Internet Explorer 7 Disappears from Windows XP Microsoft Update

UPDATE:
Internet Explorer 7 is back in Microsoft Update.
I was reinstalling Windows XP on one computer this early in the morning. One thing I noticed that Internet Explorer 7 was conspicuously absent from the Microsoft Update.

This is interesting since I did see Internet Explorer 7 in Microsoft Update on Tuesday night (01.29.2007). Does this have anything to do with the launch of Windows Vista? Will Internet Explorer 7 become Windows Vista exclusive?

Maybe this is just a little glitch on Microsoft servers. Maybe I’m just too paranoid.

Missing IE7 Updates

Along Came Windows Vista

After a five long years of development, Windows Vista finally ships to consumers. Many have been using various incarnations of Windows Vista, from early beta to Release Candidate to the RTM version. I had a chance to play with Windows Vista back in its “Longhorn” day. Windows Vista has gone through so much transformations since its first conception. Windows Vista was such a mess during its Beta days, but with Microsoft managed to make it into a “pretty mess”. Aero and Glass are the eye candy of Windows Vista, but users will be left wanting more. To be fair, Windows Vista is an improvement over Windows XP, especially in its security model.

Is Windows Vista Secure?
Theoretically, Windows Vista has a much improved security model compared to its predecessors. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to draw any conclusions until Windows Vista actually being used by “regular” consumers. Those who are technically proficient can protect themselves from most of exploits and vulnerabilities in Windows Vista. In a few months we all will find out if Windows Vista security model do work.

There are much to discuss about Windows Vista, and I’ll be writing a lot more about it.

Read an opinion about Windows Vista here:
http://vondiggity.wordpress.com/2007/01/29/windows-vista/

Windows Vista Business and Ultimate Editions: The Experience Part 3

Windows Vista is set to launch tonight at midnight. Bill Gates is scheduled to appear on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” tonight. Windows enthusiasts are going to Windows Vista Ultimate Celebration. Windows Vista is finally released, more than five years after the release of Windows XP (10.25.2001).

In this part of an ongoing report, we are taking a look at multimedia experience on Windows Vista Business and Ultimate Editions. By comparisons Windows Vista Business to Ultimate is Windows XP Professional to Windows XP Professional with Media Center. Windows XP Professional with Media Center doesn’t really exist.

For reference:
Windows XP Media Center Edition is succeded by Windows Vista Home Premium.
Windows XP Home Edition is succeded by Windows Vista Home Basic.

Windows Vista Business lacks the Media Center functionality such as DVD playback. To add DVD playback, softwares like WinDVD and PowerDVD are needed. I installed Intervideo’s WinDVD 8 Platinum on machine running Windows Vista Business. WinDVD 8 requires DirectX 9.0c End-User Runtime and some specific version of .Net Framework. WinDVD 8 Platinum works without any problems so far. After the installations of WinDVD 8 (or any other Vista compatible DVD playback software), Windows Media Player supports DVD playback also.

I have also installed iTunes 7.0.2 and QuickTime 7.1.3 on Windows Vista Business. I have not encountered any major problems with both softwares. In addition to that, Apple Software Update works just fine.

DivX 6.5 is not officially supported under Windows Vista yet, but it is working without any major hick-ups.

As of midnight Tuesday (01.30.2007) Windows Vista goes on sale to the public. It will be available in multiple versions. Windows Vista can be purchased as a stand alone new/upgrade in retail and OEM package, and preinstalled in many PC computer.

LogMeIn Client for Mac OS X: Problem and Solution

A few weeks ago I wrote about LogMeIn Client support on Mac OS X. It has been working for the past 3 weeks without any problems. During a chat on Leo Laporte’s Radio Show chat, someone mentioned that he was not able to use LogMeIn Client on Mac OS X using Mozilla Firefox 2. I mentioned that I had been accessing LogMeIn Client using Safari and it had been working fine. A few minutes later, he informed me that he’s still having the same problem using Safari. I then found out that I was having the same problem.

The problem:
The remote access screen turns black when connecting to the remote computer.

The solution:
Do not open the remote connection in new window.

I will post a much more comprehensive instructions with some screen captures. Please check back.