Jepara Security Forum

Fun Facts: How Small is 32 Nanometers?

2010-02-24T20:59:00.000-08:00

E
arlier this year Intel made a big splash with a new generation of Core i3 and Core i5 processors using the uber small 32 nanometer manufacturing process. Although this is eventually going to get dumped as ancient technology for an even smaller and more efficient way to produce chips, today it's state of the art.

Intel recently published a whitepaper with some amusing 32nm facts that we are reproducing here for you. If you have ever wondered how small the logic inside these chips really is in 'measurable' terms, here are some random facts to give you some perspective:

A nanometer is so small that it takes a billion of them to make a meter. A billion is a huge number. A stack of a billion sheets of paper would be 100 km high. If you could walk a billion steps, you would go around the earth 20 times.

The original transistor built by Bell Labs in 1947 was large enough that it was pieced together by hand. By contrast, more than 60 million 32nm transistors could fit onto the head of a pin.

More than 4 million 32nm transistors could fit in the period at the end of this sentence.

A 32nm transistor contains gates that are so small, you could fit 3,000 of them across the width of a human hair.

A 32nm transistor can switch on and off over 300 billion times in one second. It would take you 4000 years to flick a light switch on and off that many times.

Compared to Intel’s first microprocessor, the 4004, introduced in 1971, a 32nm CPU runs over 4000 times as fast and each transistor uses about 4000 times less energy. The price per transistor has dropped by a factor of about 100,000.

The “World’s Fastest Man,” Usain Bolt would have to take 3,125,000,000 steps in the 100 meter dash if his stride length was 32nm.

If the pace of innovation in space travel had increased at the pace of Moore’s Law since 1971, you would now be able to travel at the speed of light, 671 million miles per hour.

Intel has shipped over 200 million CPUs using high-k/metal-gate transistors – the kind used in 32nm processors -- since the technology was first put into production in November 2007. This translates to over 50,000,000,000,000,000 (50 quadrillion) transistors, or the equivalent of over 7 million transistors for every man, woman and child on earth.

The price per transistor on a chip has dropped dramatically since Intel was founded in 1968. Some people estimate that the price of a transistor is now about the same as that of one printed newspaper character.

Microsoft, Amazon ink cross-licensing agreement

2010-02-24T20:02:00.000-08:00

M
icrosoft and Amazon have inked a new cross-licensing agreement that gives the companies access to some of each other's patents. Details are limited, but Microsoft mentioned that Amazon's Kindle e-reader and the shopping giant's use of Linux-based servers are included. Microsoft didn't specify what intellectual properties it would share with Amazon.

Along with the licensing arrangement, it's said that Amazon will pay Microsoft a chunk of money, but the companies didn't say how much. In fact, the motive behind the deal itself is undisclosed. Some suggest Amazon agreed to the terms to avoid a patent-infringement suit from Microsoft. Other companies that use Linux have signed patent deals, and Redmond has repeatedly claimed the software violates some of its patents.

About a year ago, Microsoft sued TomTom over eight patents -- including three related to the GPS-maker's implementation of the Linux kernel. ITIC principal Laura DiDio noted, "It makes more sense for companies to make nice and do a cross-licensing agreement -- Microsoft has come to realize that legal action is often more costly than it is worth."

Microsoft has entered more than 600 licensing agreements since the company launched its IP licensing program in December 2003.

Windows 7 RC's bi-hourly shutdowns begin on Monday

2010-02-24T20:01:00.000-08:00

J
ust a quick heads up for those who signed up to run the Release Candidate (build 7100) version of Windows 7 and never upgraded to the final code: get going with that or prepared to be annoyed. Starting this Monday, March 1st, besides showing an expiration notification on the taskbar, your system will start to shut down every two hours and any unsaved work will be lost in the process.

Those brave souls who ignore the "reminders" and work their way around the shutdowns will face one more phase in the expiration process. On June 1, if you are still on the Windows 7 RC, your license will expire and the non-genuine experience will be triggered. This means Windows will boot to a black desktop and users will still have to deal with the constant notifications and bi-hourly shutdowns.

As annoying as all this may sound, especially for those who have been running the test release as their main installation, we can't say Microsoft wasn't clear about the whole expiration process from the get go.

That said, if you need some more time to back up your stuff there is a little-known (and perfectly legal) way to extend your RC license as many as 90 more days -- just open a command prompt window with administrator privileges, enter "slmgr -rearm" (minus the quotes) and reboot. The 'trick' can be used up to three times and each will give you 30 days to go grab a legal copy of Windows 7 and upgrade.

High school uses notebook webcams to spy on students

2010-02-23T21:58:00.000-08:00

T
he parents of a Lower Merion high school student have filed suit against the district for using school-issued laptops to spy on kids. The school rigged notebooks with software that lets officials remotely view and capture images with the built-in camera -- a mechanism that was supposedly greatly misused. The plaintiff's child claims to have been disciplined in school for "improper behavior" at home, and the Vice Principal used a photo taken by the webcam as evidence.

In a statement yesterday, Superintendant Dr. Christopher McGinley confirmed that the laptops indeed have a "security feature" to track missing systems. The "feature" can take a "still image of the operator and the operator's screen," but McGinley said it has been deactivated, and will not be reactivated without express written notification. He also insisted that the feature has only been used to locate lost, stolen or missing laptops.

Students involved in the suit have contacted Gizmodo with details about the situation. It's said that the green lights next to the kids' laptops often turns on, suggesting it's in use, but the district claims it's just a glitch. One student questioned a school IT guy about the light, who said it was occurring because "people logged out when an application using the camera was on." The employee also admitted that the school could in fact look through the webcam, but it would violate law.

Nvidia Ion 2 slower than the original Ion?

2010-02-23T21:47:00.000-08:00

A
cer last week announced its Aspire One 532G netbook as the first to carry Nvidia's forthcoming Ion 2, but few details have been revealed about the next-gen graphics chip. Some folks at NetbookNews recently got their hands on the Aspire One 532G at Mobile World Congress, and they managed to sneak in a 3DMark 03 graphics benchmark.

While the results aren't conclusive, the Ion 2 actually performed worse than the original. The Aspire One 532G scored 3,049 3DMarks, which compares to 3,593 3DMarks for the Ion LE-equipped Samsung N510. Netbook Choice speculates that this may show issues Nvidia has faced with Intel's Pine Trail architecture.

Since the GPU-maker isn't allowed to create chipsets around DMI, the Ion 2 likely uses PCIe to interface with Pine Trail. It's suggested that limited bandwidth over PCIe could be the culprit -- at least partially -- but there are other explanations. For instance, Acer and Nvida might have crippled the system to keep it stable while being shown at MWC. Unpolished drivers could also be responsible.

An Nvidia representative quickly responded to the unflattering benchmark results: "I can’t vouch for the accuracy of the benchmark that was performed at that show. I believe the units there were pre-release systems. We haven’t provided performance data yet for the public, we’ll have more details coming in early March."

Lenovo intros six new Think-branded business computers

2010-02-23T21:45:00.000-08:00

L
enovo has announced it will ship six new Think-branded business-minded computers
next month. The company flaunts its ThinkPad X201 as the industry's fastest ultraportable laptop, the X201s as the thinnest and lightest in its product line, the X201t is the "smart tablet for business users," and the W701 and W701ds mobile workstations are the most powerful ThinkPads.

The ThinkPad X201, X201s, and X201t all have 12.1-inch displays (capacitive multitouch for the tablet), an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, Intel graphics, up to 8GB of RAM, have a range of disk and solid-state storage options, and run Windows XP or 7. The X201 and X201s offer up to 11 and 12 hours of battery life, and both weigh less than three pounds. In order of mention, prices start at $1,199, $1,599, and $1,549.

The ThinkPad W701 and W701ds workstations sport 17-inch screens, with the latter also packing a 10.6-inch display. Apart from the dual-screen, the machines are seemingly identical. Both carry either a Core i7-920 or i7-820QM processor, an Nvidia Quadro FX 3800M or FX2800M GPU, up to 16GB of RAM, an HDD or SSD, Windows XP or 7, and weigh around nine pounds. Prices start at $2,199 and $3,799.

Lenovo says its ThinkServer TS200v "goes big on features and performance" with prices kicking off under $500. It can be configured with a handful of Core i3 and i5 processors, but scales all the way down to the Pentium G6950 and Celeron G1101. Other features include a DVD drive, room for two 3.5-inch drives in RAID 0/1, gigabit Ethernet, PCI as well as PCIe X1 and x16 slots, ten USB ports, and VGA-out.

U.S. authorities close in on Chinese Google hackers

2010-02-22T20:08:00.000-08:00

U
.S. authorities have reportedly tracked down the hacker who wrote the code behind the attacks on Google and a number of other local companies last month. Serious questions had already been raised about the likelihood of the attacks being in some way sanctioned by the Chinese government, and today's development seems to further back that notion.

Turns out the alleged hacker is a Chinese "freelance security consultant in his 30s" who had published extracts of his IE6 exploit code as a work in progress. Although this man did not launch any attacks himself, according to The Financial Times, Chinese officials have "special access" to his work and are believed to have picked up the code.

The spyware's launch was recently traced to computers at Shanghai Jiaotong University and Lanxiang Vocational School, the first of which counts former government cyber security experts among its staff. Both institutions have denied involvement in the attacks, of course. The latest findings don't give a definite answer as to who was behind the attacks, but it might put some extra pressure on China to cooperate with the ongoing investigations.

Weekend Open Forum: What's your preferred mobile phone platform and handset?

2010-02-21T20:05:00.000-08:00

I
n the past three years we've seen a number of new smartphone operating systems burst onto the scene. From Apple's wildly successful iPhone OS, to Google's increasingly popular Android and Palm's praised yet still floundering WebOS -- to name a few. Microsoft is no stranger to the market either, but just recently the company took a radical departure from its previous business-centered strategy and unveiled what looks to be a potentially solid contender in the consumer space: the Windows Phone 7 Series.

All of them are characterized for powering a new generation of touch-driven, fast and feature-rich devices that evermore seem to be turning into pocket-sized computers. The fact that three of the most significant companies in desktop computing -- Apple, Google and Microsoft -- now stand to occupy the same positions in mobile is a clear indication of where the industry is going.

Others like Nokia and RIM have arguably been a bit slower to adapt to the latest trends -- or have preferred to focus their efforts on a particular niche -- but still command an undeniable large portion of the cell phone market. Like them there are also a number of big-name industry players peddling their own platforms and hardware, including Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Toshiba, HTC and LG Electronics.

In this edition of our Weekend Open Forum we want to know what kind of device you are currently using. Have you jumped into the smartphone and mobile app craze? Are you more of the business user type? Or perhaps you are comfortable with anything that can make a simple phone call? Feel free to share what you love or hate about your current hardware and mobile platform, as well as any plans for your next purchase.

Ubisoft's new DRM more annoying than expected

2010-02-21T20:03:00.000-08:00

Y
ou may recall Ubisoft's recent decision to axe StarForce DRM in favor of a new online platform. The company's online services platform sounded similar to Steam, letting users play from multiple machines without discs -- but it wasn't perfect. The platform required a permanent Internet connection. Needless to say, gamers weren't happy.

Despite disapproval, Ubisoft is pressing on with the technology. CVG has received Assassin's Creed II and Settlers VII for review, and both are laced with the new mechanism. Granted, being forced to have your machine online is annoying, but the flaws run a bit deeper.

CVG says that if you're disconnected while playing, you're kicked from the game and all progress from the last checkpoint or save is lost. Naturally, this occurs whether your cat unplugs your router, your ISP has issues, or if Ubisoft's servers crash.

Piracy may not be the driving force behind Ubisoft's new platform, but the company has said any initiative that decreases illegal downloads will allow it to pour more cash into the creation and expansion of intellectual properties.

What about the resources wasted in an attempt to prevent the inevitable? We all know that Assassin's Creed II and other popular titles will hit torrent sites around the same time as retail shelves. Resistance is futile.

Shouldn't companies focus more on rewarding paying customers rather than punishing them for the deeds of a few bad apples?

Gaming Sony announces 250GB PlayStation 3, due November 3

2009-10-16T00:25:00.000-07:00

F
ollowing the successful launch of a slimmer PlayStation 3 model back in September, Sony has announced a beefier 250GB variant of the console is due to hit U.S. stores next month priced at $350. Besides upping storage capacity
, the new system will be otherwise identical to the existing 120GB version which sells for $50 less.

The move comes as expected after leaks suggesting a larger-capacity PS3 would arrive sometime in October. Contrary to some rumors, however, for now the 250GB console has not been announced as part of any bundle like we've seen elsewhere -- Japan will be getting a Final Fantasy XIII bundle in December, for example, while customers in Europe can now get the new 250GB model packed alongside Naughty Dog's Uncharted 2. Hopefully Sony will announce a similar deal for U.S. customers in time for the holiday season.

Those who recently bought the 120GB version, and PS3 owners in general, might be interested to know that you can also swap out the 2.5-inch SATA drive yourself without voiding the warranty on your PlayStation 3. A quick search online shows that a 320GB hard disk drive can be had for around $56 and a 400GB model for $70, so you'll have to pay a little a premium assuming you even need more storage capacity.

Fake antivirus software posing large security threat to users

2009-10-05T20:12:00.000-07:00

W
ith the Internet evolving, the security risks users face on a day-to-day basis have become increasingly complicated. Security vendors are the most aware of this, challenged with protecting people's PCs from ever-expanding threats without turning a computer into an inert hunk of plastic. Their most difficult challenge yet may be one that has began to emerge relatively recently, in the form of fake anti-virus suites that try to convince people they are real -- usually to bleed money from them.

Just how big of a problem are fake anti-virus programs, though? Comparing 2008 to 2009, there has been a reported five-fold increase in the number of fake A/V detections. The primary reason for this right now is cited as a constant-changing checksum on a tainted piece of software, leading to hundreds of thousands of variants -- making it more difficult to detect amongst a wide array of machines. One particular security group, APWG, believes that as this evolution of fake software continues, the demand placed on real anti-virus scanners may become overwhelming.

One of the real problems, they noted, is that most software today relies on signature-based detections. Software which changes itself on a per-download basis is easily able sneak past this. It's further complicated because many of these fake programs often try to use a bit of social engineering to accomplish their goals -- convincing people they are real, which would get past virtually any software protection. APWG also indicated that the number of machines being infected year by year is actually going up, as opposed to going down. Are malicious software writers getting that much better, or are security vendors slipping? It has always been an interesting battle to watch -- unfortunately, end users are caught in the middle.

AVG touts faster scans and new features with AVG 9.0

2009-10-05T20:08:00.000-07:00

H
ot on the heels of Microsoft's Security Essentials launch last week, AVG Technologies is unveiling a major update to its free and paid internet security products which the company claims brings much faster scan times as well as a number of under-the-hood improvements.

Responding to customer feedback the security firm has reportedly put special focus on improving the user experience and ease of use. As a result, version 9.0 is said to be "up to 50 percent" faster than its predecessor, thanks to more sophisticated caching techniques and memory use. Boot times have also been reduced by around 10 to 15 percent and overall the installation process on the full-fledged suite has been shortened from 22 screens to 11.

In addition to the anti-phishing protection offered through LinkScanner, AVG 9.0 now also includes additional protection against identity theft in the physical world (for US customers only) with the AVG Identity Theft Recovery Unit (ITRU). Meanwhile, firewall enhancements include a complete redesign and a new cloud-based white listing database to reduce the amount of user input required to secure a PC.

Both AVG Internet Security 9 and AVG Anti-Virus are available now for a one-year license of $49.99 and $34.99, respectively. The main difference between the two is that AVG Anti-Virus lacks the firewall, identity protection, anti-spam, and system tools that come in AVG Internet Security. As always, a cut-down free version will also be available but starting from mid-October.

