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BetaNews.Com (5 non lus)

How to download and install the Windows 8.1 ISO -- using a Windows 8 or 8.1 key

Publié: avril 15, 2014, 10:56pm CEST par Wayne Williams

I’ve been asked by a couple of people in the past week how to download the Windows 8.1 ISO file from Microsoft. Downloading the ISO file necessary to install the OS at a later date, or on another system, is very straightforward, although it’s far from obvious. I covered this six months ago, but things have changed and less trickery is involved now.

At the moment the provided ISO file doesn’t contain the recently released Update, so you’ll need to update Windows straight after installation has finished to guarantee you have the latest version.

To get the ISO file, go here. If you have a Windows 8.1 product key, click the "Install Windows 8.1" button and run the installer that downloads. Assuming you have a Windows 8 key (which is more likely), click the "Install Windows 8" button and run that installer. In the Setup window, enter the Windows 8 product key when prompted.

The installer will go online and get some things ready. Click "Next" and Windows 8 will begin to download. Close the window by clicking the red X, and then click the "Install Windows 8.1" button. When you run the installer it will start downloading Windows 8.1 immediately (you won't be asked for a Windows 8.1 key). When done, click "Install by creating media" and click "Next". You’ll be asked which media to use. Select "ISO file" and click "Save".

The ISO file will be created and you’ll be given the option to burn it to disc if you wish.

Now, here’s an important note. When you come to install Windows 8.1 it may not accept your Windows 8 key. It probably will if it comes from a purchased copy of Windows 8, but not if it came with Windows 8 preinstalled on a new PC. However, you can cheat the system. Grab a key from here and use this to install Windows 8.1. If this doesn't work (and it didn't for me) you can find a key that will work from somewhere like Pirate Bay or via Google. You'll only be using it temporarily.

Once up and running, open RegEdit and navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE/

Change MediabootInstall and RetailInstall to 0.

Open a Command Prompt as an Administrator, and type:

slmgr.vbs -ipk [key]

Replace [key] with your genuine product key. Hit enter, then type:

slmgr /rearm

Restart and activate Windows.

This worked for me -- if you try it let me know how you get on in the comments below.

Image Credit: ValentinT/Shutterstock
New CEO ahoy! Mozilla grows a Beard… will balls follow?

Publié: avril 15, 2014, 9:25pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Emerging from what it describes as an "unexpected leadership transition", Mozilla announces its new CEO, albeit an interim replacement. The vacancy opened up a couple of weeks ago after the departure of Bendan Eich following outrage from developers that someone opposed to gay marriage should be placed at the head of a company. The pitchfork wielding and flaming torch brandishing mob, got their way as Eich "stepped down".

It's not really clear whether he jumped or whether he was pushed -- what is publicly announced is not necessarily representative of what has taken place behind boardroom doors -- but there's now a new man at the top. Announced with the Mozilla Blog, Chris Beard's appointment is apparently something that had been under consideration for some time: "we began exploring the idea of Chris joining the Board of Directors some months ago." Executive Chairwoman Mitchell Baker described Beard as someone who has "been actively involved with Mozilla since before we shipped Firefox 1.0, he’s guided and directed many of our innovative projects, and his vision and sense of Mozilla is equal to anyone’s".

It is possible that Beard will become the CEO proper in due course. He "is the right person to lead us through this time and he is a strong candidate for CEO", but only time will tell whether he manages to hold onto his position for more than the eleven days Eich managed. What is interesting about the blog post is that Baker says "Mozilla needs to act quickly and decisively", which is ironic when you consider how indecisive it was about Eich. He's in as CEO. Oh, no! People don't like the views we've known about for years. He's out.

Maybe, when Chris Beard's successor is found, Mozilla will be slightly more strong-willed and stick to its decision rather than bending to the will of the baying masses. It is certainly true that Eich's views are objectionable to many -- myself included (although I would defend his right to hold those views) -- but so what? His views on sexuality had no bearing on his ability to do the job he was appointed to do. If Chris Beard expresses the view that he opposes the idea of a meat-free diet should I, as a vegetarian of approaching two decades, have the right to demand his head? Well… yes, I have that right, and the right to express my dislike of his views, but as a reasonable human being I can see that views on vegetarianism are simply not going to affect someone's work. Unless they happen to be appointed head of an abattoir.

Let's just hope that Chris Beard, or the fulltime CEO who fills his shoes further down the line, doesn't have any skeletons in his (or her) closet, or Mozilla may have to grow some balls and just keep them in place lest we descend into a never-ending game of hunt the new CEO.

