Darren Straight's Blog

ICT Enthusiast and photographer.

By - Darren Straight

Microsoft starts Live Hotmail roll-out in Netherlands

After being the first and only to be able to officially register a Windows Live-address, people from The Netherlands will again lead the way in the full scale conversion from MSN Hotmail to Windows Live Hotmail. Starting on Wednesday, Microsoft will send out e-mails to its Dutch users explaining that Hotmail is going to look a bit different and that

By - Darren Straight

Windows Home Server Released to Manufacturers

The Windows Home Server Team at Microsoft have announced that Windows Home Server has been released to manufacturing (RTM). That being that they have finalized the software and are now handing it off to their OEM partners. The evaluation version (with 120 day evaluation period) and the system builder version are also heading into the distribution channels and will be available in

By - Darren Straight

Microsoft Office Live Adds Ask Sponsored Listings

Microsoft Office Live (http://www.officelive.com) today announced that it is adding Ask Sponsored Listings (http://sponsoredlistings.ask.com) to its adManager Beta search advertising service. adManager enables small businesses to purchase and manage search-based keyword advertising easily and affordably directly from the Microsoft Office Live platform. Ask Sponsored Listings joins the MSN network and Windows Windows Live Search as distribution sources for Microsoft Office

By - Darren Straight

MSN and Farecast.com Launch Free Airfare Predictions, Planning Tools

MSN and Farecast.com, the airfare prediction Web site, have today announced an agreement in which MSN will offer its users free airfare predictions and planning tools on the MSN Travel Channel. The addition of Farecast’s innovative technology and planning tools on MSN Travel will hopefuly empower its millions of monthly users to make more informed decisions when planning and shopping for

By - Darren Straight

comScore Releases June 2007 U.S. Search Engine Rankings

comScore (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, has released its monthly comScore qSearch analysis of activity across competitive search engines.  In June 2007, Google Sites maintained its spot atop the rankings with 49.5 percent of the U.S. search market.  Yahoo! Sites captured second place with 25.1 percent of U.S. searches, followed by Microsoft Sites (13.2 percent), Ask Network

By - Darren Straight

Web Poll Leader Vizu Launches Vote Maps

Vizu Corporation, a leader in providing free web polls and do-it-yourself market research, today announced the addition of vote maps to its poll results. The launch of Vizu vote maps concludes a series of redesign initiatives that resulted in a registration conversion increase of 69%. Like chocolate and peanut butter, polls and maps just go together, says Vizu CEO, Dan

By - Darren Straight

MSN UK Full Page Live Earth Ad

Just opened up the MSN UK Portal (http://uk.msn.com/) and noticed that there’s now a Full Page Live Earth Interactive Flash Ad, which can be seen by clicking your mouse in the top right hand corner. I’m not sure if this is the first time it’s ran but I didn’t see it before any of the Live Earth Concerts, only after. On

By - Darren Straight

Review of Pixars New Movie Ratatouille!

Last night I was in London for an exclusive press screening of Pixars new animated movie Ratatouille, and I must say the film was certainly enjoyable. Ratatouille is most possible Pixars best movie yet, not only is it action packed with excitement, funniness and cuteness but it’s also a movie which all audiences can enjoy to put it simple it’s family

By - Darren Straight

Shawshank Redemption Revealed As Ultimate Rollercoaster Movie

MSN Movies’ scientific experiment reveals the most emotional films of all time… Forget weepy tear jerkers like Bambi or Beaches, The Shawshank Redemption has been revealed today as the ultimate emotional rollercoaster movie according to fans of MSN Movies and a unique scientific experiment.  In second place came Stephen King’s The Green Mile, closely followed by gangster classic, The Godfather.

By - Darren Straight

Ratatouille screening tomorrow!

Tomorrow evening I’ll be in London for an exclusive press screening of Pixars new animated movie Ratatouille, and I just wondered if anyone else had been invited to either tomorrows one or another one? I know at least 2 people who are going to the screenings, one being Rob from A Welsh View who is going on the 25th of