Windows Experience Blog

Internet Explorer 8 helps you save time with Accelerators

Brandon LeBlanc — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:47:46 GMT

There’s been a great deal of more talk lately about browser performance. You may have seen some previous discussion about page load performance as you saw here in a video and whitepaper in March. Page load ensures that you get to where you want to go quickly. But page load time differences actually measure about the length it takes for a person to blink their eye once, making a win for any browser pretty inconsequential as far as time savings go.

However, Internet Explorer 8 today offers a feature that saves you time and clicks and lets you get things done more quickly: Accelerators. Accelerators optimize the browser experience by removing repetitive, time consuming actions and give people easy access to the online services they use most. You can discover new Accelerators for Internet Explorer 8 at the Internet Explorer 8 Add-ons Gallery.

With all the talk about performance, we wanted to see what features like Accelerators really meant for time savings when people use the web, so we created another video looking at common tasks people actually do in four browsers: Safari 4.0, Chrome 2.0 beta, Firefox 3.5 beta 99 and Internet Explorer 8. Please note, all tests were performed using the default installation settings for each browser. No additional add-ons or extensions were added.

Here is a video that shows off how Accelerators in Internet Explorer 8 make your browsing experience quicker and easier:

Accelerators in IE8 Help Save Time!

Important Update Regarding Windows Live Movie Maker Beta

Brandon LeBlanc — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:14:10 GMT

Starting July 1st, 2009, when you launch Windows Live Movie Maker Beta you will be prompted to implement a software update which will extend the beta. You can download the software update here to continue to use the software without any interruption. If you choose not to install the software update, you will be unable to continue to use the Windows Live Movie Maker Beta.

The folks on the Windows Live Movie Maker Team are hard at work on “V1” which should be out sometime this year. For more information on the future of Windows Live Movie Maker, see this excellent blog post by Lead Program Manager Mike Torres from the Windows Live Team Blog.

I’m pretty excited for what they have in store for Windows Live Movie Maker!

Lenovo Announces New T-Series ThinkPad Laptop – The T400s

Brandon LeBlanc — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:14:09 GMT

Lenovo announced today a new T-Series ThinkPad Laptop called the T400s. Lenovo’s T-Series laptops cater to business customers looking for a powerful and thin laptop. Lenovo put a lot of effort in designing this laptop to be light, durable, robust, and powerful – key elements to a great business laptop for the mobile worker. I’ve had the chance to play with a T400s here in my office for the last few days and it has been a great experience so far.

The T400s will ship with the following specs:

Choices of Intel 2.53 GHz Core2Duo processors and graphics
Choices of up to 128GB SSD or 250GB hard drive storage
9.5 mm slim DVD burner or Blu-Ray player
Ethernet (Gigabit) & WiFi
Optional WiMAX, WWAN, Bluetooth and Ultra-wideband Connectivity
34mm Express Card slot or 5-in-1 multimedia card reader
Almost 6 hours of battery life
Display Port and VGA connectors (Supports 2 External Monitors!)
Energy Star 5.0 Compliant
2 Built-in USB Ports
1 Built-in eSATA/USB Combo Port (Total of 3 USB Ports)
Fingerprint Reader
TPM 1.2

As you can see, with these specs the T400s is quite powerful. It also can come jam-packed with network connectivity options (including support for Mobile Broadband) helping keep you connected no matter where you go. Because security is super important to the Mobile Worker – the T400s comes with a Fingerprint Reader and TPM 1.2. With TPM 1.2, BitLocker can be used in both Windows Vista and Windows 7 to secure the laptop. You also get your choice of storage. My T400s had a 250GB hard drive.

The design of the T400s is pretty slick. The T400s uses Lenovo’s “Top Cover Roll Cage”, which they first introduced with the X300, in the construction of its frame. This roll cage is made out of reinforced monocoque carbon fiber which is the same stuff they use on airplanes and super-fast cars. This keeps the T400s pretty light. It weighs in at just under 4lbs (with a 6 cell battery) which is about 20% less than its T400 predecessor. A non-SSD hard drive may also add some weight to the laptop as well as they tend to be a little bit heavier. But Lenovo gives you the choice to choose (as mentioned above).