Pioneer console Sega Dreamcast turns 10

2009-09-09T18:27:00.000-07:00

C
onsoles have come a long way in a short time, evolving alongside computers as one of the center pieces for video game entertainment. As the line between computer and console begins to blur, it's easy to forget just how far the console has journeyed. A good reminder of that came this week, when the Sega Dreamcast turned ten years old.

The much-hyped console was highly anticipated by gaming communities all over the world, but it ended up proving to be a disaster for Sega as a company, as it was their last console endeavor. Even though it was a commercial failure, the console pioneered many of the ideas that are common among modern consoles.

The idea of an Internet-connected gaming console was first realized with the Dreamcast, which came stock with a built-in dial-up modem and featured one of the first console web browsers. Along with the PC, it was one of a very few hardware devices that allowed people to play games with each other online. The Dreamcast also had a controller design that is suspiciously similar to the Xbox 360's -- though that may be just a coincidence.

Though other consoles quickly surpassed the Dreamcast, including the current most popular console in the world (PlayStation 2), it was an example of high technology at the time and is curious to look back on.

Russia drops Microsoft antitrust probe over Windows XP

2009-09-09T18:22:00.000-07:00

R
ussia's competition regulator, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS), has dropped a probe launched against Microsoft back in June over alleged violations to the country's laws. The agency had accused Redmond of having unfair pricing policies and restricting Windows XP sales to retailers and OEMs, even though there was continued demand for the older operating system, forcing customers to use Vista instead.

As noted in our previous coverage, Microsoft is obviously keen to move customers on to its newest operating systems not just to increase sales but also to reduce support costs. Despite this the company reportedly supplied evidence to the FAS that XP was in fact still available and that it had sold over a million Russian language copies of the operating system in fiscal 2008 (which ended on June 30, 2008).

As part of the agreement to drop the case, Microsoft said it will give Russian users the option of exchanging their copies of Vista Home Basic or Home Premium for Windows XP Home, free of charge. The exchange program will kick off in the next three weeks and will last until the end of 2009.

Apple updates iPod lineup, nano gets video camera

2009-09-09T18:17:00.000-07:00

A
s expected, Apple unveiled new iPod models across the board today which bring added functionality and lower prices. A recovered Steve Jobs took the stage for the first time in almost a year to announce that over 225 million iPods have been sold since its introduction in 2001, with the iPod touch representing 20 million of that number and contributing to an overwhelming 74% market share.

Starting at the high end, Apple touted an update to the iPod touch line that will see it packing the same processing platform as the recently introduced iPhone 3GS -- meaning they now support improved graphics with Open GL ES 2.0. This is true for both the 32 and new 64GB models, priced at $299 and $399 respectively, while the last-gen 8GB iPod touch will remain available for just $199. There doesn't appear to be a built-in camera, however, contrary to all the rumors.

Moving on the iPod classic was updated with a 160GB HDD but kept its $249 price tag. On the other end of the spectrum, the shuffles are now at $59 for 2GB, $79 for 4GB and come in black, silver, pink, green and blue. There's also a polished aluminum 4GB version for $99.

Last but not least, Apple's iPod nano got a revamp and is now available in capacities up to 16GB. Its design remains mostly unchanged from the previous model, if not for the larger 2.2-inch display, but gains a built-in camera and mic for recording 640 by 480 pixels, 30 FPS video -- apparently it does not take still photos. After years of dismissing the feature, Apple has also added an FM radio tuner to the nano, as well as pedometer and voice over functionality. The 8GB iPod nano is priced at $149 while the 16GB model goes for $179.

Intel Core i5 750 Processor Review

2009-09-08T18:27:00.000-07:00

I
t has been 10 months since Intel unleashed its Nehalem architecture and we showed you the Core i7 920, 940 and 965 Extreme Edition. Not much has changed in the high-end sector during this timeframe, as Core i7 processors are still brutally fast and equally expensive.

The new Intel Core i5 750 is the first release in a series of processors based on a mainstream version of the Core i7 platform. It is a quad-core part based on the "Lynnfield" architecture, fabricated using a 45nm process and utilizing the new LGA1156 platform. The Core i5 750 is set to cost just $199, it will operate at a healthy 2.66GHz and feature a whopping 8MB L3 cache, but no Hyper-Threading support will be present.

In our review we will go into more detail about Intel's reworked desktop CPU line-up, the new P55 chipset (LGA1156), and our usual load of benchmarks comparing this new processor against current Core 2 Quad offerings, the Core i7 920 and the AMD Athlon II X4 965.

Zero-day Windows Vista, 7 vulnerability discovered

2009-09-08T18:24:00.000-07:00

M
icrosoft is looking into a zero-day vulnerability today, which reportedly affects systems running Windows Vista and 7. Researcher Laurent Gaffie said that a hacker could exploit the flaw on Windows 7 to cause a critical system error. The flaw lies in a Server Message Block 2 (SMB2) driver.

Gaffie said in a blog post yesterday, "SRV2.SYS fails to handle malformed SMB headers for the NEGOTIATE PROTOCOL REQUEST functionality." People who have commented on his blog post are reporting that the exploit can not only lead to denial of service, but also remote code execution.

Gaffie has contacted Microsoft, and it has since responded by saying that it is investigating the issue but that it is "unaware of any attacks trying to use the claimed vulnerability or of customer impact." The H has successfully tested the proof-of-concept code, which caused a reboot on Vista -- but did not work on Windows 7.

Firefox 3.6 to arrive this year, 4.0 in late 2010

2009-09-08T18:19:00.000-07:00

A
lthough Mozilla released Firefox version 3.5 not long ago, the team has been showing mockups of future designs. In addition to embracing glass on Windows Vista and 7, future versions will have reorganized interfaces. Previews of Firefox 4.0 suggest that it may have a combined and relocated reload, stop and go buttons, as well as a tab sidebar, tabs on top, and many other UI tweaks -- none of which are set in stone.

Mozilla is now indicating that we may see the launch of Firefox 4.0 next October or November. It has also reportedly updated its roadmap for the release of Firefox 3.6 and 3.7, with the former expected to debut later this year and the latter to arrive in the second quarter of next year. There are also reports that Fennec 1.0 -- the mobile version of Firefox -- will be made available at the same time as Firefox 3.6, and Fennec 2.0 with Firefox 4.0.

If the suspense is killing you, fear not; pre-release builds are available. Feel free to download Firefox 3.6 and 3.7 at your own risk.

Worm attacks WordPress blog software

2009-09-08T18:13:00.001-07:00

S
erving as a stern reminder of why it's important to keep desktop as well as server software up to date, a new worm can reportedly infect certain versions of the WordPress blog software. WordPress announced the discovery today, saying that a security bug which has already been fixed is now being exploited in the wild.

The worm is able to attack versions of WordPress prior to 2.8.4 and its immediate predecessor. Version 2.8.4 was released in early August to specifically address this flaw, which results in a password reset of WordPress accounts and allows someone to take control of the admin account. Doing so would give the person access to further information, as well as the ability to wreak havoc on the blog itself.

Though the vulnerability was initially published several weeks ago, this is the first report of malware specifically identifying and trying to exploit it. The WordPress developer is concerned that many servers are still running old versions, which puts them at risk. If you're maintaining a WordPress server that's behind on updates, consider this a heads up.

Samsung hopes to launch OLED laptops next year

2009-09-07T19:58:00.000-07:00

S
amsung is hoping to launch OLED-equipped laptops by the third quarter of next year. According the company's head of worldwide sales and marketing, Kyu Uhm, Samsung is the largest OLED screen manufacturer. Uhm added that Samsung will adopt OLED displays as soon as they are commercially available for laptops.

Research firm Gartner believes that mainstream OLED notebooks will have an increasing presence over the next five years. Samsung is surely sold on the technology, having already shown off an AMOLED notebook prototype. Introducing an OLED laptop toward the end of 2010 woul

In October of 2007, the company said it planned to have 3.5" to 7" panels prepared for ultra-portable systems in 2008, which would be followed by 14", 15", and 21" displays for laptop and desktop computers in 2009. It predicted that it would have full 40" and 42" HD OLED panels by 2010 and Flexible OLED (FOLED) displays by 2012 at the latest.

Toshiba announces Blu-ray-equipped Satellite P500

2009-09-07T19:55:00.000-07:00

T
oshiba has announced its new media-centric notebook, the Satellite P500. The Satellite P500 features an 18.4" 16:9 (1680x945 or 1920x1080) LCD display, an Intel Core 2 Duo, up to 8GB of DDR2 RAM, an Nvidia GeForce G210M (512MB VRAM) or 230M GT (1GB VRAM), and two 500GB HDDs.

Equipped with a Blu-ray drive and focused on entertainment, the P500 ships with more than just the expected trimmings. Additional specs include a TV tuner card, VGA and HDMI-out, a remote control, 802.11a/b/g/n, an HD webcam, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, three USB 2.0 as well as Firewire and eSATA ports, S/PDIF digital audio interfacing, an Express Card slot, a 5-in-1 Bridge Media port, and Harmon Kardon speakers.

Toshiba boasts that the Satellite P500 is Energy Star 5.0 certified -- but that seems moot with an 18.4" display, an Nvidia G210/230M GT and dual HDDs. The P500 will hit shelves in the fourth quarter of this year, which likely means you can expect to see Windows 7 installed. Pricing wasn't disclosed. Catch a video after the jump.

Philips announces pricey Wireless HDMI solution

2009-09-03T18:29:00.000-07:00

omputer and gadget lovers like us are no strangers to the rat's nest of hanging cables that usually forms behind our desks. But this isn't the only place where electronic components are wired together; more and more our living rooms have morphed into media centers with at least a mid-sized TV, several audio / video components and typically a gaming console.

Fortunately there has been some development aimed at wirelessly connecting HDTVs to our entertainment setups, particularly with Wireless HDMI and WirelessHD. The bad news: it's expensive and not entirely practical for now. Nevertheless, looking to gain an early foothold on the market, Philips has announced a pair of Wireless HDMI boxes which aim to let users connect audio and video devices to their TVs without all the clutter.

The Wireless HDTV link will let you relocate or even hide your components up to 20 meters away while still sending a 1080p/30 HD signal. But getting rid of wires will come at the cost of adding two separate boxes; the image source (Blu-ray player, for example) is connected to a transmitter box and the TV or projector is connected to a smaller receiver box.

This setup makes more sense if the two devices are not located next to each other, but eventually Wireless HDMI technology will be built into home electronic products -- thus obviating the need for transmitter and receiver boxes. Phillips' solution includes two digital HDMI connections, two component connections, and a hefty 600 Euro ($850) price tag.

YouTube to offer movie rentals for $4?

2009-09-03T18:25:00.000-07:00

Still trying to turn lucrative, YouTube is reportedly working on a movie rental service. The online video sharing site has been almost entirely reliant on user-submitted content, but it is in talks with various film studios about securing licenses to host motion pictures. Among the names in the discussion are Sony Pictures, Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., and Warner Bros. Studios.

Speculation has it that while some movies will be viewable for free on an ad-supported basis, others will cost $4 to rent. This shouldn't come as a surprise as YouTube has been working to catalog more premium content. Turning to feature films may bring Google a welcomed profit, having failed thus far to earn a buck off their $1.65 billion investment.

I get the feeling that many people will condemn the thought of YouTube offering paid content. With a slogan like "Broadcast Yourself," it's easy to call YouTube a sellout and think that it's becoming a little less about you, and a little more about pushing mainstream media. I ask you, though, if the current system remains unaffected, is there really a problem?

OnLive cloud-based gaming service now in public beta

2009-09-03T18:22:00.000-07:00

O
nLive's cloud-based gaming service has just rolled into open beta, so if you've been patiently awaiting its release, now might be a great time to test it out. According to OnLive's official blog, to gain entry to the public beta you must sign up on their site.

After signing up, you will have to provide general information about your ISP, computer specs and your location. OnLive uses this information to organize beta testers into groups. If you fit into a particular test group, OnLive will email you and request that you run a detailed performance test on your network connection and system configuration. They will review that information and may choose your setup to install the OnLive browser plug-in.

For the unfamiliar, OnLive is an on-demand video game service which takes the computational load of running today's high end games off of your PC, and places it onto their servers. Games are synchronized, rendered, and stored remotely and delivered via broadband Internet. The service allows you to play games on low-end systems running Windows XP, Vista (and presumably 7), as well as any Intel-based Mac with OS X.

You're probably thinking that the service will host the typical lame browser-based games, but it has numerous big names on-board, including Electronic Arts, Take-Two, Ubisoft, Epic Games, Atari, Codemasters, THQ, Warner Bros., 2D Boy and Eidos Interactive. It has a library of top-end games you would expect to see on the shelves of your local GameStop.

OnLive will also be selling a router-sized "MicroConsole" which has USB, HDMI, and Ethernet ports. By hooking the MicroConsole up to your TV and broadband line, you can play OnLive games sans computer. The service will require you to pay, but OnLive CEO Steve Perlman believes the console, controller, and subscription fee will be cheaper than the cheapest of consoles.

Sony announces 11.1" ultraportable VAIO X notebook

2009-09-02T20:43:00.000-07:00

S
Sony has introduced the new ultra-thin VAIO X laptop series today in Berlin at the IFA 2009 electronics event. There aren't too many details available yet, but based on reports from outfits attending the gathering, it's a premium ultra-portable with a non-glossy 11.1" display, a carbon fiber .55" chassis, and weighs a mere 1.5lbs.

According to Engadget (who is on site), the system will tout an "all-day" battery life, and will set a new standard for stamina. There is nothing official about what will power the VAIO X at launch, but Engadget is reporting that they hear it packs an Intel Atom. That said, nothing is locked in and there's no telling if CULV-based models will be available.

After watching a video shot by NetbookNews, I have to admit that while attractive, the model they handled was looking a little fragile (watch the display as it's opened). Sony is expected to announce an official spec sheet next month, and the VAIO X will hit stores about a week after Windows 7's October 22 launch. Does anyone want to take a stab at the MSRP?

Nokia reveals full specs and price of Booklet 3G

2009-09-02T20:29:00.000-07:00

E
arly last week, Nokia announced its much-expected entry into the netbook space with the Booklet 3G. The company hyped the device's 3G connectivity, lightweight design and alleged 12 hours of battery life; but for the most part hardware details were kept under wraps. Now, with its Nokia World Conference currently underway in Germany, the Finnish manufacturer has shed some additional light on its netbook.

The Booklet 3G is constructed from a single piece of machined aluminum, weighs 2.75 pounds, and is just 0.78 inches thick. Color options at launch will be black, ice (white) and azure (blue). The device has a 10-inch screen with a 1280x720 pixel resolution, and can connect to bigger displays using an HDMI port, according to Nokia. It also sports an almost unheard of 16-cell user-removable battery to accomplish the promised half-day runtime.

Under the hood there is an Intel Atom Z530 running at 1.6 GHz and Poulsbo US15W chipset with a fanless design, as well as 1GB of memory and a 120GB hard drive (1.8-inch, 4200RPM). As expected of a Nokia device, there are plenty connectivity options, including Wi-Fi and 3G/HSPA cellular data network access thanks to a modem and hot-swappable SIM card slot. Other specs include a 1.3-megapixel webcam with integrated microphone, 3 USB ports, Bluetooth, assisted GPS, SD card reader and even an accelerometer.

On the software side, the netbook will come pre-loaded with Microsoft's Windows 7 (Starter, Home Premium or Professional editions) and Nokia services like Ovi Suite 2.0, Nokia Music for PC and Ovi Maps. The Nokia Booklet 3G will retail for 570 Euros (about $810) in Q4 2009, which seems quite pricey for a netbook, but Nokia is expecting the device to be heavily subsidized by phone carriers globally.

USB 3.0 certification begins, devices closer to debut

2009-09-02T20:25:00.000-07:00

Y
esterday the new SuperSpeed USB standard, USB 3.0, took another step closer to becoming a reality for consumers as the USB Implementers Forum announced the availability of its compliance and certification program. Interested companies can register for testing on USB-IF's site.

