Microsoft has released the final version of its new anti-virus and anti-spyware program "Microsoft Security Essentials" aka MSE (version 1.0, build 1.0.1611.0) that provides protection against viruses, spyware, rootkits, and trojans for Windows XP, Vista, and 7. Microsoft has always recommended that its users use real-time antimalware protection, but this release will mark the company's first free solution.

MSE replaces Windows Live OneCare — a subscription antivirus service — and Windows Defender, which only protects users from adware and spyware. MSE is a small-footprint program ideal for computers that lack processing power or broadband Internet connections, such as netbooks. It's very easy to install Security Essentials and using it is even easier than one might expect. Updates and upgrades are automatic, so there's no need to worry about having the latest protection. It's easy to tell if you're protected – when the Security Essentials icon is green, your status is good. It's as simple as that.

Microsoft announced Morro on November 18, 2008. It marked a change in Microsoft's consumer antivirus marketing strategy. Instead of offering a subscription antivirus with a host of other tools — parental controls, photo backup, and a firewall, Morro would be free for all genuine installations of Windows and simply offer protection against malware. Microsoft Forefront will be offered alongside Morro, with central management tools not present in Morro. While OneCare offered a Managed Firewall, PC Performance Tuning, Data and Restore, Multi-PC Management, and Printer Sharing, MSE is really closer to Forefront Client Security, Microsoft's antivirus product for the enterprise. MSE is a basic security suite designed for consumers but based on the Forefront Client Security desktop agent, solely providing malware detection and removal, but lacking Forefront Client Security's centralized management features. It includes the same antimalware engine (dubbed "Microsoft Malware Protection Engine", or MSMPENG for short), and virus definitions that all other Microsoft desktop antimalware products share, including Forefront Client Security, Windows Live OneCare, and Windows Defender (Defender excludes the antivirus definitions which are separate from the antispyware definitions).

Before installation, MSE checks for a validated copy of Windows. No registration or personal information is required. The program will disable Windows Defender, as it provides protection against malware, not limited to spyware and adware. Updates are published 3 times a day to Microsoft Update. Using default settings, archived files are decompressed, and then scanned. File downloads and e-mail attachments are also scanned. Its Dynamic Signature Service attempts to better identify malicious files by checking for updates if an application exhibits suspicious behavior. Before taking action against a suspect file, MSE prompts for user input. If no response is received in 10 minutes, then the suspected malware is handled according to its default action, letting MSE determine what to do with the malware. System Restore points are created before removing found malware.

That shiny, new netbook you’re using does everything you want it to do, but Windows XP is definitely showing its age with the old-school interface. What you need is a free utility that adds lots of features with updated graphics. That’s where XPize comes in, as it adds lots of pretty bells and whistles.

XPize is the product of a project run by volunteer developers, and it updates many of the UI elements in Windows XP to make them look fresher. It adds a number of nice visual styles that don’t change Windows XP; they just make it look more modern. It is perfect for netbooks, most of which run XP. Give it a try if you want to spruce up that old XP interface. There is also a Vize for you Vista users, and the group plans a Sevenize once Windows 7 is released.

Unlike simply patching the theme.dll file—a common and old way of swapping out the appearance of Windows XP with non-Microsoft themes—XPize actually updates icons and interface components across the board. You'll no longer be stuck with some semi-modern looking icons and some dinosaur'ish Windows 98-era icon design that Microsoft never got around to polishing up for the XP release.

XPize comes pre-bundled with several alternative XP themes and allows you to not only change the main theme and enjoy newer icons, but it also allows you to do some deeper tweaking like easily swapping out the login and shut down menus. If you've been hesitant to muck around with such matters, XPize makes it nearly automatic—all you need to do is pick the look you want and reboot. XPize is freeware, Windows only.

Google Docs Viewer is a new online service by the Google Docs team that makes it possible to view document like Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word or Microsoft PowerPoint directly in the web browser. The advantage of this option is that it is no longer required to download the document to the local computer system to view it. There are obviously other services that offer a similar functionality like the Firefox add-on Open It Online. The main difference is that Google Docs Viewer is not limited to a specific plugin, web browser or software.

There are two options on how to use Google Docs Viewer:

The first option is to visit the Google Docs Viewer website. All it takes to view a document online is to paste its url into the web form at the page. This will then display three links that can be pasted and embedded into websites. Probably the most interesting option is to view the document directly online. This will open the document on a new page.

The second option is even simpler than that. All it takes is to append the url of the document to the basic Google Docs Viewer url:

http://docs.google.com/gview?url=

This will only display the document on a new page. The links to embed the document are not displayed with this method. Google Docs Viewer offers an interesting option to users who want to quickly view a document without having to download it. It can also be helpful if no viewer for the document type is available on the local computer system.

Radiohead has already done it and now another well-known group is releasing its latest album for free, but this release is on a much bigger scale.

