Anyway, the real purpose of this blog post is to report what I’ve just read on CNet. Steve Jobs is hard at work and is supposedly developing an Apple tablet, Netbook of a huge iPod.  Well, well. Having had great experience with the iPhone I’m feeling more and more of a convert. I’m currently thinking of getting an iMac for my next computer even thought I’ve been testing Windows 7 and like it (a bit. Windows is getting to be a bore).

Here’s the news about the giant iPod.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs has been focusing intensely on a tablet device since returning to work in June, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The rumor mill has been abuzz with stories of a possible Apple tablet, Netbook, or giant iPod. But those familiar with the device declined to reveal details about it or disclose its release date, the Journal noted.

Still, many industry watchers expect that it will be a multimedia device that will let people surf the Web, watch movies, play games, and possibly read e-books. And they expect it to debut later this year or in early 2010.

Jobs’ attention to the tablet is a sign of how important the new device is to Apple, the Journal said. Since unveiling the iPhone in 2007, the company hasn’t released a new product category, choosing instead to enhance its existing line of MacBooks, iPods, and iPhones.

A tablet has been in the works for some time. Apple was granted a patent on such a device last year. But the design process apparently hasn’t been a smooth one. Jobs halted the project twice, once because of poor battery life and again because of insufficient memory, a person familiar with the matter told the Journal.

source: cnet

windows 7 desktop

HomeGroup password

When I installed Microsoft Windows 7 beta on one of my computers, one things I’ve noticed was that it was a quick and rather painless install. It seems light with less “bloatware”. It reminded me of a linux install way back when Linux didn’t try to be “use-friendly”. Back then when you install Linux, you install an OS, nothing else. After installing the OS, you then go about installing what you want applications and tools to go with the OS. It looked like a majority of people, I guess because most are either busy or lazy and not wanting to deal with something “they don’t have to” didn’t like going through this and most didn’t even consider Linux. This made Linux the OS of geeks.

From the beginning, Bill Gates realized this and he capitalized on it. Success. People loved it because it was “user-friendly”. Microsoft began adding more and more stuff into its OS and it showed in the Windows OS that started coming out of Redmond. Together with flashy, epic naming schemes (remember Millenium Edition? ugh), Windows became increasingly bloated with each version. But because hardware because increasingly powerful and better, the bloat didn’t pose any significant problem to users. Adding more memory and faster peripherals seems to make the bloat a non-issue. Until Vista, when Microsoft found the straw that broke the camel’s back. I didn’t even installed Vista because the horror stories scared me. So I’m one of the many XP holdouts.

As I was saying, the install went well and the next few personalization setup were pretty easy as well. But then I tried working with networks and this is where a few issues were found. Can you believe it? This OS wants you to remember (it actually ask you to write it down) a series of alphanumeric characters because IT assigns a password you rather than just allowing you to create one, an easy to remember one. So primitive in my opinion.

And one more very important thing which really got into my nerve. You CAN’T upgrade a Windows XP computer. Yep, you have to wipe out the entire system and install fresh. In a few computers you would really want to do this but for some, a simple upgrade is the simplest and preferable way moving from one OS to another.

[ad#inline-ad-in-article]

Windows 7 Desktop

Pirated copies of Microsoft Windows 7 have hit the shelves at China’s electronics bazaars, months before the operating system officially goes on sale.

A stall owner at one of the multistory PC markets in Beijing sold a copy of the program for 40 yuan (US$5.86) on Monday. It was not clear from the thin, DVD-shaped box or the contents of the disc what version of Windows 7 it purported to carry, but a 1.8GB file named Win7.gho was on the disc. A .gho file is an image of a system that can be copied onto a new hard drive, potentially letting a user bypass the activation key step for programs like Windows.

Both legal and cracked copies of Windows 7 were already available online. A release candidate version of the operating system is publicly available, and subscribers to the Microsoft Developer Network can download the RTM (release to manufacturing) version on the network’s Web site.

A cracked version of Windows 7 has also appeared online in recent weeks. An image file containing Windows 7 Ultimate RTM and a manufacturer product key was stolen from Lenovo and placed on a Chinese hacker forum, the company said in a statement.

A user can purportedly pair the leaked key with a certain hack to install and use the operating system, Microsoft said in an MSDN blog entry. But Microsoft said it is working with Lenovo to make sure no PCs using the pirated manufacturer key are sold, and Lenovo said the key would be disabled. Windows 7 will go on sale Oct. 22.

Pirated software from Microsoft and other companies is widely used in homes and offices across China, and it is often sold in stores or on streets.

