From Microsoft & HP…


From Dell…

From Nvidia…

OK we know that looks alone will not win your hard-earned dollar. If that were so Apple would rule the world right? So here are some specs to look at:

Tablet PC / Slate Comparison Table

Microsoft HP Slate

Dell Mini 5: View at Vimeo

We are still lacking details on all the slates out there but at least this will give you a rough idea on what is it and how it looks like. We’ll be monitering the Apple iSlate closely for an expected announcement this month end, stay tuned.

….millions of people depend on Windows Vista software. While Windows dominate the market, feedback about Vista has been less than impressive. One of the key reasons is the fact that while you may have a PC with the minimum system requirements, excess codes from its graphics and utilities would reduce the performance of your pc. Another irritating fact about vista is the fact that many applications cannot work without a vendor update. Imagine the horror one goes through when basic applications like anti-virus, CD burning tools and even browser tools like Firefox require updates to be able to work. To add to one’s misery, Vista is also a favourite target for malware authors!

Nightmare of Windows user

Besides that, Vista’s 64-bit versions complicate matters further by prohibiting any drivers besides the signed ones for kernel mode installation. Even via system administrators to override this feature is an uphill task. Another reason why Vista users are frustrated is the fact that it has a flawed memory protection system that can be easily bypassed! With a weak file backup, problems arise when you attempt to backup files unless it is thought to be part of the operating system.

Premium Price, Hopeless Performance

For the price paid, many of the features Vista offers to its users are a nuisance that do nothing but slow down the computer. These include the rather redundant Super Fetch and even background services like Web Client and PnP-X IP Bus Enumerator Service to name a few. It is rather amusing to know that the software has many features that makes it not only annoying but unproductive!

Last but definitely not the least is the fact that Vista is guarded by a rather severe licensing system that allows allows the transfer of the license only once. This is a fact that many of us overlook when reading the terms and conditions. Value for money? Likely not!

So goobye Windows Vista, so long, farewell, adieu… . RIP

XP Mode is Windows 7’s new way of integrating a virtualization experience directly into the operating system. In the past, it was cumbersome to set up a virtual computer and required some special knowledge that most users are not bothered to learn. As a result, Vista which broke certain applications that only worked on XP earned the wrath of many a consumer. It might be a case of too little too late, but XP Mode for Win 7 attempts to make using virtual computers a seamless environment for legacy applications.

Virtualization Technology

One caveat to XP Mode is that your processor needs to support Virtualization Technology, and most AMD processors have this support enabled as a default so it will not be a problem for you. Unfortunately for Intel processors, only certain models have VT, and most of them are disabled by default in the computer BIOS. If you are running Intel, it is highly advised that you Google your processor’s compatibility with VT. Intel had a quirky way of working out which class of their processors support VT, and you may find it surprising that some of their high end quad core models DO NOT have VT.

Nevertheless, once you have enabled VT support from the BIOS, it is a simple matter of downloading and installing Virtual PC and XP Mode from this torrent.

The new XP mode supports the following features:

• USB device support
• Seamless application publishing and launching
• Support for multi-threads
• Clipboard sharing
• Printer redirection
• Smart card redirection
• Drive sharing
• Integration with Windows Explorer
• Known folder integration between host and guest
• Support for higher resolution
• Requires AMD-V or Intel-VT CPU features
• Integration with XP Mode

It’s definitely a virtual computer system done right, as the seamless integration means you won’t notice that the application is running within a virtual computer. It will just pop up and behave more or less exactly like it is running natively on your Windows 7.  However, note that XP Mode is only available for Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate.

Why XP Mode?

Why run XP Mode? Besides offering you a way to run applications that wouldn’t run using Windows 7 XP Compatibility Mode, you can also use this to run 32-bit versions of applications from a 64-bit computer. An example of this would be engineering software like CATIA, which refuses to run on a 64-bit system unless you purchase the proper version of it.

Happy downloading and good luck with Windows 7.

My attempts at looking for a way around this problem yielded a way of switching on developer mode for Chrome and then using a Userscript to do the same thing.

Unfortunately, the whole process is rather clunky and did not really work. Happily, I stumbled upon something called Privoxy, and it’s an absolute godsend which I will now heartily recommend to anybody who’s on the Internet often. Even if you have adblock software installed on Firefox, you should check out Privoxy all the same because it’s a whole new concept of Internet filtering.

