Microsoft must have heard of all the griping that a few months ago they released the Xbox360 which addressed the overheat problem. Since I lost two Xboxes to overheat I decided to try the new offering… and today I’m enthused to write that the upgrade was well worth it.

The Arcade edition I own is almost 4 months old and I play it about 6 to 12 hours a day. Sometimes 6 hours straight when business is slow. Know what? It’s still kicking! And that’s to think I didn’t install any cooling fans.

Thank God for this! If you haven’t already, buy the Xbox Arcade edition and sell your old stuff at ebay. You’ll never have problems again!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

There’s just one downside: SSDs currently cater to those with a lot of cash.

Prices won’t be going down anytime soon. Super Talent recently announced that it developed the world’s first 512GB SSD ready for consumers; the largest to ever be sold. Most come in 80GB variants.  This one, though, costs $1500. A screamer of a price if you ask me. Standard spindle drives of 1 terabyte costs only $300.

Wait a few more years and Im betting SSDs will breach the terabyte barrier at sub hundred dollar prices.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Well done Venturebeat! You made our day!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Once only available in the UK and US, the service is available at www.PersonalNumber.com, where members can sign up for a free UK +44 number, easily forwarded to any landline (and cellphone in various nations) at no cost or via a Global SIM card.

Prospects can register online, and instantly be assigned their personal Global number. After accessing, free call forwarding can be installed to five numbers, or activated via voicemail. The call diversion can be modified by logging onto the website any spot the world. There is absolutely no fees to sign up, no paperwork, and no fees payable whatsoever. A free voicemail to email facility is available. Excited already? I am!

The service is superb for anyone (ie a business user) who wants to be reachable on a single number without shelling out for incoming calls, whatever location. Business members can issue their own Personal Number to associates and friends ensuring they will get all important calls. It is also perfect for companies that rquire a UK customer contact number with no costs applicable. It’s like your own call center!

The extension of the available countries opens up the market to year out students or ex patriates. Whilse abroad, friends and family enjoy a local UK number for persistent contact, which is easily re-routed to a SIM card or landline as they traipse to travel destinations.

In addition, there is a the Personal Number can be merged to a prepaid Global SIM card, so that members can take calls on the SIM card anywhere the world. Free incoming voicecalls to the SIMs are available in over 50 countries, including all of Europe, Australia and parts of the Middle East. Free voicemail storage is likewise available worldwide. The Global SIM card also boasts considerably cheaper outbound calls and texts whilst overseas than with regular Network Operators.

The privacy is ironclade for individuals who require to publish a phone number in correlation with printed or online classified ads – or when using any form of dating service.  (cool huh?) Since members never dial the user’s domestic cell or personal number, their anonymity is ensured.

More information? visit www.PersonalNumber.com or email Info@PersonalNumber.com.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Early this month, Robert J. Bach, President, Entertainment & Devices Division stressed that the focus with the evolution from version 2.0 to 3.0 was not the hardware, the Zune device itself, but the software and service running the device.  According to Seitz, marketing manager, the close similitude between the Zune 2.0 and Zune 3.0 devices is due to the fact that Microsoft is focused on building software for a hardware platform which can be overlooked by innovative growth.

“The new frontier for personal media players is the software. We made an early bet with the FM player and wireless capabilities of the device. Now we can build on those hardware features by delivering great software. That’s what we’re doing with the 3.0 update,” Seitz revealed.

Hardwarewise, the device is capable.  Microsoft introduced the 120 GB and 16 GB (Flash) devices, offering blue versions of the digital media player. With the new software permits Zune 3.0 users to Buy (songs) from FM and to engage in delightful music-centric social interaction.

“People spend a lot of time with radio,” says Littlejohn. “This Zune technology puts two things together that have been dying to get together for years – discovery of new music on FM radio and the purchase of music, which is getting to be more and more digital. “To hear a new song on the radio and then purchase that song and own it within minutes is a pretty magical consumer experience I think. We’re making FM radio interactive. It’s exciting for broadcasters, for consumer-electronics providers and, of course, for consumers, which is the most important.”

So, don’t tarry. Grab your zune upgrade and make some waves!