Those products that pass the tests will carry a SuperSpeed USB logo that promises interoperability with existing USB 2.0 products and the 3.0 improvements, naturally. Announced as far back as 2007, the next-gen interface is expected to provide users with up to 5Gbps transfer speeds, or roughly ten times the speed of USB 2.0. Unfortunately, USB 3.0 devices are not expected to reach its full potential at launch, with speeds probably reaching only 1.2Gbps initially and improving as the standard matures.

Hardware featuring SuperSpeed USB should arrive towards the end of the year -- we already saw a USB 3.0-packing motherboard from Asus back in July but it reportedly got canceled shortly thereafter. Widespread adoption is still far off, however. According to estimates from research firm IDC, the new standard is expected to grab 30 percent of the USB market share by 2013.

EVGA intros enthusiast four-way SLI X58 motherboard

2009-09-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

E
VGA has pulled back the curtain on the world's first four-way GTX 285 SLI capable X58-based motherboard. Simply christened "EVGA X58 Classified 4-Way SLI," the board supports the use of up to four single-PCB GPUs simultaneously. To accompany it, EVGA has also introduced a Classified-branded GTX 285 video card.

EVGA's has built their new motherboard around the XL-ATX form factor, and houses seven PCI-E slots with support for two, three, and four-way SLI or CrossFireX configurations. It features a 10 phase digital PWM with a switching frequency of 1333KHz, low ESR/ESL film capacitor, 100% solid state capacitors, and 300% more gold content on the LGA1366 socket.

Other specs include support for 24GB of DDR3 1600MHz RAM, nine SATA II host adapters with support for RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 5, and JBOD, dual gigabit Ethernet, twelve USB 2.0 ports, and more. The board's complementary GTX 285 features an 8 phase digital PWM, low ESR/ESL film capacitor, X-Cool jumper, three PCI-E 6-pin connectors, and dedicated voltage read points.

EVGA's impressive offering is said to have broken four 3DMark world records during the Motor City Overclocking Event. The company recommends that the X58 Classified motherboard be used with a chassis that has nine or more expansion slots. Note that the board is quite large at 13.5" x 10.3", so be sure to break out a measuring tape before placing your order.

EVGA is obviously targeting the extreme enthusiast community, and as such, you can expect to pay for it. The X58 Classified 4-Way SLI motherboard is stamped with an MSRP of $450, and the GTX 285 Classified GPU is equally pricey at $380.

Sony rolls out PlayStation 3 firmware 3.0

2009-09-01T21:17:00.000-07:00

P
layStation 3 firmware 3.0 has gone live, and owners of the console can expect to see a wide variety of changes. Firmware 3.0 reportedly delivers a host of updates and modifications. Among the additions is a new interactive news section, a status indicator bar, a tweaked friends list, a reworked Trophy system and more.

Sony has replaced the "Information Board" with a "What's New" section, which contains interactive news as well as your recently played games. They have positioned a status indicator in the top right corner, which displays user, friend and new message icons, as well as the number of friends online. The indicator bar also includes a scrolling ticker with PlayStation Network news.

They have polished the friends list, which now displays friends in a slightly redesigned format, and messages are now viewable from your friends' profile. The update places PlayStation Store shortcuts in the Game and Video categories. It also improves upon personalization with new dynamic custom themes and avatars, and has a revamped Trophy system.

Naturally, opinions of the changes will vary. Share your thoughts on the firmware update in the comments. Watch a preview of the firmware update after the jump.

Windows Mobile 6.5 phones to arrive on October 6

2009-09-01T19:14:00.000-07:00

P
hones running Microsoft's new Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system will hit the market in exactly five weeks, according to a recent press release. The October 6 launch will mark the debut of the new "Windows Phone" brand, along with the new My Phone synchronization service and the Windows Marketplace for Mobile, Microsoft's attempt to rival Apple's App Store for the iPhone.

The company has not specified which handsets will be available on launch date, but said HP, HTC, LG Electronics, Samsung, and Toshiba are all committed to the OS. The first phone offerings in the U.S. will be on carriers AT&T, Sprint and Verizon, as well as Bell Mobility and TELUS. Devices will also debut on Orange, Deutsche Telekom AG and Vodafone in Europe; and several other carriers in Asia Pacific and Latin America.

With everyone trying to duplicate the iPhone's experience these days, it's easy to forget Windows Mobile is still the third-most used system behind Symbian and RIM's BlackBerry platform. That said, they are facing increased pressure from Apple's iPhone, Google's Android, and Palm's webOS; and it seems to me that this relatively minor update which touts document editing with Windows Office Mobile and a "redesigned Internet Explorer Mobile browser" among its selling points won't do much to stop the market share bleeding.

The new version also improves the user interface to make it finger-friendly, includes improved notifications and updates from e-mail, text and calendar, as well as an App Store-like hub for software downloads -- although Microsoft hasn't confirmed how many apps will be available for download at launch.

Firefox continues to swallow IE's market share

2009-09-01T19:10:00.000-07:00

O
ver the years, Mozilla Firefox has steadily chipped away at Internet Explorer's market share. Last month, Microsoft's browser lost its greatest slice of the pie since November 2008 -- and Firefox ate most of it. Internet Explorer's share dropped 1.1% to 66.6% during August, and slipped 8.6% in the last 12 months. All the while, Firefox's cut grew .8% to 23.8% in August.

Within the ranks of Internet Explorer, IE6 lost 2.4%, slipping to 24.8%, IE7 dropped 1.9% to 21.2%, and IE8 rose 2.7%, claiming 15.2% of the browser's total share. Apple's Safari gained slightly, up to 4.1%, Google's Chrome saw a .3% rise to 2.9%, and Opera grew .1% to 2.1%. These figures may change significantly in the months to come, though.

Following a suit in the EU, Microsoft has proposed to include a "ballot screen" with its upcoming operating system, Windows 7. Slated for an October 22 launch, European versions of Windows 7 will prompt users with a list of major web browsers. The ballot will contain the top five web browsers, and market share will determine their position on the list.

In addition, Google recently landed a deal with Sony which will have Chrome pre-installed on Vaio-branded laptops sold in the US. Where do you think the shares will stand a year from now?

Sony to pre-install Chrome browser on Vaio laptops

2009-09-01T18:56:00.000-07:00

G
oogle is stepping up its efforts to nab some additional browser market share from leader Internet Explorer and second-placed Firefox. As promised earlier this year, the company has now formalized and revealed an agreement that will see Chrome pre-installed on all Sony Vaio-brand laptops sold in the U.S.

Although specific terms of the deal are not being disclosed, it probably includes some form of search advertising revenue sharing between the two. Google says it is actively pursuing other manufacturers to try and get its browser included on more machines. Indeed, OEM deals may be a key tool in the next generation of browser wars -- and Google is one of the few companies with the financial strength to pick off Microsoft.

The company even has plans to develop its own operating system, which is aimed primarily at low-power machines and netbooks, and will act as an access point for its web-based services.

The deal is not expected to include European markets. With the advent of Windows 7, Microsoft has already announced plans to introduce a web browser ballot screen for all current Windows versions in that region, giving users a choice of which software to use. Nevertheless, the move marks an important development for Chrome a year after it was first launched. Currently, Google's browser has around 30 million active users or around 2-3 percent of the global market, making it the fourth most-popular browser after Apple's Safari.

Opera 10 complete, waiting to be downloaded

2009-09-01T18:39:00.000-07:00

A
s expected, Opera has finally released the completed tenth version of their browser. Opera 10 delivers a revamped interface, a "turbo mode" for those with slower connections, automatic updates and more. Those who are using the release candidate build rolled out a week back may not notice a dramatic difference; the company only lists a few minor changes.

The newest Opera build boasts a 40% speed increase when running web applications (Gmail for instance). Opera Mail has seen numerous improvements and an inline spellchecker has been implemented. Other additions include resizable thumbnail tabs, and Speed Dial has been given personalization features. If you're one of the many who have been awaiting the arrival of Opera 10, grab your download for Windows here.

Samsung to launch app store September 14

2009-08-31T20:33:00.000-07:00

T
he mobile application scene has exploded, and Samsung wants a piece of the pie. The company is anticipating a September 14 launch for their mobile app store entry. The store, shrewdly dubbed "Samsung Application Store," will initially appear in the UK, France, and Italy, but the company eventually expects it to be available in more than 30 countries including Germany and Spain.

To begin with, users of Samsung's Omnia and I8910 HD devices will have access to the store, but it will expand to include other models such as the Omnia II and OmniaLITE. The Samsung Application Store, like any other, will contain a variety of software including utilities for reference, social networking, health, and e-books. Like most similar services, the store will encompass one-click downloading.

At launch, Samsung will provide around 300 approved applications. The company expects that number to swell beyond 2,000 by the year's end. Among the new store's application providers are Gameloft, Electronic Arts, Handmark, TAITO, Paragon SW, Capcom, Com2us, Prompt, Pearson Longman, Bokan Tech and Diotek.

Users of the supported handsets will need to upgrade their devices in order to activate the service. Omnia owners can reportedly download and install the mobile client here, and I8910 HD customers can update via the "Application Download" icon on their phone.

Apple confirms iPod-related event for September 9

2009-08-31T20:01:00.000-07:00

A
s expected, Apple has officially confirmed that it will host a music-themed event next Wednesday, September 9, at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. An invitation sent out to media outfits and blogs today suggests the gathering will be iPod-related (just like in previous years) and references a classic Rolling Stones lyric with the typical iPod ad silhouette stating "It's only rock and roll, but we like it."

The Cupertino-based company has hosted a new product introduction of its iPods every September for the past few years, and this year doesn't look to be any different. Apple is expected to introduce new versions of its iPod nano
and iPod touch featuring cameras and (at least on the latter) a microphone; transforming the touch-enabled media player into a nifty VoIP phone wherever a Wi-Fi connection is available.

Besides new iPod models Apple may also discuss a new interactive album format, known as Cocktail, and could possibly introduce a new version of iTunes with social networking features. Some expect an Apple tablet to be announced as well, which perhaps isn't too far-fetched considering the slew of rumors and 'evidence' on the company's own software, but this seems rather unlikely for now - most are betting on a release early 2010.

Last but not least, the September 9 date has also fueled rumors that The Beatles' discography could finally make its appearance on iTunes. That Wednesday is the same day the band's remastered digital albums and Rock Band video game will be released. Whatever Apple has in store, we'll be filling you in with the details next week.

Wikipedia to begin coloring unverified text

2009-08-31T19:00:00.000-07:00

W
Wikipedia is undoubtedly one of the most interesting, useful and controversial services of the modern web. A conglomerate of user-generated and individually researched articles, it has become a nearly ubiquitous aspect of Internet-based information gathering.

For the very same reason, it has earned a lot of criticism - namely by people who feel its anonymous nature makes it too unreliable and inaccurate. Many have accused the reference site of this, and as a result, Wikipedia has often found itself fighting an uphill battle to prove its credibility.

In an effort to help passersby distinguish the verified material from the untrustworthy, Wikipedia is preparing to introduce a new tool. A new proposal, made possible through an extension to the MediaWiki software that Wikipedia is based upon, will see unreliable text highlighted in color.

The new system will give contributors a reputation score between zero and nine. When someone makes an edit, the resulting text is then highlighted with a shade of orange - the brighter it is, the less trustworthy. An editor's reputation is influenced by the performance of their contributions. As articles become more stable and presumably verified further, text would revert to the norm.

The new system isn't foolproof - it still relies upon anonymous editing, and assumes that editors who have been around longer are more likely to give you accurate information. That may be a safe assumption - the overwhelming majority of vandalism to Wikipedia comes from shadowy sources.

Microsoft Office Build 4417 leaked

2009-08-31T18:58:00.000-07:00

A
s usual, when Microsoft has a new operating system or productivity suite on the assembly line, the public domain has a front seat show. Microsoft Office 2010 Build 4417 has reportedly hit the Web with some minor tweaks and improved stability.

According to Neowin, the most noteworthy change to Build 4417 is that Redmond has fine-tuned and polished the Back-Stage view feature. The latest leak packs a new upload center to store and share documents online, a new activation system, and updated icons. Users are reporting that the uninstall issues of a previously leaked Mondo build have been corrected, and the current version can be uninstalled.

Microsoft Office 2010 first leaked to torrent sites back in May, and Microsoft pushed out a technical preview on July 13. I have no doubt there will be many more unofficial builds to come. If you're going to partake in that scene, be careful of shady sources -- it's not uncommon for these leaks to be laced with malware.

China to account for 15-20% of iPhone shipments next year?

2009-08-30T18:16:00.000-07:00

A
ccording to a Wall Street analyst, Apple will ship five to seven million iPhones in China during 2010, after striking a three-year agreement with China Unicom. Broadpoint AmTech analyst Brian Marshall estimates that the Chinese market will account for 15% to 20% of Apple's global iPhone sales next year.

China Unicom's 140 million subscribers make it the second largest carrier in the country, only topped by China Mobile, which has 460 million customers. Interestingly, Marshall noted only about half of China Unicom's customers are pre-paid, compared to 80% of China Mobile's.

Naturally, pre-paid customers are of little use to Apple, and the number of post-paid customers the two companies have are on a similar plane. China Unicom has about 70 million post-paid customers, and China Mobile has around 92 million.

China Unicom has been adamantly building its 3G network -- an obvious requisite to host the iPhone. The carrier will begin shipping iPhones in the fourth quarter of this year. On a side note, unconfirmed reports have claimed that the Chinese iPhone will lack Wi-Fi capabilities.

gScreen shows off dual-display laptop, Spacebook

2009-08-30T18:13:00.000-07:00

U
Using a laptop has distinct advantages over desktops, most prominently in the mobility department. To gain that boost in portability, though, sacrifices must be made. As a whole, laptops lack the computing muscle offered by their clunky counterparts. That shows in more areas than one - not least in precious screen real estate.

Acknowledging this, a little-known company named gScreen has earned a seat in the limelight with its dual-display-packing notebook. Called "Spacebook," gScreen is working on models that house two 13, 15.4, 16, or 17-inch LED-backlit LCD displays. With a specifically tailored sliding mechanism, the Spacebook's secondary display can be slipped out when needed, and tucked away when not.

In an interview with Gizmodo, gScreen said the Spacebook's specifications will include an Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce GF900M, a 7200RPM HDD, DVD drive, six or nine-cell battery and Windows 7. The company's website has more details, listing a Core 2 Duo P8400, 4GB DDR2 RAM, 320GB 7200RPM HDD, 512MB Nvidia GeForce 9800M GT or Quadro FX 1700M, and VGA/HDMI-out.

Given the slightly dated specifications, I assume the Spacebook's hardware will be revamped in the models to come. As attractive as a laptop with two displays may be, the complete package probably weighs in excess of 12lbs, not to mention the elevated power consumption. Just something to keep in mind before you plunk down your hard earned dollars.

The company is pressing for December 2009 launch -- probably to snag a few holiday sales -- and plans to have the first units sold via Amazon. Although there is no official price established, gScreen is reportedly trying to keep it below $3,000.

Dell hits rough patch, but is optimistic about future

2009-08-28T18:25:00.000-07:00

D
espite Dell's sharp decline in revenue during the second quarter, the PC maker said things are looking up. The company reported a profit decline of 23% to $472 million ($.24 per share), and 22% less sales during the May-July period. Sales to corporations fell 32% year-over-year to $3.3 billion, meanwhile consumer PC shipments rose 17% - mostly due to price cuts.

Dell's outlook is similar to other big names in the industry, including HP and Intel. They have all reported that consumers are making their way back to the stores, but corporations are still penny-pinching. Dell believes that may not change until 2010. Analysts are looking to next year for renewed company budgets and hope Windows 7 will stimulate sales.

About 80% of Dell's business comes from sales to corporations, government agencies, and other institutions. Company CEO Michael Dell expects things to look a bit brighter in the second half of the year, if the current demand trends continue. However, Dell's profits will continue to be subject to aggressive pricing and rising component costs.

