• Microsoft Shuts off HTTPS in Hotmail for Over a Dozen Countries

    // Gradly // blog, Microsoft, News, Rants & Raves No Responses

    Microsoft appears to have turned off the always-use-HTTPS option in Hotmail for users in more than a dozen countries, including Bahrain, Morocco, Algeria, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Lebanon, Jordan, Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Hotmail users who have set their location to any of these countries receive the following error message when they attempt to turn on the always-use-HTTPS feature in order to read their mail securely:

    Your Windows Live ID can’t use HTTPS automatically because this feature is not available for your account type.

    Microsoft debuted the always-use-HTTPS feature for Hotmail in December of 2010, in order to give users the option of always encrypting their webmail traffic and protecting their sensitive communications from malicious hackers using tools such as Firesheep, and hostile governments eavesdropping on journalists and activists. For Microsoft to take such an enormous step backwards— undermining the security of Hotmail users in countries where freedom of expression is under attack and secure communication is especially important—is deeply disturbing. We hope that this counterproductive and potentially dangerous move is merely an error that Microsoft will swiftly correct.

    The solution:

    The good news is that the fix is very easy. Hotmail users in the affected countries can turn the always-use-HTTPS feature back on by changing the country in their profile to any of the countries in which this feature has not been disabled, such as the United States, Germany, France, Israel, or Turkey. Hotmail users who browse the web with Firefox may force the use of HTTPS by default—while using any Hotmail location setting—by installing the HTTPS Everywhere Firefox plug-in.

    [via eff]

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 Available Now

    // Gradly // blog, Download, Microsoft No Responses

    At the SXSW event, Microsoft released its much awaited new browser, Internet Explorer 9.

    Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) is a radical shift for Microsoft, with a new focus on standards compliance and performance and built to handle the developing web standard HTML5, something that has put it at odds with certain Microsoft in-house technologies, such as Silverlight.

    The mobile version of Internet Explorer 9 is expected to launch for Windows Phone 7 later this year.

    Download links:

  • Microsoft’s Zune is Officially Dead

    // Gradly // blog, Gadgets, Microsoft, News, Rants & Raves No Responses

    After years of trying to keep up with Apple’s iPod line, Bloomberg is reporting that Microsoft will stop introducing new versions of the Zune music and video player because of tepid demand, letting the company shift its focus to other devices.

    Zune, introduced in 2006, never managed to break the iPod’s grip on the music-player industry and became the brunt of late- night talk-show jokes. Apple’s iPod led the market with 77 % of unit sales last year, while the Zune failed to crack the top five, according to NPD Group Inc.

  • Kinect Sets Guinness World Record As The Fastest-Selling Consumer Electronics Device

    // Gradly // blog, Consoles, Gadgets, Games, Microsoft, Rants & Raves No Responses

    According to the guys at the Guinness World Records, Microsoft’s Kinect sold on average 133,333 units per day over a 60 day period. That totals a mind-blowing 8 million units in two months.

    Gaz Deaves, Editor of Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition, said:

    The sales figures here speak for themselves. We can confirm that no other consumer electronics device sold faster within a 60-day time span, an incredible achievement considering the strength of the sector.

    These numbers mean MS shifted more Kinects than Apple sold iPads or iPhones during their first 60 days of being on sale.

    Labeled as a fad by many, Kinect took the world by storm with its futuristic approach to gaming, though a lack of titles since launch has left existing Kinect owners with shiny new kit but few games to use it with. It’s early days though, and few can argue with the hardware’s promise.