Download:
Microsoft Zune 3.0: Free Download (x 86)
Microsoft Zune 3.0: Free Download (x 64)

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

This Alpha 2 release draws power from pre-release version of the Gecko 1.9.1 platform and it introduces a few interesting new features such as:

• Support for the HTML 5 element
• Initial support for web worker threads
• You can now drag and drop tabs between browser windows
• New selector to create areas of Aero-style “glass” in XUL
• Support for CSS 2.1 properties: ::before and ::after, and white-space:pre-line
• Support for CSS 3 properties: -moz-border-image, word-wrap: break-word, text-shadow, box-shadow and column-rule
• Performance improvements and new preference values for color management profile support

Testers  can download Firefox 3.1 Shiretoko Alpha 2 via the following links:

Windows: Shiretoko Alpha 2 Setup.exe
Mac OS X: Shiretoko Alpha 2.dmg
Linux: shiretoko-alpha2.tar.bz2

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The partnership program kicks off in Europe, with the introduction of the National Geographic endorsement and branding of the new Optima SDHC(tm), Compact Flash(tm) and 16GB Optima SD(tm) card with 10MB/sec writing speeds.  The new Optima SD cards will be bundled with various value added promotions on a regular basis such as downloadable music, images and videos.

Laure Lapègue, Flash Media Category Manager of PNY Technologies Europe, said “A key mission of National Geographic over the past 119 years has been to record achievements of explorers.  Our new high-speed flash memory cards are able to perform in the most extreme explorer situations, giving them the ability to capture and store the perfect moment every time.”

The National Geographic’s Emerging Explorers Program recognises and supports uniquely gifted and inspiring young adventurers, scientists, photographers and storytellers- explorers who are already making a difference early in their careers.  To help the Emerging Explorers realise their potential, National Geographic awards each of them with USD10,000 for research and exploration.  Each year up to 10 explorers are chosen from fields as diverse as anthropology, space exploration, mountaineering and music.

Terry Garcia, National Geographic’s executive vice president, Mission Programs said “The individuals selected to become Emerging Explorers represent the future of exploration and contribute to our understanding of the world and all that is in it.  Teaming up with organisations like PNY to help create awareness of our Emerging Explorers Program and fund the explorers’ research and expeditions is an important step in our continuing efforts to inspire people to care about the planet.”

PNY’s new line of high-speed Optima flash memory products is available today through all PNY distribution outlets.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The Redmond company inherently claimed Vista’s superiority over XP, but the latest Windows client failed to deliver on the Wow promise. Microsoft’s efforts failed to convince consumers beyond the shadow of a doubt that XP is no contest for Windows Vista, but perhaps the company has not been using the right tools.

Enter the Lost Comparison: Windows Vista vs. Windows XP, the cartoon version, as provided by Microsoft Japan, and via Hilary Pike. “In hobby in work, the personal computer which more and more becomes convenient, and familiar. Is assumed with the appearance of Windows Vista, various functions are strengthened, the comfort that it evolved. But, the extent which can realize the user truly it probably is to become convenient?” “Because it does not change excessively, is not the one which continues to use the sufficiently old personal computer that way even with the current personal computer” to be many, probably will be?” Microsoft asked, courtesy of the rough translation performed by Windows Live Translator.

Microsoft Japan compared Vista and XP in a total of 10 rounds, looking at various aspects of the two operating systems. Microsoft highlights features such as Windows Aero, Superfetch and ReadyBoost, but also Windows Defender, anti-phishing and the new Security Center. Windows Media Center is also leveraged to the advantage of Vista, as are indexed search and Windows 3D. Vista’s advanced media management capabilities and various built-in diagnostic-tools and utilities for monitoring performance, the platform’s backup capabilities, mobility features and BitLocker encryption are all contributing to the latest Windows client leaving its predecessor in the dust.

“With this serialization, using Windows Vista and Windows XP, either one just which being comfortable, being superior? It is thorough compares according to the theme of 10. In order to use the personal computer conveniently, more pleasantly, as for the Windows Vista on-board personal computer the one which is replaced being good? Or, being sufficient with the upgrade of OS? As a result and how,” Microsoft added.

source: news.softpedia.com

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

We’re bleeding hearts.  Off the bat, each of us would love to help the environment, revitalize the planet’s dazzling beauty, and generally recreate paradise on earth. It warms the cockles of my heart each time a lone Greenpeace environmentalist faces down a gargantuan oil tanker. We need more of that breed.