Given Dell's dependency on corporate sales, rivals like HP and Acer who place more emphasis on the consumer market have fared better. HP and Acer have gained market share, while Dell has lost footing. In an effort to reduce spending and regain its ground, the company has trimmed its staff by some 9,300 and has restructured its business units.

TV providers to test online broadcasts

2009-08-28T18:11:00.000-07:00

S
crambling to protect their subscription revenue, TV providers Time Warner Cable and Verizon are planning to offer their paying customers shows on the Web. The old broadcast model could face a serious threat if cable shows became widely available on the Internet. The collective traditional media is already feeling the Web's presence, and it seems they are looking to nip it in the bud.

Dubbed TV Everywhere, Time Warner's trial of the online TV service will include shows from the NBC Universal-owned Syfy channel; Time Warner's TNT, HBO and TBS; Cablevision System's AMC, IFC and Sundance Channel; and BBC's BBC America. CBS and Discovery are also involved in the test. The trial of TV Everywhere is expected to be made available to 5,000 households. Verizon will roll out its flavor of the TV Everywhere trial, making TNT and TBS available online for FiOS customers.

Recognizing the threat at hand, other companies are also moving to safeguard the subscription model of old. DirecTV is reportedly working on a version of TV Everywhere. While their attempts may woo some, I have one question: Will the TV Everywhere online broadcasts be crammed full of ads?

Microsoft: Xbox 360 failures "well behind us"

2009-08-28T18:06:00.000-07:00

M
icrosoft has responded to the recent survey being passed around the Web. Consisting of 5,000 Consumerist readers, the controversial poll suggested that around 54% of the participants experienced at least one Xbox 360 failure - 41.2% said they had at least two go kaput.

According to Xbox Live and Xbox 360 director of product management Aaron Greenberg, while issues inundated the early 360 production lines, things have since improved. "I can tell you the consoles we're making today have lower-heat chips and better cooling, and we're seeing fantastic quality in those consoles today," Greenberg said.

He said that the early problems were acknowledged, and Microsoft responded by introducing an extended three-year warranty for anyone who is faced with the infamous Red Ring of Death or E74 error. Greenberg continued by adding that with the strides taken by Microsoft, he feels like most of the problems are well behind them.

What have your experiences been with the newer Xbox 360 models?

Apple discontinues all iPod SKUs, rumors of refresh surface

2009-08-28T18:03:00.000-07:00

he iPod has greatly assisted Apple in maintaining their MP3 player market dominance. As it stands, "MP3 player" is nearly synonymous with iPod - much to Microsoft's chagrin. That doesn't mean Apple has been resting on their laurels, even if it seems that way to resellers. Numerous resellers are apparently concerned over a drop in stock volume, reporting low quantities of iPods available for resale.

That's just the tip of the iceberg though, with Cupertino announcing even more harrowing news. The company has discontinued all existing iPod SKUs, demonstrating that it is preparing to cease manufacture (and hence sales) of every existing iPod model. Is the iPod becoming stale? Perhaps, depending on your point of view - but it is still a blisteringly successful device.

Why would Apple put a stop to all their existing SKUs? Rumor has it that Apple is planning to refresh iPods across the board. This move seems to coincide with the widespread anticipation of a rumored September event. Though it's obvious they are planning something big for the iPod, Apple is tight-lipped as usual.

In the meantime, the halt may indicate a temporary shortage of iPods as existing supplies run dry. We'll post more as we hear official news from Apple.

Nokia unveils Linux-based smartphone, N900

2009-08-27T18:19:00.000-07:00

n addition to elbowing its way into the netbook scene, Nokia has unveiled a new smartphone, the N900. Keeping its Internet Tablet devices close to heart, the company has given life to a tablet-smartphone-Frankenstein. The company sees its new handset as an evolution from its tablets - which, naturally, lacked cellular functionality.

The N900 will run Maemo 5, and feature a 3G cellular connection (WCDMA and HSPA at 900/1700/2100 MHz), a WVGA touchscreen display and hardware QWERTY keyboard. It will pack an ARM Cortex-A8 processor, 1 GB of RAM, 32GB of storage (expandable up to 48GB via microSD), and OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics acceleration. Nokia's new smartphone will be capable of multitasking, it will run a browser made by Mozilla, and will support Adobe Flash 9.4.

Opinions of the N900 are mixed. Most seem to believe it will be a niche product only purchased by early adopters. Research firm CCS Insight considers the device as an experiment, and said, "Its uninspiring design further reflects its experimental nature." They also feel that its appeal will largely lie in its software platform.

Experimental or otherwise, the N900 has quite the feature-set. Nokia's Franken-phone will be available in early October with an asking price of $712 before taxes and subsides. See the Nokia N900 and Maemo 5 in action after the jump.

YouTube to pony up for popular content

2009-08-27T18:11:00.000-07:00

ouTube has modified the policy of its partnership program in a way that they hope will make money for both them and content submitters. The site is planning to increase the number of ads that accompany its viral videos. Just yesterday, we reported that the popular video sharing service was looking to turn a profit by baiting new advertisers.

The updated model looks simple on paper. YouTube will contact owners of videos that explode in popularity and ask if they'd like to show ads on the content. YouTube will then split the revenue with the content owner. The exact ratio for the split hasn't been disclosed, but according to YouTube spokesman Aaron Zamost, "very popular videos can make thousands of dollars a month."

Prior to this plan, only the most prolific users were invited to participate in the YouTube Partnership Program. Under that program, select users are raking it in. Back Stage mentions a 16-year-old boy known as "Fred," who earns six figures a year. The change makes it possible for one-hit wonders to profit considerably.

New attack cracks WPA Wi-Fi encryption in just a minute

2009-08-27T18:07:00.000-07:00

ncryption systems used by wireless routers have had a long history of security problems. The Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) system was cracked and rendered effectively pointless within a few years of its introduction in 1997. Now, it looks like its WPA successor may soon suffer the same fate, with a pair of Japanese researchers developing a way to break it in just one minute.

The attack builds on the so-called "Becks-Tews method" unveiled last year by researchers Martin Beck and Erik Tews. However, that method worked on a smaller range of WPA devices and took between 12 and 15 minutes to carry out. Both attacks work on WPA systems that use the Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) algorithm. They aren't key-recovery attacks -- but give hackers a way to read encrypted traffic sent between computers and certain types of routers that use the outdated encryption system.

The Wi-Fi Alliance has required since 2006 that Wi-Fi-certified products support WPA 2, a much more powerful encryption system that is not vulnerable to these attacks, but users have been slow to upgrade.

The two researchers, Toshihiro Ohigashi of Hiroshima University and Masakatu Morii of Kobe University, are to discuss their findings at a conference in Hiroshima this September 25 but you can read some details now in their paper, "A Practical Message Falsification Attack on WPA" (PDF).

reSTART, first US Internet addiction clinic opens

2009-08-26T19:56:00.000-07:00

T
he first US gaming and texting addiction clinic is now open for business. Positioned 13 miles away from Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, Washington, the reSTART Internet Addiction Recover Program provides a 45-day intensive care program for Internet and game addicts. The package comes complete with psychotherapy, 12-step group counseling, nutritional education, personalized fitness plans, and "high adventure outings."

According to the clinic's mission statement, it is "specifically oriented toward launching tech dependent youth and adults back into the real world." The program is designed to help people break their Internet and/or computer-based cycle of dependency. Participants will engage activities that are often avoided because of excessive computer, video game, and Internet use.

For only $14,500 (or the cost of an 80.6-year WoW subscription as noted by ZDNet) you can hop on the path to recovery, and kick your Web abuse for good. Who's in line?

Microsoft increases Office anti-piracy measures

2009-08-26T19:42:00.000-07:00

ear after year, Office turns out to be Microsoft's biggest software cash producer. Beyond Windows and any other single suite, Office is what makes Microsoft scads of dough. Given the relative high cost of the suite, it's no surprise that Office is also one of the most pirated pieces of software in the world. Hoping to curb losses incurred from rampant piracy, Microsoft is introducing some new countermeasures to the newest versions of Office.

The new anti-piracy measures aren't aimed at single users, however. Microsoft isn't losing sleep over the people torrenting Office or pilfering a burned copy from a friend - instead, it is the counterfeiting involved. The software giant is concerned about knockoff copies in cloned packaging. As pirates get more professional, black market copies of Office look more like the real thing - preventing people from determining whether or not a piece of software is genuine.

To accomplish this, Microsoft is expanding "Office Genuine Advantage," a branch of the same anti-piracy arm that most Windows users are familiar with. Primarily, they are increasing how far OGA is available worldwide, and will pass it off as a Windows Update. While at first that may seem like a small act, it's actually a pretty large one - since counterfeiting is a worldwide issue, and Microsoft has largely focused on only certain regions of the world.

Whether or not nagging users with duped software is effective, Microsoft doesn't say. However, their anti-piracy efforts have increased exponentially with time. How much farther will Microsoft (or any software vendor, for that matter) go to prevent their code from being stolen?

Anti-malware feature quietly slipped into Snow Leopard?

2009-08-26T19:38:00.000-07:00

ue Friday the 28, Apple's next version of OS X, 10.6 Snow Leopard, may contain an antimalware function of sorts. A report from Mac security firm Intego came yesterday that early testers of the new OS have unearthed some form of bundled-in malware prevention tool.

Neither the firm or users are entirely sure how the function works, but a screenshot shows the feature working with a file downloaded via Safari. The antimalware tool detected a version of the RSPlug Trojan horse in a downloaded disk image.

This is an interesting discovery, considering Apple's long-held stance that PCs are insecure and virus-riddled, whereas Macs "just work." This message is endlessly propagated in Cupertino's "Get a Mac" campaign, where they portray Macs as being trouble-free in the malware department.

While that may be largely true, most would argue that OS X is no more secure than any other operating system, it's just less circulated. With Microsoft Windows installed on 90-plus-percent of computers, it's the obvious target of malware authors.

Opera 10 release candidate available

2009-08-26T19:33:00.000-07:00

O
pera Software has completed its first release candidate of Opera 10, a browser that the company says has better performance, a Turbo mode for slow Internet connections, support for a variety of Web standards such as Web fonts, and improvements to the Opera Mail feature.

"Now, we are very close to releasing the best browser in Opera's long history," Jan Standal, Opera's vice president of desktop products, said in a statement. "We hope everyone who has helped us test our browser thus far will put the release candidate through its paces."

The new Carakan JavaScript engine, which is used to run Web-based applications such as Google Docs, isn't done yet.

"It won't be ready for (Opera) 10 final, but rest assured that it will be impressive when it comes," spokesman Thomas Ford said. He said Opera won't comment on the timing of the new engine's release until it enters alpha testing.

Firefox, Safari, and Chrome also all are working furiously on better JavaScript performance too, in an effort to make the Web a better foundation for applications.

The new Opera release candidate is available for download for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Opera has been available for years as an alternative to the dominant Microsoft Internet Explorer, the second-ranked Firefox, and Apple's Safari. It was pushed into fifth place with the arrival of Google Chrome. The Opera browser often charts new territory, though. For example, its Speed Dial feature, which presents an array of Web site thumbnails when a person opens a new browser tab, was first introduced in 2007. A similar feature can now be found in Chrome and Safari, and Firefox may add something comparable.

Nokia enters netbook market with Booklet 3G

2009-08-25T21:44:00.001-07:00

We’ve been hearing rumors about a Nokia netbook for some months now, but today the Finnish company has actually made it official with the “Booklet 3G” — a stylish Intel/Microsoft-based netbook that promises an ambitious 12-hour battery life, a weight of just 2.75 pounds, and the kind of extras you would expect from a cell phone manufacturer.

The Booklet 3G is a Windows machine powered by an Atom processor and, according to Nokia, will have close ties to the company's Ovi suite of online services and mobile applications currently available to Nokia handset owners. Its thin (0.7 inches) aluminum case holds an HDMI-out port, along with the usual webcam, Bluetooth, SD card reader and 10.1-inch display.

As you might have guessed, the device can connect to the Internet either by a built-in 3G card or Wi-Fi, but Nokia ups the ante with a hot-swappable SIM card slot and Assisted GPS integrated out of the box. Pricing and availability information for the Nokia Booklet 3G is not yet available; the company said it will be releasing more details about the device next week at Nokia World.

Google fixes two critical Chrome flaws

2009-08-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

Without much fanfare, Google has pushed out an update for Chrome that will seal up two vulnerabilities which could have posed a serious risk. The flaws, present in the V8 JavaScript engine that Chrome relies upon, could result in data compromise or even worse, total system compromise through code execution.

One flaw pertained to potentially fraudulent HTTPS sessions, and the more dangerous of the two could be triggered simply by visiting a maliciously-crafted page with certain XML content. Google has pushed out version 2.0.172.43 of Chrome already, making it available for download to anyone who uses Chrome. If you haven't updated already, it's a good idea to snag it.

Interestingly, Google is crediting how they discovered the flaws. Mozilla's security team was apparently responsible for alerting Google to one problem, and a security researcher was credited with discovering the other. That may be only a small note, but it is encouraging to see browser developers working together in some fashion.

YouTube to turn lucrative soon?

2009-08-25T18:17:00.000-07:00

In 2006, Google paid a handsome $1.65 billion for video sharing site YouTube. Now three years later, the company has yet to turn a profit from its acquisition - but that may change soon. The search giant is looking at YouTube's not-so-distant future and it sees a lucrative business, according to CFO Patrick Pichette.

This year alone, analysts expect Google to lose between $70 million and $500 million on its grossly popular video site. Despite being in the red, YouTube has seen an explosion in popularity and viewership. That wide userbase may eventually turn a nice penny for the search company, as they work to coax new advertisers to the site.

Google has been working more closely with Hollywood, inking deals with Time Warner and Walt Disney. By signing those agreements, they hope the additional professional content will lure more advertisers. Although the company seems optimistic about YouTube's future, analysts offer a polarized outlook about the service's ability to generate profit.

"These are not signs of what I call a smart acquisition, these are signs of a dumb acquisition," said Global Equities Research analyst Chip Chowdhry. Bernstein Research believes that even if the company begins turning a profit, it won't be enough to cover costs associated with bandwidth and data storage.

Yahoo to acquire Maktoob for rumored $75-$80 million

2009-08-25T18:14:00.000-07:00

Yahoo is preparing to acquire Arab portal Maktoob for a rumored sum of approximately $75 million to $80 million. Established in 2000, the Jordan-based business was the world's first free Arabic/English web-based email service. Today, it has grown to be the region's leading Arab online community.

Internet use in the Middle East has grown more than tenfold since Maktoob's inception, and there are more than 320 million Arabic speakers worldwide - yet, less than 1% of all online content is in Arabic. The agreement with Yahoo is expected to change that, uniting Yahoo's 20 million Arab users with Maktoob's 16 million. The search player's content will soon be Arabized, starting with mail and messenger services.

Other parts of Maktoob group, Araby.com, Cashu.com, Souq.com, Tahadi MMO games are not packaged in the deal, and will instead be a separate company called Jabbar Internet Group. Products resulting from the agreement will be co-branded Yahoo and Maktoob. The companies are looking to close the deal by quarter four.

Wolfenstein Graphics Performance In-Depth

2009-08-25T03:26:00.000-07:00

W
olfenstein is id Software's latest gaming title having just hit shelves last week. Upon its release Wolfenstein has received generally favorable reviews from critics. The game has been praised for its exciting single player campaign, while the multiplayer component has received the most criticism, considered by some to be a letdown when compared to its predecessor Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory.

Regardless of how you feel about playing solo or multiplayer, there is no denying that Wolfenstein is a great looking game. Based on a highly modified version of the id Tech 4 engine, the game is able to deliver cutting edge graphics that rival more recently developed engines. The modifications to the engine include depth of field effects, post processing effects, Havok physics, soft shadowing, as well as the addition of a supernatural realm called 'The Veil'.

