Microsoft releases F# under open source license

Microsoft has released into full open source the code of its functional programming language, called F#.

The company has made version 2.0 of F# compiler and core library available under an Apache 2.0 open source license, according to a blog item posted by Don Syme, a Microsoft principal researcher who developed and maintains the code.

"This release reinforces the commitment Microsoft are making to F#," Syme wrote.

Formerly, the code was available under a Microsoft shared-source license, and the binary, or ready-to-run, versions have been free for downloading for some time, either as a stand-alone package or as a plug-in to Microsoft Visual Studio.

With the release, the development team will move to what they call the "code drop" model, in which new versions of compiler library code will be released along with new releases of the language itself. The code is made available as part of the F# PowerPack.

F# is a functional programming language. Programs written in functional languages are different from most procedural languages, such as Java, in that they are written as a series of mathematical functions.

Although widely considered to be more efficient than standard procedural languages, traditional functional languages, such as Haskell and OCaml, have gained a reputation for being difficult to use. F# updates the traditional functional paradigm by adding in modern programming concepts such as object oriented programming,

Microsoft releases F# under open source license

Microsoft has released into full open source the code of its functional programming language, called F#.

The company has made version 2.0 of F# compiler and core library available under an Apache 2.0 open source license, according to a blog item posted by Don Syme, a Microsoft principal researcher who developed and maintains the code.

"This release reinforces the commitment Microsoft are making to F#," Syme wrote.

Formerly, the code was available under a Microsoft shared-source license, and the binary, or ready-to-run, versions have been free for downloading for some time, either as a stand-alone package or as a plug-in to Microsoft Visual Studio.

With the release, the development team will move to what they call the "code drop" model, in which new versions of compiler library code will be released along with new releases of the language itself. The code is made available as part of the F# PowerPack.

F# is a functional programming language. Programs written in functional languages are different from most procedural languages, such as Java, in that they are written as a series of mathematical functions.

Although widely considered to be more efficient than standard procedural languages, traditional functional languages, such as Haskell and OCaml, have gained a reputation for being difficult to use. F# updates the traditional functional paradigm by adding in modern programming concepts such as object oriented programming,

Security firm protests Microsoft updates

Microsoft has added its Windows Security Essentials package to the list of optional downloads available through its automated updates. That’s prompted complaints from one security software manufacturer that such practice is uncompetitive.
Trend Micro says tying the Windows Update system to software applications may breach competition rules. It describes Microsoft’s actions as “a vendor using market leverage to drive its solution in some unfair way.”
The dispute may become extremely complicated from a legal perspective thanks to the way Microsoft is distributing the security software. Technically its on offer through Microsoft Update, which takes care of updates for standalone Microsoft updates, rather than through Windows Update, which does the same for the operating system itself.
However, in Vista and Windows 7, Windows Update automatically checks for updates from Microsoft Update. (See what I mean about confusing?)
For its part, Microsoft is stressing that the service is an entirely optional download and that no users will have it installed unless they specifically opt to do so. (That’s in contrast to Internet Explorer being installed by default in Windows which, to say the least, has caused regulatory problems.) It also notes that Windows Security Essentials is only offered to customers who don’t appear to have any form of security product already in place.
To me, this appears to be a case of Microsoft’s past behavior coming back to bite it. In principle, a software company producing free security software and offering it on an optional basis to users that don’t already have a rival security package in place should be seen as a good thing.
The problem is that Microsoft has such as history of blurring the line between Windows and Microsoft-produced applications that it shouldn’t really be surprising when an independent application developer comes up with such a complaint, even if, as seems to be the case here, it’s simply trying its luck.