In practice, it’s a different story. The average Joe rarely enjoys the time or energy to participate in community projects, join Greenpeace, fight corporate polluters, or impose dramatic lifestyle changes. We desire to help, but with everything going on in our lives, tree-saving ends up on the back burner. 

Nonetheless, doing our bit to soothe the environment can be easy, practical, and accumulative. We can rally forth in little ways, making gradual changes day by day.

Starting today.

Here’s what I’d do to soothe the aches of poor Mother Earth.

Purchase goods that endure, even if they cost more: Long-life bulbs, UL- certified electronics and products with meaningful warrantees don’t pummel Mother Earth as badly as shoddy Chinese products that often end up in landfills. I say go for quality goods, not lower purchase price.

 

Choose items that have already been recycled: That’s right: recycled, not recyclable, it’ll say so right there on the label. Most earth-friendly consumables can be composed of 70% reused wastes such as printer paper, laser toner, urethane paint, toilet paper, and garbage bags. And while you’re looking for the ‘recycled’ logo, look for the ‘not tested on animals’ one as well.

 

·  Buy energy-efficient lights, insulation and appliances : Everything from refrigerators to TVS come with those cheery little tags bearing a number. Higher numbers mean lower electrical expenditures. That’s what you want. Not only do you pollute less, your power bills go down.

 

·  Turn off the tap: Most folks leave the water running while shaving or brushing the teeth. Do that for a year and you could have filled ten Olympic sized swimming pools. Imagine all the thirsty Sudanese you could have helped. And for the love of God don’t hose down your driveway , use a #%@%#$ broom!

 

·  Buy non-fossil fuel energy: That stuff you load into your car reeks. Composed of the bones of dinosaurs and your ancestors, it contains enough compounds to punch holes into the ozone layer and fry the skin off your back. That’s definitely not good for the skin tone. Try those new electric cars. And power your home with biomass.

 ·  Trash the toxic cleaners, herbicides and pesticides: Most of the stuff you check at the counter bloats our landfills and waterways with chemicals that you won’t feed your worst enemy. Did you realize all that gunk ultimately reaches the very same dams you drink your water from. Be kind. Use only biodegradable detergents 

Stop and think about it… did that look so difficult? A slight change in habit will lift our planet’s environmental burdens. Now just imagine all of us doing this. It’s up to you to bring Eden back to Earth.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Despite the fact that giving out free versions of its operating system contradicts the Redmond company’s proprietary business model, both its latest Windows client and its predecessor are up for grabs at no charge at all. The downloads are made available via the Internet Explorer Application Compatibility VPC Image.

The first Internet Explorer Application Compatibility VPC images were delivered at the end of 2006, after the offering of Internet Explorer 7. Microsoft wanted to satisfy the need of web developers to build, run and test their content on both IE7 and IE6, while using the same operating system. Virtualization provided then the right answer for the Redmond company.

The IE Application Compatibility VPC Image were updated last concomitantly with the release of Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1. In early March 2008, Microsoft delivered three free pre-activated copies of Windows XP SP2 designed to run IE6, IE7 and IE8 Beta 1, as well as one copy of Windows Vista with IE7.

The downloads offer Virtual Hard Disk Images of both XP SP2 and Vista RTM, which have to be integrated with Virtual PC 2007. Each download provides a separate VHD which can be used to create virtual machines with Vista and XP SP2.

“VPC Hard Disk Image for testing websites on IE on Windows XP SP2. A VPC hard disk image containing a pre-activated Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista, and IE6, IE7 or IE8. This VPC image will expire on July 3, 2008. You will need a minimum of 1.5 Gig hard drive space free to expand the VHD file. Once you have completed the download, double-click file to expand the VHD file. Start Virtual PC and create a new VPC, and point to the files you just expanded,” Microsoft revealed.

Internet Explorer Application Compatibility VPC Image 3.0 is available for download here

Download: Internet Explorer Application Compatibility VPC Image 3.0

source: softpedia.com

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.