First let’s introduce Privoxy and what it is capable of. It is an advanced non-caching web proxy with filtering capabilities allowing you to directly modify HTTP headers and controlling access. The advanced features are quite powerful and allows you to filter out certain keywords, setting up actions and filter rules and so on. However for most of us, Privoxy is used to block ads and banners, get rid of ‘web-bugs’ or invisible cookies and generally remove most of the nasty stuff that the Internet likes to throw at you.

Although the settings sound scary, installing and configuring Privoxy can be done in two steps and gives you 80% of the benefits from the tool. Only a small percentage of very advanced people would actually use the remaining 20% of Privoxy’s power for other purposes. Simply head on over to their website and grab a copy to install in your machine.

After you’re done, its time to set your browser to use Privoxy as a proxy. In the case of Google Chrome, we simply head on to the Options > Under the Hood page and hunt down the Proxy configuration. In the new dialog menu, go to LAN Settings, then Advanced and finally under HTTP and Secure, set the Proxy address as localhost and the port as 8118. This are the port that Privoxy uses. Set the same settings for your other browsers if you want to use Privoxy to filter out the data.

Once that’s done you’re all set to go. Remember to allow Privoxy to start each time your computer does (just drag a shortcut to Privoxy and put it inside your Startup folder in the Start Menu). Otherwise, your browser will be hunting for a Proxy which hasn’t started yet.

That’s all you need to do. Now whenever you visit any website, Privoxy will be the bouncer in line to strip search the content and filter out all the junk from the Internet before passing the remaining clean data over to your browser, to use an analogy. The built in filtering algorithm and rules are pretty sturdy right out of the box, but remember to update your Privoxy installation every now and again to get newer filtering rules. It’s a very fast and efficient way to set up ad blocking on your computer, and if you follow the above method for Chrome, Internet Explorer will also be configured for Privoxy.

Zune HD marks a significant step forward for portable media players, combining powerful hardware components such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) multitouch screen, an NVIDIA Tegra HD processor and HD Radio capabilities with software advancements such as the new Quickplay menu, a well-featured Web browser, and engaging music and video playback features to deliver a new portable listening and viewing experience. The device is also capable of output of 720p high-def content to a HDTV.

Zune Marketplacer

The Zune HD also features an FM tuner, which is also present in the iPod Nano but not the Touch. But its the NVIDIA processor that is most exciting, as the 3D capabilities offered surpasses what could be done on most consumer electronics device out there currently, including the ageing PSP. Microsoft has already stated their commitment towards bringing exciting 3D titles such as Project Gotham Racing and Audiosurf later in the year though the Zune Marketplace, an online service similar to the iTunes Store. However no titles will be available at launch.

OLED Screen

Another huge selling point of the Zune HD is the incredibly gorgeous screen, using not the old LCD technology used in almost all modern devices today but the more advanced, thinner, more detailed OLED screens offering a stunning experience especially when watching movies on them.

With the launch of Zune HD, Microsoft faces an uphill battle to populate its Marketplace with good apps whilst the Apple App Store boasts millions of applications with tons of games that can be downloaded and played right now. It is expected that Microsoft will take anywhere from 6 months to a year before people will take the Marketplace seriously.

Secondly, the pricing of the cheapest 16GB Zune HD is at $220, which is a tad higher than the cheapest 8GB iPod Touch 2G at $199. If you spend your time watching lots of video and listen to songs and have a use for the FM tuner, the Zune is the better device. But if the sole reason for owning a media player is to have a multipurpose portable entertainment device, the iPod will still remain the device to beat.

Although Microsoft has been trying again and again since 2006 with the original Zune to take on the iPod, it seems like the Zune HD is not the answer… yet. But it does provide a refreshing alternative to the be-all-end-all iPod Touch. Maybe the Zune HD 2 will meet the bar that Apple has set… assuming it hasn’t been moved higher by then. Before committing your money on either device, I highly recommend you go to a store and check out the Zune HD in action, especially the screen quality. It might be just the thing to sway your opinion.

Ever since Windows 7 Beta leaked out, people have sung praises for the OS, citing its speedy interface and stability as a welcome change to Vista’s problems. This was then succeeded by a wildly successful Windows 7 RC1 release, which gave tech enthusiasts around the world a chance to download and try out a Release Candidate, which simply means giving us a peek into the world of Windows 7 without having to spend a single cent. The RC generated a lot of positive feedback and no doubt helped propel Windows 7 into the almost mythic status of being the panacea to absolve Microsoft of the messy negative vibe of Windows Vista.

