compatibility

Windows 7 is still three months away, but Microsoft has already cranked up the marketing machine with the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. Before you take the little bit of time and trouble to download the 6.2MB file and let Microsoft scan your PC, be sure to visit the official Upgrade Advisor page.

There you will see Microsoft assert that if your system runs Vista, it will run Windows 7, "in general." Another blanket recommendation from the company is that if you're currently using Windows XP, you should buy a new PC with Windows 7 preinstalled. Microsoft even offers links to a shopping helper and lists of Windows 7-ready systems.

Well, so much for running the Upgrade Advisor. Out of curiosity, I ran the advisor on my 4-month-old 64-bit Vista Home Premium notebook. First, I made sure all the machine's peripherals were plugged in. After only a few minutes, I was informed that I could do an in-place upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium or Ultimate. (You'll find information about the various versions of Windows 7 on Microsoft's site.)… Read more

MB Astro Compatability Test Software allows users to look at the potential ability to pair up with another individual. While entering some of the details can be a chore, the results are quick and mostly easy to read for novices.

This program's interface is an interesting mixture of simplicity and astrological jargon, which makes it slightly confusing for newcomers. However, the program is easily navigated from its input screen and its results screen, which makes it manageable. The Help file showcases program details, but nothing about astrology. Inputting birthdays and places of birth was a simple matter of filling … Read more

Apple said it would have third parties developing accessories for the new third-generation iPod Shuffle, and sure enough, they are. First out of the gate: Klipsch and Scosche. And by the end of the week--if not the end of today--we should be hearing about more.

As Engadget notes, Klipsch's press release was pretty weak--the company only said that it would have VoiceOver-compatible Shuffle 'buds by summer and that they would cost $99.99.

Scosche was a lot more specific. It plans to have three earphone models--the IDR350M, IDR450M, and IDR650M--that feature an integrated control surface and range in price … Read more

A few months ago, we reviewed a couple of sets of iHome computer speakers that featured a built-in iPod dock. Well, the company's showing off a follow-up to the iH70s we reviewed. This model is called the iP71 and comes in black instead of silver, which is a good thing in our book.

There doesn't appear to be any significant difference between the iH70 and iP71 except for the fact that the newer model will offer GSM-shielding for iPhones. The iP71, likes its sibling, plays and charges iPhones and all docking iPod models and has a USB port … Read more

Social network Friendster announced Tuesday that it has been awarded its fourth U.S. patent, called "Compatibility Scoring of Users in a Social Network." It does pretty much exactly what it sounds like--it parses user profile data to find people who might be compatible as friends.

The social network, considered an also-ran in the U.S. but a much bigger phenomenon in a number of Asian countries--it has 65 million registered users in Asia--had its first patent granted in July 2006 and says that more are on the way.

"In just six years, social networking has … Read more

I've certainly given them a hard time about it, so it's only fair to point out that as of Friday morning, Microsoft's Vista Compatibility Center Web site is now live.

The site, in beta form, lists about 9,000 hardware and software products and their Vista readiness. Microsoft had planned on launching it on Tuesday, but encountered some unspecified issues.

With that resolved, folks can now feel free to pick on Apple for a while, given that it has had glitches with both its MobileMe service, much of which is still not operational, as well as activating new iPhones. … Read more

Apparently 20 months wasn't quite long enough to wait to introduce an online "Vista Compatibility Center."

The Web site, which was due to launch on Tuesday morning, still hasn't launched as of 2 p.m. PDT Wednesday.

The idea was to offer a Web site where consumers and small businesses could easily check whether their hardware and software are Vista-ready. Since yesterday afternoon, however, the site has greeted visitors with the message "The Windows Vista Compatibility Center will be launching soon, please check back!"

Well, I have been and it hasn't. No word … Read more

Microsoft's launched-but-not-yet-ready compatibility tool isn't the only stab the company made Tuesday to help resuscitate Windows Vista's tarnished image.

The company also launched a program that offers free support to small businesses willing to make the move to Vista.

Microsoft Windows marketing executive Brad Brooks told those attending Microsoft's partner conference on Tuesday that the company is trying to put a different face on the 18-month-old operating system.

"Today, we're making a statement," Brooks said. "We're drawing a line right here on this stage that we're going to do things … Read more

Microsoft on Tuesday released a new tool designed to allow customers to see whether their hardware and software will work properly with Windows Vista.

No, this isn't an old article. It is July 2008 and Microsoft still finds it necessary to show customers that plenty of hardware and software works with Vista, which has now been on the market for more than 18 months.

Don't get me wrong, I think the Vista Compatibility Center is a good idea. I just think it's the kind of thing customers want when a new operating system launches. The fact that … Read more