This is a pretty thin laptop, measuring in at 0.83 inches (yes, I measured!). Part of the ability to keep this laptop so thin is that Lenovo uses a very thin 14.1 inch LED screen.

For the T400s, Lenovo tweaked the keyboard a bit. The keys are much closer to each other – likely to prevent gunk from getting underneath. The Delete and ESC keys are also larger.

The touchpad is now flush with the palm rest and is textured to help people feel its location.

I also discovered that the T400s has an “always on” USB port in the back. This means that if the system is in sleep/standby or hibernate mode you can still plugin devices like MP3 players or mobile phones and have them charge off the laptop’s battery.

Another very interesting aspect of this laptop is how Lenovo optimized it for VoIP. Many businesses are utilizing VoIP for their communications. This laptop can essentially serve as your communication hub when you’re out-and-about. Lenovo added a new toggle switch at the top of the keyboard so that you can easily increase and decrease your system volume – putting the user in more control of their audio. I’m told this will become a standard for all Lenovo laptops going forward. The speaker volume has been amped up to be more than 2x greater than audio levels see on the T400. And the speakers themselves have been moved to the sides instead of on the palm rest area seen on the X300 series laptops.

Lenovo put 2 digital microphones in for better recording. The dual microphones are expected to cut down the amount of ambient noise picked up during your VoIP calls and improve clarity with sound. And of course you can have audio without video. The T400s comes with built in 2.0 megapixel webcam that can shoot video up to 30fps. The webcam also has “Lower Light Capture Capability” to capture decent video is very low-lit conditions.

Lenovo puts Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate on their business laptops. The T400s I have came with Windows Vista Business.

However I decided to put Windows 7 (the Windows 7 RC) on it. Instead of upgrading from Windows Vista, I did a clean install. Windows 7 picked up most of the drivers with updates to many of them available for me on Windows Update. I had everything up and running very quickly.

With Windows 7 and the T400s, I am able to secure the laptop with a variety of features from Windows 7. Windows 7 has BitLocker (which we introduced with Windows Vista). Using TPM, I was able to encrypt the hard drive of the laptop to ensure if the laptop ever gets lost so that no one can get the data off the hard drive.

Windows 7 has a new biometric framework and in combination with UPEK’s biometric software – I was able to quickly enroll fingerprints for a further enhanced security. UPEK takes advantage of Windows 7’s biometric enhancements. This process was incredibly easy. As mentioned above, the T400s can come with built in Mobile Broadband. Windows 7 brings enhancements that take advantage of Mobile Broadband making it easy to connect and stay connected.

I had fun playing with this laptop. Special thanks to Lenovo for the opportunity!

The Lenovo ThinkPad T400s will become available at www.lenovo.com starting at $1,599.

Top 6 Things to Consider Before Buying a Small Notebook PC

Brandon LeBlanc — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:24:58 GMT

With small notebook PCs (sometimes called netbook PCs) now accounting for about 10% of PC sales worldwide (up to 20% of PC sales in some geographies according to leading retail sales analysts), I’m starting to get more and more questions about what a buyer should look into as he or she is shopping for a small notebook PC.

Ultimately, it depends on how you need to use your small notebook PC. While a small percentage of people are choosing to use these devices as their only computer, most are finding them better suited as a “companion PC” to a traditional desktop or notebook (for example, I use my Dell Mini 9 as a “companion PC” to my desktop PCs at work and at home). They are great for staying more conveniently connected on-the-go (for example: browsing the web on the train home from work, sending email from a coffee shop, or just getting office and/or personal tasks done).

There’s a small notebook PC out there for everyone depending on budget and hardware needs – but sometimes the different choices can get a little overwhelming.

To help out, I’ve pulled together a “checklist” of basic questions that you’ll want to think about before handing the cashier your credit card:

1. Is it easy to use?

This question may seem obvious, but when you think about it, it’s probably the most important one on this list. How are you going to be using your small notebook PC? Are you using this as a companion to your primary desktop or laptop PC? If so, then you’ll want it to have the same interface and experience as your primary machine so you can seamlessly move back and forth without any confusion or hassle and easily transfer and share files between your computers. You’ll also want to be sure that it can easily connect to a wireless or 3G broadband network so you can instantly get online wherever you are. And of course, make sure that there’s a built in tool, like Windows Instant Search, to help you instantly find your, music, photos and files…after all, your computer isn’t very handy if you can’t find your stuff on it!