As with any new game release there is always the chance it may not run on your current setup, or at the very least, not run well. That's the reason we like to bring you a complete set of tests based on new games such as Wolfenstein using a range of current graphics cards and some other not so current ones.

Microsoft extends Windows 7 Family Pack to Europe

2009-08-25T03:22:00.000-07:00

E
arlier this year, looking to placate anti-trust concerns in Europe, Microsoft proposed a browser-less version of Windows 7 for the region and then scratched that plan to favor the so-called browser ballot screen option. Its initial plan prevented European users from doing an in-place upgrade from Vista, though, so those who bought a copy of the operating system early were set to receive full licenses at upgrade prices.

Microsoft of course plans to honor those purchases but has now confirmed that, starting September 1, upgrade editions of Windows 7 with Internet Explorer 8 included will be available in the region as well. This leaves a one-week window in which European customers may continue to pre-order full versions of the OS at the upgrade price of €119.99.

Additionally, in a blog posting today at the Windows 7 Team Blog, Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc revealed that since upgrade editions will now be offered in Europe, the software giant will also be selling the three-license Family Pack - which contains upgrade editions - in select European countries. These include the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands and Sweden.

LeBlanc mentioned that versions without Windows Media Player, marked with a prominent “N” and a big red box, will also be available for all Windows 7 SKUs in both full and upgrade editions, but for no discount off the regular price. This version is the result of a previous European antitrust suit over the inclusion of that software in Windows.

Microsoft releases new Movie Maker, shows HD webcam

2009-08-24T02:40:00.000-07:00

M
icrosoft has released their latest version of Windows Live Movie Maker. The new release has a simplified, more focused feature-set and excludes infrequently used tools. Users can upload videos directly to YouTube and Facebook, burn files straight to DVD, play videos on HDTVs, and save in a wide spectrum of resolutions, including 480i, 720i, 720p and 1080p.

Microsoft has polished the new Movie Maker's storyboard, allowing faster and easier edits than previous versions, and it now supports audio editing. Despite its improved offering, CNET has given the new Windows Live Movie Maker a "so-so" rating. They concluded that although it's decent for its price (free), it doesn't top Apple's iMovie, if you have the cash.

Additionally, Microsoft unveiled a new high-definition webcam named LifeCam Cinema. The LifeCam makes use of ClearFrame Technology and an updated de-noiser, and can record 720p 16:9 video at up to 30 frames per second. It will start shipping next month for about $80.

Lenovo, Samsung put Ion-based netbooks on hold until Windows 7 launch

2009-08-24T02:36:00.000-07:00

It’s been months since Lenovo first announced what was supposed to be the first Nvidia Ion powered netbook. Although a version of the IdeaPad S12 with Intel-based graphics was indeed released shortly thereafter to favorable reviews, its 1080p capable sibling still shines by its absence. Now the system is being pushed back until the end of October to coincide with the debut of Windows 7.

A specific reason for the delay was not revealed, but Lenovo did say that the experience of Windows 7 on the Ion-based S12 would make it more compelling than the Vista version it was originally planning to sell. Meanwhile, Samsung will reportedly follow suit and delay the release of their Nvidia Ion N510 netbook until they can ship it with Windows 7. While most Vista notebooks sold between now and October 22 are eligible for a free upgrade, apparently their thinking is that not everyone is comfortable with the process.

Samsung is rumored to have several versions of its upcoming Ion powered laptops in the works, so it’s also worth noting the possibility of them releasing an XP version with DirectX 9 support in September (using the cheaper LE variant of Ion), and a version with full DX10 support after Windows 7 is released in October.

Razer intros Naga, a 17-button MMO mouse

2009-08-20T21:37:00.000-07:00

Razer introduced a 17-button mouse for massively multiplayer online games at the Gamescom expo today. Named Naga, the mouse has a twelve-digit keypad built into the left side of its shell - the perfect spot to keep your thumb busy. It connects via USB and features a 5600dpi 3.5G laser sensor, 1,000Hz ultrapolling / 1ms response time, a maximum tracking speed of 200 inches per second and Teflon feet.

To further expand the Naga's functionality, there are MMO-specific software add-ons, you can have unlimited character profiles, and you can stack commands on any given mouse button by defining a modifier key. For instance, by holding down a keyboard key, you can configure and execute several layers of commands with a single mouse button.

For the curious, the Razer Naga's dimensions in millimeters are 116L x 69W x 41.6H. The company says it will be available online "soon," and will be shipping worldwide for $80.

Import your old mail and contacts to Gmail

2009-08-20T18:20:00.000-07:00

A
lthough Google's web-based mail service rising in popularity, the pain of ditching old mail and contacts deters many who want to make the switch. A few months back, Google eased the pain of parting with your old account by allowing new users to import their previous mail data to Gmail - a welcomed feature.

However, many long-time Gmail users have email accounts lurking from years prior to Gmail's inception. The old accounts often contain dated confirmation emails and other data most people just can't let go. Gmail is now able to import that old data to existing accounts, and users can finally let their antiquated Hotmail account rest in peace.

To use the new feature, simply go to Settings, and then the Accounts & Import tab. Click Import mail and contacts and a follow the prompts from there. According to Google, the entire copy process takes a few days, but eventually everything will arrive to your Gmail account.

Windows 7 RC downloads end Thursday

2009-08-19T19:54:00.000-07:00

Following the planned death of Windows 7 Beta, the RC version that has been freely available to anyone to test since May will no longer be downloadable from Microsoft’s servers after Thursday of this week. This means that if you still haven't jumped on the test wagon, you'll have to wait another two months for the final release to get your hands on a copy.

Those of you already running the near-finished version of Windows 7 can continue using it for free. Even if you miss the August 20 deadline Microsoft says they'll keep handing out license keys for a while, so you can always grab a copy from torrent sites – be sure to verify your ISO, though. You'll have until March 2010 before Microsoft starts forcefully shutting your computer down every two hours and then face expiration on June. That'll give you plenty of time to test Microsoft’s upcoming operating system past the official and final release.

One word of caution: As mentioned by Microsoft themselves and in numerous other sources, there's no upgrade path other than a clean install to move from the RC build to the final version, so that may be one reason to hold off and wait for the official release at this point in time. Should you decide to give it a try anyway, we have posted a guide to dual boot Windows 7 RC with XP/Vista in three easy steps, and another one to reverse the process.

More on the PS3 Slim: 250GB model already planned

2009-08-19T18:24:00.000-07:00

Sony finally took the wraps off the much-rumored PS3 Slim yesterday and gave it the more affordable $299 price tag consumers had been clamoring for. The new 120GB unit is smaller, lighter, and packs “all the same features” of older models (with the exception of Linux support) while consuming 34 percent less power. It is also a bit quieter than its predecessors, which is good news for people using the console as a Blu-ray player.

At the same time, Sony announced a $100 price cut for current 80GB and 160GB models – now at $300 and $400 – while supplies last. We’re not quite sure why anyone would buy the bulkier and less capacious 80GB console when they can wait a few weeks for the Slim to arrive at the same price. But if that 160GB unit for $400 is starting to sound tempting, get this: recent filings with the FCC suggest a 250GB variant of the PS3 Slim may arrive soon. The question is when will it be released and at what price.

It’s also worth mentioning that the new 3.0 firmware will be released concurrently with the PS3 slim on September 1, which should provide a breath of fresh air for existing machines. The latest update incorporates some usability and cosmetic changes to the UI – full details are available at the PlayStation Blog.

Microsoft fights Word sales injunction

2009-08-19T18:21:00.000-07:00

M
icrosoft has filed an “emergency motion” to stay a judge’s ruling that threatens to prevent the company from selling its widely used word processing application. The issue boils down to a custom XML function in Microsoft Word 2003 and 2007 that allegedly infringes on a patent held by Canadian firm i4i. Although Redmond claims it is expending enormous human and financial capital to come up with modified versions, failing to do so within the court’s 60-day deadline could potentially keep Word and even Office off the shelves for months.

In its motion, Microsoft asked an appeals court to halt that injunction and also to speedily hear the company's appeal once it is filed. The software giant argues that the patents in question are invalid and furthermore claims the injunction could cause "irreparable harm" to the software giant's business and to its partners.

The stakes are high and alternative productivity suites such as OpenOffice.org or even Google Docs certainly would love to capitalize on this. There are a few possible outcomes, though, and somehow I doubt Office ceasing to be available is one of them. Microsoft could still buy some time with the appeal to work on non-infringing versions of Word or perhaps reach an out-of-court settlement with i4i.

Windows 7 Product Editions Compared

2009-08-19T01:28:00.000-07:00

B
efore Windows Vista, Microsoft made the sale of its Windows operating system view easy and concise. Windows XP only had Home and Professional editions and the decision was easy because home users used home edition and business users used professional edition. Windows Vista was introduced with six different product editions and made things a little complicated for end users. Some users were unable to differentiate between Vista Home Basic and Home Premium, but the main difference was simply a matter of performance and "eye-candy" between the two versions.

Windows 7 continues the same six product editions but with slightly different names and the ways that they are differentiated. In this article, we will try to break it all down and make it easy to understand because it really isn't that complicated with a little explanation. The chart below is a quick summarization of the various product editions with details and a comparison to a Vista product edition.

Windows 7 Edition	Comparable Vista Edition	Full / Upgrade Price	32-bit / 64-bit
Starter	Home Basic	No retail avail.	Yes / No
Home Basic	Starter	No retail avail.	Yes / No
Home Premium	Home Premium	$200 / $120	Yes / Yes
Professional	Business	$300 / $200	Yes / Yes
Ultimate	Ultimate	$320 / $220	Yes / Yes
Enterprise	Enterprise	No retail avail.	Yes / Yes

Windows 7 Starter:

Windows 7 Starter:

The lowest-end product edition of Windows 7 is the Starter edition, which will be preinstalled on low-end computers and computers without enough processing power for other editions, such as a netbook. Unlike Windows 7 Home Basic edition, Starter edition will be sold in the United States and other mainstream markets. The system requirements of Windows 7 Starter are the following: a low-end CPU processor, 1GB of RAM, 256GB (max) hard drive, and a 10.2" (or smaller) display.

The interface of Windows 7 Starter is cut down and only includes the Windows Basic interface and not the Windows Aero interface, which is the "glassy" transparent windows. You also do not get Aero Peek and Shake. Windows Media Center is not included, but Windows Media Player is. Users cannot change the desktop wallpaper in this edition, which is a bizarre restriction.

Windows 7 Home Basic:

This Home Basic edition, unlike Starter, will not be sold in mainstream markets, including the United States. It will be installed with low-end PCs in emerging countries, such as India. The system requirements are similar to the Starter edition's requirements above.

Windows 7 Home Premium:

Home Premium will be the edition that an overwhelming majority of computer users in the United States will choose, mostly because it will come pre-installed on new computers after the October 22nd release of Windows 7. This edition comes with all of the desktop enhancements that Windows 7 has to offer, including Windows Aero, Flip 3D, Live Thumbnails, and the ability to customize all aspects of the user interface.

Windows 7 Home Premium comes with all of the multimedia features, such as Windows Media Center, DVD Maker, Windows Media Player, and all of the games that Windows 7 has to offer. Windows Mobility Center is also included, which provides advanced features for laptop and portable devices as well as touch input and multi-touch functionality.

If you are an average to above-average computer user who will use this product in a home or home business setting, this is most likely the edition that you will want. It is priced right at $120 for an upgrade version for current users of Windows XP or Vista and it will definitely run on any computer that decently runs XP and Vista right now.

Windows 7 Professional:

Users of Windows 7 Professional will be small to mid-size businesses and companies who need advanced networking features, such as Active Directory and domain log-in support. Professional also offers network backup, an Encrypting File System (EFS), and the ability to connect to and control a remote PC via Remote Desktop. XP Mode is also available to Professional edition users, which allows users to install and run applications that only work in Windows XP in a seamless Windows 7 environment. Professional edition also supports a larger amount of RAM: 192GB (64-bit) and 16GB (32-bit)

The biggest two questions of whether or not you need Windows 7 Professional are the following: Do you need domain support and do you need seamless backward compatibility for legacy Windows XP applications?

Windows 7 Ultimate:

This edition is for the power-user and computer enthusiast. It includes every single available Windows 7 feature, but is still relatively similar to the Professional edition. Windows 7 Ultimate gives users access to BitLocker and BitLocker To Go, which is a drive encryption system for the system hard drive and portable media, like a USB thumbdrive. Home users will not need any of these more advanced features and the price of $100 extra is most likely not worth spending for it.

32-Bit vs. 64-Bit:

Most of the Windows 7 product editions ship in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavors in the retail package. Users purchasing new PCs will be given a choice of either 32 or 64 bit operating systems at their time of purchase. There are no cosmetic or functionality differences between 32 and 64 bit, but there is one small under-the-hood different. The 64-bit versions of Windows 7 support either 16GB or 192GB of RAM, while the 32-bit editions only support a maximum of 4GB. All new and relatively new CPU's are 64-bit compatible and users should almost always choose 64-bit versions of Windows 7.

Kmart lists PS3 Slim for $300, announcement imminent?

2009-08-18T18:26:00.001-07:00

U
pdate: Sony has confirmed that the long-rumored PlayStation 3 Slim will be in stores the first week of September, priced at $299.99. It will be 33 percent smaller, 36 percent lighter, and should retain all the features and functions of current PS3 consoles but with a 120GB drive. Check out some images after the break.

Rumors of a slimmed-down, cheaper version of the PlayStation 3 have been all but confirmed today. While Sony has yet to make an official announcement, both Kmart.com and Sears.com (which are owned by the same company) have begun putting order pages up for the new console priced at an all-time low of $300.

An ad on Kmart’s website states that “the rumors are reality” and proclaims the arrival of a “new low price and a new exciting PlayStation 3.” Furthermore, the preorder page describes a PS3 Slim model with a 120GB hard drive and a Blu-ray player. The release date? Less than a week from now, on August 24. However, given that retailers are probably sitting on a stockpile of current-generation PS3s, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this date pushed back a little bit.

A recently leaked banner ad from entertainment media retailer FYE could be an indication of this. The ad describes a new low price for current models “while supplies last,” cutting the price of the 80GB console to $300 (down from $400) and the 160GB version to $400 (from $500). Whatever the case may be, we’ll probably know for sure later today when Sony is slated to begin its press conference at GamesCom.

Gmail to surpass Hotmail in seven months

2009-08-18T18:18:00.001-07:00

Gmail launched as an invitation-only beta in 2004 and has grown a steady following since its release to the general public in 2007. Now, Google's web-based mail service has taken AOL's spot at number three for the most popular online email service and is showing no signs of slowing down. It is poised to overtake Hotmail - which has been around for over a decade.

According to ComScore, Gmail's monthly US visitors swelled from 25.3 million in July 2008 to 36.9 million in July 2009. Other Google services have also experienced a spurt, growing at a 46% rate this year compared to 39% in 2008 - its competitors haven't been as fortunate, though. AOL's monthly visitors have declined from 45.1 million to 36.4 million in the same period.

If Gmail's growth trend continues, the service will trump Microsoft's Windows Live Hotmail in about seven months. Hotmail currently caters to about 47.1 million visitors - a number that has remained flat in recent years. The service lost 4% of its total visitors between September 2007 and September 2008, and grew by 3% between July 2008 and 2009.

Yahoo Mail is the leading free web-based mail service, and has seen positive figures of late. Y! Mail grew by 11% in 2008, and 22% between 2008 and 2009. InformationWeek noted that the release of Windows 7 may renew interest in Microsoft services, and that Google has been encouraging businesses to start using Google Apps.

Facebook sued over terms of service changes

2009-08-18T18:12:00.000-07:00

If you think it's hard to keep just a small handful of people happy, imagine the monumental work behind keeping 250 million people happy. That's one of the tasks that huge social networking sites face on a daily basis, balancing the needs of tens or hundreds of millions of opinions all at once. Facebook has apparently failed in this, to the point that some users have decided to sue. It doesn't take much thought to stumble upon the reason why: Privacy.

