CeBIT in Hanover (Germany), it is still the largest computer trade fair worldwide, even with having shrunk in the past years – this year again with fewer exhibitors and fewer visitors. Some companies though have a CeBIT booth for the first time, like the Web gigant Google.

In difficult times, the annual computer trade fair CeBIT (2–6 March 2010) has successfully accomplished a turnaround and opened for new topics again, according to Achim Berg, Microsoft Germany CEO and Vice President of BITKOM.

According to an agreement with the European Commission, Microsoft will give all Windows users in Europe the possibility to choose their favorite browser. From 17 March onwards, an update is delivered showing a ballott screen listing a number of browsers. On an exclusively created website, Microsoft presents all browsers installable for European Windows users. Even exotic browsers have managed to get on the list.

The Chinese news platform cnbeta.com has published new screenshots of Windows Live Writer 2010 Beta (Wave 4 Milestone 3).

Hotmail Wave 4 gets new features like Starring items as well as displaying messages in conversations. Thus, Microsoft fulfills its promise to watch closely what users like in competitive services, like Google’s web mailer.

It is one week ago that the latest Internet Explorer security problem came known. A security hole that offers hackers complete access to your computer, including all data stored on your hard disk. Of course, such news don’t spread a good feeling. Since last night, the security hole is finally closed. But how can you secure your own computer?

The German Federal Office for Information Technics (BSI) and the French Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) have warned users not to use Internet Explorer, making aware of an unpatched security hole in Microsoft’s browser.

From the Messenger Plus Contest to the anticipated Windows 7 release, from Office Web Apps to the first images of Messenger 2010: The recent six months of 2009 were as interesting for me as January to June. Here is a short summary.

From the release of Windows Live Essentials 2009 (Wave 3) to POP3 for every Hotmail user, from Internet Explorer 8 to Windows 7 Release Candidate: there have been many happenings around Microsoft in the first half of 2009.