Dec 30, 2008

Rumor: Three Upgrade Paths From Vista to Windows 7

From what we are seeing so far, it seems that Microsoft is planning to stick to mulitple versions of Windows 7 despite the strong criticism they received with the many versions of Vista that were released. These are the three rumored upgrade paths from Vista to Windows 7:

  • Windows Vista Home Premium Edition -> Windows 7 Home Premium Edition
  • Windows Vista Business Edition -> Windows 7 Professional Edition
  • Windows Vista Ultimate Edition -> Windows 7 Ultimate Edition

We already know for sure that Windows 7 Enterprise is part of the lineup. If these three rumored upgrade paths are indeed true, then it is very possible that there could be a Home Basic edition again if there is a “Home Premium” edition. This brings the list back to four editions for consumers, and just one for business users. (story Link)

ePhone: One Letter From Perfection

Do you live in a small village in a backward country? Is your goal in life to own an iPhone? Well sell the cow and buy an ePhone because this quad-band GSM phone is the rockingest $160 phone in the whole wide world.

This hunk of crap looks so close to a real iPhone 3G that only your proctologist will know for sure. It’s available now in bulk for those desiring to fleece the natives. ePhone_CybersSystem.blogspot

EPHONE M8
Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz
Languages: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Deutsch, Indonesia, Turkish, Russian, Arabic, Persian
Display Size: 3.2 inch, 240×320 pixels
Screen: QVGA screen, 260K colors
Ringtones Type: Polyphonic (64 channels); Support mp3 ringtone: Music: Support MP3 background play,support equalizer;Built-in 3D stereo speaker
Video: 3GP / MP4, support to play in full screen, forward and pause
Camera: 1.3 Megapixel camera,support to shoot with sound
FM Radio: FM stereo,play outside without earphone
TV Function: TV supported (does this mean that I can put it on top of my TV or what?)
Internal Memory: Packed with 1GB TF card, support extend card
Data transfer: USB cable / Bluetooth
Connectivity: GPRS / WAP
Phonebook: Can store 500 phonebooks
Messaging: SMS, MMS

(full Story)

45+ WebBased Operating System

Facebook wants to be the operating system for the web, it says, and this week’s changes to its email system are a tiny part of that puzzle. But there are many more web operating systems hoping to bring all your usual desktop applications online in one place. Some replicate the entire desktop, while others are startpages with info from around the web - here are more than 45 of our favorites.

Remotely Hosted WebOS

    youos.png
  • AstraNOS - Picture Windows 98. Then picture an OS X dock. Then picture a night sky. Then throw them all together. You now have a pretty good picture of AstraNOS.
  • BeDesk - Basic wrapper for other online tools.
  • cmyOS - Free hosted webtop powered by eyeOS.
  • Desktoptwo - Not only do you get 1GB of space, you get a fully-featured OpenOffice.org suite. No, not a basic online editor that has simple formatting options. The full OpenOffice.org 2.0 suite from Sun, converted into a Java applet.
  • DoxBoard - Slick WebOS with some basic features.
  • GCOE X - Nice WebOS with a powerful terminal and support for the iPhone.
  • eyeOS - Beautiful webtop powered by the eyeOS software.
  • Glide - Online operating system with support for BlackBerry, Palm, Windows Mobile, Symbian and iPhone users.
  • G.ho.st - With 3GB of space, FTP access, and Zoho Office support, what’s not to like?
  • goowy - Great webtop with your own email account (@goowy.com), IM, 1GB of space (via Box.net), and much more.
  • jooce - Slick invite-only online OS.
  • mybooo - Invite-only webtop with a ton of features.
  • myGoya - Nice WebOS with PIM features, a media player, and much more.
  • OOS - Basic online operating system that offers a personal webpage.
  • Parakey - Not much is known about Blake Ross’s newest invention, but we do know that Facebook liked it enough to purchase it for an undisclosed sum.
  • Psych Desktop - GPLed webtop with a powerful UNIX-like console.
  • Purefect Desktop - Web desktop with a powerful IDE.
  • SSOE - Flash-based webtop a lot of features.
  • StartForce - Powerful WebOS with tons of apps and features makes the descendant of Orca Desktop a hit.
  • Xindesk - File sync, a powerful API, and much more are included in this great WebOS.
  • Webdesk - This Indian webtop includes 1GB of space, POP3 client, PIM, and a nice modules API.
  • Webdows - We don’t know how long it will take Microsoft to sue these guys, but it’s a real enjoyment in the meantime. It has XP and Vista styles (including a few Vista effects), FTP, file sharing, IM, and much more.
  • Widgets Gadgets - AJAX desktop with tons of apps and a working API.
  • YouOS - File sharing, powerful shell, and 700+ applications are all available with this wildly popular operating system.
  • ZimDesk - Slick WebOS with tons of apps.