Smashing Pumpkins has announced through its official website that the latest album, entitled Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, will be released for free on the Internet. The new material consists of 44 new tracks which will be released one at a time beginning on Halloween. The posting makes it very clear these are totally free with no information required from the downloader:

Each song will be made available absolutely for free, to anyone anywhere. There will be no strings attached. Free will mean free, which means you won’t have to sign up for anything, give an email address, or jump through a hoop. You will be able to go and take the song or songs as you wish, as many times as you wish.

Once all the songs are available Smashing Pumpkins will then release the money-making versions. Those will include a very limited release of 11 EP’s each containing 4 songs with collectible art and possibly additional material included. There will also be digital, paid-for releases of some songs that come with additional demo versions of tracks not otherwise available. Finally a deluxe box set will also be available that contains all the songs, but not all of the material available in the EP’s.

These different versions of the song releases are aimed at collectors with the 44 tracks remaining available for free alongside them. So far the group has 53 songs to play with making it clear if you pay for the music you are going to get something extra. Read more at SmashingPumpkins.com

Windows only: Microsoft's Zune HD was released yesterday and it looks great, but whether you've got the latest Zune, an older model, or just like the Zune desktop player, Zune 4.0 brings new features and an improved look to desktop music players.

The Zune player sets itself apart from iTunes in one important way (not including the whole iPod vs. Zune support). As the Zune marketing folks put it: "Browse music, not spreadsheets." That is to say, the Zune player doesn't have the all-business text columns like iTunes, focusing instead on a rich graphical interface. (Though iTunes album views have headed in this direction, too.) It's a refreshing way to look at music, even though after playing with it, I'm not sure I really like it better. It seems better suited for a television and remote than monitor and mouse, and the way the new Quickplay page reacts to my mouse movements takes some getting used to. That said, it does look very nice. The update has also added:

• A new Quickplay page gives you "instant access to the stuff you care about most with shortcuts to favorites, recently downloaded or played music, and more."
• The Smart DJ feature can generate related playlists starting from any song on your computer and some music from the Zune Marketplace. (Think of it like Genius in iTunes.)
• An expanded Zune Marketplace includes more HD movies and TV shows.

Zune 4.0 is a free download, available for Windows 7, Vista, or XP. If you have a 64-bit version of Windows 7 or Vista, download the 64-bit version of the Zune software.

The only option to install Google Chrome that is provided on the official website of the Google browser is an online installer that will perform the installation right after clicking on the install link. Some users and administrators might need a different solution. This can be because of firewall or network rules, distribution on computer systems that are not connected to the Internet or to save bandwidth by using the same installer on multiple computer systems.

There are probably additional reasons for a Google Chrome offline installer. There is however an easy – but somewhat hidden – option for users who want to download an offline installer for Google Chrome.

All that these users need to do is to append the parameter standalone=1 to the website where Google Chrome can be downloaded. Here are the two download links for the latest official and latest beta version of the Google browser:

Latest versions: Google Chrome Official and Google Chrome Beta

This will download the full installer of the selected Google Chrome browser to the local computer system. It is then possible to install Google Chrome without Internet connection by simply distributing the offline installer to the computer system where it should be installed.

The Google Chrome developers mentioned that it might not be possible to auto-update these versions of the Google Chrome browser. The auto update service should however be active when downloading the offline installers. They should work normally if an Internet connection is present to check for updates

Still not sure whether or not Windows 7 is a good fit for your workplace? Missed out on the RC download and wish you had something you could evaluate? You're in luck. Microsoft has made a 90-day trial download of Windows 7 Enterprise available. You can download the ISO image now. This is the RTM version, not the RC. What you're downloading is the same OS that will be available for purchase in a couple of months.
Both the 32 and 64-bit versions are available, and you don't have to be a member of TechNet, MSDN, the Partner Program, or have a Software Assurance agreement.

Just head to this page with your Windows Live ID handy to sign up. Officially, only IT professionals—you know, people who'd actually install the Enterprise edition—can download the installer disc image. Here's what the official FAQ says:

"IT pros, IT decision makers, and developers who are looking to test their hardware, software, and deployment strategies on Windows 7 can download the Windows 7 Enterprise 90-Day Trial. You must correctly fill-out a survey to gain access to the download. Incorrect or incomplete surveys will be denied access to download Windows 7 Enterprise 90-Day Trial."

However, the survey doesn't appear to involve any background checking. As far as we can tell, anyone could claim to be an IT manager and download the installation image without issue. We wouldn't condone such blatant disregard for the rules, of course.

The FAQ also notes that the 90-day trial has a "product key built in," so no need to key in numbers during the installation. Just make sure to let the operating system activate within 10 days, or it'll start shutting down every hour. According to Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows, the Enterprise edition of Windows 7 has the same features as the retail Ultimate edition. In other words, it includes all of the goodies from the Home Premium and Business editions plus a handful of others.

[via Windows Team Blog]