For the next five years, Microsoft will be serving an update to all supported Windows clients in an attempt to promote end user choice when it comes down to the default browser associated with the operating system.

The European Antitrust Commission accepted a solution proposed by Microsoft, designed to boost competition on the web browser market on December 16th 2009, noting that the decision it adopted renders legally binding commitments offered by the software giant.

The Redmond company will offer a Choice Screen to Windows users in Europe via Windows Update, allowing them to choose Internet Explorer, or a rival product, as the default browser of their platform.

“Millions of European consumers will benefit from this decision by having a free choice about which web browser they use. Such choice will not only serve to improve people’s experience of the internet now but also act as an incentive for web browser companies to innovate and offer people better browsers in the future,” Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes says.

Via the Choice Screen, EEA customers will have the ability to select one or multiple items from a list of up to a dozen web browsers, including Internet Explorer, but also Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, and Opera.

In addition, original equipment manufacturers will have a choice of whether to turn IE on or off, and install another default browser instead, with Microsoft getting no say in this.

Windows 7 already allows users to switch IE8 off and on, and it’s bound that Windows 8 will feature similar functionality.

Credit: Softpedia

All my email is cloud based.

Most of my truly important files are backed up in “the cloud”.

It does seem a little dated that when I use the Microsoft Windows operating system, I am still storing files on hard drives. I then have to move files and settings around on Flash Drives or DVD’s.

Larry Ellsion has talked about the concept of the network computer for ever. Basically a thin client where all your files would be stored on the server cloud and you wouldn’t need to store anything locally.

The concept is old but even with Windows 7, we arent scratching the surface.

With Windows 8, I would like the following to occur:

On Monday, in Los Angeles, I buy Windows 8 and install it on my home PC.

As part of the standard Windows 8 installation package, I sign up for my Microsoft cloud ID. My (optional) Cloud ID allows me to have all my files sync with a cloud profile automatically.

It would be non intrusive as I could determine whether files would sync while I worked or only when the computer detected no activity.

On Tuesday, I fly to Philadelphia and take my laptop with Windows 8 on it. I log in with my Cloud ID and voila, my profile is the same, i have all the files I worked on last night.

On Wednesday, I work from texas at a different site and borrow a spare Windows 8 computer at an empty cube. I log on with my Cloud ID and voila, my files and profile are there as well.

Basically, this is embarrassing that we are still talking about the true roaming profile in 2009. This is something that should have been implemented years ago.

Something tells me that if Microsoft don’t go in this direction, Apple or Google will.

What do you guys think?

Interesting article by Mike Williams.

he basically outlines some things he would like to see changed in Windows 8.

Some excerpts:

NTFS has served us well, but it’s time for a new filesystem. Moving to something like ZFS, for example, would give us pooled storage. No more nonsense over partitions and volumes, just add two 750GB drives and automatically get a 1.5TB pool.

More..

Windows Explorer needs major attention, too. At a minimum, let’s fix the basics: we really shouldn’t still be wondering why the program forgets our folder settings at random moments, say (or dumping the option entirely as appears to be the case with Windows 7).

and

With that all sorted, I’d aim to produce a more configurable Control Panel where it’s easy to display just the applets that you commonly use; simplify network troubleshooting; add encryption to Windows 8 Home Premium because regular users need security, too; and discover why Windows is slow at copying, and then fix the problem.

For the full article, click here

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Windows 8 glass by Shinorino

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Windows 8 Concept part 6 2 by Crusader1080

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