Microsoft late last week dropped a limitation from the Windows 7 Starter edition that would have blocked users from running more than three applications at the same time, Windows 7 Starter edition is expected to ship on most Netbooks

In an entry on the Windows Team Blog, Microsoft spokesman Brandon LeBlanc announced the change, he stated: “Based on the feedback we’ve received from partners and customers asking us to enable a richer small notebook PC experience with Windows 7 Starter … we are going to enable Windows 7 Starter customers the ability to run as many applications simultaneously as they would like, instead of being constricted to the 3-application limit that the previous Starter editions.” .

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Microsoft has issued a security advisory (971778) warning that hackers are exploiting an un-patched critical vulnerability in Windows DirectX used by Gamers and for streaming video from Web sites.

Hackers are using malicious QuickTime files (Apple’s default video format) to hijack PCs, in the advisory Microsoft said. “The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if the user opened a specially crafted QuickTime media file … Microsoft is aware of limited, active attacks that use this exploit code.”

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With the full version of Windows 7 just around the corner many of my students have been using the Beta and RC versions for testing

I have been asked by several of you “When will my test version of Windows 7 expire?”. The following table just confirms the expiry dates for those testing Windows 7, Beta and Release Candidate (RC).

Please note this updated information has been provided by Microsoft

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) has finally been released to the public for download. Vista SP2 includes new support for recording Blu-ray discs, updated support for Bluetooth v2.1 and bug fixes that address slow shutdowns and crashes.

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Steven Sinofsky, senior vice president of Microsoft’s Windows engineering group, said in a blog post last week that Microsoft is on track to ship the RTM of Windows 7 to computer manufacturers in August this year.

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Just days after it launched Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC), Microsoft has released a fix for a major flaw that slipped through testing.

The patch, which Microsoft describes as an “Important” update when it appears in Windows Update. Depending on Windows 7′s Automatic Updates setting, the fix may have already been downloaded and installed.

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Microsoft have now made available a beta version of their Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, this tool is designed to evaluate computers hardware for Windows 7 upgrade readiness.

Brandon LeBlanc, Windows communications manager on the Windows Client Communications Team stated: “Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor examines a PC’s processor, memory, storage, and graphics capabilities, identifies known compatibility issues with installed software and devices and finally provides guidance on how to resolve those issues if possible.” He continued: “Please also note: Windows XP users are required to do a clean install of the Windows 7 RC as well as the final product. Only PCs with Windows Vista can be upgraded to Windows 7,”

The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor Beta is available for download From Here

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Microsoft last night released to the public as promised the Windows 7 RC, there appeared not to be any problems this morning when I downloaded the product from the Microsoft site which had struggled last week with the volume of MSDN and TechNet subscribers wanting to download the RC when it was made available to them

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