14 DAY TRIAL // Vista is finally out, Microsoft's employees are quite relaxed, users from all around the world are struggling to buy the latest version of the operating system designed by the software giant. It seems like things are going pretty well for the company that is continuously making predictions for Vista's sales in the entire world. At this time, the most important software firms on the Internet are working hard to make their products Vista compatible or to develop new ones able to run on this edition of the operating system. Although Vista was regarded as the most secure version of Windows, the battle for the best Vista compatible antivirus solution is attracting more and more companies such as Kaspersky Labs, Symantec, F-Secure or SoftWin.
As you surely know, Microsoft owns MSN, a giant solution known in the entire world that is currently offering numerous services including news, forecast and games. At this time, the product contains one of the most popular game platforms, allowing users to play a variety of games including trivia, action, card games, puzzle or arcade. It seems like Microsoft is aiming to develop MSN's games area by adding new products meant to attract even more players and members. The company conducted a market research to find information about the time spent by every American citizen to play online games and published the results on Monday.
"According to a recent survey commissioned by Microsoft Corp.'s MSN Games, one of the world's leading casual gaming sites, Americans are feeling more stressed out and starved for time than ever, with 56 percent of men (age 18 to 34) and 71 percent of women (age 18 to 34) spending less than an hour on themselves a day engaged in activities that provide downtime or alone time and are pampering or relaxing to them. Once considered a simple leisure pursuit, playing casual games - including action and arcade, puzzle, word and trivia, and card and board games - is among the activities men and women said they like to engage in when they have just 20 minutes to "recharge" during the day," it is mentioned in a press release posted on the software giant's website.
As I said, the software giant aims to develop the MSN game area by attracting more users and developers to include new project and products for the service. Probably the best example is Microsoft's initiative to allow game developers to implement their solution into the game portal, a process that also helps the company gather more visitors and obviously more money. Because Microsoft is continuously receiving important revenues for game developers' products, the company decided on Tuesday to offer them a certain percentage of the earnings through the Ad-Share Program.
"Casual game developers traditionally operate on a limited revenue model, typically receiving a set fee from downloadable titles or a small royalty associated with game subscriptions," said Chris Early, studio manager for Microsoft Casual Games at Microsoft. "Now, by sharing in-game advertising revenue, we're allowing a more diversified business model that gives our partners more resources to create new, innovative titles for the 13 million people we see every month on MSN Games," it is mentioned in the announcement.
Windows Vista is surely an operating system that is going to revolutionize our computer activities because Microsoft is continuously trying to advertise the product in the entire world, sustaining it contains the most powerful features ever implemented in a Windows version. The company tried to prepare the product before its release date by announcing exciting features and innovations meant to bring Windows Vista in the spotlights. Microsoft is now aiming to make Vista the main operating system for numerous companies, saying the operating system will create up to 5000 new jobs in Illinois if the firms acquire the product.
"The Illinois IT industry is expected to experience a significant financial impact as a result of the launch of the Windows Vista operating system. According to a research study recently completed by IDC and commissioned by Microsoft Corp., within the first year of the Windows Vista shipment, Illinois' IT industry will begin seeing considerable increases in new jobs and revenue. The study's findings indicate that Windows Vista will provide a foundation for the IT market, with more than 17 percent of total IT employment being related to Windows Vista. In addition, total Windows-related employment in Illinois is expected to jump by more than 5,000 new jobs," Microsoft sustained in a press release published on Wednesday.
The software giant is that kind of company that wants to attract all kinds of customers, no matter whether they represent a home user, a small company or a worldwide firm. That's why Microsoft developed an impressive number of solutions designed to help small businesses by providing them powerful features to help increase their profits. On Thursday, Microsoft announced a web seminar designed especially for small businesses and meant to enable them to succeed in a competitive market.
"The free series gives entrepreneurs access to today's most dynamic business leaders. During these interactive presentations, speakers will address issues and concerns that small businesses face and provide valuable insight and strategic counsel to help organizations survive and grow. Hosted by Susan Wilson Solovic, CEO and chairman of SBTV.com, the Web-based television network focused on small business, the Web seminars will feature small-business topics ranging from guerrilla marketing to leadership skills and entrepreneurship," Microsoft sustained.
Although Windows Vista is regarded as a secure operating system, numerous software developers already started to design new solutions or even revealed beta versions of their applications meant to increase the security of the application. As you might know, Vista contains multiple security tools such as Application Control, Firewall and Windows Defender, an antispyware tool that helps you protect the computer against malicious files.
At this time, the most important battle concerns the best antivirus solution especially designed for Vista that attracts more and more companies. Virus Bulletin, one of the most known security firms, started a test session meant to check the features of every Vista compatible antivirus tool.
The company reported on Friday that Kaspersky is currently the most efficient product because it managed to block and remove 100 percent of the malicious files. McAfee's application was one of the weakest tools because the researchers discovered a bug that blocked the product's attempt to update its antivirus database, so the users can remain vulnerable to infections.
