When has Microsoft ever been on top of great innovations? Google came up with a cool search engine, MS was like - “Hey, thats cool! Lets build something like that”. And as we know, Live Search was born.

Well this time they got some inspiration from the Nintendo Wii. Microsoft is planning to release its own prototype of the Wiimote at the end of this year. Microsoft could clearly see that the top console players had a controller with motion sensitivity while its Xbox 360 controller was umm… well wireless atleast.

Finally after some time and customer feedback. Microsoft’s long waited Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is finally free for you to download from Windows Update or Microsoft Download Center. According to Microsoft SP1 will address issues related to performance and reliability. Particular gaming compatibility and networking related issues seem to have been fixed.

Download sizes are quite hefty, might take some time for the download to complete (i completed in 15minutes): Another trick is to download the SP1 update via Windows Update which is incredibly small at 65MB.

• Vista SP1 32-bit download (434.5MB)

Over the years, Microsoft Office has become the most preferred and advanced office suite. However the high price tags attached to legal and licensed copies of Microsoft Office can become a burden in the long run.

Fear no more recently lots of alternative office suites have sprouted up. They not maybe as comprehensive as Microsoft Office, but they still manage to get the work done. Here are my 6 alternative office suite picks.

1. Google Docs - Google Docs is probably your best bet against the monopoly of Microsoft office. Assuming you a decent internet connection, Google Docs includes a web-based Word Processor, Spreadsheet application, and a Presentation app. Best of all its free.

How about Hubble Telescope at the convince of your laptop. Microsoft recently unveiled the fully operational Microsoft WorldWide Telescope, they demonstrated there long-awaited software to an audience at the exclusive Technology Entertainment and Design conference in Monterey, California, that started Wednesday.

WorldWide Telescope is quite similar to the sky feature in Google Earth but much more expansive, is a virtual map of space that features tens of millions of digital images from sources like the Hubble telescope and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The video shows how you could pan and zoom across the night sky, Mars, Saturn and the galaxies looks really cool.

Microsoft latest operating system Windows Vista comes with many bells and whistles. But mostly aren’t that necessary or total useless features. But you can always turn off some of them just to speed it up. Here is a brief walkthrough that guide you through the process.

1. Lets first get started by opening your Control Panel. Now select Uninstall a program from the Programs section.
2. In the left down column, select Turn Windows features on or off.

The new Mobile Memory Mouse 8000 from Microsoft has a dirty little secret, it has “1GB of flash memory built right into the transceiver” thats touted to be the world’s first. Thats enough to store your presentations, word docs and many evil ideas. The 8000 sports a switch that lets you switches between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless modes thats way cool and a practical solution from Microsoft. Coming this October for $99.

Few guys over at Xbox-Scene forums are showing Microsoft how to design a console with this beautiful case mod for the original Xbox. By the looks of it clearly shows how the Xbox could have been instead of that ugly black box that it is.