Self-Hosted WebOS

    eyeos.png
  • eyeOS - One of the most popular webtops on the planet, eyeOS boasts tons of apps, a booming community, and a lot more features.
  • Fenestela - There’s still quite a few bugs to be ironed out in this French WebOS, but you get a cool XP interface and basic PHP apps.
  • Psych Desktop - GPLed desktop with a powerful UNIX-like console.
  • Purefect Desktop - Web desktop with a powerful IDE.
  • Virtual-OS - Includes powerful API, web server sync, forum integration, and offline AJAX support.
  • ZKDesktop - Powerful open source Java-based WebOS.

Remote Desktops

    desktopondemand.png
  • DesktopOnDemand - A fully featured Linux-based desktop with Gnome, Gaim, AbiWord, Evolution, GIMP, WebDAV, VNC, web login, and much more.
  • Free Live OS Zoo - Java applet
  • Nivio - Subscription-based ($12.99/month) service that offers Windows XP, Adobe Reader, iTunes, Google Talk/aMSN/Windows Live Messenger, OpenOffice.org, Thunderbird, Nvu, and much more. All through a Java-based web interface.

Startpages

    netvibes.png

See also: 14 Personalized Homepages Compared, Feature by Feature

  • Favoor - Basic startpage with a nice folder option.
  • iGoogle (formerly Google IG) - Great startpage with the most amount of apps I’ve seen for a portal.
  • iStyled - Simple startpage with basic customization.
  • ItsAStart.com - Customizable page with basic features.
  • Live.com (formerly Start.com) - Basic news page backed by Microsoft.
  • My Yahoo! - Yahoo!’s entry into the startpage market isn’t bad: it offers news, Yahoo! Mail notification, podcasts, videos, and photo galleries to your startpage.
  • Netvibes - There’s a reason everyone uses Netvibes. It has tons of apps, tabs, skins, and a great interface.
  • Pageflakes - Popular, easy-to-use page with a simple interface.
  • Schmedley - Powerful startpage with tons of features.
  • Webwag - The main appeal here isn’t the widget on demand feature (a quick way to build a widget for the site of your choice), the toolbar, the apps, or the content directory. It’s the External widget feature, which allows you to convert and add Netvibes and iGoogle widgets to your Webwag page.
  • Widgetop - Nice looking AJAX start page.
  • yourminis - Great start page with tons of apps and a bunch of skins by the creator of goowy.
(full Story)

Review and Price of Nokia 5800 Xpress Music Phone

Breaking News! The wait is over. Nokia 5800 XpressMusic hit the Indian market with much fanfare. While everyone is excited to know about Nokia 5800 price, let’s take a look on what exactly the phone has in store for the consumers. The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic introduces the ‘Media Bar’, which is the latest buzzword in cellular market.

‘Media Bar’ is a drop down menu that provides direct access to music and entertainment. It also includes favourite tracks, videos and photos. The ‘Media Bar’ offers a direct link to the web and online sharing. The Nokia 5800 price could be between Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 22,000 in Indian market.

Here are the key specifications of the Nokia XpressMusic 5800:
Introduces ‘Media Bar’
Supports Flash content
Offers all music features including a graphic equalizer
8GB Memory
3.5mm jack and built-in surround sound stereo speaker
Easy access to browse and purchase tracks from Nokia Music Store
Offers Nokia Contacts Bar, which is like a digital RSS feed on your life
Touch-screen facility
3.2 megapixel camera
3.2-inch widescreen display
The price of Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is approximately US$ 400. In India, it could be somewhere in the range of Rs. 20,000 - Rs. 22,000. The exact Nokia 5800 is not known yet. But it could differ from the city to city and depending on the market conditions and festival offers. (story Link)

Keyboard Shortcuts

Are you newbie in computer world?? then you must know how to fully use your keyboard. here are some shortcuts…
bookmark this site for further updates.