2. Will it work with my stuff?

Think about what software you expect to use on your small notebook PC. Check for compatibility with your cameras, printers, music players, webcams, and anything else that you expect to connect, such as a GPS unit or mobile phone. Windows supports nearly 3,000 printers, over 700 digital cameras, 240 webcams, and 180 digital video cameras, as well as hundreds of more specialized devices. It also runs more than 10,000 applications, and it’s the only OS that runs Microsoft Office, iTunes and Quicken. This means that whatever it is you use, chances are it works with Windows. It’s also a good idea to make sure that your computer works with free, easy to use tools for email, blogging, chatting, working with photos and movies, online storage, and syncing your stuff between your PCs. I use Windows Live Essentials and Windows Live SkyDrive to do these things on my computers.

3. Is it the right size?

While screen and keyboard size are personal decisions, I can tell you that many of today’s small notebook PCs come with 9” or 10” screens for a good reason. Machines this size offer a better balance between lightweight portability, having a screen big enough to be productive with more than one window at once, and a keyboard that’s comfortable enough for most people’s hands. My Dell Mini 9 has a 8.9” screen. The size doesn’t bother me much but if I were to go out and buy another small notebook PC, I would likely go with a 10” screen. If you find that even 10” is still too small for you though, there are a number of larger but still lightweight notebooks at pretty affordable prices that may work better for your needs over a small notebook PC. If you do decide to go that route, check out the Windows Laptop Scout, which will help you find exactly the right machine for your needs.

4. Does it have the hardware horsepower I need?

When it comes to hardware, there are four key areas to consider – screen & keyboard size, processor speed, RAM, and storage. Screen and keyboard size we covered earlier, but in terms of the processor, look for a machine with at least a 1GHz CPU, and for RAM, get at least 1GB. 1GB of RAM is what my machine came with, but I added another 1GB to it for an extra performance boost. Many models allow you to add at least an extra stick of memory. If you buy a small notebook PC and want to give it more power down the road, having this ability is quite nice.

Storage is largely a personal call, and how much you need really depends on what you expect to do with your small notebook PC. If you want to put your pictures and music on it, then you probably want a 120GB or larger Hard Disk Drive. If you’re just looking to do basic email and web browsing, you might go for a smaller Solid State Drive (typically, these are 8-32GB). SSDs often run cooler and quieter, and may use less power, which means they can potentially get you a bit of boost in battery life. My Dell Mini 9 came with a 16GB SSD, but I found that it wasn’t enough space for me so I replaced it with a 32GB SSD. I also purchased a 320GB My Passport Essential from Western Digital I carry around with me everywhere as well for the added storage.

I recommend checking out CNET’s reviews, as well as the great information, reviews and tips on Liliputing to help you find a small notebook PC with exactly the specs you want.

5. Will I be safe online?

You’re probably going to be online quite a bit, so you’ll want to make sure you can browse, chat, and share safely. Key security features to look for in both your OS and browser are comprehensive phishing and Cross-Site Scripting filters along with ClickJacking protection to help guard against identity theft, built-in spyware and malware protection, comprehensive parental controls, a built-in firewall, and a private browsing model. As an FYI – Internet Explorer 8 in combination with Windows Live Family Safety can do all these things for you.

6. What level of support do I need?

Making sure that you can get the right kind of support when you need it is critical. It’s a good idea to get a small notebook PC that has built-in features to keep your gear up and running, such as automatic self-diagnosing tools and a comprehensive built-in system to help you automatically get security, OS and software updates, without having to track them down yourself and manually install them 1-by-1. When you do run into a need for assistance, you’ll also be better off with multiple support options including online resources, a call-in tech support center, or in-person help at a repair shop or retailer.

Hopefully, if you’re on the market for a new small notebook PC this checklist of questions will come in handy in helping you with your buying decision!

Find The Windows Blog on Facebook!

Brandon LeBlanc — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:02:01 GMT

You can now find The Windows Blog on Facebook and become a fan! Just click on the button below to go to our Facebook Page.

