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Posted by Electronic Punk
on the 16th March 2010 at 4:27pm
| 2 comments
While I have never been a fan of their desktop browser, for Windows Mobile, I simply don't think there is anything better. A non-beta version has just been released and if you have a supported mobile I fully recommend that you upgrade or install.
Experience the Web on your mobile phone like you never thought possible. A clean, simple and elegant user experience is available for you, no matter what phone you have.
Opera provides a brand-new look and feel in a class of its own with smooth animations and visually appealing graphics. The Opera rendering engine displays complete Web pages, just like on your computer, and is fully standards-compliant.
Switching between open Web pages is a snap with tabs, and Speed Dial launches your favorite Web sites with a single click.
Opera’s well-designed user interface has you navigating gracefully and efficiently on both touchscreen and keypad devices. The browser comfortably adjusts to your needs by switching between portrait and landscape mode and also lets you adjust the font size for easier reading.
Perris and I have been using these beta versions for quite some time and having spent some time away with no alternative desktop to use I found I was able to fully enjoy the web from my mobile. No videos or pictures can really do justice to how great this runs on my HD2.
Posted by Electronic Punk
on the 15th February 2010 at 3:37pm
| 4 comments
WinRAR is a powerful archive manager. It can backup your data and reduce the size of email attachments, decompress RAR, ZIP and other files downloaded from Internet and create new archives in RAR and ZIP file format.
- If you start WinRAR command from Explorer context menu in multiple monitor configuration, the command dialog will be displayed on the same monitor as context menu. In previous versions it was always displayed on primary monitor.
- WinRAR "Compress and email..." context menu command adds the archive name to email subject. Previous versions left the subject blank.
- In RAR 3.91 -x switch could also exclude folders from archiving even if mask contained wilcard characters and did not contain a path. For example, -x*. excluded all those folders, which do not have the extension in the name. Now -x switch uses RAR 3.80 approach for masks without path, excluding folders only if mask does not contain wildcards and matches the folder name exactly.
- Fixed: WinRAR 3.91 reported the incorrect "Unexpected end of archive" error, when opening an empty ZIP archive created with "New WinRAR ZIP archive" context menu command.
- Fixed: if "Delete archive" option was enabled when unpacking several ZIP archives and if one of archives was damaged, WinRAR did not delete archives after the damaged one, even if they were unpacked successfully.
- Fixed: If file matched two different masks in RarFiles.lst, WinRAR could select the last match. Normally, if neither of masks is a subset of another, the first match must be chosen.
Posted by Electronic Punk
on the 15th February 2010 at 1:54pm
| 13 comments
As expected, Microsoft have unveiled Windows Phone 7 Series at the Mobile World Congress, which Microsoft have built from the ground up to create a different kind of Phone.
The phone software will integrate Zune, Xbox Live, Office and Bing in what seems to be a nicely integrated package as well as providing everything that Windows Mobile has before such as email syncronization (although custom software and backward compatibility has not yet been mentioned! There will be more information on these at MIX next month).
With this new platform, Microsoft offers a fresh approach to phone software, distinguished by smart design and truly integrated experiences that bring to the surface the content people care about from the Web and applications. For the first time ever, Microsoft will bring together Xbox LIVE games and the Zune music and video experience on a mobile phone, exclusively on Windows Phone 7 Series. Partners have already started building phones; customers will be able to purchase the first phones in stores by holiday 2010.
“Today, I’m proud to introduce Windows Phone 7 Series, the next generation of Windows Phones,” said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer at Microsoft. “In a crowded market filled with phones that look the same and do the same things, I challenged the team to deliver a different kind of mobile experience. Windows Phone 7 Series marks a turning point toward phones that truly reflect the speed of people’s lives and their need to connect to other people and all kinds of seamless experiences.”
