Microsoft plaza: November 2010

After AppleTV, Google TV nows its Microsoft turn to have MSN TV.

According to article published by Reuters, Microsoft is said to be in talks with HBO and Showtime to broadcast and sell a la carte video through the XBox apart from the ESPN which is being offered to XBox Live.

The service would charge a monthly fee for access through the Xbox to networks such as ABC, NBC, Fox, CBS, ESPN or CNN, according to two sources familiar with the plans.

LG launches Win7 tablet in S Korea powered by Intel Atom processor

In iPad and android tablet era, LG has launched a Windows 7-based tablet computer for the Korean market, named the E-Note H1000B.

This LG tablet has a 10.1-inch capacitive touchsreen, an Intel Atom Z510 or Z530 CPU, 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of SSD storage, Bluetooth (Bluetooth), Wi-Fi, an SD card reader and two USB 2.0 slots, limited Windows 7 Starter Edition and it has no camera and will be priced about $850.

Src: [mashable]

Want Star War's Jedi's sword? Then get a Kinect for youself [Video]

One of the computer geek had come up with cool Kinect hack.

Yankeyan created a normal looking stick in Jedi sword using OpenKinect drivers and OpenCV, which provided image processing, tracking and rendering capabilities.

Before annoyed, now excited by Kinect hacks

Earlier Microsoft said that i would work closely with law enforcement to keep the Kinect tamper-proof. But now it reversed it stance saying it is left open for tech nerds to go ahead with their creativity.

Microsoft told CNET on November 4 that it “does not condone the modification of its products.”

Kinect became target of many developer since many were excited because of its controller-free gaming and motion sensing and prize offered by open source community and in one case by one of the Google Engineer Matt Cutts.

Google engineer announces Cash prizes for Kool Kinect hack

One of the public noted Google engineer Matt Cutts, on his blog announced a cash prize for the best open-source and Linux-based projects built on Microsoft’s Kinect.

Kinect is an motion-sensing camera designed for Xbox 360.

Cutts thinks the Kinect is exciting, he writes, “Before I joined Google (Google), I was a grad student interested in topics like computer vision, motion self-tracking, laser scanners–basically any neat or unusual sensing device… If I were still in grad school, I’d be incredibly excited–there’s now a $150 off-the-shelf device that provides depth plus stereo and a lot more.”

Microsoft's Windows 1.0 celebrates its silver jubilee.

Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft had announced Windows v 1.0 on Nov 20th, 1985 at Plaza Hotel in New York in style. Yesterday it celebrated its 25th birthday.

Windows 1.0 was a 16-bit GUI OS. Windows 1.0 featured:

Limited multitasking of existed MS-DOS programs
Windows 1.0 runs a shell program known as MS-DOS Executive.
It included graphical Calculator, Calendar, Cardfile, Clipboard viewer, Clock, Control Panel, Notepad, Paint, Terminal, and Write.
All windows were tiled. Only dialog boxes can appear over other windows.
........

Motorola sued by Microsoft over Xbox's patents

Suing time again...... Microsoft Corp has filed a case against Motorola Inc on 9th November in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington at Seattle.

Microsoft accuses the Motorola of charging excessive royalties on network technology used in Microsoft's Xbox game system.

Windows 7 mobile store, App Hub now has 2000+ apps

With a short time of less than a month, App Hub, online store for Windows 7 mobile has now over 2000+ apps.

Microsoft confirmed today that developer support has exceeded expectations.

In a post on The Windows Phone Developer Blog, Todd Brix of Microsoft announced that the Windows Marketplace for Mobile is now home to approximately 2,000 apps and games that are all compatible with Windows Phone 7 devices.

Computer security firms unhappy with Microsoft free Anti-virus protection.

Two Computer security firms, Trend Micro and Panda Security are very disappointed with the Microsoft's move to provide its update service to deliver its free antivirus software to Windows users who doesn't owes any Anti-virus software.

Students comes up with different ideas of using Microsoft’s Adaptive Keyboard Prototype at UIST

I think Microsoft didnt had any idea about what they can do with their adaptive keyboard prototype.

Few months ago, Microsoft with its hardware and some applied science had developed a keyboard which uses dynamic horizontal input by touch and has the ability to change its visual appearance.

Windows 7 mobile apps submission goes online for every one.

Microsoft on 4 Nov 2010 has announced that the Windows Phone 7 app submission process on App Hub is now open to all registered Windows Phone Marketplace developers.

Any developer can submit their apps to App Hub first by submitting their application. Your app may take 3–5 business days to be certified and then published.

Microsoft buys Canesta, specialist in gesture-recognition technology

After releasing the Kinect, motion sensing device which make the games more interesting by involving the user physical Microsoft said that it was buying Canesta, a small Silicon Valley company that specializes in gesture-recognition technology.

Canesta is a fabless semiconductor company founded in April 1999, manufactures CMOS-based single chip 3D sensors, which can be used as part of input systems for electronic devices.