Remember, you can also follow The Windows Blog on Twitter as well.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows Media Player in Windows 7

Brandon LeBlanc — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:43:10 GMT

In Windows 7, we’ve improved how people can play and manage their digital media content (like music and videos) through Windows Media Player. Not only did we give Windows Media Player a face lift, it also takes advantage of key Windows 7 features such as the new Windows Taskbar, HomeGroup and Jump Lists. With all the new stuff packed into Windows Media Player, I thought it might be a good idea to highlight some tips for using Windows Media Player.

Starting today, I plan to do a series of 6 blog posts over the course of the next 3 weeks, each dedicated to a single tip for Windows Media Player.

Today’s Tip: Keyboard Shortcuts!

Below is a list of keyboard shortcuts you can use for a variety of activities in Windows Media Player ranging from switching to Player Mode to turning on or off shuffle to shifting between play speeds. If you’re a keyboard fiend – this list is a must-have.

Shortcut	Action	State
Ctrl + 1	Switches to library mode	From any mode
Ctrl + 2	Switches to skin mode	From any mode
Ctrl + 3	Switches to player mode	From any mode except full screen
Ctrl + 7	Add to Play	In library mode
Ctrl + 8	Add to Burn	In library mode
Ctrl + 9	Add to Sync	In library mode
Ctrl + A	Selects everything in a list	In the library or list
Ctrl + B	Previous (Item or Chapter)	With content playing
Ctrl + E	Focus on Search text box and switch to library mode if not there
Ctrl + F	Next (Item or Chapter)	With content playing
Ctrl + H	Turn on/off shuffle mode
Ctrl + J	Eject	In any mode
Ctrl + M	Toggle menu bar in library	In any mode
Ctrl + N	Create playlist	In library mode
Ctrl + O	Shows Open Dialog	In any mode
Ctrl + P	Play/Pause Toggle	With content queued up
Ctrl + Q	Adds selected track to open list	Default is Play list
Ctrl + S	Stops Playback	With content playing
Ctrl + T	Turn on/off repeat mode	In any mode
Ctrl + U	Shows Open URL Dialog	In any mode
Ctrl + W	Stops playback	With content playing or paused
Ctrl + Shift + B	Rewinds playing content	With DVD playing
Ctrl + Shift + C	Caption On/Off Toggle	Playing content which has captions
Ctrl + Shift + F	Fast forwards playing content	With content playing
Ctrl + Shift + G	Play Speed Fast	With content playing
Ctrl + Shift + N	Play Speed Normal	With content playing
Ctrl + Shift + S	Play Speed Slow	With content playing
Ctrl + Right Arrow	Next playlist in playlist history	Focus not on Seek bar
Ctrl + Left Arrow	Previous playlist in playlist history	Focus not on Seek bar
Ctrl + Right Arrow	Skip forward (large increment)	Focus on Seek bar
Ctrl + Left Arrow	Skip backward (large increment)	Focus on Seek bar
Shift + Right Arrow	Skip forward (small increment)	Focus on Seek bar
Shift + Left Arrow	Skip backward (small increment)	Focus on Seek bar
Right Arrow	Skip forward	Focus on Seek bar
Left Arrow	Skip backward	Focus on Seek bar
Ctrl + Click	Resize player to image	In Now Playing mode
Escape	Return to Now Playing	Full Screen Mode
F1	Opens Help file	In any mode
F2	Edit meta data column	In library mode with an item selected
F4	Switch view mode	In library mode, focus in list view
F5	Refresh screen	Focus on library or in online services
F6	Increases album art	Focus in list view
Shift + F6	Decreases album art	Focus in list view
F7	Mutes sound	In any mode
F8	Decrease sound volume	In any mode
F9	Increases sound volume	In any mode
F10	Show menu bar in library	From any mode
Shift + F10	Context menu shortcut	In any mode
Alt + 1	Video Size 50%	In Now Playing or skin mode, with a video playing
Alt + 2	Video Size 100%	In Now Playing or skin mode, with a video playing
Alt + 3	Video Size 200%	In Now Playing or skin mode, with a video playing
Alt + Enter	Full Screen Toggle	In Now Playing, skin, or full screen mode

Stay tuned – I’ll have another tip for Windows Media Player coming up soon!

NOTE: These tips are for Windows Media Player in Windows 7 only.