With millions of people dumping very personal information onto the site, it seems many of them have an expectation as to who truly owns this. Due to recent changes to their privacy policy, Facebook seems to be taking the position that anything submitted to their site becomes their own property – a stance that has users in an uproar and has resulted in at least five people filing suit against the service.

Facebook denies the claims and plans to defend themselves against the accusations. The fight itself may not boil down to the wording in Facebook's terms, but rather the process involved in changing it. Part of the suit relies on a claim that Facebook doesn't notify (or notify properly) of changes to the ToS. Though just another suit among many, this is another example of the continuing struggle between users and service providers, battling over who truly owns what.

Netscape founder backs browser startup RockMelt

2009-08-14T19:31:00.001-07:00

After a successful run in the early to mid 1990s, which came to an end a few years later with the arrival of Windows 95 and Internet Explorer 4, Netscape founder Marc Andreessen is reportedly looking to get back into the browser game. Citing unnamed sources, the New York Times claims Andreessen and some of his former colleagues are investing in a new browser venture known as RockMelt.

This might give an interesting twist to the current browser wars, but do we really need another contender? Now that Firefox has prompted a new wave of competition in the market, things are started to feel a bit crowded with Chrome, Safari, Opera, and of course a renewed Internet Explorer. But Andreessen believes its new browser would be different from the rest, saying that most other browsers had not kept pace with the evolution of the web – pretty much what every other competitor claims about their rivals.

Little is known about RockMelt, but the Times suggests the browser is intended to be coupled with Facebook and ReadWriteWeb backs that notion claiming to have caught a glimpse at an early build. Considering Andreessen’s presence on the board of Facebook that doesn't seem too far-fetched. RockMelt could be a way to browse the web with a focus on Facebook (and the growing number of Facebook Connect partner sites) or just social networking in general – something Flock has tried to do with very limited success.

Corsair debuts speedy 128GB flash drive

2009-08-13T20:32:00.000-07:00

A
lthough Corsair isn't the first to offer a 128GB USB flash drive, they are claiming that their Flash Voyager is the world's fastest. They boast that their new drive makes use of a "revolutionary design that employs a unique controller architecture" and that it achieves SLC performance using MLC NAND flash memory.

Corsair says that the drive is able to achieve read speeds of 32MB/s and write speeds of 25.6MB/s with the limiting factor being the speed of the USB 2.0 interface and operating system overhead. It is encased in red water-resistant rubber to protect it from the accident prone. *Note that there are separate write speeds listed in the press release and on the product page (25.6MB/s and 28.8MB/s), we've contacted Corsair and are awaiting clarification.

The 128GB Flash Voyager GT is available immediately for $399.99 via authorized Corsair distributors and resellers around the globe and ships with a 10-year limited warranty. Though, for that price you can pick up a much faster 2.5" SSD drive, minus the extra portability mind you.

Opera 10 moves into third beta

2009-08-13T18:27:00.000-07:00

G
enerally, any attention on browsers these days is aimed at the big names, Firefox and Internet Explorer, with a sprinkling of affection for Safari every now and then. We can't forget the little guys in that, however, and the long-lived Opera remains in this category. Today Opera has pushed out a new beta of their upcoming version 10 browser, after a successful round of tests and user feedback that enabled them to move forward with the next stage of development.

Beta 3 introduces a handful of new features, with a lot of attention on the user interface and mechanical functionality of the browser. They're also citing stability improvements, something anyone can appreciate. One feature intentionally left out is Opera Unite, a relatively quiet technology that is intended to provide for “inter-browser” communication, an extension of social networking.

If you're an Opera fan or like to try out new browsers, check Opera 10 Beta 3 out yourself at their site.

Mozilla Firefox 3.6 Alpha 1 available now

2009-08-12T21:01:00.001-07:00

Mozilla recently introduced the first alpha release for the upcoming build of their popular browser, Firefox 3.6. Codenamed "Namoroka" Firefox 3.6 Alpha 1 is intended for developers only, and offers quite a long list of bug fixes as well as some performance tweaks.

Among the changes worth mentioning is an updated version of the TraceMonkey JavaScript engine, introduced in Firefox 3.5. Mozilla has also presented several new CSS3 properties like background size and gradients for background images.

Given its unfinished nature, Mozilla recommends that that only developers and testers install Firefox 3.6 Alpha 1. That said, if you are the daring type versions for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux are readily available. Be sure to tell us what you think in the comments!

Microsoft: Dropping IE6 support not an option

2009-08-12T19:37:00.000-07:00

Despite enthusiastic efforts around the world to move on to something better, IE6 is unlikely to go anywhere for a long time. Numerous alternatives exist, from Microsoft themselves, Mozilla and others, but while the software giant would like to see IE6 gone as much as anyone else it's still up to users to make the final decision to upgrade.

A post on the IEBlog touched on this topic recently and basically concludes that dropping IE6 support is simply not an option, for a variety of reasons. One of these includes the substantial user base that clings to the old browser, which still represents millions of web-connected users. Another and arguably more important reason is the commitment level Microsoft has to maintain.

They are stuck with the fact Windows XP shipped stock with IE6, and they have an obligation to continue supporting it for the lifetime of the product. That's a problem for Microsoft since extended support for Windows XP – and thereby IE6 – continues for another five years.

We're talking just Microsoft here, of course. Any other company around the world can choose to support whomever they wish – YouTube will soon drop support for IE6, most web developers cater exclusively to IE7 or higher and many other sites are urging users to upgrade as well. Ultimately, IE6 will die, but it is clear that Redmond expects that death to be slow and painful.

Microsoft permanently barred from selling Word

2009-08-12T19:23:00.000-07:00

M
icrosoft has been ordered by a US District Court to halt sales of its popular word processing application, Word. Judge Leonard Davis has ruled that the software-giant is guilty of patent infringement and has prohibited it from selling, importing, testing, demonstrating or marketing any Microsoft Word products able to open XML, DOCX, or DOCM files (XML) files containing custom XML.

Plaintiff i4i sued Microsoft in March 2007 claiming that it violated a 1998 software patent (number 5,787,449) for a document system that eliminated the need for manually embedded formatting codes. One of the fundamental features of the markup language XML is that it is readable by both people and machines. XML allows developers and users to define their own tags for data - unlike other markup languages like HTML which have predefined tags.

Microsoft has already paid $200 million after a federal jury ruled that the XML properties of Word 2003 and Word 2007 infringed on i4i's patent. Redmond accumulated another $77 million in fees after the most recent ruling, $40 million for willful patent infringement and $37 million in prejudgment interest. The company must comply within 60 days and is planning to appeal the verdict.

Symantec Fail on Virus Buletin Test....???

2009-08-12T19:18:00.000-07:00

Virus Bulletin has released its August 2009 test results for Windows Vista SP2 Business. The company examined 35 anti-malware products and put them through their paces. In order to pass the basic requirements of the test, applications must detect all malware known to be "In the Wild" while not presenting any false positives. The products are tested in their default settings and must succeed in both on-demand and on-access detections.

Virus Bulletin threw the programs in a ring with around 3,000 unique samples of malware spread across four categories: Polymorphic viruses, Trojans, WildList viruses and Worms/bots. Of the 35 tested, only 23 passed, meaning about a third of the products fell to the tests. Among the more known solutions is Symantec's Endpoint Protection, which missed two infections on the Wildlist.

Symantec was quick to defend itself in response to Ars Technicia's original coverage of the Virus Bulletin tests. A company spokesperson said that "In the past ten years, Symantec has earned 44 consecutive VB100 awards, something no other vendor has come close to matching." They went on to add that the missed malware is an "extremely rare replicant of a highly polymorphic file infecting virus" and that they have since fixed the issue in their signatures.

You can check out the test in full on Virus Bulletin's website, although I believe you need a subscription. Ars Technica has created a condensed list of the results which you can view after the jump.

Microsoft working on pressure-sensitive keyboard

2009-08-10T01:41:00.000-07:00

M
icrosoft has unveiled a prototype of a pressure-sensitive keyboard. In a description, Redmond said the device's potential use is limitless. The company has reportedly tested several possible applications for the technology, such as pressing a key harder to produce a capital letter or a larger font size.

This prototype is one of Microsoft's many projects focused on natural user interfaces. Project Natal is planned to launch for the Xbox 360 and could make its way to PCs - which would make for quite the experience when paired with Windows 7's multi-touch capabilities.

Unfortunately, Microsoft has no (disclosed) plans to go live with their new keyboard, but it is expected be the subject of a student competition at the User Face and Software Technology Conference in October. Participants will be challenged to create new ways of using the prototype with computers.

Microsoft readies five critical fixes for Patch Tuesday

2009-08-10T01:36:00.001-07:00

M
icrosoft is lining up nine updates for next Tuesday as part of its monthly patch cycle – five of them are deemed critical and the remaining four marked as important. Affected software includes various Windows and Microsoft Office versions as well as the .NET Framework, Visual Studio, Microsoft ISA Server, Microsoft BizTalk Server, and Windows Client for Mac.

This particular security update will likely raise a few eyebrows among IT professionals, since Microsoft recently issued fixes for Visual Studio and ISA Server – the first as part of an out-of-bound patch last week and the latter in last month’s update. The advance notification is light on details, as usual, but warns that the flaws could lead to remote code execution, elevation-of-privilege and denial-of-service attacks.

Facebook/Twitter/LiveJournal Service Attack Targeted at Georgian Blogger

2009-08-10T01:27:00.000-07:00

A
ll day Thursday three social media sites, Facebook, Twitter, and LiveJournal, were victims of distributed denial of service attacks (DDoS). It first started with Twitter and then moved to the others. Facebook initially didn’t say it was hit by a DDoS in its first press release but then later said: “Earlier this morning, Facebook encountered network issues related to an apparent distributed denial of service attack, that resulted in degraded service for some users [...] No user data was at risk and we have restored full access to the site for most users. We’re continuing to monitor the situation to ensure that users have the fast and reliable experience they’ve come to expect from Facebook.” Users on Facebook earlier in the morning, including myself, noticed pop-up error messages while doing simple tasks like viewing photos and commenting.

Twitter also released a statement saying, “As we recover, users will experience some longer load times and slowness.” As of this morning, Twitter seems to be back up and running as usual with only slight hiccups.

It may not be a coincidence that all three social media sites were attacked at almost the same time, but hopefully we’ll find out more soon.

Comcast adopts DNS hijacking, cashes in on bad URLs

2009-08-07T18:45:00.000-07:00

In a bid to squeeze out more cash through their existing service, one of the largest ISPs around has added themselves to the ranks of companies participating in controversial DNS-redirecting programs. Comcast has officially begun redirecting invalid DNS requests to their own “search portals,” which are advertising pages intended to capture anyone who makes a typo or visits an invalid address into a web browser.

The technique is slowly being adopted by other ISPs around the world, and has been rife with controversy since the beginning. Essentially, anytime a user tries to visit an invalid web page, they are redirected to an advertising splash page rather than being told that the page is unavailable. As most other ISPs are doing, Comcast is offering an opt-out system – though there have been complaints that the process is not particularly friendly. Other ISPs around the world that have begun implementing this include Bell Canada, Verizon, and EarthLink.

Several years ago, Verisign, a major domain registrar, attempted to implement this. Their attempt received massive public outcry, and ultimately even ICANN stepped in and asked them to stop. Comcast has even gone a step beyond their cohorts, pushing for a new IETF standard that would make such DNS hijacking more legitimate.

Bug found in Windows 7 RTM, delay rumors exaggerated

2009-08-07T18:17:00.000-07:00

Microsoft today made the finalized version of Windows 7 available for download to TechNet and MSDN subscribers, announcing the right-on-schedule delivery on the official Windows Blog. At the same time, however, a recently-discovered memory bug is threatening to spoil the milestone as several sites are picking up the story and speculating about a possible launch delay.

While the bug has been called everything from critical to catastrophic, Windows division president Steven Sinofsky claims it is far from being a show stopper and joked about the blogosphere blowing things out of proportion.

The flaw is triggered when users run the CHKDSK command with the /r switch, which is designed to locate and repair bad sectors on a disk. According to reports, this should result in your memory quickly gobbled away by the chkdsk.exe process until it either stops at or around 90% or it maxes completely out and crashes the computer
. Though it is said to affect both 32 and 64-bit versions of Windows 7, it’s also not reproducible 100% of the time and apparently only affects systems with multiple hard drives or partitions.

Sinofsky still acknowledged the alleged flaw is something they must look into and that, for affected users, simply updating chipset drivers from the PC motherboard manufacturer may take care of the problem. Hopefully a fix will come ahead of the Windows 7 launch, but even if it doesn’t apparently it’s not serious enough to derail plans of an October 22 release.

Microsoft updates Games For Windows Live

2009-08-07T18:13:00.000-07:00

M
icrosoft quietly updated its Games for Windows Live service to version 3.0 today. The biggest new feature, according to the company, is how users can now access the marketplace to buy content while playing any supported title and have it download and install in the background. The feature should help streamline digital distribution on PCs and follows a growing trend of generating additional revenue through post-release game content – Valve offers a similar feature on Steam and even Apple is supporting it for iPhone apps.

In-game account management is also now possible, so you won't have to stop playing Fallout 3 (or whatever) in order to buy some Microsoft Points, edit your credit card info, or redeem codes. While most gamers will agree the aforementioned features are welcome additions to Games for Windows, there’s also a couple more that are meant to appease publishers.

This includes two new anti-piracy solutions: a Server Side Authentication method that links the game license to a user’s Gamertag, allowing you to game from anywhere but apparently also making used game discs worthless for sale or giving away; and Zero Day Piracy Protection to keep games from launching before the street date the publisher has set for the game. The update is available as a free download here.

Rumored PS3 Slim to debut this month at Gamescom?

2009-08-04T23:01:00.000-07:00

Rumors of a new PlayStation 3 console are running rampant today – whether it’s the slimmed-down version or a higher capacity model remains to be seen but it definitely feels like something’s cooking over at Sony. The latest bit comes as what appears to be an internal document from 7-Eleven (which sells video games in Japan) that suggests Sony may be about to discontinue the 80GB PS3 in its home country.

According to a report by Kotaku, the retailer will no longer be taking “pre-orders” for black, white and silver 80GB PS3 after Sunday at the maker’s request, and all in-store displays for the 80GB model will be taken down. Meanwhile, a separate report from Taiwan's DigiTimes claims Sony is seriously ramping up orders for “key PS3 components,” enough to build a million consoles over the next three months – which is apparently double what it ordered last quarter.

Last but not least, a listing for a “PlayStation 3 Konsole Slim” appeared on Amazon’s German website over the weekend before quickly being removed. While this may not mean much, some say official confirmation could come from Sony’s Gamescom press conference in Germany on August 18.

Microsoft touts Windows 7-optimized keyboard and mouse combo

2009-08-04T22:55:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has announced a brand new keyboard and mouse combo designed with ergonomics in mind. The Wireless Comfort Desktop 5000 combines the company's BlueTrack technology with a Comfort Curve layout that encourages natural wrist posture, soft-touch palm rest and low-profile quiet keys.

Gearing up for the general availability of its next operating system in October, Microsoft included some Windows 7 optimizations, particularly the Taskbar Favorites keys which is said to map to the location of open applications on the improved taskbar for instant access, along with a Windows Flip button on the mouse and keyboard and Device Stage support.

Both peripherals connect to a given computer using a single, small 2.4GHz RF transceiver friendly to the USB ports of both desktops and notebooks. As for pricing and availability, Microsoft’s Wireless Comfort Desktop 5000 is expected to become available later this month for an estimated retail price of $80; it’s available today for pre-order at Amazon.

Microsoft announces XP Mode RC for Windows 7

2009-08-04T22:48:00.000-07:00

T
hree months after first introducing Windows 7’s virtual XP Mode, Microsoft has announced the availability of its release candidate (RC) version. As previously reported, this is an optional add-on for Windows 7 Professional or higher, and is aimed at helping small to medium-size businesses upgrade to Windows 7 by giving them a virtual Windows XP environment capable of running any legacy applications they may rely on.

