John Lamansky

You’ve probably noticed that when you search on Google or another search engine, usually at least one of the ads on the side or top of the page is advertising eBay. Here are some eBay ads I’ve found during my online searching expeditions.

[Click here for another ad screenshot]

Apparantly, eBay is the first company to get into the “fresh-produce-ordered-online” business. Well, maybe not fresh produce, but…

So that’s what happened to the League of Nations!

This is verification of Peach’s claim on Finding Nemo.

I had always wondered what the “e” in “eBay” stood for…

According to this CNET review, “Microsoft has more to do on its new operating system, but this first beta suggests that Windows Vista will be up to par with Linux and Apple Mac OS X.”

However, I’m keeping in mind that Mac OS X 10.5 is due by the time Vista is released.

The very first site I saw on July 27 with a Windows Vista Beta 1 review was PC Magazine. They have a very comprehensive and optimistic review, plus a nice screenshot gallery with a slideshow mode.

The SuperSite for Windows had a slightly more pessimistic review, giving the beta 3 points out of 5 (which, I admit, is better than the 1-point rating he gave the last Longhorn release). Despite the review’s author’s rating, he did point out that the Beta 1 of “Whistler” (the codename for Windows XP) only hinted at the quality of the final release. He also said that Vista Beta 1 is actually farther ahead than Whistler Beta 1 was. And I quote, “Maybe this thing isn’t a train wreck after all.”

Later that day on July 27 when Microsoft Windows Vista Beta 1 was released, I started feeling very sick… I really didn’t feel like being on the computer, and therefore didn’t feel up to blog posting. The next day, I was still recovering. And yesterday, I was extremely busy due to miscellaneous reasons.

But today I’m back (at least, I think), ready to keep you informed about the Vista numero uno beta release!

I read this article at the Microsoft Watch website, and it seems Microsoft revealed some features on privacy notices intended for beta testers. This list and the many other lists of features are making my jaw drop… it looks like Windows is finally going to be a real competitor to Mac OS X and Linux.

Some of the Windows Vista features mentioned are:

• An audit feature allowing administrators to monitor the system and create security logs.
• Microsoft Rights Management Services (RMS), which is a Digital Rights Management (DRM) client for applications.
• “Speech Recognizer” speech recognition system that will be available to any application choosing to use it. The Speech Recognizer will adjust to the speaking and grammatical style of the user.
• Driver Protection that will prevent drivers from loading that are listed on a Microsoft database of drivers known to cause problems. This will result in less blue screens of death.
• A “Games Explorer” that will list games installed on the user’s computer, keep track of information (such as the last time each game was played), and receive metadata from Microsoft.
• Peer Name Resolution Service that will allow on-the-fly P2P collaboration.

Some Internet Explorer 7 features:

• Tab support (finally!).
• Phishing Filter.
• Add-on management, which will allow you to manage add-ons such as ActiveX controls, toolbars, etc.
• Add-on crash detection, which will determine which add-on, if any, caused an Internet Explorer crash.

Yesterday I read the following at the Windows Vista FAQ at the SuperSite for Windows:

Q: So when will Windows Vista Beta 1 ship?
A: Microsoft says it will ship Beta 1 to testers by August 3, 2005. However, in a recent Beta 1 briefing, the company recently acknowledged that the July 27, 2005 date for Beta 1 I had previously published is the correct internal goal.

And then I read this PCWorld article saying that Microsoft has apparantly changed the Beta 1 release date to July 27… today!

I’ll be watching the SuperSite for Windows for the Beta 1 review. Since this is a limited beta release, you must be invited by Microsoft to participate. Beta 2, however, will be available to the general public.

Recently I received my driver’s permit. While studying, I found an online permit preparation quiz for the state of Washington, and one of the questions was:

Hmm… each of the options can mean very different things.

• Regulatory sign: Knives and forks must turn right.
• Warning sign: Beware of the dinnerware.
• Service sign: Restaurants to the right.

I wonder which choice is correct.

I read an article from Microsoft Watch that read:

The beta refresh also will include support for longer descriptions of spyware from Microsoft, Bryan said.

Of course, this is just a writing mistake, but still…

Who knew Microsoft Office Clipart contained comic strips? This is something I just discovered recently while using Microsoft Word 2002, and I found a comic strip that I found very entertaining called “Lifecycle of Innovation.” To find this and other comic strips in Microsoft Word 2002 (or possibly other versions), go to Insert > Picture > Clip Art, then search for comic strips. Enjoy!

It’s official: Longhorn, the next version of Windows, is now “Windows Vista.” Microsoft now has an official Windows Vista page on their website, and PCWorld also has a story about the announcement. For more information on why Microsoft chose this name, check out this BetaNews page titled “Microsoft Explains Windows Vista Name.”

I’m surprised Microsoft announced the name so soon and so suddenly; they didn’t “build up suspense” by announcing ahead of time that they were deciding on a name for Longhorn. And Vista isn’t even in Beta 1 yet!

I remember a long time ago (maybe a year or so), I used the “contact us” form on the Microsoft website and gave a suggestion that they call Longhorn “Windows 2006.” I suggested that they make the “6″ in “2006″ a different color in the logo, because Longhorn is Windows NT version 6, right? Like I expected, I never heard back from them. And it seems Microsoft is leaning away from dated product names. If Windows XP were named Windows 2001, then computer-illiterate people who were buying Windows in 2005 might think that this “Windows 2001″ was very outdated.

Microsoft also announced yesterday that Beta 1 of Vista is arriving on August 3. The beta (a beta is a pre-release “testing version” of a product) will only be available to select people and not the general public. The final version of Windows Vista will released in time for the 2006 holiday season.