CTRL+C (Copy)
CTRL+X (Cut)
CTRL+V (Paste)
DELETE (Delete)
CTRL+Z (Undo)
CTRL while dragging an item (Copy the selected item)
SHIFT+DELETE (Delete the selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin)
CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item (Create a shortcut to the selected item)
F2 key (Rename the selected item)
CTRL+DOWN ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph)
CTRL+UP ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph)
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next
word)
CTRL+LEFT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word)
CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys (Highlight a block of text)
SHIFT with any of the arrow keys (Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document)
CTRL+A (Select all)
F3 key (Search for a file or a folder)
ALT+ENTER (View the properties for the selected item)
ALT+F4 (Close the active item, or quit the active program)
ALT+ENTER (Display the properties of the selected object)
ALT+SPACEBAR (Open the shortcut menu for the active window)
CTRL+F4 (Close the active document in programs that enable you to have
multiple documents open simultaneously)
ALT+TAB (Switch between the open items)
ALT+ESC (Cycle through items in the order that they had been opened)
F4 key (Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer)
F6 key (Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop)
SHIFT+F10 (Display the shortcut menu for the selected item)
ALT+SPACEBAR (Display the System menu for the active window)
CTRL+ESC (Display the Start menu)
ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name (Display the corresponding menu)
Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu (Perform the corresponding command)
F10 key (Activate the menu bar in the active program)
RIGHT ARROW (Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu)
LEFT ARROW (Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu)
F5 key (Update the active window)
BACKSPACE (View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer)
ESC (Cancel the current task)
SHIFT when you insert a CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive (Prevent the CD-ROM from automatically playing)
Microsoft Natural Keyboard Shortcuts
Windows Logo (Display or hide the Start menu)
Windows Logo+BREAK (Display the System Properties dialog box)
Windows Logo+D (Display the desktop)
Windows Logo+M (Minimize all of the windows)
Windows Logo+SHIFT+M (Restore the minimized windows)
Windows Logo+E (Open My Computer)
Windows Logo+F (Search for a file or a folder)
CTRL+Windows Logo+F (Search for computers)
Windows Logo+F1 (Display Windows Help)
Windows Logo+ L (Lock the keyboard)
Windows Logo+R (Open the Run dialog box)
Windows Logo+U (Open Utility Manager)
Dialog Box Keyboard Shortcuts
CTRL+TAB (Move forward through the tabs)
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the tabs)
TAB (Move forward through the options)
SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the options)
ALT+Underlined letter (Perform the corresponding command or select the
corresponding option)
ENTER (Perform the command for the active option or button)
SPACEBAR (Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box)
Arrow keys (Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons)
F1 key (Display Help)
F4 key (Display the items in the active list)
BACKSPACE (Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As
or Open dialog box)
Right SHIFT for eight seconds (Switch FilterKeys either on or off)
Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN (Switch High Contrast either on or off)
Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK (Switch the MouseKeys either on or off)
SHIFT five times (Switch the StickyKeys either on or off)
NUM LOCK for five seconds (Switch the ToggleKeys either on or off)
Windows Logo +U (Open Utility Manager)
Windows Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts
END (Display the bottom of the active window)
HOME (Display the top of the active window)
NUM LOCK+Asterisk sign (*) (Display all of the subfolders that are under the
selected folder)
NUM LOCK+Plus sign (+) (Display the contents of the selected folder)
NUM LOCK+Minus sign (-) (Collapse the selected folder)
LEFT ARROW (Collapse the current selection if it is expanded, or select the
parent folder)
RIGHT ARROW (Display the current selection if it is collapsed, or select the
first subfolder)
Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Main Window Keyboard Shortcuts
CTRL+O (Open a saved console)
CTRL+N (Open a new console)
CTRL+S (Save the open console)
CTRL+M (Add or remove a console item)
CTRL+W (Open a new window)
F5 key (Update the content of all console windows)
ALT+SPACEBAR (Display the MMC window menu)
ALT+F4 (Close the console)
ALT+A (Display the Action menu)
ALT+V (Display the View menu)
ALT+F (Display the File menu)
ALT+O (Display the Favorites menu)
Shortcut Keys for Character Map
After you double-click a character on the grid of characters, you can move through the grid by using the keyboard shortcuts:
RIGHT ARROW (Move to the right or to the beginning of the next line)
LEFT ARROW (Move to the left or to the end of the previous line)
UP ARROW (Move up one row)
DOWN ARROW (Move down one row)
PAGE UP (Move up one screen at a time)
PAGE DOWN (Move down one screen at a time)
HOME (Move to the beginning of the line)
END (Move to the end of the line)
CTRL+HOME (Move to the first character)
CTRL+END (Move to the last character)
SPACEBAR (Switch between Enlarged and Normal mode when a character is
selected)
MMC Console Window Keyboard Shortcuts
CTRL+P (Print the current page or active pane)
ALT+Minus sign (-) (Display the window menu for the active console window)
SHIFT+F10 (Display the Action shortcut menu for the selected item)
F1 key (Open the Help topic, if any, for the selected item)
F5 key (Update the content of all console windows)
CTRL+F10 (Maximize the active console window)
CTRL+F5 (Restore the active console window)
ALT+ENTER (Display the Properties dialog box, if any, for the selected item)
F2 key (Rename the selected item)
CTRL+F4 (Close the active console window. When a console has only one
console window, this shortcut closes the console)
Remote Desktop Connection Navigation
CTRL+ALT+END (Open the Microsoft Windows NT Security dialog box)
ALT+PAGE UP (Switch between programs from left to right)
ALT+PAGE DOWN (Switch between programs from right to left)
ALT+INSERT (Cycle through the programs in most recently used order)
ALT+HOME (Display the Start menu)
CTRL+ALT+BREAK (Switch the client computer between a window and a full
screen)
ALT+DELETE (Display the Windows menu)
CTRL+ALT+Minus sign (-) (Place a snapshot of the active window in the
client on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)
CTRL+ALT+Plus sign (+) (Place a snapshot of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing ALT+PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)
Microsoft Internet Explorer Navigation
CTRL+B (Open the Organize Favorites dialog box)
CTRL+E (Open the Search bar)
CTRL+F (Start the Find utility)
CTRL+H (Open the History bar)
CTRL+I (Open the Favorites bar)
CTRL+L (Open the Open dialog box)
CTRL+N (Start another instance of the browser with the same Web address)
CTRL+O (Open the Open dialog box, the same as CTRL+L)
CTRL+P (Open the Print dialog box)
CTRL+R (Update the current Web page)
CTRL+W (Close the current window)