This is only intended as a “last mile” of compatibility for business users, according to Microsoft, which has clarified that most XP applications will run natively on Windows 7. The software requires an additional 1GB of RAM, 15GB of available disk space, and a processor capable of hardware virtualization with AMD-V or Intel VT.

Refinements in the Windows XP Mode release candidate include new USB and drive sharing support options along with a user tutorial aimed at the small and midsize business market. It also now allows users to view recently opened Windows XP applications in the Windows 7 Jump Menu and open them from the task bar. The near-completed software is be available for public testing now and should be released in its final form at the time of the Windows 7 launch on October 22.

Ubuntu prepares to move in on small businesses

2009-08-03T18:20:00.000-07:00

The company behind the world's most popular desktop Linux distro has their sights set on expansion. Apparently satisfied with their desktop infrastructure, Canonical is now offering support services for small businesses, all centered around using Ubuntu as the platform of choice.

Starting with three different support options, the company is aiming specific configurations and implementations of Ubuntu for different businesses with different requirements – ranging from getting desktops off the ground to complete migrations of office environments.

Canonical will join a small but growing (if slowly) market of companies aimed exclusively at Linux desktop support. Is this a positive change for Linux? Probably – one of the biggest gripes that most businesses have is the lack of decent support. While many specialized companies offer fantastic support for their particular niche, there is a huge gap in the quality and availability of support elsewhere. If Canonical thinks they have the manpower to offer a paid business support program, they might also be able to convert some offices.

In the short term, nothing is likely to change for Ubuntu or Canonical. If, however, they combine this with a decent PR campaign and make sure their support is up to snuff, they could get a nice foothold in the small business market, which is almost exclusively a Windows-owned domain.

Chinese Website Post LGA-1156 Review Already........

2009-08-03T18:11:00.000-07:00

We’re still about a month away from the expected launch of Intel’s Lynnfield processors, but as usual some folks seem to have gotten hold of these parts a little earlier than everybody else. Specifically, Chinese website PConline has posted a full review of two upcoming LGA-1156 parts – the Core i5 750 and Core i7 870.

As previously reported, the Core i5 750 part features clock speeds in the range of 2.66 and 3.2GHz using Turbo Boost and no Hyper-Threading. Meanwhile, the higher-end Core i7 870 will run at 2.93GHz with a top speed of 3.46GHz for individual cores and supports Hyper-Threading technology for up to eight threads. So how did they fare in the tests? A brief look shows that despite being limited to dual-channel memory and the old DMI interconnect instead of QPI, the Core i7 870 outperforms the existing Core i7 920 overall.

A screenshot of CPU-Z also shows the effect of the Turbo Boost feature which increases the frequency of the Core i7 870 to 3.2GHz. The Core i5 750 appears to be the most power-efficient of the bunch but still manages to sit between the Core i7 920 and Core 2 Quad Q9550 in terms of performance. Both chips will outclass AMD’s Phenom II X4 955, according to PConline.

Naturally, you should take these results with a grain of salt considering Intel hasn't even announced the CPUs yet, but it’s always interesting to see some numbers. The report includes benchmark results from applications such as WinRAR, Everest Ultimate and CineBench to games like Call of Duty: World at War and Far Cry 2. You can find a translated and somewhat readable version here – the graphs are pretty self-explanatory, though.

Google sued in France over Google Maps

2009-08-02T18:07:00.000-07:00

Google is under some legal pressure overseas this week, following a French company's decision to take them to court. Citing unfair competition, Bottin Cartographies is demanding roughly $700,000 dollars in compensation. The heart of the matter is their web mapping services, which are made freely available to businesses around the world. While Google’s aim is to generate revenue through advertising, as it has always been, Bottin sees it as an attempt to stifle and swallow the market by undercutting any competitors.

Naturally, Bottin Cartographies provides web mapping services for a fee. Whether or not their complaint has any basis, you really must wonder how solid their business plan is if a company can beat them with a free product. What do they expect Google to do in response, begin charging for Google Maps? Refuse to offer the service? Neither is likely and would work against Google's own goals.

Putting it in another perspective, imagine if all Internet search was a paid service ten years ago, only to be bested by Google's free options. Is there really room to complain? Google is not commenting on the situation, but as huge as they are now I doubt they will roll over for anyone.

Apple claims jailbroken iPhones could harm cell towers

2009-08-02T18:04:00.000-07:00

F
urthering their long-standing opposition to people ‘jailbreaking’ the iPhone, Apple has made a powerful assertion that is sure to leave some people with gaping mouths. According to them, the practice could lead to massive denial of service attacks on cell towers. Apple’s claim is that people tinkering with the iPhone’s software innards could execute commands that would crash cell tower software, resulting in people being unable to make phone calls or otherwise causing havoc on local cell networks.

They draw a comparison between people jailbreaking the iPhone to someone breaking into a corporate network and damaging computers. I give credit to Apple for the iPhone, but can they truly be making such a claim with a straight face? Cell phones have been broken millions of times across multiple platforms and multiple vendors. What makes the iPhone so exceptionally dangerous that allowing people the freedom to tinker with it will result in massive service outages all over the world?

Currently, the U.S. Copyright Office is reviewing requests backed by the EFF and others to completely legalize jailbreaking. If enough people buy Apple’s rhetoric regarding this, however, such efforts could be crushed. It's clear that the company just wants to protect their bottom line, but their latest claims are preposterous at best.

Windows 7 Ultimate cracked via OEM master key

2009-07-29T23:37:00.000-07:00

A
ccording to a report from My Digital Life, Windows 7 Ultimate has already been cracked with the aid of leaked OEM DVD ISO from Lenovo. The crack provides permanent instant offline activation and passes WGA with flying colors. The leaked ISO was posted and snagged off a Chinese forum, which allowed hackers to retrieve the OEM-SLP and certificate for Windows 7 Ultimate.

Redmond has updated the System-Locked Pre-installation (SLP) to version 2.1, which supports Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 – and provides backward-compatibility for Vista and Server 2008. The SLP procedure is used to pre-activate Windows for mass distribution by OEMs. Its latest version requires the BIOS SLIC table be updated, as it contains a new Windows marker. The trick is to mod a system's BIOS to include SLIC 2.1 – which can be done via hard (physical) or soft (emulation) mods.

The original post gets more in-depth, and contains much more information. Naturally, the crack can already be found on various torrent sites. I’m not about to preach right from wrong here, as you won’t listen anyway. That said, if you’re going to download Windows 7 from an unofficial source, at least verify your copy.

Microsoft Bing to power Yahoo under 10-year search deal

2009-07-29T23:07:00.000-07:00

A
fter a failed merger attempt last year and following months of back and forth negotiations, Microsoft and Yahoo have officially announced a 10-year search deal to better compete with leader Google. Under the agreement, Microsoft’s Bing search engine would now be the exclusive search provider for Yahoo’s sites and in exchange the latter will sell both its own and Microsoft’s search ads using the AdCenter platform.

Yahoo will still own the user experience on its properties and should get 88 percent of search revenue created by its sites during the first five years. For its part, Microsoft will guarantee a certain level of search revenue for 18 months. Although no upfront payment will be made, Yahoo estimates the agreement will provide about $500 million in annual operating income and capital expenditure savings of about $200 million after the first two years. In addition, the deal is expected to generate annual operating cash flow of about $275 million.

The road to a deal has been a long one and full implementation is still not expected to occur until at least 24 months following regulatory approval. Together the companies would have nearly 30 percent of the search market compared with Google’s estimated 60 percent share.

Should You Install Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit?

2009-07-29T22:56:00.000-07:00

W
ith the upcoming release of Windows 7, the question is raised again on whether you should install the 32-bit version (x86) of the operating system or move up to 64-bit (x64).

This is something that's been asked since the introduction of consumer-level processors bearing the “x64” nomenclature. It feels like just yesterday that Intel and AMD fanboys were at odds over the Athlon 64. At that time and even as recently as the introduction of Windows Vista, software and drivers for 64-bit setups were slim-pickings.

Analogous to the shift from 16 to 32-bit computing, the jump to 64-bit has been a slow one. Windows XP x64 never took off, though 64-bit versions of Vista did, thankfully. The ride was a bumpy one, but hardware manufacturers and software developers alike have finally widely adopted the 64-bit architecture - and there’s no turning back now.

At this point in time, nearly everyone is on the same page about the transition. If your old video card and printer have yet to receive 64-bit compatible drivers, odds are they won’t be getting any. A boatload of legacy hardware support was dropped with Windows Vista, and Windows 7 certainly won’t pick it back up, regardless of which version you install.

Now, you’re probably wondering why 64-bit operating systems are being phased in and what benefits they deliver over their 32-bit predecessors – both legitimate questions. One of the most commonly cited differences is that the 32-bit architecture has a memory access limit of 4GB (2^32 bytes). This permits you to use about 2.75-3.5GB of RAM after IO reservations are factored in.

On paper, the 64-bit architecture can address 16 exabytes of memory (2^64), or more than 4 billion times that of its precursor. Consumer editions of Windows Vista permit from 8GB to 128GB of physical memory to be accessed, depending on the version. Windows 7 bumps that up to 192GB with the Professional version and above.

Other benefits of running a 64-bit OS include enhanced security with hardware-backed DEP, Kernel Patch Protection and mandatory driver signing.

This is all just scratching the surface, but I suppose the real question should be:

Why shouldn’t you install Windows x64?

The short answer is that you should go with Windows 7 64-bit unless you’re running a system well into its antiquity where driver support is going to become an issue.

Microsoft has useful online tools that can scan your system and external peripherals and give you an outlook of what's currently supported and what's not. A few useful links:

- Windows Vista Compatibility Center
- Windows 7 Compatibility Center (not yet available)
- Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

Verify Windows's ISo File..........

2009-07-27T01:41:00.000-07:00

W
ith Windows 7 on the brink of completion, the RTM phase is expected to come before the end of the month - possibly even less than a week from now. Already proving to be both popular and successful, you can bet your bottom dollar that the RTM copy of Windows 7 will hit torrent sites instantaneously.

Now, we’re not encouraging you to go and pirate the software, and we don’t have to. A majority of the enthusiast community will download Windows 7 illegitimately. Some will have already pre-ordered Microsoft’s latest OS, others will undoubtedly come into a legal copy at one point or another, and many will flat out steal 7 – you know who you are.

That out of the way, the bottom line is, nobody wants to wait until October 22 to get their hands on the final build of Windows 7. Unfortunately, by jumping the gun, you’re going to have to trust an unofficial source. This certainly has its risks, as we’ve seen with past reports of infected torrents of Windows 7 creating botnets.

Recognizing this fact, Long Zheng and Sven Groot developed a handy application which generates and verifies the hash of your Windows 7 ISO. The program is very small at 253KB, and beyond easy to use. To check the validity of your ISO, download the free utility here. Run the program (Windows7IsoVerifier.exe) and you can browse to your ISO file (or just drag and drop it onto the executable).

The process of downloading the program and verifying your copy of Windows 7 should take less than a minute if you have quick fingers and a modern system. At the time of writing, it only works with the English versions of Windows 7.

Approval nears for 802.11n wireless standard

2009-07-27T01:28:00.000-07:00

Although already seeing widespread use, the Wi-Fi Alliance announced this week that the IEEE 802.11n standard will finally be ready for a ratification vote this September, making the high-speed wireless LAN technology official after several years of refinement. The more than 600 products that have been certified to the 2.0 draft version of 802.11n will be backwards and forwards compatible with the final version.

The technology promises a much higher theoretical peak speed of 300Mbps – significantly up from the 54Mbps offered by 802.11g – and supports MIMO (multiple in, multiple out) antennas to improve range and throughput. In real-world conditions, though, speeds are typically between 80Mbps and 100Mbps.

The 802.11 committee, meanwhile, has reportedly already begun work on the next standard, 802.11ac, which hopes to push wireless speeds into gigabit territory.

No More IE On Windows 7 ?

2009-07-25T22:59:00.000-07:00

It would seem that Microsoft has conceded to the requests of European regulators after facing antitrust accusations. On January 15, the European Commission charged the software giant with seeking to hinder rivals by coupling Internet Explorer with its Windows operating system. With Microsoft’s OS being used on a vast majority of the world’s PCs, the company was accused of harming innovation and limiting consumer choice.

Redmond considered stripping IE from the European version of their latest operating system, Windows 7, but has since scratched that plan. Instead, the company has proposed a consumer “ballot screen” on the system’s first boot up, permitting users to choose between several third party browsers. Windows 7 will still ship with IE, but users will have the option to disable it. PC makers will also be permitted to pre-load any desired browser onto their systems.

I’m not entirely sure how Microsoft can even be pinned for abusing their market dominance by excluding competitor’s software from their own operating system. In my mind, it’s equivalent to a local diner forcing McDonalds to carry the diner’s homemade fries. Where is the line drawn?

Another Hole IN Microsoft Internet Explorer ( IE 8 Include) Fixed

2009-07-25T22:52:00.000-07:00

In a rare move, Microsoft on Friday said it would be releasing security updates on Tuesday--outside of its monthly patch cycle--for a critical vulnerability in Internet Explorer and a moderate vulnerability in Visual Studio.

The two security bulletins will address one overall issue and are being released separately "to provide the broadest protections possible to customers," Microsoft said in a statement.

The vulnerabilities affect Windows 2000, Windows XP, Vista, Windows Server 2003 and 2008, Internet Explorer 6, 7 and 8, Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003, Visual Studio 2005 and 2008 and Visual C++ 2005 and 2008, according to the security bulletin advance notification.

"While we can't go into specifics about the issue prior to release, we can say that the Visual Studio bulletin will address an issue that can affect certain types of applications," the statement said. "The Internet Explorer bulletin will provide defense-in-depth changes to Internet Explorer to help provide additional protections for the issues addressed by the Visual Studio bulletin."

"The Internet Explorer update will also address vulnerabilities rated as critical that are unrelated to the Visual Studio bulletin that were privately and responsibly reported," Microsoft said.

Customers who are current with their security updates are protected from known attacks related to the updates, the company said. The updates will be released through the Microsoft Update, Windows Update, and Windows Server Update services.

Google Chrome Introduce New OS 2010

2009-07-24T17:34:00.000-07:00

After nine month release their Chrome Browser, Google claim that over 30 Million people downloded arround the world.

and now google intend to made their own operating system they call "Google Chrome operating System", it's open source ; lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks. Later this year will open-source its code, and netbooks running Google Chrome OS will be available for consumers in the second half of 2010 and we'll soon be working with the open source community.

according to Google Official Blog, this google OS design to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds. The user interface is minimal to stay out, and most of the user experience takes place on the web.

Google Chrome OS will run on both x86 as well as ARM chips and we are working with multiple OEMs to bring a number of netbooks to market next year. The software architecture is simple — Google Chrome running within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel. For application developers, the web is the platform. All web-based applications will automatically work and new applications can be written using your favorite web technologies. And of course, these apps will run not only on Google Chrome OS, but on any standards-based browser on Windows, Mac and Linux thereby giving developers the largest user base of any platform.

Google Chrome OS is a new project, separate from Android. Android was designed from the beginning to work across a variety of devices from phones to set-top boxes to netbooks. Google Chrome OS is being created for people who spend most of their time on the web, and is being designed to power computers ranging from small netbooks to full-size desktop systems. While there are areas where Google Chrome OS and Android overlap, we believe choice will drive innovation for the benefit of everyone, including Google.

Auto Unsubscribe On Gmail

2009-07-24T17:23:00.000-07:00

It’s not uncommon for Internet users to sign up for an email newsletter or mailing list only to decide later they want to opt out. Even though these messages may not all fall into spam territory, generally it’s easier to just mark them as such hoping they stop showing up on your inbox, rather than going back to the source and actually following the unsubscribe process.

