KludgeHack

Windows Home Server Release Candidate for Download
13 June 2007 in Microsoft & OS & Windows | Comments (0)

Microsoft’s centralized home media server is ready for testing. Go to the Windows Home Server page on Microsoft’s Connect site and complete the quick survey. Then, you’ll be sent a link enabling you to download the server software for free. Test it out by setting it up on a spare machine in your house. You will also need a Live.com login to participate. Kind of a bummer that Microsoft is making us jump through so many hoops to test its software, but hey — it’s free!

The Windows Home Server runs on your LAN and hosts all of your music, movies and digital media, making the files instantly accessible to all of the computers in your home. As a development platform, Windows Home Server offers hardware and software developers tremendous opportunities to build innovative solutions.

Don’t forget their Fame and Fortune challenge. You can still win $50,000 in prizes.

3D Physics XBAP
16 May 2007 in Fun & Programming & Windows | Comments (0)

Chris Cavanagh some weeks ago created a very nice 3D Physics XBAP (Windows WPF) example just to show the WPF/XNA capabilities.

The code is available on CodePlex. The XBAP is also available here.

Now, the people at theWPFblog created an modified version on Chris code, called Poopr. The application is rather strange, mainly because allows the user to make a person poop. Ignoring the concept, there are some great sound effects and graphics.

Its available as ClickOnce application here.

IE Developer Toolbar
12 May 2007 in Microsoft & Programming & Windows | Comments (0)

After a lot time of beta testing, Microsoft finally made available the final version of its Developer Toolbar for Internet Explorer 6 and 7. The add-on enables users to analyze the code of a Web page by color coding the HTML source, matching CSS selectors to page elements, and even offering a pixel ruler.

While the 1.0 release offers no new functionality over Beta 3, Microsoft says it has improved reliability and the fit-and-finish of the toolbar.

I personally see this as a Microsoft response to so many people that constantly request tools and mostly an easier development process in IE.

Similar toolbars are available for Firefox and Opera.

Linux and Windows Kernel Comparison
9 May 2007 in Linux & OS & Windows | Comments (0)

This wiki provides a comprehensive kernel comparison of the latest most popular Unix style kernel (Linux 2.6.21) versus the latest most popular kernel (Windows Vista).

The wiki is only open to editing by invitation.

On this matter, there’s also notes on TechEd 2004 Mark Russinovich Session on “Linux and Windows Kernel Comparison”.

If Operating Systems ran the Airlines…
25 February 2007 in Windows | Comments (0)

Seems like everyone is now taking on Vista… This comparision is very interesting.
What if the experience with Operating Systems was applied to Airlines?

UNIX Airways

Everyone brings one piece of the plane along when they come to the airport. They all go out on the runway and put the plane together piece by piece, arguing non-stop about what kind of plane they are supposed to be building.

Air DOS

Everybody pushes the airplane until it glides, then they jump on and let the plane coast until it hits the ground again. Then they push again, jump on again, and so on…

Mac Airlines

All the stewards, captains, baggage handlers, and ticket agents look and act exactly the same. Every time you ask questions about details, you are gently but firmly told that you don’t need to know, don’t want to know, and everything will be done for you without your ever having to know, so just shut up.

Windows Air

The terminal is pretty and colourful, with friendly stewards, easy baggage check and boarding, and a smooth take-off. After about 10 minutes in the air, the plane explodes with no warning whatsoever.

Windows NT Air

Just like Windows Air, but costs more, uses much bigger planes, and takes out all the other aircraft within a 40-mile radius when it explodes.

Windows XP Air

You turn up at the airport,which is under contract to only allow XP Air planes. All the aircraft are identical, brightly coloured and three times as big as they need to be. The signs are huge and all point the same way. Whichever way you go, someone pops up dressed in a cloak and pointed hat insisting you follow him. Your luggage and clothes are taken off you and replaced with an XP Air suit and suitcase identical to everyone around you as this is included in the exorbitant ticket cost. The aircraft will not take off until you have signed a contract. The inflight entertainment promised turns out to be the same Mickey Mouse cartoon repeated over and over again. You have to phone your travel agent before you can have a meal or drink. You are searched regularly throughout the flight. If you go to the toilet twice or more you get charged for a new ticket. No matter what destination you booked you will always end up crash landing at Whistler in Canada.

Linux Air

Disgruntled employees of all the other OS airlines decide to start their own airline. They build the planes, ticket counters, and pave the runways themselves. They charge a small fee to cover the cost of printing the ticket, but you can also download and print the ticket yourself.

When you board the plane, you are given a seat, four bolts, a wrench and a copy of the seat-HOWTO.html. Once settled, the fully adjustable seat is very comfortable, the plane leaves and arrives on time without a single problem, the in-flight meal is wonderful. You try to tell customers of the other airlines about the great trip, but all they can say is, “You had to do what with the seat?”