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Mar 18

Ask Engadget: best PC alternative to 13-inch MacBook Air?

Posted in: Apple, macbook, macbook air, MacbookAir, PC, Today's Chili, ultraportable, Windows, windows 7, Windows7

We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Sheikh Adnan Abdullah, who seems to need a MacBook Air not made by Apple (or a KIRF counterpart). If you’re looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

“I currently own a Macbook Air, but I’m not a big fan of Mac OS. I’m planning to transition back to Windows. Can you recommend me a 13- to 14-inch Windows PC that is as light as a MacBook Air and provides the same amount of battery life? Thanks!”

We just have to believe that this fellow isn’t in this boat alone, and while the obvious answer is to just install a fresh copy of Windows 7 onto the MBA through Parallels or Boot Camp, it’s quite possible that he’s trying to shake the entire Apple design. So, outside of MSI’s X-Slim series, is there anything on the Wintel side quite like Apple’s thinnest laptop ever?

Ask Engadget: best PC alternative to 13-inch MacBook Air? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 23:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mar 18

Windows 7 Taskbar Screenshots & Video

Posted in: Pre-Release, Software, Today's Chili, Windows

This article was written on October 28, 2008 by CyberNet.

Microsoft unveiled Windows 7 today at the Professional Developers Conferences (PDC). There wasn’t anything too unbelievable, but they did show off a revamped Taskbar that some are saying is inspired by Mac’s Dock. Windows 7 will use what looks like oversized quick launch icons. Don’t be fooled though. Those icons are used to not only start apps, but also switch between them. Here’s how Microsoft’s Windows Blog explains the new “tiles” on the Taskbar:

The new Windows Taskbar in Windows 7 focuses on application “tiles”. These application tiles can be arranged or re-arranged anywhere on the Windows Taskbar simply by grabbing the tiles and moving them where ever you want on the taskbar. Users will be able to “pin” applications they use the most to the new Windows Taskbar via the Start Menu by simply dragging and dropping those apps from the Start Menu to the Windows Taskbar.

What makes it even more interesting is that when you hover over one of the tiles you’ll see a live preview of all the application’s open windows. You can then use those previews to switch between each of the different windows… kind of like tabs:

(Click to Enlarge)

And it still gets better. Those preview windows are a bit too small to see intricate details, and Microsoft has finally realized that. So now when you hover over one of those previews it will immediately bring that particular window to the front of the screen so that you can clearly see its contents. If you hover off the preview it will be sent back to the position where it resided.

One of the last things I wanted to show off is Microsoft more extensive use of “glass” throughout the operating system. Now when you want to preview the desktop it will make the windows on top transparent leaving a glass-like frame to hold their place:

(Click to Enlarge)

In the end I think Microsoft is definitely on the right track with the new Taskbar in Windows 7. Plus I’m really loving the fact that you can see both the date and time without needing a double-height taskbar.

Don’t forget to check out what’s new in Windows 7 Media Center, and enjoy some more screenshots courtesy of Channel 10 at Microsoft…

–Taskbar & Start Menu–

(Click a thumbnail to enlarge)

–Programs–

(Click a thumbnail to enlarge)

–Taskbar Video Demonstration–

Thanks for the tip Oliver!

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Mar 17

WebM components for IE9 bring further video compatibility to Windows, end to codec conflict?

Posted in: Google, Internet Explorer, media player, MediaPlayer, Microsoft, preview, Today's Chili, video, Windows

We’ve been reporting on the drama over Google’s WebM ever since Microsoft compared the video format to Esperanto earlier this year, but despite a war of words, Google and Microsoft seem to be playing nice as of late. What originally appeared to be a mere WebM plug-in for IE9, has turned out to be a full set of components for the Microsoft Media Foundation (MF) API, which means even more compatibility within Windows. Because the components are installed directly to the operating system, you’ll be able to watch WebM videos in other programs that support MF, such as Windows Media Player 12 for Windows 7. We suppose this could be the signal for some sort of a truce over disputed video formats, but, really, what’s the fun in that?