Samsung Serene - Special Design phone


Is this a phone? yes sure. it seems something like a wallet. this phone is completely out of traditional mobile design.its circular keypad and square shape are very attractive. even it has simple options, i love it because of its design.
The samsung Serene phone is bit old one which launched in year 2006 but still available. its a 2G phone and screen is TFT one which supports 320 x 240 pixels resolution.
the camera is VGA camera which support video recording.
All features
- SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
- Scheduler
- SyncML
- Built-in handsfree
- Voice memo
- Currency converter
- Up to 3 h 30 min talk time

Transforming Flashlight

Looks Like It Sings, Dances, Kills You at Night !!!
For $10, this Wild Planet LiteFormz Transforming Flashlight — that goes from regular torch, to walking funny man, to menacing scorpion—seems like a total bargain. Too bad it's not an actual robot.

A regular LED flashlight, infused with an Energon cube, becomes the most bitching torch ever. It not only transforms into a little anthropomorphic robot, but also a spider and Decepticon-style scorpion. $20, and I desperately want.

LG Reveals 3G Wrist Watch Mobile Phone

Sure there have been a few ‘Dick Tracy’ style wrist watch mobiles making the scene from time to time, but nothing with a large enough branding that it would get your undivided attention. LG Korea has just announced their LG-GD910 wrist watch mobile phone.

It features –
1.43-inch color touch screen LCD display
3G HSDPA connectivity
Video capture form onboard camera
Video Conferencing capabilities

Those are the only features mentioned so far. The device is going to be revealed at CES 2009 and will be available initially in the Korean and European markets. No pricing is out yet so stay tuned. (story Link)

Console Wars: Who Won ‘08?

Despite early predictions that 2008 would be the year Sony regained momentum in the bitter video game console wars, it turned out to be false hope. Industry leader Nintendo stayed ahead of the pack all year, thoroughly dominating both the home console and handheld hardware markets with their Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS systems, respectively.

According to NPD Group, Nintendo flat-out owned the all-important month of November by selling over 2 million Wiis, better than twice as much as the next closest competitor, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 (836,000). And at over 1.5 million DS systems sold, Nintendo tripled the output of Sony’s PSP (421,000). While those numbers weren’t nearly that high through most of 2008, the general order — Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony — held strong throughout.

But this was hardly a banner year for Nintendo in terms of software. The biggest games — Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart Wii and of course Wii Fit — came relatively early in the year, and their biggest holiday release, Wii Music, has been labeled something of a dud. Miffed that the company was focusing too heavily on catering to its relatively new mass-market audience, the usually loyal Nintendo fans complained about a lack of core games. Meanwhile, Microsoft and Sony enjoyed a wealth of blockbuster games all year long, including top-sellers Grand Theft Auto IV and Fallout 3. So how did Nintendo compete, much less lead the way? (full Story)

Prince of Persia Unlock Extra Skins (PC, PS3 & Xbox 360 Versions)

Take the following steps to get the unlockable character skins in the new Prince of Persia on PC, PS3 & Xbox 360.
Effect on the game (followed by…) — The code or action needed to unlock it.
* The Prince of Persia Skin and Farrah Skin for Elika, both from The Sands of Time — Unlocked by entering the code “525858542? in “Skins Manager” under “Extras”.
* Jade’s Skin from Beyond Good And Evil — Unlocked by finishing the game once. Then activate it in “Skins Manager” under “Extras”.
* Altair’s Costume from Assassin’s Creed — Unlocked by syncing your Ubisoft.com account (link goes to signup page) to your PlayStation Network or Xbox Live account. Then activate it in “Skins Manager” under “Extras”.
* Classic Prince of Persia Skin — Received when pre-ordering the game from GameStop.
* Prototype Prince and Elika Skins — Unlocked by collecting all 1,001 Light Seeds (the last one is in the Temple’s tree at the end of the game). Then activating them in “Skins Manager” under “Extras”. Note: Shadowmask mentions this is only unlockable in the PC version. (story Link)

World's Thinnest Mouse - Slim G4

Since I've bought my first trackball, about 15 years ago, I had never bought another mouse. But I think that I will buy one in the next days to use with my notebook.

