Windows 7 deals with the pain of Windows XP - Telegraph

Let me start by saying I think the title is misleading.  I don't find XP to be particularly painful, so I don't know why an article on Win7 would highlight relief from "Windows XP pain."  Now Vista on the other hand - despite service packs it is still notirously unstable and pokey.
The real question for me regarding an upgrade to Win7 is - why no direct XP upgrades?  It makes absolutely no sense, strikes me as lazy on Microsoft's part, and opens up the argument that, if you're going to move away from Windows XP, you might as well consider everything that is available - Ubuntu, Red Hat, Mac OSX - as well as Win7.  I think Microsoft really muffed it here.

OK, so while I can recognize that some of these are fine performers, how on earth is YES not an inductee?
Tulsa World: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees include ABBA, Genesis, KISS
So far as I can tell, they have not even been a nominee yet, after 35 years plus of performing, ground breaking progressive rock, and amazing musical creations.  I mean, The Stooges? The Chantels?  Based on what?

BBC NEWS | Technology | 'Open internet' rules criticised
I've been trying to come up with a reasonable scenario where laws requiring open data transfer on the 'Net reduces customer choices.  How exactly?  What could Verizon be intimating that they can't disclose?
I mean, the only innovation I can see net neutrality limiting is the innovative efforts to control bandwidth usage...

MOTOBLUR - Motorola USA

OK, so a unified view of all your notifications, messages, tweets, et al is a fine idea.  But the best name they cpuld come up with is motoblur?  I'm thinking Motorola has enough marketing dollars for a few focus groups, all of whom would have told them the name sucks.

That didn't take long:
http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/10/software-update-10-6-1-debuts/?icid=px-iphone
Highlights include a fix to flash (including a potential vulnerability ) and Sierra wireless modems. With luck my hp lj2600 will work again, as it also includes printer fixes.

Palm's Mini Pre: The Pixi Makes Its Debut - Mobile - IT Channel News by CRN

So it's the Pre's little sister (or brother).  Little sibling?  In any case, the new Palm Pixi is on the way.  Looks like a half a Pre to me.  Running Web OS, with enhancements (which are sure to make their way to the Pre as well in an over the air update).  Personally I prefer the Pre's slider architecture, but it certainly has the potential to make a splash if the production quality is a bit higher than the Pre, with all the great features.

For me, I'd consider switching to the Pre if they work out the quality issues that I ran into when testing one (and as I said before, especially if it comes out on Verizon).

AT&T and Apple’s iPhone Need an Open Marriage - PC World

So there's a sudden hue and cry for the iPhone to be available on multiple networks.  Since I've had one right from the beginning (starting on the day after release with a 4GB model) I feel like I can speak with some authority here - the service on AT&T is, in general, not any worse than the other major carriers.  Having said that, if the iPhone comes out on verizon (and possibly the Pre) I will probably jump ship like a rat on the Titanic.

But back to my original question: why is it so important that Apple should be different from other cell phone manufacturers?  There are exclusivity agreements all over the place on all sorts of phones, with many different manufacturers.  So should the iPhone be different?  Is the popularity and consumer demand of a device really enough of a driver that Apple should be forced to make the iPhone available across multiple carriers?