WebM components for IE9 bring further video compatibility to Windows, end to codec conflict? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source IEBlog, WebM | Email this | Comments

Mar 16

Internet Explorer 9 hits 2.35 million downloads in first 24 hours, we’re mildly impressed

Posted in: download, Internet Explorer, Microsoft, Today's Chili, Windows

Okay, so 2.35 million downloads in a single day is nothing to scoff at, but it’s also not a monumental achievement in terms of browser downloads in the first 24. A post to Internet Explorer’s official blog used the word “wow” to describe the IE9 numbers, but considering Firefox 3 got the Guinness world record for most software downloads in a day, with 8 million way back in 2008, we’re reluctant to call this news wow-worthy. Given, Firefox 3 was available for both Mac and PC, but it still beat Windows’ new browser three times over. Don’t get us wrong, we like IE9, but we still think a little bit of modesty goes a long way.

Internet Explorer 9 hits 2.35 million downloads in first 24 hours, we’re mildly impressed originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 22:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source Windows | Email this | Comments

Mar 16

Q10 is a Full Screen Writing Program

Posted in: Freeware, Software, Today's Chili, Windows

This article was written on January 20, 2011 by CyberNet.

q10 writer.png

Windows only
I’m not real big on full-screen writing applications, but I know quite a few people who use Q10 on a regular basis. This is considered to be a distraction-free way to write stories, articles, or just about anything that is text-based. It isn’t a feature-packed app like Microsoft Word, but it includes a lot of the things that writers really want including spell check capabilities.

I’ve got a full list of features found in Q10 below, but one of my favorites is the autosaving configuration options. You can, of course, have it save based on a certain time interval specified in minutes, but you can also have it save after a number paragraphs. I like the concept of saving based on the amount of content that has changed rather than on a set time interval. It would be even cooler if you could do it based on sentences, but I’ll take what I can get.

Here’s a better breakdown of the features available in Q10:

Full-screen
Live text statistics – Word, page and character counts are updated live as you type.
Programmable page count formula – Specify what formula to use for page count calculation.
Customizable look and paragraph format – Change the colors, line spacing, first line indent, paragraph spacing, font…
Perfectly portable – A single self-contained executable file. That’s all. Easy to use with a pendrive, so you can carry your writing environment with you everywhere. Q10 will remember the last file you worked on, even if the drive letter assigned to your pendrive changes from computer to computer.
Easy to use timer alarm – Perfect for timed writing sessions and word wars. When the time is over, it will tell you how many words you wrote in that period.
Spell checker
Notes – Any paragraph starting with “..” is considered a note. You can get a list of all notes in the current document and jump instantly to any of them.
Target count – Displays completed percentage. You can choose units: words, pages, lines, paragraphs or characters.
Partial counts – Keep track of the extension of current chapter or see how much content you’ve produced in the current writing session. You’re free to use partial counts as you like: up to four counters with customizable labels and units: words, pages, lines, paragraphs or characters.
Autocorrections and quick text – Unlimited autocorrection entries to fix on the fly those persistent typing errors. Unlimited quick texts list for frequently used words or phrases, like character names, places, etc.
Standard and clean text format – You will be able to open your work with any text editor or word processor.
Typing sound effects – Get that typewriter feeling again. For the trivia lovers among you, the typing sounds were taken from the movie “Amélie”.
Small, fast and stable – Less than 360Kb in size, you don’t need huge frameworks or runtimes to use this beauty.
Autosaving – You can ask Q10 to save your work after some number of new paragraphs, or after some time has elapsed. If you’re really paranoid, set Q10 to save every paragraph.

There is really only one disappointing thing about Q10, and it’s that there have been no updates since 2007. There isn’t much that the developer could really add to this without making the application overly complicated/bloated (thereby defeating its purpose), but it’s always reassuring to see regular updates.

Q10 Homepage (Windows only; Freeware)

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Mar 14

Nokia Windows Phone Handsets Won’t Be Available Until 2012

Posted in: nokia, Phones, symbian, Today's Chili, Windows, windows phone, windows phone 7

A stylish, colorful Nokia Windows Phone concept

Don’t hold your breath waiting for a Windows-powered Nokia.

According to the managing director of Nokia India, D. Shivakumar, Nokia is working on a 12 month timeline to release its first set of Windows Phone smartphones.

A 2012 release date likely means that the handsets would run the next version of Windows Phone 7, aka Mango, which is supposed to be made available to manufacturers in late 2011.

According to Shivakumar, the Nokia-Microsoft partnership should bring new life to the fledgling smartphone OS, which made up only 3% of total wordwide smartphone sales at the end of 2010. Nokia’s flailing Symbian smartphones held a strong 31% of the global market that same quarter.

