Software
Windows 7 Prices Announced
June 25, 2009
Ahead of the much anticipated October 22nd 2009 Windows 7 release date, Microsoft have finally announced how much their new o/s will cost and some more information about the upgrade options as well as explaining how you will be able to potentially save on the full price.
Firstly the bad news: the full price will be, as ever, pretty hard on your pocket. The three versions that will be available (Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate) will be priced at £169.99, £219.99 and £229.99 respectively although we still don’t know about the starter edition (designed for netbooks) – but seeing as it will only be sold to business the pricing isn’t a massive problem for most of us.
Continue reading »iPhone 3.0: The Dark Side – Part 1
June 21, 2009
I know what you’re thinking.
Here’s the Windows Nerd, back for another round of Apple bashing. Well let me get a few things straight right now before we begin. I own an iPhone and more than that, I think it pretty excellent. There is absolutely nothing out there that even comes close to the intuitive user interface, the plethora of fantastic apps and the sheer usability of what is quite simply, the best phone ever made. Am I going to use an awkward, clunky Windows Mobile interface, or am I going to use an iPhone? Hmm, tough call isn’t it?
Continue reading »iPhone 3.0 Update: The Dark Side – Teaser
June 19, 2009
The system you use has left it’s scent on you. Do not forget who it is that you serve…
No one on this planet has ever bought an iPhone. While experienced users fumble with shitty firmware migration and Apple bigots rave over the most superficial and fundamental enhancements, let’s not forget the elephant in the room. As good as the iPhone is, your use of it depends on the continuing flow of money from your bank account to your cell provider. Don’t think for a minute that your iPhone won’t eventually turn to a brick, because I personally guarantee that in time, it will.
Continue reading »iPhone 3.0 Software Update – The Upgrade Experience!
June 18, 2009
Ever since the iPhone 3.0 software update was announced back in January 2009, people have been eagerly anticipating its release, if only for the much-wanted cut, copy and paste functionality that every other top smartphone has as a basic feature. However, there has been very few times in which I’ve really thought I wish I could copy/paste that – must be the way that I use my iPhone, perhaps I use it more as checking device, rather than a doing device?
The day had arrived, 6pm (BST) on 17th June 2009 – time for the iPhone 3.0 software update!
Continue reading »Windows 7 RC Essentials: Getting Started Guide – Part 3
June 15, 2009
You’ve read and followed part 1 and part 2 of my Windows 7 RC essentials guide to getting started with Microsoft’s latest operating system, so now here’s the 3rd and final part!
Part Three: Explore and Connect
So after your lightning-fast install of Win 7, it’s all gravy, right? Well.. no. Windows 7 contains this fuck-nut called HomeGroup. I’ve commented before on how simple and universal the HomeGroup networking infrastructure is with the X-Box, and that’s certainly true here. Unfortunately, it seems to absolutely disrupt network connectivity with anything that isn’t Windows 7 (such as Vista). I’m on a Windows Server 2003 Domain, so file sharing worked for me, but network printing didn’t.
Continue reading »Windows 7 RC Essentials: Getting Started Guide – Part 2
June 9, 2009
So you’ve got your PC all ready for installing Windows 7 RC by following my Getting Started Guide – Part 1? Right then buckle up for the next bit!
Part 2: Install and Configure
Boot from the DVD and install to your blank partition. If you’re lucky, you might witness a boot-loader, through to install sequence, then final configured desktop, without a single re-start. I must say, this didn’t happen on my Toshiba Satellite laptop, or the good old Acer Netbook, but it did happen on my aging HP tower. Even a single re-start was fine, but the HP went from BIOS to streaming Flash video in 22 minutes without restarting. Sorry, but that’s just amazing.
Continue reading »Spotify Officially Legal
June 8, 2009
In January we brought you news of Spotify; a free and very easy way to stream music straight to your computer using the magical powers contained within the internet. Samknows Broadband queried this idea of this sought after company and has finally come back with the treasure.
It turns out that the ad-based streaming website is officially, and most importantly legally, allowed to operate within the UK, after talks with the Performing Rights Society. It isn’t exactly known how much individual artists receive by users surfing on Spotify, but it’s safe to say that the artists are at least being recognised and rewarded.
Continue reading »Windows 7 RC Essentials: Getting Started Guide – Part 1
June 7, 2009
Windows 7 puts up with me, my obscure software, and my nerdish habits. It takes everything that was good about Vista and runs like Server 2008. It’s happy on any Pentium 4, Atom or Core processor, providing you have at least 1GB of RAM. This is absolutely the trump card for Windows and it’s the reason why I think Microsoft should bring back switcher ads, but targeted at the antiquated Unix-based OS-X. Windows 7 RC really is that good!
Microsoft has made a near-complete version available to everybody and while it’s not intended for the family computer, it’s far-enough above and beyond Vista for the typical recreational nerd to give it a go. It’s free until spring 2010, and rumours suggest that there will be a direct upgrade option to the final version (paid, of course). If you’re comfortable with partitioning or installing hard drives, here’s a rough and ready guide, presented in 3 parts, to getting up and running with the best version of Windows yet, without loosing your current Vista installation.
Continue reading »Google Chrome 2 Released
May 22, 2009
Google have now officially released another version of their Chrome browser and are calling it Chrome 2, however Google have said that despite it being a whole new version number, there aren’t a huge number of new features as such.
Ever since Google Chrome browser was launched last September there’s been various changes being made to it and it has been automatically updated on a monthly basis…even if you weren’t that aware of it…which was a point that I was making when I reported about the Google Chrome TV advert.
However, this time I have found some information about the update and what it contains…
Continue reading »Cooliris iPhone App
May 13, 2009
Not content with enriching your desktop/laptop browser-based photo viewing, Cooliris have now come up with the Cooliris iPhone app which promises to bring similar functionality to Apple’s big name smartphone.
We recently wrote about the latest version of the Cooliris 3D photo wall which allows you to browse various online photo galleries on some of the biggest websites on the Internet using a very cool looking and easy to use 3D wall interface – if you haven’t used it yet, I’d definitely recommend you take a look, it looks great!
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