Meet the world's thinnest mouse: the DaoKorea's Slim G4. It is only 5mm high and about the same size of a PCMCIA card when folded, actually as it has a retractable cable, you can keep it in your notebook's slot for that card after using.

Specifications:
Dimensions:
when flat: 9.4 x 5.3 x 0.5 cm / 3.7 x 2 x 0.1 inch (length x width x height)
when Active: 10 x 5 x 3 cm / 4 x 2 x 1 inch (length x width x height)
Weight: 43 Gram +/- 10%
Interface standard : USB
Cable Length : 65 cm / 25.5 inch, Manually retractable into the body
Buttons: 2 buttons (Left & Right)
Wheel: Touch scroll wheel
Resolution: 800 DPI
Reatails from £24.99 up to $99 depending on where you buy. (full Story)
DaoKorea
KJ Global (online shopping - £24.99)
Slim Mouse (online shopping - $9)

50+ Google Reader Extensions and Scripts For Firefox

Don’t get us wrong, Google Reader is our favorite feedreader. But sometimes, we just wish it was a little…better. Here are 50 Firefox extensions and scripts to make Google Reader your own.

Note: some of these require the Greasemonkey or Stylish extensions. Also see Google Reader on the iPhone.

Notification

    googlereadernotifier.png
  • Google Reader Notifier Firefox Extension - Multilingual extension that tells you how many items are unread.
  • Google Reader Toolkit - Handy add-on that alerts you to unread items.
  • Google Reader Watcher - Firefox extension that displays all unread feeds.
  • Interface

      googlereaderprettifier.png
  • Colorful List View - Colors the headers in the list view.
  • Google Reader Air Skin - Light skin for Google Reader.
  • Google Reader Bottom Link - Adds a small link to the original page at the bottom of the feed.
  • Google Reader for wider screens - Changes the length of stories in Google Reader.
  • Google Reader Optimized - User style that gets rid of all unnecessary elements.
  • Google Reader Plain and Green - Green skin based on Sage’s Plain and Green style.
  • Google Reader Prettifier - OS X theme for Google Reader. Fork with a few bugfixes here.
  • Google Reader Preview - Shows the original page instead of the article summary (fork with widescreen support here).
  • Google Reader Preview Enhanced - Better version of Google Reader Preview.
  • Google Reader “Slate series” - Clean theme in slate colors. You may also be interested in themodified version.
  • Google Reader title unread count - Moves the unread count to the front in the page title.
  • Reading

      googlereaderoopennew.png
  • CodeReader - Increases the font size of code snippets in the currently viewed item.
  • Google Reader Functional Links - Quick Links fork with updated hotkeys.
  • Google Reader Quick Links - Shortcut keys for links in the story you’re currently reading.
  • Google Reader show original in new tab - The must-have script for Google Reader. Just hit ‘t’ to open the current article in a new tab. Note: this script conflicts with a Google Reader native shortcut. You may want to use Masayuki Ataka’s script that changes the hotkey to ‘y’.
  • Google Reader Slideshow - Automatically scroll through your items at a user-set speed.
  • Grease Reader - Adds a ton of powerful hotkeys.
  • Iris - A Google Reader sidebar influenced by Sage.
  • Read By Mouse - Toggles a mouse-only mode where you read using only your mouse.
  • Search

      googlegearread.PNG
  • Google Reader Custom Search - Adds search to Google Reader via Google Co-op.
  • Google Reader Custom Search (2) - Updated version of the Google Operating System script that displays results inside Google Reader like normal posts.
  • Google Reader Gears Search - Uses Google Gears to search your posts.
  • Google Reader Search - Search powered by Google’s Blogsearch that searches the current feeds or the entire Blogosphere.
  • Integration