“Microsoft has been looking for a strong hardware partner, but they have been on phones [platforms] which have not given them that strength. With Nokia, suddenly the scales are huge.”

In February, Nokia announced it would be teaming up with Microsoft to “transform the company.” The move meant that Nokia would be abandoning Symbian in favor of Windows Phone 7 and future Windows Phone installments, much to the chagrin of its developers.

Nokia still plans to release about 20 Symbian smartphones in 2011 out of the 40-50 total new models it’ll be launching.

The Finnish company plans to follow a two-year time frame to complete the transition to Windows Phone-only handsets.

In the mean time, Nokia has redirected its primary business strategy to reach the 3.2 billion people who don’t currently own mobile phones, and the other nearly 3 million who can’t or don’t access the Internet on their devices, while Apple and other smartphone manufacturers vie for the high-end spectrum of tech power users.

Nokia’s First Windows Phone to be Released in a Year [DNA via Slashgear]

Mar 14

HP TouchPad coming June, webOS for PC beta by year’s end

Posted in: breaking news, HP, PC, release, Release Date, tablet, tablet pc, TabletPc, Today's Chili, touchpad, webos, Windows

We may have to wait until summer to purchase a webOS slate, but it won’t be summer’s end — PreCentral reports that the company has confirmed a June release date for the HP TouchPad. At the enterprise-oriented HP Summit in San Francisco, CEO Leo Apotheker finally offered the month of release, and also reportedly said that the company’s full-force webOS on PC initiative will begin in a humble way — the beta will run in a web browser, and we’ll see it by the end of the year.

HP TouchPad coming June, webOS for PC beta by year’s end originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source PreCentral | Email this | Comments

Mar 14

Vista SP1 Download Available

Posted in: Newly Released, Software, Today's Chili, Windows

This article was written on March 18, 2008 by CyberNet.

Microsoft has done it! After a month and a half of being completed Vista SP1 has been posted to the servers for anyone and everyone to download. There are all kinds of performance improvements included in this Service Pack that will make the operating system more appealing to users who have been holding out on an upgrade. Although I’m skeptical as to whether this, and only this, would sway someone to jump on the Vista bandwagon.

Shortly after Vista SP1 had been completed we decided to give it a whirl and see if Microsoft had actually prevented the use of the cracks that they said they did. We installed a copy of Vista with SP1, and one OEM BIOS crack did not work. It only took us a few minutes to find another crack that did work though, and I’m sure Microsoft is walking around with their heads down since they didn’t patch more of the cracks in time for SP1. I don’t expect them to patch every crack, but something is wrong if it only took me a few minutes to find another working crack. Since then they’ve pushed out an update that correctly checks whether the cracks are installed and notifies the user, but does nothing else.

So it looks like piraters and genuine users alike will be enjoying the benefits that Vista Service Pack 1 has to offer. The download will be available via Windows Update at some point (I don’t see it yet), but you can download the standalone packages if you don’t want to wait. These are, however, quite large in size and may take awhile for the download to complete:

Vista SP1 32-bit download (434.5MB)
Vista SP1 64-bit download (726.5MB)

Microsoft has quite an extensive list of improvements in Vista SP1, and instead of listing them all I pulled out the ones that I find to be the most significant:

An improved SRT (Startup Repair Tool), which is part of the Windows Recovery environment (WinRE), can now fix PCs unbootable due to certain missing OS files.
Improves the performance of browsing network file shares by consuming less bandwidth.
Improves power consumption and battery life by addressing an issue that causes a hard disk to continue spinning when it should spin down, in certain circumstances.
Improves the speed of adding and extracting files to and from a compressed (zipped) folder.
Improves performance over Windows Vista’s current performance across the following scenarios:

25% faster when copying files locally on the same disk on the same machine
45% faster when copying files from a remote non-Windows Vista system to a SP1 system
50% faster when copying files from a remote SP1 system to a local SP1 system