With Windows Phone 7 Series, Microsoft takes a fundamentally different approach to phone software. Smart design begins with a new, holistic design system that informs every aspect of the phone, from its visually appealing layout and motion to its function and hardware integration. On the Start screen, dynamically updated “live tiles” show users real-time content directly, breaking the mold of static icons that serve as an intermediate step on the way to an application. Create a tile of a friend, and the user gains a readable, up-to-date view of a friend’s latest pictures and posts, just by glancing at Start.
Every Windows Phone 7 Series phone will come with a dedicated hardware button for Bing, providing one-click access to search from anywhere on the phone, while a special implementation of Bing search provides intent-specific results, delivering the most relevant Web or local results, depending on the type of query.
Windows Phone 7 Series creates an unrivaled set of integrated experiences on a phone through Windows Phone hubs. Hubs bring together related content from the Web, applications and services into a single view to simplify common tasks. Windows Phone 7 Series includes six hubs built on specific themes reflecting activities that matter most to people.
Every Windows 7 phone will be a Zune and will be able to sync with the Zune software. You can also now view the Windows Phone 7 Series homepage for a nice demonstration.
Posted by American Zombie
on the 8th February 2010 at 10:12pm
| 33 comments
µTorrent is the world's most popular BitTorrent client.
Version 2.0 of µTorrent is now available with numerous fixes and a new speed test that will automatically set your rates plus you can set bandwidth caps.
To see the changes and learn more about uTP see below.
Posted by American Zombie
on the 30th January 2010 at 5:14am
| 4 comments
AMD plans to launch three six-core desktop processors (Thuban) under its new Phenom II X6 1000T series in May 2010, while Intel plans to launch its six-core desktop processors (Gulftown) beginning at the end of March, according to sources from motherboard makers.
Three processors from AMD, the Phenom II X6 1075T, 1055T and 1035T, will each adopt a 45nm process. AMD will also launch the quad-core Phenom II X4 960T alongside the six-core models, the sources noted.
AMD will launch compatible 890FX (RD890) and 890GX(RS880D) chipsets that pair with its SB850 southbridge, a month prior to introducing the CPUs, the sources added.
Intel's six-core desktop offering will kick off with the Core i7-980X, which is expected to be priced more than $1,000 USD, the sources said.
Both AMD and Intel declined the opportunity to respond to this report saying they do not comment on unannounced products.
Posted by American Zombie
on the 28th January 2010 at 5:58pm
| 18 comments
CCleaner is a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. Additionally it contains a fully featured registry cleaner.
Changes in 2.28.1091:
- Added support for custom locations for applications.
e.g. CustomLocation1=FIREFOX|C:\MyFirefox\Profile
- Improved detection and cleaning algorithm for new releases of Mozilla based browsers.
- Added news tasks to W7 jumplist.
- Added new command line parameters: /CLEANER, /REGISTRY, /TOOLS and /OPTIONS.
- Improved MUI cache cleaning for Vista and Windows 7.
- Added drive information to Wipe Free space status.
- Improved Wipe MFT free space routines.
- Improved W7 toolbar feedback.
- Improved several core processes and routines.
- Improved file search algorithm when recursing.
- Added support for cleaning Paint Shop Pro 12.
- Improved support for IZarc and Axialis IconWorkshop.
- Minor GUI tweaks.
CCleaner standard contains Yahoo toolbar so if you do not want the toolbar installed on your system then get the slim version. Portable does not include an installer and portableU3 is for USB thumb drives.
Posted by fitz
on the 27th January 2010 at 7:09pm
| 24 comments
I'm sure there will be plenty more info later as it develops..
Apple today unveiled its iPad, after years of rumors that the company was building a tablet-like device. Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the device today during a special media-only event, saying it is "way better than a laptop, way better than a phone. It's the best web experience you've ever had."
Jobs began the introduction by discussing what kind of device might fit between a smartphone and a laptop. "We've wondered for years as well—in order to create that category, they have to be far better at doing some key tasks... better than the laptop, better than the smartphone," Jobs said. "Now, some people thought that was a netbook—the problem is that netbooks aren't better than anything!"