      googlereaderdiggthis.png
  • Facebook Sharer + Google Reader - Sends the current story to Facebook.
  • Gmail Box for Google Reader - Integrates Google Reader’s subscriptions to Gmail (based on Google Reader Redux).
  • Google Reader + BlueDot - Based on Google Reader + del.icio.us, but for BlueDot.us.
  • Google Reader + Bookmarks - Sends Reader posts to Google’s bookmarking site.
  • Google Reader + del.icio.us - Based on Google Reader + Bookmarks, but for del.icio.us. Forks hereand here.
  • Google Reader + ma.gnolia - Based on Google Reader + del.icio.us, but for ma.gnolia.
  • Google Reader + Simpy - Sends Reader posts to Simpy.com.
  • Google Reader + Twitter - Sends Reader posts to Twitter.
  • Google Reader 30Boxes - Add 30Boxes events from the search field.
  • Google Reader digg news - Adds a “Digg It” button to every item. Works well with Digg Button Animator Enabler.
  • Google Reader Redux - Integrate Google Reader into your Gmail account. (full Story)
  • Dec 29, 2008

    How to Not Buy a New PC

    'Tis the season for spending. But between the economy and the environment, do you really need a new PC? Here's how to eke a bit more life out of your older machine.

    Tis surely the season for spending. But between the economy and the environment, do you really need a new PC this year? Maybe you do, and maybe you don't! Before blowing your budget on a new desktop or notebook PC, take a few minutes to see whether PCMag.com's library of performance enhancers can eke a bit more speed and reliability—a bit more useful life—out of your older machine.

    Clean Out the Gunk
    ...and dust, pet hair, and everything else that accumulates on and in your keyboard, monitor, printer, fans, and CPU case. This is a pretty simple fix that can lead to dramatically improved performance—and it's not too time-consuming, although if you haven't ever physically cleaned out your system, you may be appalled at the accrued filth. Click for our guide to degunking the works.

    Update
    For both performance and security, make sure your operating system and all applications are up to date. In Windows XP, that means selecting the Windows Update link from Internet Explorer's Tools menu. If you've bitten the bullet and bought into Vista, launch the Windows Update Control Panel to get the latest patches.

    Upgrade
    It's common knowledge that insufficient RAM and low hard drive space will cause an otherwise healthy computer's performance to lag terribly. But nearly every part of a desktop PC can be upgraded, often cheaply and without much fuss. Be sure to check out our most recent Upgrade Guide for tips on what to upgrade and how to get it done.

    Seek Swifter Software
    For everyday activities such as checking e-mail and surfing the Web, your choice of application can make a difference. Various speed tests are now a regular part of PCMag's browser reviews, and Windows' native browser is regularly trounced on these tests by alternative browsers such as Firefox, Opera, and Chrome.

    Weed Out Useless Running Processes
    The story called "Speed Up Windows XP" focuses on pre-Vista slowdowns, such as how to kill memory-hungry excess processes. But Vista users will benefit as well from learning how to use the free Process Explorer utility. Windows is notorious for keeping dozens of arguably unnecessary processes running in the background, sucking up system resources. Show 'em you're the boss by killing the extraneous ones.

    Clean Up Your Start-Up
    Both Windows XP and Windows Vista include a Start menu folder called Startup, and in it you'll probably see some application shortcuts. If there are programs listed in Startup that you don't want to load at system start-up (which will slow things down, after all), you can simply delete the shortcuts there. Easy peasy.

    These days, however, many programs and processes that load at start-up aren't listed in the Start menu. You can still find them in the System Configuration editor (Start | Run | msconfig). And you'll find our instructions on taking advantage of this powerful dialog box here. There's even a video! (full Story)

    64-Bit Computing Has Finally Arrived

    We uncovered what 64-bit computing means (both to you and the pros) and ran hands-on tests with key apps on high-end workstations. What's more, we built our own 64-bit powerhouse, at a price that's lower than you'd guess. We'll show you how.

    In technology, some ideas take time to germinate, none more so than 64-bit computing, where the operating system and software (including most drivers) run on a 64-bit CPU from Intel or AMD. Linux has been 64-bit for eight years, and Apple's operating system for five. But compatibility problems have dogged the 64-bit versions of Windows since its introduction in Windows XP. There are several key advantages, such as improved performance and support for many gigabytes of RAM. The real question is, why 64-bit—and why now? And, why should you care?

    Let's be honest: The promise of 64-bit computing has been around for a while—some would say it's a broken promise. Yet the planets have finally aligned: Microsoft offers a 64-bit version of both Windows Vista Ultimate and Windows XP Pro, and 64-bit versions of Linux are freely available. According to Gartner, one out of every four PCs sold today comes with a 64-bit OS installed. As for hardware, both Intel and AMD have offered 64-bit processors for years. And the additional RAM supported by the wider data bus is now amazingly affordable, thanks to a streamlined manufacturing process and mainstream levels of demand.

