This had to be the funniest thing to happen today for Microsoft. The newly released IE8 Beta 1 blocks access to Windows Update if you prefer to run it from the browser. If you visit the Windows Update site from IE8 this is what you get..

Thank you for your interest in obtaining updates from our site.

To use this site, you must be running Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or later.

To upgrade to the latest version of the browser, go to the Internet Explorer Downloads website.

If you prefer to use a different web browser, you can obtain updates from the Microsoft Download Center or you can stay up to date with the latest critical and security updates by using Automatic Updates. To turn on Automatic Updates:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Security.
2. Click Security Center, and then make sure Automatic updating is turned on.

To enhance the security and performance of your computer, make sure Windows automatic updating is not turned off.

I was kinda shocked to see that message, but again IE8 is in beta and errors like this are bound to happen. Well at the moment the solution is to emulate IE7 Mode and access Windows Update. Meanwhile Microsoft is updating the Windows Update Site to support IE8.

For curiosity sake I checked the HTTP User Agents of both IE7 and IE8 and here’s what I got :

IE7 : Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 6.0; SLCC1; .NET CLR 2.0.50727; .NET CLR 3.0.04506; InfoPath.2; Zune 2.0)

IE8 : Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Windows NT 6.0; SLCC1; .NET CLR 2.0.50727; .NET CLR 3.0.04506; InfoPath.2; Zune 2.0)

Pratically there’s no difference in the User Agent Strings other than the browser version. Come on Microsoft do you need so much time to just add one User Agent Check on Windows Update site. Seems silly to me…

Via Computer World

But the Autopatcher project is back into work, and the team just released an early Beta of Autopatcher. This version of beta gets around Microsoft’s restrictions by downloading updates for Windows and Microsoft Office straight from Windows Update Server rather their own. Once the updates have been downloaded, you can install them by running AutoPatcher.exe. However, the new beta is no where near the older versions in comparison. The new version is pretty much nothing, because you cannot make the updates portable by burning them on a CD, that makes it pretty much like the built in Windows Update.

But even then, it gives a ray of hope. Maybe we will see a new Autopatcher that will help us download updates more easily than before. Till then, here’s my suggestion to Microsoft, Why don’t you guys try and save some bandwidth?

Via TechBuzzz

According to Apple, the update is recommended for all 10.5 users and the 110MB download includes “general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac”.

Most notably the fixed issues include issues with data loss when moving files, some firewall stuff, and some of the Time Machine problems. Actually the update includes quite a few improvements for both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs. Official list is after the jump.

AirPort

• Allows password-protected accounts on AirPort Disks to show up on in the Finder’s Shared Sidebar.
• Resolves an issue with saved passwords for wireless networks.

Back to My Mac

• Improves the reliability of Back to My Mac-enabled Macs appearing in the Finder’s Shared Sidebar.
• Improves compatibility with D-Link NAT gateways.

Disk utilities

• Restores the functionality of the progress bar during permission repairs in Disk Utility.
• Addresses an issue that could produce an alert when creating disk images using Disk Utility or Terminal.
• Improves disk partitioning when multiple RAID sets are created on the same disk.

iCal

• iCal alarms are now more reliably delivered via email.
• Resolves an issue when inviting attendees via a CalDAV account.

Mail

• Improves stability when resizing columns in the message viewer or switching between Stationery templates in email messages.
• Addresses an issue in which attachments enclosed inside an HTML link may not be clickable in email messages.
• Fixes an issue with email accounts added using the “Simple Setup” feature in which messages cannot be sent due to an SMTP connection failure.
• Improves Smart Mailboxes compatibility with .Mac Sync, and addresses an issue with To Do’s disappearing when using Smart Mailboxes.
• Resolves an issue with syncing Mail accounts with .Mac in which multiple On My Mac folders appear in the Mailbox pane.

Networking

• Addresses an issue in which Microsoft Windows shared folders may be read-only when connected via SMB.

Printing

• Resolves an issue in which user-selected values on Paper Feed PDE are reset to default while saving a custom preset.

Security, Firewall

• Addresses a code signing issue; third-party applications can now run when included in the Application Firewall or when whitelisted in Parental Controls.
• In Security preferences’ Firewall tab, the “Block All” option is now called “Allow Only essential services”
• Includes recent Apple security updates.

System and Finder

• Addresses a potential data loss issue when moving files across partitions in the Finder.
• Resolves an issue with login after turning off FileVault for a specific user account.
• Improves compatibility with Adobe Flash-based uploaders used by .Mac Web Gallery and certain other websites and applications.
• Resolves a potential text drawing issue with certain Adobe Flash-based websites and applications.

Time Machine

• Addresses formatting issues with certain drives used with Time Machine (specifically, single-partition MBR drives greater than 512 GB in size as well as NTFS drives of any size and partition scheme).
• Resolves an issue in which files restored in Time Machine may be restored to the backup hierarchy rather than the folders to which they belong.

Check out Apple’s official release announcement for more info.

 "The admins at my place were in a flap this morning because Windows Desktop Search 3.01 had suddenly started installing itself on desktops throughout the company," says a reader by the name of Rob. "The trouble is that once installed, the indexer kicks in and slows the machines down."

The blogosphere is buzzing with similar reports from people worldwide, as evidenced by postings here, here and here. This looks like a yet another PR disaster for Microsoft. Even the product managers of Windows Update are not sure how all this happened,  and they still believe that the installation of Windows Desktop Search was not unauthorized.

"I’m slightly pissed of [sic] at M$ right now," said another administrator of 3,000 PCs responding to the problem on the Internet. "All the clients have slowed to a crawl, and the file servers are having problems with the load."

Well Microsoft has come up with a official statement regarding this, and I must say the explanation given by Microsoft is not satisfying to any administrator by any means. Microsoft surely is treating administrators like dumb people here.

He Writes “As part of Windows Updates on my laptop today, I installed an optional update called “Driver Update for Zune USB.” It actually installed a pre-release version of the Zune 2.0 software with a version number of 2.1.0522.00. Has anyone else gotten this update? I have it running now, and so far, all it does is list music in my library. When I connect my Zune, the software sees its name and knows it’s connected but will not sync. Just curious if this is Microsoft pushing out a beta, or some kind of accident.”

He further adds that its not a complete software, it connects to the Zune but apparently does not sync. Also it does not connect to the Zune Marketplace. Well JJRules was kind enough to post some screenshots of the new Zune Software, and here they are :

Well, I must say the new UI looks very slick indeed, much better than the all black UI the previous version of the software had. I wonder when Microsoft plans to release the new Zune Software, but I think it is around the corner because the new Zune Player is out too.