Microsoft

Mysterious cellular data usage by Windows Phone 7 devices has been attributed to a third-party service, and is not necessarily the fault of the software OS itself, Microsoft said on Wednesday.

The 'phantom data' problem, which has left some users burning through their monthly cellular data allotment in short order — even when they were connected to Wi-Fi — was addressed by the software giant last week, when it pledged to begin an investigation into the matter.

Following on from our article which told you about the new Xbox 360 update which re-added the boot to disc option we are now informed that this update is bad news for some of you who take advantage of Xbox 360 hacks and mods as it also blocks modded 360?s from playing games.

The popular iPhone and PlayStation 3 hacker GeoHot has finally decided to enter the Windows Phone 7 jailbreaking scene after finding out that the Windows Phone 7 team has a more amicable attitude towards hackers unlike Apple and Sony. GeoHot has updated his blog saying the following:

"perhaps a more appropriate way to deal with jailbreakers. I’m going out to buy a Windows 7 phone"

Kinect for Xbox 360 has been a huge success for Microsoft, with over eight million units shipped to retailers worldwide by the end of the 2010 holiday season, and bedroom coders have been hard at work to see what else the device is capable off.

Soon, though, these hackers will have access to official Windows drivers, according to a WinRumours report.

Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 includes previously released updates and delivers a number of powerful new features for Windows Server 2008 R2 for virtualization and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). New techniques in memory management with the addition of Dynamic Memory functionality, as well as the ability to deliver full-fidelity graphic experiences in remote and virtualized environments with RemoteFX, enable organizations to realize the greatest possible potential from their infrastructure.

Bearded, clad in a hoodie, and with a mouthful of swear words, hacker Kyle Machulis took the stage last month at San Francisco music joint Rickshaw Stop. He was there to deliver a Nerd Night talk about his latest love: Microsoft's (MSFT) Kinect, a gesture-and-voice-recognition accessory for the Xbox gaming console that lets people play video games without having to hold a controller. "This thing costs $150 and is sold at GameStop," Machulis told the crowd. "Oh, s—t! We live in the future!"

An update to Windows 7 released yesterday has given a strong clue that a final release of the first service pack for the operating system isn't too far away.

According to a Microsoft support page, the imaginatively-named KB976902 (Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 installation software feature update) makes changes to the operating system's servicing stack, needed to install and remove software updates, language packs, optional Windows features, and service packs.

Microsoft is easing in to 2011 with a light Patch Tuesday for January. There are only two security bulletins this month, and only one of those two is rated as Critical by Microsoft.

MS11-002 is the more urgent of the two security bulletins. According to the Microsoft Security Response Center blog, "This bulletin addresses two vulnerabilities affecting all supported versions of Windows. The first vulnerability is rated Critical for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 and the second rated Important for all supported versions of Windows Server."

Microsoft said it is investigating why some mobile handsets running its Windows Phone 7 software are sending and receiving "phantom data".

The software maker's spokesman was quoted by BBC News as saying the company will determine the root cause and will update with information and guidance as it becomes available.

The mobile operating system aimed at the consumer market was launched in October 2010. Many users in the US have posted complaints on several online forums saying that their phones are automatically sending about 30MB to 50MB of data every day.

Longtime Microsoft executive Bob Muglia, president of the company's server and tools business, will step down from his position later this year, according to a Steve Ballmer memo issued Monday to company employees.

Muglia will continue to run the STB (Server and Tools Business) while his replacement is found, Ballmer wrote. He will step down "this summer," according to Ballmer, which means his departure should happen sometime between June and August.