Image Credit: auremar / Shutterstock
Linux powers CERN -- organization deploys Red Hat technologies

Publié: avril 15, 2014, 6:55pm CEST par Brian Fagioli

My knowledge of atomic science and particle physics could fit in a thimble. However, as a result of various news reports over the years, I am aware of the Large Hadron Collider and the work being done at CERN with it -- exciting stuff.

The experiments conducted at CERN, including the ones involving the Large Hadron Collider, are very complicated and require specific measurements and execution. And so, the software that the organization chooses for its computers must be very dependable. Which is why CERN has selected Red Hat Enterprise Linux and other Red Hat solutions for its computers. This is a huge win for Red Hat and the Linux community overall.

"CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, has deployed Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization and Red Hat Technical Account Management services to provide a reliable and stable platform for mission-critical applications. The project includes nearly 600 servers running Red Hat Enterprise Linux operated by CERN at its Geneva datacentre, fulfilling database, application server and backup and recovery functions", says Red Hat.

The company further explains, "at CERN, Red Hat Enterprise Linux runs some of the organization's most critical applications, including the Large Hadron Collider Logging Server and the central financial and HR systems for CERN's members of personnel and 11,000 users. Given the nature of these applications, operating system stability is crucial to successful operations, a need fulfilled by the reliability and high availability offered by Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Beyond uptime, Red Hat Enterprise Linux also requires minimal administrative overhead and offers CERN high flexibility and rapid deployment times for key applications and services".

Having Red Hat Enterprise Linux and the company's other technologies used at CERN is a remarkable feat. After all, the scientific organization could have selected other operating systems such as Windows or BSD variants, but instead chose RHEL. It is exciting to think that in the future, monumental scientific discoveries may be powered by Linux.

What do you think about CERN's choice of Red Hat? Tell me in the comments.

Photo Credit: SSSCCC/Shutterstock
Amazon holding another Fire sale on tablets

Publié: avril 15, 2014, 5:10pm CEST par Alan Buckingham

It seems Amazon is almost continuously holding sales on its Fire line of tablets. Honestly, the price means little to the retailer, as it simply wants you to join the ecosystem. We've seen this most recently with the Fire TV, which aims to control the living room with media and games.

The latest deal sees prices on the tablet lineup getting substantial discounts -- or at least three out of the four, anyway. Both HD and HDX models are included in the deal.

The 8.9-inch model of the HDX has been lowered from $379 to $339, the 7-inch HDX model is reduced from $229 to $199 and the 7-inch HD version has been slashed from $139 to $119.

The Amazon tablet line is a bit different from traditional Android devices, as the operating system has been customized quite a bit. It's geared towards Amazon, for rather obvious reasons. One new aspect, however, is that the game controller launched for the new Fire TV can also be paired with these tablets.
Microsoft Office comes to Google's Chrome OS -- now who's Scroogled?

Publié: avril 15, 2014, 2:51am CEST par Brian Fagioli

What was once the crown jewel of software, Microsoft Office, has arguably been devalued by free offerings. It used to be that when you bought a computer, you pretty much had to buy Office too. Sure, some people got by with the low-rent Works package, but that was not the same. Let's be honest though, most home users only ever used Word, so for these users, many features and programs were for naught.

Unfortunately, the gravy train of overselling home customers has dried up for Microsoft. Don't get me wrong, Microsoft Office is still the best choice for many large businesses. However, many home users can get by without it, thanks to Google Docs and the like. It is up to Microsoft to keep it relevant and desirable. The company is actually doing a good job in this regard, by releasing it for iPad and making it affordable with a 365 subscription. Today, the company does the unthinkable and publishes Office Online to the Chrome Web Store.

"Office Online works great in all browsers, but for those of you who use Chrome, you can now add Word Online, PowerPoint Online and OneNote Online to your Chrome App launcher to create new Office documents online with a single click from your desktop. As easy as that. Excel Online will be coming to the web store shortly", says Kaberi Chowdhury, technical product manager for Office Online.

In my testing, it worked well. I was able to add Word, PowerPoint and Excel (it is already in the store) to my Chromebook's app drawer and even pin them to the shelf (taskbar). While these are essentially nothing more than links to the Office Online web apps, that is how Chrome OS works. By adding these links, Microsoft has officially embraced the Chromebook craze.

This is a very surprising move, so shortly after the Scroogled campaign. If you recall, only 5 months ago, Microsoft had Rick Harrison, of the TV show Pawn Stars, declaring that Chromebooks weren't even real laptops. Fast forward to today and Microsoft Office is in the Chrome Web Store -- madness!

Chromebook users, will you embrace Office Online or stick to Google Docs? Tell me in the comments.