Then Jobs brought out the iPad, which looks much like an oversized iPhone. It features an interface that essentially a hybrid between Mac OS X and iPhone OS. In addition to browsing the web, included applications also give users access to iTunes media, including HD video content, calendars, photos, contacts, and more. The built-in e-mail client also looks like a hybrid between Mail on the Mac and Mail on the iPhone. Text entry is done with a large, on-screen QWERTY keyboard, which seemed very responsive during Jobs' demo.
The iPad hardware itself is built using a custom Apple-designed chip dubbed the "A4," running at 1GHz. It also has a beautiful 9.7" IPS LCD display with full multi-touch input. It also packs in 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, accelerometer, compass, speaker, microphone, 30-pin dock connector, and between 16 and 64 gigabytes of storage, as well as a 10 hour battery capable of a full month of standby time. All of that hardware in contained in a case that is just half an inch thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds.
There's no way to lock the screen into landscape or portrait mode. Some apps lock the screen (like on the iPhone) but there's no universal way to lock the screen as you might on a Kindle or Nook.
The landscape and portrait switching works in all 4 orientations, so you could read upside down if you liked.
There's a sleep/wake button on the top, just like an iPhone. Also, there is a headphone jack and a speaker on the top (and one speaker on the bottom).
There is a volume rocker switch on the side, just like the iPhone. You can also silent the device.
No brightness controls outside of the system preferences, just like on the iPhone.
You can use any bluetooth keyboard you want, instead of Apple's keyboard dock. You could use the case/stand with your existing bluetooth keyboard.
You cannot use a bluetooth mouse, however.
The screen resolution is 1024x768 (4:3).
It can play 720p movies from iTunes.
The case itself is some crazy soft rubbery microfiber material that no Apple rep could or would identify.
The case/stand is $39.
The case is very flat and solid like a Kindle case, but you can use it to prop the iPad up into a triangle so you can watch movies or use it like a laptop.
The keyboard dock is $69 and the normal dock is $39.
Posted by American Zombie
on the 23rd January 2010 at 5:35pm
| 2 comments
KeePass is a free open source password manager, which helps you to manage your passwords in a secure way. You can put all your passwords in one database, which is locked with one master key or a key file. So you only have to remember one single master password or select the key file to unlock the whole database.
Changes from 1.16 to 1.17:
Added option to use file transactions when writing databases (enabled by default; writing to a temporary file and replacing the actual file afterwards avoids data loss when KeePass is prevented from saving the database completely).
Added high DPI support.
The Ctrl+E shortcut key now jumps to the quick search box.
In the main entry list, backup entries are now rendered with green text color.
Menus are now rendered with gradient item backgrounds.
Added support for detecting KeePass 2.08 and higher KDBX database files.
Added {GOOGLECHROME} placeholder, which is replaced by the executable path of Google Chrome, if installed.
Added '--auto-type' command line option.
Added '--lock-all' and '--unlock-all' command line options to lock/unlock the workspaces of all other KeePass instances.
Added 'KeeConfigFileOverrideGlobal' and 'KeeConfigFileOverrideUser' configuration options to change the locations of the configuration files.
On Windows 7, KeePass now shows a 'locked' overlay icon on the taskbar button when the database is locked.
On Windows 7, when opening/saving a database, the taskbar button is now animated using an indeterminate progress bar.
This was released in December but with the holidays I forgot to post it.
Posted by American Zombie
on the 22nd January 2010 at 3:05am
| 0 comments
ieSpell is a free Internet Explorer browser extension that spell checks text input boxes on a webpage. It should come in particularly handy for users who do a lot of web-based text entry (e.g. web mails, forums, blogs, diaries). Even if your web application already includes spell checking functionality, you might still want to install this utility because it is definitely much faster than a server-side solution. Plus you get to store and use your personal word list across all your applications, instead of maintaining separate ones on each application.
This release is to fix minor compatibility issues with Windows 7 and Internet Explorer.