Google has found this to be a very common behavior and thus is introducing a new auto-unsubscribe feature to Gmail to try and streamline the process. Now, when you report a newsletter as spam, you will see the notification box above asking if you want to automatically unsubscribe as well. The feature may not work for all mailing lists, according to Google, and it can take several days for the request to be processed. Still, it seems like a really useful feature to have.

Additionally, the search giant says Gmail won't display the unsubscribe option for lists that are known to be spammers so that you don't get more spam from them by inadvertently verifying that your address is legitimate.

CodeName Morro

2009-07-24T00:44:00.000-07:00

Microsoft is set to release the beta version of the successor to its anti-virus & malware program Windows Live OneCare, named Microsoft Security Essentials, on Tuesday, June 23rd in a limited release. Code named Morro, it includes a new interface, some new features, and a price tag of free. Microsoft says it expects to release the final version by the end of 2009 and it hopes that everyone will make use of it to provide basic worldwide protection from viruses and malware.

Codename Morro has been in development since November 2008 and Microsoft will be officially calling it Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) from here-on-out. It will be totally free to all genuine (and yes, the installer checks) Windows XP/Vista/7 users in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, but only 32-bit for Win XP. There have been many rumors surrounding Morro and this review will hopefully clear some of them up. For example, it has been said on other tech-related sites that Morro will be a "cloud computing anti-virus" solution, but this is surely not the case as this idea doesn't really make any sense. Secondly, MSE is mostly just OneCare's framework without any of the added extras, like managing firewalls, networked computers, and file backup capabilities. However, MSE is very light-weight and is speedy and works effectively without being in your face and keeps your computer virus-free at the same time.

Microsoft has said that their goal with MSE is to make a global and broad solution for providing basic protection against viruses and malware without any cost to the user. Many users are familiar with those "trial" antivirus suites that comes with new computers and once they expire, an enormous amount of users don't renew or purchase a full version of any anti-virus software. Other reasons for this free software is the fact that those "big-name" security suites from companies like McAfee or Symantec are simply too bloated with features that confuses average computer users and can be extremely pricey. This is also geared towards emerging markets where users don't want to pay for security software for their PCs. MSE is a way to reach a very broad audience and make basic protection available without any hoops or caveats.

To install MSE, you just have to download the installer file, which is only around 4MB and install it onto your PC. Before you do so, you'll want to uninstall any anti-virus related security software from your PC because having more than one usually causes conflicts. Also, when you install MSE, it will connect to Microsoft's Genuine Validation system, which checks your installation of Windows to make sure it is valid. The install process took only about a minute on our test machine running the Windows 7 Release Candidate. Once it's done, it will run a quick scan of your system if you choose to not skip it and once it starts this, you can minimize the window and forget about it.

he installation wizard is very easy and straightforward to install and once you do, it will prompt you to do a quick scan of your system.

The application interface itself is very simple to use and understand. There are four tabs across the top labeled Home, Update, History, and Settings. If you're familiar in any way with Windows Defender, the anti-malware program that comes with Windows, you'll be familiar with MSE's interface. It also installs a tray icon that lives in your Windows task bar and is hidden in Windows 7 by default. MSE also integrates nicely into the Windows shell by allowing the scanning of a file or folder by right-clicking it and choosing "Scan with Microsoft Security Essentials."

MSE's interface is very easy to use without overbearing the user with a multitude of complicated settings and bloat.

Along the top of the MSE window you'll either see a red bar, meaning there's an issue that needs your attention, a yellow bar indicating there is a potential issue, or a green bar that means you're fully protected. A "yellow warning" typically is something minor like your anti-virus definitions are out of date and a "red warning" is when something has gone wrong and requires immediate attention.

The various tabs in the interface include the following features and options:

Home: This is the default screen where you can start a scan, see the status or change the settings of your scheduled scan, the status of your real-time protection and definition updates.

Update: Here is where you can see detailed information about your current anti-virus and spyware definition files, including their creation date and version numbers. You can also press "update" to manually update your definitions. We should also say that MSE will automatically check for new definitions periodically on its own and install them silently.

You can manually download updates of MSE's detection definitions as well.

History: We believe a better title for this tab could have been "Scan History" or "Detected Items" because "History" seems a little misleading. What it does is show you all of the detected items that MSE has found on your computer from previous scans. You can choose to view all questioned items, quarantined items, and allowed items that the user has allows to be run on the system. When a potentially threatening file is shown here, MSE will show the "alert level" of the file, date detected, and what you choose to do as a user (such as delete it, quarantine it, skip it, etc.).

Settings: This tab allows you to control many aspects of MSE and how it runs on your system. You can alter the settings for scheduled scanning, which sets up a time to run a scan of your system automatically. The default actions setting lets you choose what to do when a possible dangerous file with a specific MSE assigned threat level is located on your system. For example, for a "medium alert level", you can leave the recommended action selected or choose quarantine, remove, or allow.

The settings windows in MSE allow you to customize every aspect of how the software runs and detects threats on your PC.

You can also adjust the real-time protection settings here too. MSE has this turned on by default and also has settings to monitor file and program behavior (typically called heuristics scanning) and to scan all downloaded files & attachments. Both of these settings are also turned on by default.

There's also settings for setting excluded files and folder locations, specific file types, and even processes as well. The advanced tab lets you choose to scan archived files (.zip, .cab, etc.), removable drives (USB flash drives, etc.), and creating system restore points before dealing with potential threats.

The last option in the list is Microsoft SpyNet, which according to MSE "is the online community that helps you choose how to respond to potential threats. The community also helps stop the spread of new malicious software infections." The two options are either basic or advanced membership. With basic membership, MSE will send basic information back to Microsoft to help in the development of future anti-virus/spyware definitions. They also explicitly state that some personal information might be unintentionally sent, but it will not be used to identify or contact the user. Advanced membership sends more specific information about detected threats, like file names and locations on the computer. It also sends how the infected file operates and behaves and how it impacted the performance and operation of the computer. The same privacy warning is also stated for this option.

My impressions of MSE are quite good as I have experienced no stability or compatibility issues with it. The program itself is extremely light-weight and no performance hit has been observed during its use. Even while it scans the computer is still more than usable. The program runs completely silent as well without popping up any annoying windows about things that I don't need to know about like some other security programs (and OneCare) do. I believe that anyone that is running a genuine copy of Windows, especially Vista or 7, should get this when Microsoft releases it. MSE is a very good anti-virus/spyware solution that works effortlessly and won't cost you a dime...ever. Keep in mind too that the coming release is the beta version, so there may be small glitches and bugs yet, but I have yet to encounter any. However, install at your own risk should go without saying.

Take A Look At Microsoft Office 2010 (Page 2)

2009-07-23T18:36:00.000-07:00

Word 2010 also includes a new paste feature in the right-click context menu. When you have text copied to the clipboard and you right-click anywhere in your document, a new paste selection area appears in the menu with three icons for pasting options. You can either paste with formatting, merge formatting, or paste text only without formatting. Word always gave you the ability to keep or remove formatting when pasting, but it was also via a tooltip menu that appeared when you hovered over something you pasted in the past. This way you get instant and up-front pasting options.

The new Protected View gives users a chance to make sure the Word document they downloaded really is safe to open.

The pasting options that appear in the right-click context menu

On start up, there are new animated splash screens for each application. The start up times are also remarkably faster than previous versions of the Office suite. Opening Word or Excel can be done in around 2 seconds and Outlook in 4-5 seconds, which is extremely fast. (Full disclosure: We tested the CTP on Windows 7 Release Candidate because that’s what Office 2010 has been primarily designed to be run on.) Outlook’s reliability and speed has been significantly improved, which has been a common issue with Outlook. They’ve made searching and navigating within Outlook exceptionally fast and noticeably better over Office 2007. As mentioned earlier, Outlook now uses the ribbon interface instead of the traditional drop-down menus, but we like the ribbon integration because it has been done in a mostly well thought-out manner and looks natural. One thing we did not like about the ribbon's design is the placement of the send/receive button, which is on the second tab and not the first tab, which effectively hides it from the default view. Outlook does automatically send/receive on start up, but any subsequent times you must click the second tab and then click send/receive.

The new splash screens in Office 210 are animated and feature minimize/close and cancel buttons, but since each program loads so fast, they don't really serve a purpose.

Outlook is probably the most changed application to the Office 2010 suite with the addition of many new features. When used with Windows 7, you can right-click the program’s icon in the task bar and a list of common tasks appear, such as Creating a New E-mail. Also, you can drag a file from a Windows 7 application’s Jump List to the Outlook window and a new e-mail message will appear with that file attached to it. Syncing with Windows Mobile 6.1 phones has also been included to allow you to sync text messages to your e-mail inbox and reply to them right from Outlook on your computer. Voicemails can also be converted to text from voice and sent as an e-mail. Another really useful feature in Outlook 2010 is its ability to combine and thread e-mail messages from the same e-mail address together. This threading is shown by a "(#)" designation (with '#' being the number of e-mails) in the right of the e-mail in your message list. When you click on it, the hidden e-mails will unthread and display indented under the main e-mail. When you click off any of these e-mails, they disappear again. This feature is a nice way to keep related e-mails from the same person together without having to search around to find all of them.

Outlook 2010 has been completely ribbonized.

A closer view of the Outlook 2010 ribbon menu. Note Send/Receive functionality (and the button itself) is located on the second tab on the ribbon

Outlook 2010 also now as the Office application tab shown to the left of the ribbon tabs and when clicked, it transforms the window into almost exactly what it does in Word 2010. The default view in this new window is the account settings area, which lets you modify your e-mail account's settings, such as POP3 servers, etc. There are other menus as well, such as the Print menu, which shows you printer settings and a print preview of the e-mail you have selected in Outlook at the current moment.

he account information menu lets you change your e-mail account's settings as well as perform a few additional tasks.

Outlook also has a new feature called Quick Steps, which lets you define common tasks that you perform on a regular basis and wish to have them done with one click. To do so, you can setup a new quick step with all of the steps and actions that you need taken. For example, you could setup a quick step to move all e-mails from accounting@yourcompany.com to your Accounting folder with just one click. You can also assign keyboard shortcuts to each quick step as well. Once created, the Quick Step appears in its own section of the ribbon on the first tab, which means they are always displayed by default. One could think of these as a sort of macro, but without all of the security flaws and issues.

Outlook's quick steps let you setup a way to perform common tasks with just one click. In this quick step, I setup a way to make a new message to email@email.com with the message flag of Today and an importance of High.

There are a few other tweaks to some of the other Office 2010 programs. Excel has gotten some new Web 2.0-looking chart graphics and layouts. They look really slick and are just another way to jazz up a boring office memo. However, mostly each program has stayed the same, especially Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, but Outlook definitely got most of the changes. There has also been some talk from the Office development team that Office 2010 will include Twitter, Facebook, and other social networks integrated right into Word. These features weren't in the leaked CTP build, but we expect them down the line.

There's a nifty send a smile/frown feature that comes with the CTP, which lets you send feedback to the Office development team when you encounter something either positive or negative. It puts two face icons into your notification tray that you can click either the smile face or sad face and a window will appear which takes a screenshot (if you want) and you can type out a description of your experience. If you do get the CTP, you'll definitely want to use this notification feature because with this Office CTP release, we have encountered a few minor bugs, mostly with things not where they say they are (such as help topics) and error dialogs result. But since this is only a technical preview, we can't be too harsh, but we can hope all of these issues will be resolved by the rumored very late 2009 or January 2010 release of Office 2010.

With the retail release of Office 2010, Microsoft will also be debuting its new Office Web, which are online versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. At the time of this CTP leak, none of Office Web features are available.

It should also be noted that if you have a previous Microsoft Office suite installed on your PC, such as Office 2007, you can keep them installed alongside Office 2010 (with the exception of Outlook, which it will uninstall for you). If you elect to install Outlook 2010 and you currently use an older version of Outlook, it will move all of your e-mails, contacts, and calendar items to the new version...but export your data to a .PST anyway just to be safe.

If you would like to sign up for the Office 2010 Consumer Technical Preview wait-list, you can visit Microsoft's Web site to sign up. They say that not everyone on the list will be invited to the CTP preview, but it doesn't hurt to sign up now.

Take A Look At Microsoft Office 2010 (Page 1)

2009-07-22T22:52:00.000-07:00

Microsoft recently announced the consumer technical preview (CTP) of Microsoft Office 2010, which was shown to attendees of Microsoft’s TechNet conference. We were able to get our hands on the CTP before its scheduled release date (July 2009) and check it out. They have changed around a few things, especially when it comes to the “ribbon” menu and a few other features.

Word 2010's interface with the more subtle gray ribbon that fits in well with Windows 7's interface

Perhaps the largest change to Office 2010 is the availability of both a 32- and 64-bit version of the suite. The leaked CTP’s SKU is Office 2010 Professional, which comes with the basic apps (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher) and other more advanced apps (Access, SharePoint, Visio, Groove). Microsoft has also expanded the use of the ribbon menu to all of the Office 2010 applications. The ribbon menu was introduced in Office 2007 and was both praised and resented for various reasons. However, with Office 2010, the ribbon is here to stay for sure. They have also altered the look of the ribbon to a more subtle, flat gray look, which blends in nicely with Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 7 operating system. You can now hide the bulk of the ribbon menu by clicking a small arrow button on the right side of it, which is useful for users with a smaller screen space due to the use of a small screen resolution. Each Office application’s menu button, which was formerly round, has been replaced with a colored tab that appears first on the ribbon. The tab’s color depends on the Office program (ie: blue for Office, green for Excel, and yellow for Outlook). When clicked, the whole interface transforms into a new menu-window. Along the left side of the window there is a column of options that are specific to the program that’s open. For example, Word’s options include Save/Open/Close, Print, and Share. The default menu that is open is the "recent" menu, which shows all of the documents that have been opened recently. The more complicated tasks, such as Print and Share, expand further right on the window when clicked or hovered over. For example, the Print feature no longer appears in a new window, but rather a new column where all the various print features can be adjusted. Microsoft has removed one of my favorite features of Office 2007, the Quick Print button, which used the default print settings and sent the document to the printer in only one click. The New menu shows a large variety of document types that you can create in Word and gives you a preview of the type of document in the right part of the screen.

A closer view of Word 2010's ribbon and the new Office tab menu, which houses all the functionality of the circular Office button in Office 2007

The default menu that is open in the Office tab is the "Recent" menu, which shows recently opened documents.

When clicking on the "New" menu, you can select from many different types of documents.

The new Print menu in the Office app tab allows you to modify all the print settings all in the same window as your document. There's also a print preview that appears on the right side of the screen.

The Share menu in the Office app tab gives you an enormous variety of options to share a document. It allows easily export to an e-mail message, a PDF version, a XPS document, an Internet fax, and an online blog entry.

Microsoft has added a few security features to Office 2010. The one that users will mostly often come across is when they open a downloaded document in Word 2010. When you do so for the first time, the ribbon is hidden and all editing is also disabled. A red Protected View notification appears letting you know the file was downloaded from the Internet and may not be safe to open. You can then click on "enable editing" and Word will return to normal.

continue...........

New Firefox 3.7 Theme release

2009-07-22T17:35:00.000-07:00

It's only been a few weeks since Firefox 3.5 went live, and Mozilla has already released a mockup of Firefox 3.7’s theme. They have posted several screenshots of a potential user interface for the future build. The theme is displayed on Windows Vista and Window 7 (with and without Aero), as well as XP.

While it's still in the workshop, the images provide a glimpse of some changes you might see in the coming versions of Firefox. In addition to embracing glass on Windows Vista and 7, the future layout may include a tools button on the right side of your search bar, and a page button on the left of your tabs.

Mozilla hopes to introduce a more significant series of changes with Firefox version 4.0. Among the current ideas is one which would combine and move the reload, stop and go buttons, the addition of a tab sidebar, moving tabs above the main toolbar and quite a few other UI tweaks.