It’s no surprise Texas Hold ‘Em will be a Windows Vista game delivered through Ultimate Extras. Paul Thurrott reported about it in April 2006 and even FOX News (they’re never wrong) confirmed in August 2006. Nothing else has been revealed ever since. So who’s making the game and what might it look like?

In fact only yesterday, I speculated Oberon Games would be developing it. Oberon has a very close business relationship with Microsoft, already distributing their casual games through Microsoft gaming channels. Oberon is also responsible for every inbox game bundled with Windows Vista (excluding InkBall), so they have plenty of experience working on the Vista platform. Last but not least, they already publish a Texas Hold ‘Em Poker game, which would allow them to easily port a version to Vista. This however, might not be the case.

As Karl from AeroXP pointed out, another developer called Mobicore shows pretty much indisputable evidence of their developments on the Texas Hold ‘Em game for Windows Vista. On their news page for December 31st 2005, they write

Code complete milestone – We have just completed a Texas Hold’em poker game for Microsoft Windows Vista™. Now we are focusing on minor UI tweaks and bug fixes.

Coding on New Years Eve? That’s pretty much as dedicated as it can get. It also means they’ve had nearly over a year’s worth of minor UI tweaks and bug fixes, the game better be that good!

So who’s Mobicore, and why are they developing it (instead of Oberon Games)?

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They’d had some really nice cards.

Windows Vista comes with 4 unique deck designs (3 pictured, Large Print excluded) for its bundled card games including FreeCell, Hearts, Solitaire and Spider Solitaire. Each deck portrays a unique theme (Classic, Hearts, Seasons) with unbelievable detail on card faces and backs. The Seasons deck by far is my favorite. I’m even playing Solitaire just to see these cards.

Of course, these and every other games in Windows Vista are not actually designed by Microsoft internally, but outsourced through Oberon Games. Oberon designs many great looking games and have close ties with Microsoft, publishing many games through Microsoft’s casual games channels such as MSN Games and XBOX Live Arcade. With the former manager of Microsoft Game Studios, Don Ryan joining Oberon as Vice President of Publishing this year, this relationship can only strengthen.

I don’t think it would be unfair to speculate Windows Ultimate Extras will deliver additional Oberon Games from time to time. Such as the long-forgotten Texas Hold’Em Poker we’ve known since Beta 2.

A Microsoft patent application from June 2005, published only today, titled “System and method for delivery of a modular operating system” may signal a fundamental change for what an operating systems stands for and how it is sold.

Today, an operating system has pretty much everything besides the kitchen sink. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if an obscure Linux distribution included that too. Some people expect an operating system to be feature-packed with multimedia players, games and even productivity suites. Others just want to play Solitaire. Where do you draw the line for the fundamentals? And where do you draw the line for features?

I don’t use or could potentially see the use for what half of the Windows operating system comes with. Why should I pay for HyperTerminal or IPv6 when I don’t use it?

A modularized operating system may be the answer. As this patent describes,

An operating system and method for use include a core function module, or basic kernel, providing fundamental operating system support and one or more add-on modules that allow customization of the operating system as desired. Add-on modules may provide support or extended capability to the computer including hardware, applications, peripherals, and support.

Simply put, think of LEGO bricks. You start with a base board and attach the bricks you want. You decide on what you want and don’t want. You could end up with a Lego Mac or Lego PC.

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I saw this banner on OSnews.com and I thought it was interesting.

It feels like if it was just made for this site. Dell? I’ve got ad-space. Let’s “start something” 😛

Update: I feel compelled to give some insight into my blog’s name, “istartedsomething”. The idea actually originated from Microsoft, with a design competition called “Start Something PC“. It aimed to reinvent the way people think and feel about PCs through industrial design. I’m not too sure if it has picked up pace since it’s 2005 launch, but the $125,000 prize-pool of might be inviting to students and designers around the world. Have a look at the 2005’s winning designs, one of which was blatantly copied by ASUS.

Coincidentally soon after, Microsoft announced “Start something“, the name of a global print and TV advertising campaign aimed at promoting Windows XP.

Todd Bishop, Robert McLaws and even I have been keeping a close eye on Windows SideShow, one of the last remaining features in Windows Vista yet to be thoroughly explored. Largely due to hardware constraints, not many people have seen SideShow devices let alone play with one. So apart from the infamous Channel 9 video, a few screenshots and concept art, we really don’t know much about the experience. Or should I say, until today.

Today, Microsoft published “Getting Started with Windows SideShow (C++)“, a Hands-On-Lab tutorial for developers to help understand and develop for the SideShow platform. This HOL however brings an interesting gift to enthusiasts like myself. A working SideShow emulator even with device drivers. This is no interactive demo. This is as closest as it gets to the real thing without touching one.

I’ve put together this screencast giving an overview of the SideShow experience including navigation, using gadgets, adding gadgets, changing UI themes and more.

Click image to view video (H.264, 2:57min)

Or alternatively, if you are Quicktime impaired, view the low-bandwidth MSN Soapbox flash version.

It would be important to note that this video does not accurately represent the final interface or experience of Windows SideShow. As Todd Bishop‘s article’s accompanying picture shows, the UI has already been refreshed to include the Aurora yet this emulator has not. As well as, it will be ultimately up to OEMs to decide on what the interface will look like, as they will have control over the styling of interfaces with their own SideShow devices.

Windows Vista’s Start menu search is a godsend. Even though the only thing that has changed is the introduction of a search box, it revolutionizes the way people will use the Start menu. But I’ve always wondered, how does the results get ranked? The results I’m looking for is nearly always selected, if not a few clicks away.

Are there Oompa-Loompas in the background keeping a track of my favorite applications? Is there a WiFi mind-reading technology built into Vista? Apparently it’s much more simpler than I thought, as this (very loud) patent application “OPERATING SYSTEM PROGRAM LAUNCH MENU SEARCH” by David Matthews, Charles Stabb and Matthew Lerner shows.

Like something out of science fiction, the Start menu search uses a complex scientific method called sorting, to display results from the most relevant to least relevant. The sorting algorithm is described on page 11 as follows.

Who knows what happened to rule 6 or 8, but these 20 simple rules make up one of the most simple and productive features in Windows Vista. Once you’ve used it, you’ll never want to go back.

Looking through the document, paragraph 108 provides an interesting insight into the future of this search box.

According to an illustrative aspect of the invention, (the) search box may be placed outside the Start menu, e.g., in (the) taskbar, in a sidebar, or floating on the desktop, and provide a mechanism to locate programs, files, and other items without navigating through Start menu. Search results and auto-complete results may be displayed in a resizable or nonresizable pop-up window presented above the search box. Upon selection of any search result, the selected item is launched and the pop-up window is removed.