Reducing Power Consumption with Windows 7’s Power Management Features

Brandon LeBlanc — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:56:39 GMT

Microsoft’s Environmental Sustainability Blog has posted an excellent blog post today highlighting Windows 7’s Power Management features. These features can help our customers be much more energy efficient. Windows 7 has a strong focus on reducing the overall power consumption which can enable companies to be able to further reduce their operational costs as well as their carbon footprint. I recommend giving the blog post a read to understand how Windows 7 will help people consume less power. Windows 7 is a great example of a product designed to minimize environmental impact.

You can also read this whitepaper (PDF) on Windows 7 Power Management too which is also highly recommended!

UPDATED: Fixed broken whitepaper link.

Download Internet Explorer 8 & Help Fight Hunger

Brandon LeBlanc — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:40:48 GMT

Today, the Internet Explorer Team took over New York City’s Time Warner Center and San Francisco’s Justin Herman Plaza where local artists used food cans to create sculptures of the Empire State Building in New York and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. After the sculptures are completed, the cans will be donated.

(Credit: Diane Bondareff – Left / Pete LaPage – Right)

It’s all part of our Browser for the Better campaign. Turns out that during the school year over 17 million U.S. children receive free or reduced-price breakfast and lunches at their schools. But once the school year is ends and summer begins, these children longer receive this benefit as they are no longer in school until the fall. In response, we are joining forces with Feeding America to help these children this summer.

For every completed download of Internet Explorer 8 through the Browser for the Better website, we will donate the financial equivalent of 8 meals to Feeding America’s network of 206 local food banks. These food banks supply food to more than 25 million Americans each year! The Browser for the Better campaign starts today and will run through Aug. 8, 2009.

To also help kick off the campaign, the Browser for the Better website is hosting a series of new viral videos staring Dean Cain and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait which highlight features of Internet Explorer 8. Here is one of the 2 videos available today with 2 more coming soon!

Dean Cain is absolutely hilarious in these videos!

So what are you waiting for? Go download Internet Explorer 8 today and help us fight hunger in the United States this summer!

Oh and of course after downloading, give Internet Explorer 8 a try. Not only does it include features such as Web Slices and Accelerators for finding the information you want quickly on the web, it’s also fast and secure too.

Check out Bing!

Brandon LeBlanc — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:38:21 GMT

Last week we unveiled Bing and today you can now try it for yourself at Bing.com!

Bing is our new and more powerful internet search service, which we are calling a Decision Engine. Essentially, Bing helps people cut through all the clutter that exists on the Internet and gives people a wide range of “intelligent” information designed to help people make decisions faster. It’s designed to meet the needs of today’s searchers and those needs go beyond simply behind a simple search engine.

Of course it’s also a great all-around search engine for finding the information you need too!

Bing introduces several new search features I think you will enjoy:

Best Match: A fast way to identify the best matched site for a given query. Target is a great example. Try it here.
Definitive card (D-card): More insight into a particular site such as the hard-to-find customer service telephone number. Try it here for UPS.
Answers: Easy access to information designed to provide the sought-after information within the body of the search results page. For example – ask Bing “who was the 11th president?” or “what time is it?” and you will get an Instant Answer.
Preview: With so many clicks coming back from unsatisfactory results, this feature lets you preview what is on a site from the results page, to help reduce wasted trips to sites you weren't looking for.
Explore Pane: We have introduced the new left hand pane, which we call the Explore Pane. This is where we offer features that help with searching such as Quick Tabs, Related Searches and Search History.
Search History: This feature is aimed at helping you get back to the searches you've done before and save you clicks. You can see it in the left-hand Explore Pane.
Quick Tabs: The Quick Tabs give you easy access to the most common refinements for a given query. This categorization is aimed at making it easy to refine your query and reduce information overload.

We are also introducing Bing Travel where people who are looking to travel can compare location, price and amenities of multiple hotels. A color coded key is provided for the best values. It also has a Price Predictor that helps people decide when to buy an airline ticket in order to get the lowest prices.

You can add Bing as your default Search Provider in Internet Explorer 8 today by clicking here.

Note: The Live Search Web Slices for Internet Explorer 8 I discussed in this blog post back in February all work today under Bing! Try them out as I find them pretty handy.

For staying on top of all the Bing news and deep dives into the awesome Bing features – I suggest visiting the Bing Community. The Bing Community is a collection of Bing blogs and forums dedicated to an open discussion on Bing.

