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<img alt="" height="1" width="1"> Windows "Workstation" 2008 Clobbers Vista in Benchmark Testing InfoWorld, CA - Mar 5, 2008 You can read all the gory details over at the exo.blog site. Suffice to say that there's a new option for power users who are fed-up with Vista's ... More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

After installing IE8 Beta 1, WPF can no longer display images that have a web URI. I un-installed IE8, it fixed the problem, re-installed it and the problem showed up again. Here is a test program that illustrates the problem: ******* private void Window_Loaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e) ******* { *********** try *********** { *************** BitmapImage bitmap = new BitmapImage(); *************** bitmap.BeginInit(); *************** bitmap.UriSource = new Uri( ******************* "http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/images/gallery/logos/web/mslogo-1.jpg", ******************* UriKind.Absolute); *************** bitmap.EndInit(); *************** Image img = new Image(); *************** img.Source = bitmap; *************** grid.Children.Add(img); *********** } *********** catch (Exception ex) *********** { *************** MessageBox.Show(string.Format("{0}\r\n\r\n{1}", ex.Message, ex.StackTrace)); *********** } ******* } Here are some details on the exception that is thrown at bitmap.EndInit(): ex.Message Value does not fall within the expected rage. ex.StackTrace at System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ThrowExceptionForHRInternal(Int32 errorCode, IntPtr errorInfo) at MS.Win32.WinInet.get_InternetCacheFolder() at System.Windows.Media.Imaging.BitmapDownload.BeginDownload( ** BitmapDecoder decoder, Uri uri, RequestCachePolicy uriCachePolicy, Stream stream) at System.Windows.Media.Imaging.LateBoundBitmapDecoder..ctor( ** Uri baseUri, Uri uri, Stream stream, BitmapCreateOptions createOptions, ** BitmapCacheOption cacheOption, RequestCachePolicy requestCachePolicy) at System.Windows.Media.Imaging.BitmapDecoder.CreateFromUriOrStream( ** Uri baseUri, Uri uri, Stream stream, BitmapCreateOptions createOptions, ** BitmapCacheOption cacheOption, RequestCachePolicy uriCachePolicy, ** Boolean insertInDecoderCache) at System.Windows.Media.Imaging.BitmapImage.FinalizeCreation() at System.Windows.Media.Imaging.BitmapImage.EndInit() at WpfApplication5.Window1.Window_Loaded(Object sender, RoutedEventArgs e) Here are a few "high level" things I tried to do to fix the problem: - Changing the UriCachePolicy of the BitmapImage: none of the RequestCacheLevel enumeration values was able to fix the problem. - Deleting the IE Cache: no luck here - Running the test Program as Admin: no luck either The next thing I did was setting up the .NET Framework Source Code Debugging (link): I stepped into the code from the bitmap.EndInit() call to the MS.Win32.WinInet.get_InternetCacheFolder() call, I found that the problem occurs in the native calls to GetUrlCacheConfigInfo, which is located in wininet.dll. This DLL fails to return the internet cache folder properly. *** internal static Uri InternetCacheFolder *** { ******* [securityCritical] ******* get ******* { *********** // copied value 260 from orginal implementation in BitmapDownload.cs *********** const int maxPathSize = 260; *********** const UInt32 fieldControl = (UInt32)maxPathSize; * *********** NativeMethods.InternetCacheConfigInfo icci = *************** new NativeMethods.InternetCacheConfigInfo(); *********** icci.CachePath = new string(new char[maxPathSize]); *********** UInt32 size = (UInt32)Marshal.SizeOf(icci); *********** bool passed = UnsafeNativeMethods.GetUrlCacheConfigInfo( *************** ref icci, *************** ref size, *************** fieldControl); *********** if (!passed) *********** { *************** int hr = Marshal.GetHRForLastWin32Error(); *************** if (hr != 0) *************** { ******************* Marshal.ThrowExceptionForHR(hr); *************** } *********** } *********** return new Uri(icci.CachePath); ******* } *** } I checked the version number of this DLL, and it matches IE8 Beta1's version number: 9.0.6001.17184 Now that I know the problem is not in WPF itself, I would like to know if XP users are having the same problem. You could simply create a simple wpf program like my test program, or xaml something like this: <font color="#0000ff" size=2><font color="#0000ff" size=2> *** *******