Nonetheless, the RC had its own bugs here and there, one of which I encountered is very poor Java compatibility turning my system to a complete crawl if I leave it on for too long. However, since RC1, there have been many builds released by Microsoft as they try to catch a July deadline where they will release the code to manufacturing.

This is done because OEM computer builders like Dell and Acer will have time to install the operating system into their tens of thousands of computers they will inevitably sell. Releasing the OS to big companies like these allow them some breathing space to tweak their systems and make sure Windows 7 is running with the best experience possible for customers.

And so Microsoft has finally announced Windows 7’s RTM status today, with the code to be released in the next few days to manufacturers around the world. Expect pirates to leak a copy of the RTM code soon, although Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) people have said that build 16385 is the RTM version and you can already download it from torrent sites all over the web. However, there may be some slight changes here and there, so it’s probably wiser to just wait for the ‘officially leaked’ RTM version which will appear on file sharing sites anytime now.

However, there will probably be some problems with trying to activate these RTM versions of Windows illegally. First of all, it is quite obvious that if you were to get your hands on a leaked RTM copy and activate it, Microsoft would immediately know you are a pirate simply because Windows 7 is not supposed to be in the hands of the general public until October. Can you say ‘kill switch‘?. Secondly, there are no known ways of cracking the activation sequence currently, and pirates have so far only tried the ‘rearm’ trick to extend your grace activation period for 30 days when it expires.

Anyway, enjoy the news and expect to hear the OS hacked before long. After all, Windows 7 is based on Vista, and I think vistaloader can easily be adapted to activate Microsoft’s latest OS.

Integrates with Google Docs

That’s exactly what Offisync offers you, along with other Google-friendly integrations that strive to make your Office experience that much more productive. The first big feature of Offisync is integration with Google Docs.

This allows you to save your work directly into Google’s servers and opens up the ability to have collaborative editing performed at the same time on one document. It also means that you can have access to any of your Office documents anywhere you go as long as you have an Internet connection: very handy if you are prone to be forced to work from areas that does not have Office installed, or in printing rooms.

Integrated Search

The integration means that all your documents will be instantly search-able via Google’s powerful search algorithms, useful if you have many documents saved.  The best feature is that you can directly search Google Image repositories from within Office itself through the Clipart interface, saving you the need to switch between applications. With a click of a button, the image is immediately downloaded and pasted into your document. It is truly a very convenient method to encourage you to add more pictures to your document to make it more lively.

The program is available here and is currently in Beta, although it is already pretty stable to be used in production environments.

Check out the following Offisync video demo.

Microsoft’s Project Natal

The most interesting technology to come out of E3 this year is no doubt Microsoft’s Project Natal. Project Natal is a name for a new type of motion sensing device which will be sold as an extension to the Xbox 360 providing a bevy of interesting, powerful and unique capabilities that augment the traditional notions of gaming and elevates it to the next level of awesomeness.

The Nintendo Wii is undoubtedly the leader when it comes to motion sensing controllers, and it has proven to be a wild success, selling anywhere up to 10 times as many consoles as the Xbox 360 and PS3 combined. It brought casual gaming to everybody, literally everybody as the controller’s are based on motion sensors which makes gaming an intuitive experience without the need to figure out that which button does what on a traditional gamepad controller.

World’s first controller-free gaming experience

Microsoft claims to have been working on a similar project at Microsoft Research for a “very long time” and they finally revealed it to the public during E3 a few weeks ago and it’s the birth of three things; an RGB camera (the motion sensor), a 3D depth sensor and also an array of microphones. These three combine into a homogeneous platform collectively dubbed Project Natal and they claim it will be the world’s first controller-free gaming experience.

They demonstrated the technology by having a person stand in front of the device (not sure what they will call it yet, beyond the term Project Natal) and they have to deflect oncoming projectiles with their body. The sensor automatically senses and recreates the person on screen and her whole body becomes the controller. Microsoft says the device is so powerful as it has to crunch a huge amount of data in real time, using the microphones to do voice identification and allow for voice-activated controls and commands possible while the depth sensor and motion sensor is used to accurately scan and interpret data so that the device knows exactly how your body is postured and the data can be sent to games to be used.

Lionhead Studios also demonstrated a short video of something they call “Milo”, where a gamer interacts with an on screen character called Milo. The ‘gasp’ factor came when Milo asks the player to draw something and once the picture is drawn, it is ‘passed’ to the camera sensor which automatically takes a picture and digitizes it for Milo to use, all in one seamless movement. However, I doubt the authenticity of the video, as it smells like a planned segment designed to show off the ’spirit’ of the technology rather than its actual limitations, similar to what PS3 did when they launched stunning videos of purported ‘real-time’ gameplay which are nothing more than pre-rendered 3D cut-scenes.