Congratulations to my friends on the Bing Team for their amazing release!

Want to Know How to Create & Share Themes in Windows 7?

Brandon LeBlanc — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:06:09 GMT

If you want to know how to create and share Windows 7 themes then this post on the E7 Blog is a must read.

You can apply, create, and save themes directly from within the Personalization Control Panel in Windows 7. When you create a theme for Windows 7, Windows 7 collects desktop backgrounds, sounds, mouse pointers and icons and puts it into an .themepack file. That file can be shared and them theme can then be applied on another Windows 7 PC.

I recently took a trip up toward Steven’s Pass outside of Redmond. I took some photos of some rocks near a river on a beautiful day. I’ve created a theme for Windows 7 with those photos and called it “Rocks” and I would like to share it with you! Just click below to download the theme…

I hope you enjoy the theme!

With 25GB of free online storage on Windows Live SkyDrive, you can share quite a few Windows 7 themes with friends and family.

Windows on Small Notebook PCs: The Momentum Continues in the US and the UK

Brandon LeBlanc — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:42:55 GMT

On the eve of the Computex, the largest computer exhibition in Asia and the second largest in the world, we got word that PC World, the largest electronics retailer in the UK, is de-assorting (i.e., getting rid of) all of the Linux small notebook PCs in their stores and going all-Windows. It’s pretty big news from across the pond that they’re making this move, but what’s even more important is the “why” behind the decision.

In April I wrote about why Windows market share on small notebook PCs has jumped from under 10% in February 2008 to 96% a year later (that number has increased since then...more on that below), and PC World agrees with our thinking. You can read the entire PC World press release, but to save you some time, I’ve pulled out the key points:

PC World is removing Linux small notebook PCs and going all-Windows in their stores in response to customer demand. They want Windows because it’s the only OS that gives people the choice, compatibility, familiarity and simplicity they need.
Most consumers today are looking for a small notebook PC in the 10” range because it offers a great combination of portability and usability (as in, it’s small enough to take anywhere, but big enough to work on comfortably).
The last year has shown that small notebook PCs are NOT replacement PCs; rather, they’re companion PCs that consumers use to get a full PC experience on the go.
Windows 7 will make small notebook PCs even more compelling and more attractive to consumers because it makes connecting with other PCs, working with documents, and enjoying pictures, music and movies easier than ever before.

Jeremy Fennell, Category Director at PC World, sums things up perfectly at the end of the release:

Despite initial hype that netbooks would move more users onto the Linux platform, Microsoft has emerged as the preferred operating system because Windows makes it easier to share content, and provides customers with a simpler, more familiar computing experience on the move. Based on this insight, all the netbooks in our stores will feature Microsoft Windows, larger screens and keyboards, and greater colour choices to satisfy customers demand for performance, design and familiarity.

Customers demanding Windows for its ease of use, compatibility and simplicity isn’t unique to the UK – it’s happening here as well. The latest data from NPD’s retail tracking service showed that Windows now account for a whopping 98% of all small notebook PCs sales at retail in the US.

I think it’s important to note that all of this momentum is happening before Windows 7 is even out! When Windows 7 does arrive (and brings slick new stuff like HomeGroup, Aero Peek/Snap, PlayTo and Remote Media Streaming, Windows Media Center that lets you watch and record TV, and more), I think the demand for Windows on these devices will increase even more. What do you think?

Zune HD Revealed & Zune Coming to the Xbox!

Brandon LeBlanc — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:34:50 GMT

My pal Brian Seitz over on the Zune Insider revealed a brand new (and very awesome looking) Zune yesterday – the Zune HD.

This awesome looking new device comes with an OLED screen with multi touch, an HD Radio receiver, HD video out capabilities, AND a web browser! Find out more about the Zune HD here. The Zune HD will be hitting the market later this year. I’m definitely getting one of these!

Oh and Zune will also be coming to the Xbox 360, taking over the existing video marketplace. Expect to hear more about this at E3 taking place in Los Angeles next week.

You can read the full press release for these 2 announcements here on PressPass.

Brian says there is more news to come. I suggest keeping your eyes on the Zune Insider.

What are people saying about the Windows 7 Release Candidate?