    Most important, companies such as Adobe, Apple, and Autodesk (and that's just those that start with the letter A) now offer their flagship software products in 64-bit versions. Adobe, for the first time, offers its Creative Suite 4 in a 64-bit version—currently for PC only, with a Mac version in the works.

    The main benefit has to do with memory addressing. A quick lesson in processor technology: Long ago, the brilliant minds in computer science (engineers working at Intel and other companies) decided that a PC would need only a 32-bit "register size"—the amount of RAM a CPU can access. In mathematical terms, that's 232 or exactly 4GB of RAM. Back then, the high cost of memory and the absence of 64-bit software or operating systems meant that few imagined a CPU running in 64-bit mode. (full Story)

    21 Cool iPhone Apps

    So, you've got a gleaming new iPhone 3G. After you make a few calls to tell your friends, snap a few pictures, and try out the Web browser, it's time to load that thing up with software. After all, this device lets you go way beyond the usual calling, texting, and surfing. Apple's communicator extraordinaire knows how it's moving in space, can tell where it is on the planet, and lets you control it with multi-finger gestures. Few desktop computers give programmers as many possibilities, and developers have responded with hundreds of applications. The 21 apps we've collected here will transform your new device into far more than a phone.

    and eReader can turn it into an e-book reader. Zagat to Go '09 makes your phone a restaurant finder that knows where you are, while OneTap Movies does the same for your local talkies. Want more immediate entertainment? Try Ms. Pac-Man and you've got a handheld retro-gaming console.

    For aural amusement, soothe your ears with Pandora, which provides tunes you're bound to like based on previous choices you've made. But if you'd rather tune in to your own music collection, stream it from your computer with Simplify Media. Prefer making your own music? Produce dulcet tones with Ocarina, which uses the microphone and speaker of the iPhone to turn the device into a soothing woodwind instrument. The application's "globe view" even lets you share your creations with the world. And for the countless times when you don't want brilliant thoughts to slip away, there's Speakeasy Voice Recorder, which does exactly what its name implies.

    We've got sports fans covered here, too. The free Sportacular keeps you up to date on your team's latest results, wherever you are. Caddy.me Lite put the iPhone GPS to clever use. It helps you sink that little white sphere into the cup by letting you know exactly how far you are from the hole. World sports fans will love Real Soccer 2009, which simulates professional footie games and even uses real player's names—now you can take Ronaldinho with you!

    Some of the software we include can give your work life a boost, too. Air Sharing lets you wirelessly transfer files to and from computer. And Text Guru is full-featured text editor that finally gives the iPhone cut-and-paste capability. Microsoft's Seadragon, though mostly a technology demo at the moment, brings the promise of a new way to navigate huge amounts of information in a small form factor. Currently, it does impressive things with large collections of images, but its designers expect to extend its capabilities to documents in the future.

    We couldn't leave out everyone's favorite after-work Web activity: social networking. The free Facebook app not only lets you keep up with your friends' updates but also chat and take pictures for instant uploading to your profile. The upstart—and also free—Yahoo oneConnect social-networking tool will actually aggregate several social-network feeds into one interface. You can check on your Facebook, bebo, Flickr, and other accounts. You can also chat with Yahoo Instant Messenger contacts using the app. For even more instant messaging, check out BeejiveIM, which hooks you up with multiple IM services. It will set you back $13, though—considerably more than most iPhone apps.

    In any case, don't treat your iPhone simply as a mere cell phone, iPod, and mobile Web browser. That's a darned good start, but this device can do much more. To read full reviews of these apps, click on the links in this article or in the short summaries below. And to find even more software and Web applications for phones, PDAs, laptops, and desktops—make sure to visit our Software Product Guide.

    Air Sharing for iPhoneAir Sharing (for iPhone)
    Editors' Choice Logo
    $6.99 direct
    Air Sharing turns your iPhone into a networked drive that can wirelessly transfer files to and from your computers, while also letting you view a wide variety of file types on your phone. At $6.99, it's not cheap as iPhone apps go, but well worth the outlay.


    BeejiveIM for iPhoneBeejiveIM (for iPhone)

    $15.99 direct
    Even when this app is closed, it can connect to multiple IM clients and send message notifications to the iPhone Mail app. To switch chats, simply shake the phone! One drawback: It's pricey compared with most iPhone apps, at $15.99.


    Caddy.Me LiteCaddy.me Lite (for iPhone)

    $9.99 direct
    Caddy.Me Lite, which gives golfing yardage estimates accurate to within about 10 yards, can save you strokes when you're caddyless on an unfamiliar course.