Security firm protests Microsoft updates

Microsoft has added its Windows Security Essentials package to the list of optional downloads available through its automated updates. That’s prompted complaints from one security software manufacturer that such practice is uncompetitive.
Trend Micro says tying the Windows Update system to software applications may breach competition rules. It describes Microsoft’s actions as “a vendor using market leverage to drive its solution in some unfair way.”
The dispute may become extremely complicated from a legal perspective thanks to the way Microsoft is distributing the security software. Technically its on offer through Microsoft Update, which takes care of updates for standalone Microsoft updates, rather than through Windows Update, which does the same for the operating system itself.
However, in Vista and Windows 7, Windows Update automatically checks for updates from Microsoft Update. (See what I mean about confusing?)
For its part, Microsoft is stressing that the service is an entirely optional download and that no users will have it installed unless they specifically opt to do so. (That’s in contrast to Internet Explorer being installed by default in Windows which, to say the least, has caused regulatory problems.) It also notes that Windows Security Essentials is only offered to customers who don’t appear to have any form of security product already in place.
To me, this appears to be a case of Microsoft’s past behavior coming back to bite it. In principle, a software company producing free security software and offering it on an optional basis to users that don’t already have a rival security package in place should be seen as a good thing.
The problem is that Microsoft has such as history of blurring the line between Windows and Microsoft-produced applications that it shouldn’t really be surprising when an independent application developer comes up with such a complaint, even if, as seems to be the case here, it’s simply trying its luck.

Microsoft Rolls Out Redesigned Dashboard Ahead Of Kinect Launch Xbox 360 News

Xbox 360
Welcome! Our site has all the latest news highlights on Xbox 360 to be seen online. The headlines here represent the most current “Xbox 360” highlights. come back soon for more of the latest Xbox 360 highlights Go get it! Happy reading!.

Microsoft Rolls Out Redesigned Dashboard Ahead Of Kinect Launch

 

 

 

 

 

 

Microsoft has launched its latest Xbox 360 dashboard update, which includes Kinect support, ESPN programming, Zune integration, and more. The new Xbox Live dashboard updates the Xbox 360 UI and allows users to navigate menus and voice chat with others using the impending Kinect hardware, and updates the proportions of Xbox Live Avatars to be better suited for Kinect-based games. Xbox Live gold …

Into — and part of — the game
The top researcher at Microsoft Corp. came to the campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy on Tuesday to demonstrate the technology behind the new Kinect console for Xbox 360, which will be released Thursday and is expected to be one of the hottest gifts this holiday season. Kinect, essentially a sensor that allows Xbox 360 users to become part of a video game, will retail for about …


Xbox 360 update!

 

Microsoft Rolls Out Redesigned Dashboard Ahead Of Kinect Launch Xbox 360 News

Xbox 360
Welcome! Our site has all the latest news highlights on Xbox 360 to be seen online. The headlines here represent the most current “Xbox 360” highlights. come back soon for more of the latest Xbox 360 highlights Go get it! Happy reading!.

Microsoft Rolls Out Redesigned Dashboard Ahead Of Kinect Launch

 

 

 

 

 

 

Microsoft has launched its latest Xbox 360 dashboard update, which includes Kinect support, ESPN programming, Zune integration, and more. The new Xbox Live dashboard updates the Xbox 360 UI and allows users to navigate menus and voice chat with others using the impending Kinect hardware, and updates the proportions of Xbox Live Avatars to be better suited for Kinect-based games. Xbox Live gold …

Into — and part of — the game
The top researcher at Microsoft Corp. came to the campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy on Tuesday to demonstrate the technology behind the new Kinect console for Xbox 360, which will be released Thursday and is expected to be one of the hottest gifts this holiday season. Kinect, essentially a sensor that allows Xbox 360 users to become part of a video game, will retail for about …


Xbox 360 update!

 

Windows Phone 7 could hit HTC HD2 after all

xda-developers.com became large with updates to HTC’s classic Windows Mobile devices – now that Microsoft wants to handle updates itself, the website will probably loose a bit of its flair.
Nevertheless, it is still the destination number one for people who are into Windows Phone for the HTC HD2. Engadget now reports the following:

… it looks like a port won’t make it into the wild before the platform’s formal US launch. That doesn’t mean you should give up hope, however, because one variant seems to be at least partway done, winding its merry way from boot through the splash screen and deep into the speedy UI in a far more convincing video demo …

Even though no official demo has been released as of this writing, hit the URL below to see a few videos of the app in question:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/06/htc-hd2-runs-windows-phone-7-makes-us-yearn-for-more-video/