caused by people being totally unaware of the stationary light posts in their path as they are txting or otherwise distracted by some gadget. Story about the test program of wrapping the lampposts with padding: Here. Now the question, after you've walked into the padded lamppost, would to pay any attention to the advertisement plastered on it? I could never understand why people would let a gadget override common sense... it really shouldn't take that much time to check where you're going and that your path is clear while doing something else. Since you tend to lose your peripheral vision while paying attention to something, should it make sense that you need to compensate by taking a quick look ahead every so often? More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

Is it possible to use the Speech API and make it talk in french ? I've found nothing on the subject. Thanks. More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

<img alt="" height="1" width="1"> Microsoft's Vista Ultimate Woes Continue Appscout, NY - Mar 5, 2008 "We will be releasing Windows Vista SP1 in two 'waves,'" Microsoft's Nick White wrote in a company blog post on Monday. "The first wave will only provide ... More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

<img alt="" height="1" width="1"> Windows "Workstation" 2008 Clobbers Vista in Benchmark Testing InfoWorld, CA - Mar 5, 2008 You can read all the gory details over at the exo.blog site. Suffice to say that there's a new option for power users who are fed-up with Vista's ... More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

http://www.istartedsomething.com/20080307/steve-ballmer-screams-web-developers/ Seriously, isn't there anything that Microsoft can do to keep this guy off stage? He really isn't helping Microsoft's public image. I mean, c'mon! Can't you hear the waves of nervous laughter and second-hand embarrassment going through the audience? Do yourselves a favor: Keep Ballmer Off Stage! More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

http://ms-os.com/ Seattle Post Intelligencer <img alt="" height="1" width="1"> Ballmer lets out his inner Monkey at Mix08 event Seattle Post Intelligencer - 7 minutes ago ... and it became part of the conversation when he asked Ballmer about the problems PC users have experienced with Windows Vista, the latest version of ... More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

<img alt="" height="1" width="1"> Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 delayed Register, UK - Mar 4, 2008 White said on his blog that Vista Ultimate users shouldn't worry. "The language packs are on their way. We will have more information on exactly when very ... More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

<img alt="" height="1" width="1"> US: Wal-Mart unleashes employees in blogs FreshPlaza, Netherlands - 12 minutes ago ... manager for Wal-Mart's entertainment division, who blogs about computers and electronics - and who wrote the lukewarm review of Windows Vista. ... More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

Mobile Converter, 3GP Converter, 3G2 Converter, VOB to 3GP, Convert VOB to 3GP http://www.psp-mp4-converter.net/bliss-vob-to-3gp.html More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

<img alt="" height="1" width="1"> Ballmer lets out his inner Monkey at Mix08 event Seattle Post Intelligencer - 10 hours ago ... and it became part of the conversation when he asked Ballmer about the problems PC users have experienced with Windows Vista, the latest version of ... More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

<img alt="" height="1" width="1"> Blog: Vista still looks expensive after cuts New Zealand Herald, New Zealand - Mar 5, 2008 Microsoft has come out with plans to cut the price of Windows Vista around the world and today revealed the New Zealand price cuts for the operating system ... More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

It's all gone quiet - anyone have any more information on release dates etc? More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

Each of the computers that my app runs on has a SQL express database. However, it seems that over the course of a few months, the performance of the database seems to be degrading, with occasional timeouts etc too. I have tried running the expressmaint utility, using both REINDEX and REORG, and I am waiting to hear whether that has been successful from my sites. Should the utility make a difference? Also, is there anything else I should be running against these databases to keep the performance optimal? The application is pretty hard on the database, It can be running a few thousand inserts throughout the day, along with lots of queries, and deletes.... More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

<img alt="" height="1" width="1"> Microsoft's pants down Asia Times Online, Hong Kong - 13 minutes ago A 158-page PDF document was released as part of a court's decision in a class action suit against Microsoft's "Designed for Windows XP"/"Vista ... More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

