Microsoft Security Essentials beta to be capped at 75,000, kicks off today
Summary: Just a quick reminder: Microsoft plans to allow the public to download a beta version of "Morro," now known as Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) on June 23, starting around 9 a.m. PT. Here are the particulars for those interested in testing the free antivirus/anti-malware offering.
Just a quick reminder: Microsoft plans to allow the public to download a beta version of "Morro," now known as Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) on June 23, starting around 9 a.m. PT.
Update (8 a.m. PT): The beta download is now live. Or maybe not. It was for a minute, there....
MSE is the free antivirus/anti-malware product that is replacing Microsoft's paid Windows Live OneCare subscription service. It is aimed primarily at users who can't or won't pay for security software.
Here are the details about today's beta kick-off:
Who is eligible: Anyone in the U.S., Israel or Brazil who wants to try MSE on XP SP2, Vista or Windows 7 (Beta or Release Candidate) can grab the beta. Last week, Microsoft officials told me there was no cap planned for the beta, but shortly thereafter a spokesperson said the beta will be capped at 75,000. "This could change though depending on what the download scenario is," he added.
Download site: Testers will be able to download MSE beta from Microsoft Connect by going to this page: http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/
Versions: The MSE beta will be available in 32- and 64-bit flavors. It will be available in English and Brazilian Portuguese on June 23 and simplified Chinese some time later this year. Update: The beta is restricted by country. The beta site says: "This beta is available only to customers in the United States, Israel (English only), People's Republic of China (Simplified Chinese only) and Brazil (Brazilian Portuguese only)."
How long will the beta be available: Microsoft plans to keep the beta open until the cap is reached or the final product is available, whichever comes first.
When is the final MSE release due: Official word is before the end of calendar 2009. I've seen several bloggers saying this fall.
If you're among the testers who grab a copy of today's beta of MSE, I'd be interested in hearing what you think. How does MSE compare to other free and paid third-party security offerings and Windows Live OneCare?
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Talkback
Only 1:46 mins. to go then !
Might watch a bit of Wimbledon in the meantime.
Maybe MJF should record the next podcast with the guys from El Reg in ... London.
Could check out UK software prices for M$ products at the same time, see whether Foyles has any good publications in stock, scope what computers they have along Tottenham Court Road ... or in Harrods ;-)
Just a thought.
Ah, champagne and strawberries nearly cool enough now. Gotta go.
HAND (have a nice day/download)
Simple with substance
Love, Steve B.
"I am sure strong marketing" = the company that brought you M$ Bob, the WOW that was VISTA and resurrected Seinfeld.
"Personally, I wouldn't mind if Windows came with a program like Security Essentials already built in."
Bloatware, how about 'Windows came with security built in.' Nah, never catch on, no (shareholder) value in that puppy.
Did you swallow a marketing manual, or what?
In fact ...
You clearly could do with reading a few marketing texts: Microsoft has a VERY strong brand identity ... which has nothing at all to do with Ultimate Extras. Whilst I agree with you that it was a shame that they didn't ship any extras, I am not going to lose any sleep over the fact.
I agree that WinXP is a security disaster. However, Vista and now Win7 have equalled, if not surpassed the level of security enjoyed by *N*X for some time. At least one can't say that MS doesn't learn and adapt.
I agree, this is a step in the right direction
RE: Microsoft Security Essentials beta to be capped at 75,000, kicks off today
The invitation you are using belongs to another registered account. If you believe you received this message in error, please try using another Windows Live ID/Passport account or contact mchelp@microsoft.com for additional assistance.
Anyone else getting that error as soon as you sign into your Live account on Microsoft Connect?
Never Mind
Perfect timing - just downloaded it on brand new Vaio with Win7 64bit
Just got my brand new Sony Vaio Z 13" with 6GB RAM, 320 GB HDD today and needed Security Software so perfect timing!
Win7 64bit, now with Morro and Office 2010 Tech Preview on this 1.48kg Vaio just rocks! I am a geek in heaven. :)
See it here - http://www.sony.com.au/product/vgn-z46gd
That is a beautiful machine, although...
Take off Viista bloatware, put Linux on it and I'll bet it will really rock...
Really rock? At doing what?
And he didn't have to go and jump through hoops to find, compile and install some port of a patch of a driver for something or other that isn't included in the main distro'.
Some of us enjoy getting on with our lives. Others like you enjoy playing with your OS.
Live and let live, I say.
Well since it's Win7
;)
That's interesting ...
WITHOUT exception, Vista has been 95% problem free on EVERY one of those machines THAT I INSTALLED. My father in law's Sony laptop was installed with a HORRIBLE Vista image buried under mountains of crapware. Once that was remedied (clean install sans crapware) it was a whole new machine.
The only issues we really saw was when my Mother In Law's favorite writing app wouldn't run without admin rights - the developer was writing app settings to the HKLM portion of the registry. All offending apps were quickly fixed/patched shortly after RTM and even x64 drivers quickly appeared. My biggest gripe was that it took Line6 SO LONG to get their x64 drivers built and released.
So whilst Vista was absolutely fine, Win7 has been nothing but stellar. Light, fast, responsive, it gave a new lease on life to several previously mothballed machines and is a joy to use.
Can't wait for RTM and one last upgrade/install-fest (for a while at least) :)
I'm willing to give Win7 a fair shake
However, I will have to find new hacks for it like defeating DRM, WGA (or whatever they call it in Win7) and anything that gets in the way of my fair use rights.
It better run faster than that overweight POS I bought in 2007.
Why would you need to hack WGA?
Because I don't need to prove myself to M$
They're just gonna have to trust me, that's all.
Why do they have to trust you?
@AnythingButViista:
WGA == Genuine Windows. This is a mechanism that ensures that you're using Windows within the terms of the EULA that you must explicitly accept before you install and use ANY product, be it Windows, OSX or even Linux. EULA's are a fact of life and determine the way in which you can use the product. If you don't agree with the EULA then don't install the product.
FWIW, once you've activated your copy of Windows, it doesn't "phone home". Only if you reinstall or change your motherboard/CPU/network chips etc., will you need to reactivate. That's not much of a burden to help prevent those mooching off your purchase of Windows.
DRM is a mechanism that allows someone who owns the rights to a given piece of content (from a file containing a Word document to a movie to music) to determine how that file can be used/shared, etc. It is a mechanism put in place by the big media companies and MS implemented in Windows to comply with the required laws in order to allow you to watch your media in accordance with the terms specified by the content owner. If you don't like the DRM restrictions, go complain to your government or media owner.
Well, get ready then...
Don't even get me started on the DRM.... Woooh
[/sarcasm]
Do you even know what is going on with those things? WGA requires that you enter in a product activation code when installing the OS, unless you have some hefty hardware changes, you'll never have to input that code again.
As for the DRM, all that happens, is the computer check to see if the pathway from your video adapter to the screen is protected.
That's really draconian isn't it?
Vaio FTW, Quality hardware/ super slick design/ stunning display
+ your model is made of carbon fiber, something you don`t see everyday in laptops, most are : plastic or aluminium.
+ they also come with Adobe Premier Elements And Adobe Photoshop Elements, which are better than iLife at video/photo editing.
Sweet deal
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