encourages friends to hook up with one another.

Originally posted at E3 2011

Not ready to take the $250 plunge to snag a pair of Ear Force PX5s, but still want in on Turtle Beach’s preset-powered super hearing? The big boy’s baby brother, the Ear Force PX3, just might scratch your itch. We heard these stereo gaming cans ditched surround sound and Bluetooth support to save buyers a Benjamin, but how does these super-saver specials hold up? We tried them on.

Continue reading Turtle Beach XP500 and PX3 gaming headsets hands-on

Turtle Beach XP500 and PX3 gaming headsets hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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