64-bit

64-bit kernel now default on Apple's Mac Pro

While the phrase "640KB RAM ought to be enough for anybody" was falsely attributed to Bill Gates, it definitely outlines a way many of us think about the computing limits we're faced with. At the time this was purportedly said, computers were just transitioning to 16-bit architectures with the Intel 8088 processor (the one used in some of the first PCs), which broke through the 64-byte memory limit of the older architecture.

In the past few years Macs and other PCs have been in a similar transition with 64-bit capable processors (starting with Apple's G5), but … Read more

Microsoft: Windows 7 makes 64-bit headway

The choice between the 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows 7 appears to be shifting toward the latter.

With the new operating system less than nine months old, 46 percent of all computers running Windows 7 are using the 64-bit edition, said Microsoft in a Thursday blog post. That compares with 11 percent for the 3.5-year-old Windows Vista.

The major benefit to running a 64-bit OS is that it can address more memory. A 32-bit version of Windows can see only up to 4GB of RAM, and effectively use only around 3GB, since that extra gigabyte is reserved. A … Read more

What's Adobe's 64-bit Flash plan?

64-bit versions of Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux now are in widespread use, and software for the operating systems is following suit. So it may seem a bit backward that Adobe withdrew its only 64-bit version of Flash Player.

But don't take the disappearance of Adobe Labs' experimental 64-bit Flash Player for Linux as a sign of things to come. Moving its widely used browser plug-in beyond the 32-bit era is a "top priority," said Tom Nguyen, Adobe's Flash Player product manager, on Saturday.

However, Adobe isn't committing itself publicly to a delivery schedule. … Read more

Firefox for Windows starts 64-bit transition

Mainstream microprocessors have been 64-bit for years. Operating systems have followed suit. Now it's time for a program used by hundreds of millions of people to make the leap: Firefox.

Programmer Armen Zambrano Gasparnian announced the first 64-bit Firefox builds for Windows on Friday, offering an FTP site for those who want to download it. But the software isn't for mainstream users yet.

For one thing, there's no installer included yet, though that work is under way, too. For another, the software is still one of the very raw "nightly" builds for developers.

Support for … Read more

Firewall freebie, 64-bit 'Fox

All you owners of 64-bit Windows computers will be pleased to know that Mozilla is finally throwing your Windows PC a bone. On Friday, Mozilla announced an early-stage version of a Firefox browser compatible with 64-bit processors. The experimental build is available to anyone brave enough to test an unstable, in-development browser, though we recommend taking caution if you do. Otherwise, patience should get you a stable version of Firefox 4 with support for 64-bit PCs around November.

It's been a long time since we've seen significant change to ZoneAlarm's Firewall, but a new version of the … Read more

Microsoft warns of 64-bit Windows 7 hole

Microsoft is working on a patch to fix a hole in a 64-bit Windows 7 graphics display component that could be exploited to crash the system or potentially take control of the computer by running code remotely.

The company is investigating a new publicly reported vulnerability in the Windows Canonical Display Driver (cdd.dll) that affects 64-bit versions of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, and Itanium-based Windows Server 2008 R2. The driver enables applications to use graphics and formatted text on the video display and printer.

Microsoft is working on a security update to address the vulnerability and … Read more

Microsoft ending Itanium support

It will be a slow, drawn-out process, but Microsoft is phasing out its support for Intel's once-promising Itanium chip.

In a blog posting on Friday, Microsoft said that the current version of Windows Server--Windows Server 2008 R2--will be the last one that supports the Itanium. Microsoft also said that its SQL Server 2008 R2 and Visual Studio 2010 will be the last version of its database and developer tools that run on the Intel chip.

Windows Server senior technical product manager Dan Reger said the move reflects the fact that 64-bit versions of traditional x86 processors can handle even … Read more

BitDefender update KO's 64-bit Windows PCs

A number of BitDefender users, whose 64-bit Windows systems stopped working or were unable to be rebooted after security program updates, vented their frustration by flooding the antivirus vendor's forum pages over the weekend.

According to an IDG report, users on forum boards started signaling the problem on Saturday evening. The complainants said several Windows files, as well as the security vendor's own program files, were identified as "Trojan.FakeAlert.5" malware after they performed an update for their BitDefender antivirus programs.

In an e-mail update Monday to ZDNet Asia, Vitor Souza, BitDefender's global communications … Read more

Quick Note: Logic and Mainstage 64-bit information

For people who use Apple's pro audio applications Logic and Mainstage, the applications were recently updated to versions that are fully 64-bit capable, which allows them to better take advantage of the hardware capabilities in Apple's computers. This enables users to run more plugins and other features at the same time without a performance hit. Despite this benefit, there may be some unforeseen incompatibilities when running in 64-bit mode that users should be aware of.… Read more

Revo Uninstaller releases new pro version

The latest version of the popular Revo Uninstaller utility now removes 64-bit apps and throws in a host of other new features.

The VS Revo Group this week unveiled the new $40 professional edition of its Revo Uninstaller, a utility that can cleanly rid your system of unwanted software. Available in the past solely as freeware, Revo Uninstaller will now come in two flavors--the free edition and the pro. The free version hasn't been updated since the spring and so lacks many of the new features found in its professional cousin.

Shenel Emin, a product manager at VS Revo … Read more