Microsoft refuses to give a timeline for Project Natal, falling back to saying “it won’t be out in 2009″. They also revealed that the Xbox360 has enough power to last until 2015, giving the console a 10-year lifecycle. This proposition is certainly welcome given the uncertain global economic conditions, but I doubt Microsoft will be sticking to an aging hardware especially when so many developers have already maxed out the console’s power and would like more, please.

First off, the X8 Gaming Mouse is an expensive behemoth of a mouse priced at $US99, and for that you get a mouse that uses Bluetrack technology (only two other mouse have it so far), which is a newfangled way of saying it uses some nifty blue-colored LEDs over traditional red LED or laser tracking of older mice. The advantages? An impressive 4000dpi and up to 13,000 frames-per-second capture speed gives you far superior tracking technology for lightning-fast actions and fine control, although to be honest I don’t think there is any benefits for mouse to run above 3000dpi. Too much is simply an overkill.

The sensitivity can be varied from 250dpi all the way to 4000dpi. The mouse also comes with 2.4-Ghz wireless technology, supposedly optimized for lag-free gameplay and a power cable can be connected to recharge the mouse without giving up your ability to play. The cable-free wireless capabilities are a welcome addition although some pro gamers are quick to criticize wireless mouse due to a perceived lag compared to their wired counterparts. However, one caveat is that Asian hands might not like the size of the X8.

The Microsoft X6 Gaming Keyboard continues the hard, edgy looks of the X8 mouse offering two huge dials that adjusts the backlights. So, if you thought it’s not enough to have just one knob to adjust the backlighting, they now give you two knobs for this feature. The price tag for this one is $US80.

The switchable numeric keypad is the main attraction here, and can be snapped either to the right (traditionally) or to the left, depending on your needs. It is suitable as lefties can finally use the numeric keyboard with their natural writing hand, or more appropriately, gamers can use the numeric features with their keyboard hand without having to reach over anymore.

The macro keys that come accompanied with this keyboard further shows the gaming pedigree that this keyboard is built on. The bundled software makes it easy to program your own macros to execute killer moves in game, stringing together button combinations that rain death and disaster on your opponents.

The list continues with the keyboard offering two extra “gaming keyboard” modes on top of the normal keyboard mode. Supposedly it tunes the keyboard to be more sensitive when in gaming mode and react faster to your button presses. Cruise Control allows you to tap on a button and the keyboard will continue that action without you having to hold down the key. Finally, on-the-fly macro gives you the ability to program your macros without having to leave the game, although you might find it a rare feature given the 30 macro keys available for your use means you’ll hardly run out.

Today, let me show you how to easily prevent this from happening. Oh this depends on which browser you are using.

Internet Explorer

Click on the drop down arrow next to the Printer icon on the toolbar. Select the Page Setup menu item.

In the Page Setup window, you should see the “Headers and Footers” setting which specifies what are to be printed in the headers and footers. The codes “&u&b&d” will eventually print the URL of the page, as well as the printing date. You can simply delete off the codes such as “&u&b&d” which is in the footer section to have a blank footer.

You can of course modify the codes to print out different stuff in the headers and footers. Here is a list of the codes:

• &w – Window Title
• &u – Page URL
• &d – Date in short format (as specified by Regional and Language Options in Control Panel)
• &D – Date in long format (as specified by Regional and Language Options in Control Panel)
• &t – Time in regular format as shown on the clock (as specified by Regional and Language Options in Control Panel)
• &T – Time in 24-hour format
• &p – Current page number
• &P – Total number of pages
• &b – right align the next text. (following &b)
• &b&b: Centered text (between &b&b)
• && – A single ampersand (&)

There you are, pretty straight forward and easy for Internet Explorer. Now, how about Mozilla Firefox?

Mozilla Firefox

On the File menu, click on Page Setup. Then in the popup window select the Margins & Header/Footer tab.

Here you should see that it’s very easy to change the margins, and of course the header and footer options. All the options are in the 6 drop down selection lists, no messy codes to play with as in the IE browser. If you want to get rid of the URL, just select blank in the drop down list.

There you are, some quick tips for Internet Explorer as well as Firefox. Don’t ask me how to do this in other browsers such as Opera, because I haven’t played with them that much yet.