Also on Wednesday, Microsoft representatives showed off an early test version of Longhorn with an applet (a small program that can be downloaded quickly and used by a computer with a Web browser) that lets applications shrink proportionally on the screen. In the applet, two identical electronic calculators were displayed, but one was noticeably larger than the other. The smaller calculator, however, was identical, proportionally, to the larger one. In Windows PCs today, only similar applications at the same resolution are identical. The applet, however, remains under development, said company representatives. The difficulty in development of the applet, they said, is in coming up with a way to allow the mouse to shift between applications of different resolutions. On top of this, Longhorn is intended to continue Microsoft's strategy of making the PC the nerve centre of the home entertainment network. As expected, the company demonstrated new technologies at WinHEC to push that strategy with current versions of Windows. A set-top box co-developed by Microsoft and ATI Technologies, for instance, allows users to view on a TV monitor pictures or video stored on a PC. While this is possible with current technology, people have to lug a PC to the living room and wire it to a TV to do it. "The average American housewife is not going to let someone bring a minitower into the living room," said Mark Vena, a director at Dell said in an interview last week, explaining why Dell has yet to release a media centre PC. The ATI-Microsoft set-top box, which runs the Windows CE .Net operating system, is connected to a television and ferries data back and forth between the television and a PC. Microsoft also formally unveiled a media transport protocol, which makes it easier to swap files, and its Universal Audio Architecture, a set of drivers that will simplify the process of hooking up a PC to audio devices. In the end, such improvements in function and usability could spark a cycle of purchases, analysts said. "The problem we need to look at is: why is it that consumers and business customers of all kinds feel what they have is good enough?" said Poole. Between now and the release of Longhorn, Microsoft will continue to tweak its existing operating systems, Poole said. In addition, a new version of its handwriting recognition engine will come out for Tablet PC, he added. And a European version of Windows XP Media Center with better TV programming data will also emerge. Overall, though, there won't be a major code retrofit. "Don't expect an interim release," of Windows before Longhorn, Poole said.
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Talkback
I feel that microsoft needs to focus much less on all the visual aspects of windows and get down to the basics. It should stop adding frills and fringe and instead make a stable, simple, and workable operating system.
It is a workable, if not stable, operating system. I have no problem using it for my needs, and I do have to say that WinXP is MUCH more stable than previous versions.
I would like them to be much better at finding and plugging security holes BEFORE release though.
u r right in that win xp is stable than the previous versions,but that doesnt meen its stable,everyday i see my friend rebooting the pc (he uses xp) atleast 20 times because it just gets stuck for some reason
Try the hardware b4 u blame the software tbh
Microsoft's goal is to create an operating system that is the easiest to use, while still looking stylish at the same time. As we head into the 21st century Microsoft is focusing more on the average Joe being able to run a high tech machine. No one wants to see the circuitboards beneath the case of a computer. The average person just needs the computer to turn on and work without having problems. With Microsoft's great visual program, they are able to bury all the technical stuff like DOS that ran in the background of operating systems like 95' and 98'. People are visual learners, and by using this to their advantage, each operating system that has debuted after Windows 3.11 has seemed less technical and simpler.
microsoft needs to stop spending so much time and energy on making prettier bitmaps for the stupid buttons and icons and start building a more efficient, stable, and secure operating system. Heck leave the icons alone already. Being prettier doesn't make an icon any easier to identify.They haven't gotten any easier to identify sinces windows 3.1. They keep changing the appearance and you have get used to what they've become. "oh thats what the *&*&*&!@!@! button looks like now!"
Ooh, look at all the pretting new colors!"
Gimme a break!. Look at all the shades of red and purple my face is turniing after having to reboot for the *&(&*%&%* th time.
Some help files that actually helped would be nice too. I usually find the answers quicker with a google search than with windows help.
Sorry kego but I completely disagree, I am extreemly excited about the new and enhanced graphic options in the comming Windows. For too long they have been slacking behind Apple and now I and many other enthusiast can grab a hold of Windows a make it look much better.
Although I do agree about stability and reboots, who wouldn't, but your attack on the look is unjust.
The big-o-mighty company (Microsoft) seems to be trailing behind Apple... Here is my guarantee, Windows will NEVER be as stable as Apple unless Apple buys out Micro. Also whats up with this 120+ dpi... if everyone's computer wont lag enough running this massivly visual system, it will when you have the screen resolution to the "recommended" setting...
The big-o-mighty company (Microsoft) seems to be trailing behind Apple... Here is my guarantee, Windows will NEVER be as stable as Apple unless Apple buys out Micro. Also whats up with this 120+ dpi... if everyone's computer wont lag enough running this massivly visual system, it will when you have the screen resolution to the "recommended" setting...
Im sick of hearing about how stable macs are. 1st of all, I would venture that most stability problems are caused by hardware incompatibility. Mac doesnt have these problems because all hardware must be licensed thru them. So they can authorize what ever they want and disapprove things that cause instability. This is also why macs are significantly more expensive. And in terms of security I would say mac appears more secure because most malicious software is written for the most common operating system, which is windows. The day mac takes the popularity lead is the day they become less secure. The only people i would trust when they told me mac is more secure are people that have seen the source code for both mac and windows and have the background to make a comparison. The only comments i ever listen to are from a guy i know that works for mac but runs linux on his personal hardware. He has seen source code for both and has intimate knowledge of both. Yet he uses Linux. He might use a mac if he was doing video editing or something, but otherwise he says mac evangelists are full of shit and would probably be windows evagelists if windows was the underdog.