Brandon LeBlanc — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:54:44 GMT

We did this before with Windows 7 at PDC and the Windows 7 Beta – I figured it’s time to do it for the Windows 7 RC. Here are a handful of quotes of what people are saying about the Windows 7 RC:

Ed Bott from ZDNet wrote:

Overall, I’m impressed with how reliable this Windows release has been. It also seems more than adequate in terms of performance.

Dwight Silverman from the Houston Chronicle wrote:

This latest test release is good. Really good. In fact, it’s good enough that, were Microsoft to call this the finished version and release it formally, it would be a much better product than Windows Vista was when it launched in early 2007.

Preston Gralla of Computerworld wrote:

Windows 7 RC1 includes a substantial number of productivity and performance tweaks that make an already solid, fast, entertaining and useful operating system even better.

Simon Bisson of ZDNet talks about his long history testing beta and RC bits of Windows and how the Windows 7 RC compares:

We've been using Beta and RC code since Windows 3, and this is by far the most solid and feature-complete RC we've seen.

Jeremy Kaplan of PC Magazine wrote:

Bottom line is that Windows 7 Release Candidate is more polished than the beta; seems to be better optimized for operating speed, responsiveness and improves user experience.

Matt Buchanan from Gizmodo digs the new backgrounds we added to the Windows 7 RC (I do too!):

Yes, these are just a handful of the ridiculously awesome backgrounds packed inside Windows 7.

Samara Lyn from CRN was impressed with the work we have done with Windows 7 and with our partners on driver compatibility:

Another blessing with Window 7 RC is that there were no issues with drivers. It looks as if Microsoft and vendors really got on board with ensuring driver compatibility.

This is what Mary Branscombe from the Financial Times had to say about the Windows 7 RC:

For end users, Windows 7 is a clear leap forward, and if the final version has the same high quality and attention to detail as this release it should appeal to customers and PC manufacturers alike.

And here is what Joshua Topolsky from Engadget said:

One thing we can say for sure is that it felt snappier and less buggy than the earlier versions (duh), and it's clear that Microsoft has taken a lot of the feedback it's gotten to heart. RC1 shows off definite attention to detail.

Netflix comes to Windows Media Center

Brandon LeBlanc — Wed, 20 May 2009 03:53:45 GMT

Starting tomorrow, Windows Media Center users who are also Netflix members will gain access to more than 12,000 movies and TV episodes from Netflix directly within Windows Media Center on their PCs.

Using the two together is easy and convenient. In Windows Media Center, a new Netflix tile will appear under “TV + Movies”. To stream movies and TV shows from Netflix, just click on the new Netflix tile and login with your Netflix account.

You will be able to search the entire Netflix library right from Windows Media Center, and manage both your Instant and DVD Queues. Windows Media Center will also take advantage of Netflix’s “recommended” categories.

Here is a short video of Netflix in action in Windows Media Center:

Netflix in Windows Media Center

And here is another really neat video walk-through of Netflix in Windows Media Center:

Getting Netflix in Windows Media Center

You can also use your Windows Media Center remote to navigate the player controls and queues for Netflix in Windows Media Center too!

Netflix in Windows Media Center is powered by Silverlight.

If you also have an Xbox LIVE Gold membership and have been streaming Netflix movies and TV episodes to your Xbox 360, this offering will work for you as well.

Netflix in Windows Media Center currently will work only for Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate users today.

This is very cool stuff. You may remember back in March, we launched the Windows Media Center Sports Channel, which offers a variety of interactive sports content including from CBSSports.com, FOX Sports and MSNBC.com. Now more than ever, Windows Media Center offers a great entertainment experience.

UPDATE 5/20: Netflix in Windows Media Center works for Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate users in the U.S. only and does not support Extenders for Windows Media Center.

3 Free Windows 7 E-Learning Clinics from Microsoft Learning

Brandon LeBlanc — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:21:48 GMT

I thought this might be of interest to some folks. Microsoft Learning is providing 3 free online E-Learning Clinics on Windows 7 geared toward 3 distinct audiences.

These “clinics” focus on many of the new features and functionality seen in Windows 7.

Microsoft Learning also has a Windows 7 Learning Portal that just went live too.

If you haven’t already, you can register to download the Windows 7 RC to play with and try out Windows 7 today.