    CameraBag 1.4CameraBag 1.4 (for iPhone)

    $2.99 direct
    Whether you're a nostalgia buff, a photography student, or just someone who wants to spruce up your iPhone photos, the easy-to-use CameraBag lets you remake your images to resemble various photographic styles ranging from vintage snapshots to techniques used by noted photographers.


    eReader 1.3 (for iPhone) : BookshelfeReader 1.3 (for iPhone)

    Free
    eReader does a decent job of presenting books on your iPhone, and I like the dictionary option, but acquiring reading matter needs to be easier and the software should support more file formats. Its quick bookmarking and ability to switch to reverse text mode (white letters on a black background) will be a hit with some.


    Facebook for the iPhoneFacebook (for iPhone)

    Free
    Facebook's iPhone app delivers a streamlined version of the immensely popular social-networking service, including status updates and basic chat, mail, and photo functions. But it could stand to be a little more robust—for example, by making use of the iPhone 3G's GPS features.


    Ms. Pac-ManMs. Pac-Man (for iPhone)

    $5.99 direct
    If you have a hankering for some old-school gaming, this version of Ms. Pac-Man for the iPhone delivers most of the fun of the arcade original, with a few extra features that enhance the overall experience.


    OcarinaOcarina (for iPhone)
    Editors' Choice Logo
    $0.99 direct
    The first application that turns the iPhone into a musical instrument offers a well-thought-out, fun pastime that's sure to impress your cronies. The app makes innovative, unique use of iPhone's features, teaches music concepts, and sports an eager community of song-score contributors. Not only that, it lets you hear performances from ocarinists around the world.


    OneTap Movies for iPhoneOneTap Movies (for iPhone)

    Free
    The OneTap Movies iPhone app can help you locate a nearby flick when you're on the go. You can watch trailers of movies you're considering, too.


    Pandora (for iPhone)Pandora (for iPhone)
    Editors' Choice Logo
    Free
    Pandora's version of its user-customizable Internet music service for the iPhone keeps its simple charms and clean interface while eschewing a few of its more advanced features. It's free, and sports an attractive, uncluttered interface. On it, you can keep using the Web version's thumbs-up, thumbs-down ratings on songs.


    Photogene (for iPhone) : LandscapePhotogene (for iPhone)
    Editors' Choice Logo
    $2.99 direct
    The scope of Photogene's editing tools—which includes many that other iPhone photo-editing apps lack—makes this a very appealing app.


    Real Soccer 2009Real Soccer 2009 (for iPhone)

    $7.99 direct
    Soccer diehards who can get past some wonkiness with the controls should be impressed with the graphics and the depth of the game play that Real Soccer 2009 offers. In fact, the number of options may overwhelm more casual fans.


    Seadragon Mobile : Splash ScreenSeadragon Mobile (for iPhone)

    Free
    Seadragon is certainly an impressive technology to see in action on the iPhone. It's free, and lets you view huge images with astounding zoom possibilities without downloading a huge file all at once. As a plus, it offers a slick slideshow feature. However, we await more functionality and a functioning Photosynth viewer.


    Simplify MediaSimplify Media (for iPhone)

    Free
    Simplify Media offers an excellent way to share or listen to music streamed to your iPhone from your computer. It won't stream secure AAC files to the iPhone, but it will let you share streams with up to 30 friends and displays artist bios and song lyrics.


    SpeakEasy Voice RecorderSpeakeasy Voice Recorder (for iPhone)

    $1.99 direct
    SpeakEasy Voice Recorder stands out among the many voice-recording iPhone apps, thanks to its simple interface and ability to download files to play in iTunes. It's very easy to use, lets you download files to listen to using iTunes, and offers five recording-quality options. A few technical limitations keep it from being a perfect solution, however.


    SportacularSportacular (for iPhone)

    Free
    Looking for an easy way to keep track of the latest sports scores or your fantasy lineup on your iPhone? The free Sportacular has most of the bases covered with frequently updated scoring, stats, and other game info for your favorite sports.


    StanzaStanza (for iPhone)
    Editors' Choice Logo
    Free
    With support for a broad range of content, Stanza is the most versatile e-book application for the iPhone.


    Star Wars: The Force UnleashedStar Wars: The Force Unleashed (for iPhone)

    $7.99 direct
    The Force Unleashed casts you as an aspiring apprentice to Darth Vader, who dispatches you to eliminate the remaining Jedi knights around the Empire. You can play through Story mode, which moves you from chapter to chapter to face new combatants (and unlock additional Force powers), or you can choose Survival mode, where you encounter an increasing number of enemies while you try to achieve a high score.


    TextGuru for iPhoneTextGuru (for iPhone)

    $4.99 direct
    A full-featured text-editing app, TextGuru finally adds cutting and pasting to the iPhone. Its implementation isn't ideal, however, and the interface could stand a few additions to make this a standout program. (full Story)