Improves the copy progress estimation when copying files within Windows Explorer to about two seconds.
Includes improvements to Windows Superfetch that help to further improve resume times, in many environments.
Windows Vista SP1 includes a new compression algorithm for the RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) that helps reduce network bandwidth required to send bitmaps or images via RDP. The compression, which can be selected by administrators via Group Policy settings, is transparent to all RDP traffic, and typically reduces the size of the RDP stream by as much as 25-60%, based on preliminary test results.
Enables support for hotpatching, a reboot-reduction servicing technology designed to maximize uptime. It works by allowing Windows components to be updated (or “patched”) while they are still in use by a running process. Hotpatch-enabled update packages are installed via the same methods as traditional update packages, and will not trigger a system reboot.
SP1 includes a number of changes which allow computer manufacturers and consumers to select a default desktop search program similar to the way they currently select defaults for third-party web browsers and media players. That means that in addition to the numerous ways a user could access a third party search solution in Windows Vista, they can now get to their preferred search results from additional entry points in the Start Menu and Explorer Windows in Windows Vista with SP1. 3rd party software vendors simply need to register their search application using the newly provided protocol in Windows Vista SP1 to enable these options for their customers.
With SP1, Windows Vista will report the amount of system memory installed rather than report the amount of system memory available to the OS. Therefore 32-bit systems equipped with 4GB of RAM will report all 4GB in many places throughout the OS, such as the System Control Panel. However, this behavior is dependent on having a compatible BIOS, so not all users may notice this change.

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Mar 12

KatMouse Scrolls Background Windows with Ease

Posted in: Freeware, Software, Today's Chili, Windows, windows 7

This article was written on March 10, 2011 by CyberNet.

Scroll background window

Windows Windows only
Last year we wrote about a useful program called WizMouse that would let you scroll windows that were in the background (i.e. a window not in focus). I use this kind of functionality all the time when writing articles, but it also carries over into other situations. For example, the other day I had two spreadsheets open and was comparing values between them. Normally in Windows I’d have to constantly switch focus between the two spreadsheets if I wanted to scroll each of them. With an app like WizMouse that’s not the case because I can simply hover my mouse over any window, and then use my scroll wheel to navigate through the content. This kind of behavior is built-in to Mac OS X, but not Windows.

I’m not here to talk about WizMouse though. When we wrote the article Amber left a comment with an alternative app called KatMouse. It has some settings that set it apart such as the ability to push in the middle mouse button to have it send the foreground window to the background. You can also specify custom scroll settings on a per-application basis, which is definitely helpful for those programs that seem to scroll at different rates. Plus you can always click on the cat icon in the System Tray to quickly disable/enable the functionality.

How do some of these features work? Here’s a slightly abbreviated version of the KatMouse usage as described by the developer:

Scroll most windows page wise by holding the wheel button over the window and clicking the left (up) or right (down) mouse button. If you hold the left or right mouse button, you’ll get continuous, accelerating pagewise scrolling.
To push a window to the stack bottom, just click with the wheel button on the window (double click on ‘always on top’ windows). This works even while dragging something with the mouse (i.e. copying files from one explorer to another). To raise that window again, click and hold the wheel button on it for some time.
Choose individual wheel scroll settings for applications and windows. In the Applications tab, choose the applications executable file in the file dialog and set the desired scroll width by double clicking on the new entry in the list.
In the Classes tab you can select the kind of window (its class) to customize by draggin the crosshair to the window. If the chosen window does not behave correctly you can disable the ‘Window has wheel scrolling support’ checkbox in its settings dialog. This will force KatMouse to use a different, possibly less efficient approach to scrolling the window.

The good news is that KatMouse is just as efficient as WizMouse in terms of memory usage. I found it consuming a mere 1.1MB on my system, and I’m definitely willing to give it those resources for the functionality I get in return.

KatMouse Homepage (Windows only; Freeware)

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Mar 11

Windows Phone 7 Marketplace hits 10,000 apps, Microsoft WP7 updates still way outnumbered

Posted in: AppStore, Today's Chili, Windows, windows phone 7, WindowsPhone7, Wp7

It’s a milestone in the life of any OS: the day you reach that magical 10,000 app number. Windows Phone 7 is the latest kindred soul to achieve the feat, accomplishing the task in just over four and a half months — that’s faster than both the Android Marketplace and iTunes App Store. Microsoft’s been adding around 1,000 apps a week since it hit 5k right before the New Year, and as of late that rate’s been picking up. Congrats WP7 devs, you’ve officially issued more software updates than Microsoft itself. Your move Microsoft, we’re still waiting for copy & paste.

Windows Phone 7 Marketplace hits 10,000 apps, Microsoft WP7 updates still way outnumbered originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source Windows Phone 7 Applications | Email this | Comments

Hasta La Gadget!

Ask Engadget: best PC alternative to 13-inch MacBook Air?