Internet Explorer 8 Beta had its premiere on Wednesday in Las Vegas at the MIX08.* Yesterday in Hannover, Germany IE8 made its debut in Europe at the CeBIT.* Shola Aluko, Microsoft Senior Product Manager Internet Explorer was at the CeBIT to do a session on Internet Explorer 8 Beta for Developers.* Check out the video to find out what's new*in the next generation browser. Internet*Explorer 8 Beta Website (English): http://www.microsoft.com/ie/ie8 * Listen to the podcast(MP3) Listen to the podcast(WMA) Download the Video Watch the Video More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

In diesem Vortrag zeigen wir eine der wichtigsten Neuerungen in der Administration von SQL Server 2008: die richtlinienbasierte Verwaltung. Dieses Feature ermöglicht es, ähnlich den Gruppenrichtlinien in Active Directory Konfigurationseinstellungen in SQL Server 2008 zentral durchzusetzen und somit auf einfache Weise eine einheitliche Konfiguration von Servern und Datenbanken zu gewährleisten. Speaker: Steffen Krause Download the Video Watch the Video More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

Dieser Vortrag gibt einen Überblick über die Neuerungen in Visual Studio 2008 und dem dazugehörigen .NET Framework 3.5. Ob es nun die neuen Designer für Architekten und Entwickler sind, die Integration von Technologien wie WPF, WCF oder WF oder Sprachfeatures wie LINQ - in dieser Session erfahren Sie, welche Möglichkeiten sich damit für den Entwickler ergeben. Speaker:* Dirk Primbs Download the Video Watch the Video More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

Lifetime DVD to Xbox 360 is a professional video converter to convert almost all popular video/movie formats to Xbox MP4 format. The output Xbox MP4 video files can be played on your Apple Xbox. All popular video/movie formats are supported, including AVI, MPEG/MPG/DAT, WMV, ASF, MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, H264, MPEG4, AVC, MOV, QT, DivX, XviD, VOB, FLV, etc. The amazing output quality with super fast conversion speed is brough you by the built-in power MPEG4 encoder. All the output Xbox MP4 videos fit your Apple Xbox http://www.iphone-software.org/download/b09/dvdtoxbox360.exe More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

Or more specifically, to Americans who've visited Britain...* my Google-fu is failing me here. Does anyone have any pointers to a US 3-pin (grounded) to UK AC power adapter?* No need for a voltage converter:* my laptop's power supply can take 240 V; I'm just having trouble finding an adapter that's got a grounded US socket (my laptop has a grounded plug). One would think this wouldn't be that hard to find, seeing as standard UK outlets require a ground pin... More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

For those of you who don't know about the Smart Client Software Factory and Composite Application Block, here's word of a new WPF version of the framework. Think next-gen windows forms client-side plug-in architecture, where plug-ins cull their content from nearly anywhere on the network/online. This is my favorite quote about the new .NET 3.0 WPF development paradigm shift: http://ms-os.com/Themes/AlmostGlass/images/icon-quote.gif Glen Block wrote: The transition from WinForms to WPF requires substantial effort and most developers face a steep learning curve. More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

<img alt="" height="1" width="1"> Microsoft's Vista Ultimate Woes Continue Appscout, NY - Mar 5, 2008 "We will be releasing Windows Vista SP1 in two 'waves,'" Microsoft's Nick White wrote in a company blog post on Monday. "The first wave will only provide ... More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

<img alt="" height="1" width="1"> Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 delayed Register, UK - Mar 4, 2008 White said on his blog that Vista Ultimate users shouldn't worry. "The language packs are on their way. We will have more information on exactly when very ... More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds

Does anyone know if there is a proper way for a thread to end without passing back through all the calls. For example assume the Thread is Async*invoked on SubA. Public SubA ******SubB ******SubC ******SubD End Sub Public SubB ******'Kill Thread End Sub Is there a way for SubB to signal the end for this thread and return to the callback sub therefore bypassing the calls to Subs C and D? No wild guesses or assumptions please. Either you know or you don't, and I don't. :s Thanks, More... View All Our Microsoft Related Feeds