The vendor at the Beijing bazaar said she said had sold pirated copies of Windows 7 for more than a month and had a dozen buyers on some days. She kept the program discs in a low cabinet that she opened only when asked specifically for the OS.

It was not clear if the pirated Windows 7 disc carried malicious code, but its setup file promoted a Web site, www.pkghost.cn, infested with a high level of malware. Google found 31 scripting exploits, 25 Trojans and 21 other exploits on the site, according to its diagnostic page.

Malware may have been on the disc as well. Pirated software packages sold in China often include malware used to steal personal information from users, said Vu Nguyen, a McAfee Avert Labs researcher. One common type of Trojan steals passwords for popular online games, he said. Attackers can then profit by selling virtual items in the game accounts.

But low prices lead many Chinese users to buy pirated software despite the risks, Nguyen said.

The pirated Windows 7 box had the labels “complete cracked version” and “standard version 1.0.” The disc inside displayed a Windows logo and images of a penguin and a globe. It also displayed the name “Loxon Soft Studio,” but no company by that name could immediately be located.

Source: computerworld

[ad#inline-ad-in-article]

If this release is anything similar to release 7100, expect it to install quickly and run better. It should have the similar look and feel of the previous release candidates.

ZDNET Australia reported that a version was released to manufacturing on July 20. Today, Australian IT news reports that they are getting Lenovo netbooks loaded with Windows 7. Lenovo Australia won a $150 million contract to prvide netbooks to NSW secondary school students and teachers. IBM Australia won a $70 million contract to build Aruba wireless networks in 232,000 secondary schools.

According to lifehacker, Best Buys Windows 7 pricing will be $49.00 and $99.99. For systems purchased after June 26th, the upgrade is free. Upgrade versions are advertised on it’s website for 119.99 and 199.99.

Windows 7 is supposed to offer improved security, better search tools and mobile support and easier networking. Whether this is true is yet to be seen. Microsoft is betting this new OS will move small business from Apple’s OS X and Redhat’s Linux.

Netbook users and future users should be forewarned that Windows 7 starter, the version targeted for netbooks will be limited. Starter will be the least featured edition.

Windows 7

sources:
Daily Tech

Apparently, some enterprising individual is packaging Windows 7 beta into a full product and selling it. A blog from CNET Asia reported finding a package labeled  ”Windows 7 Ultimate” at a market notorious for selling pirated software.  The package was reportedly being sold for PHP70.00, or currently US$1.43. And get this, the package contains a CD! I don’t know about you, but I would guess Windows 7 Ultimate will not come in a CD.

Wouldn’t it been better, or maybe even legal if they’ve labeled the product for what it is “Windows 7 beta” and target local pc users who don’t have high speed internet access? 

Anyways, that’s your Asian software market.

But Microsoft might have a hard time getting this new naming scheme to stick. Some bloggers are already using win7, seven,  and even 7.

 

“Our main objective is to change the buying experience for consumers around the world – to show and demonstrate Microsoft’s key consumer products in a deeper and more meaningful way, making it more simple and easy for consumers to purchase PCs and devices that truly meet their specific needs.”

Somewhat confusingly, Microsoft claims that the move is set to benefit its current relationships with other retailers, claiming that “one of the goals of opening Microsoft stores is to better engage with consumers and gain a better understanding of the consumer PC and device purchase experience.”

By Adam Hartley

Tux the Linux mascot

Do you want a capable operating system? Do want it to be advanced? Customizable? Rock solid? And it will run on your old hardware! Then download Linux!

No need to be afraid of Linux. What the worst that could happen? If you don’t like it, just reinstall your previous operating system and you’re back to that same old buggy expensive OS. You can even try it without installing it. Live CDs are available for a few flavors of Linux. Don’t be scared of the few different “flavors” of Linux. Actually, forget about flavors. The underlying software is all the same anyway. Get it, try it, like it.

Where you’re ready, download your new OS from here.

Linux is a generic term referring to Unix-like computer operating systems based on the Linux kernel. Their development is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software collaboration; typically all the underlying source code can be used, freely modified, and redistributed by anyone under the terms of the GNU GPL and other free licenses.

Linux distributions are predominantly known for their use in servers, although they are installed on a wide variety of computer hardware, ranging from embedded devices and mobile phones to supercomputers, and their popularity as a desktop/laptop operating system has been growing lately due to the rise of netbooks and the Ubuntu distribution of the operating system.

The name “Linux” comes from the Linux kernel, originally written in 1991 by Linus Torvalds. The rest of the system, including utilities and libraries, usually comes from the GNU operating system announced in 1983 by Richard Stallman. The GNU contribution is the basis for the alternative name GNU/Linux. (source:wikipedia.org)

No really. News is that Microsoft will have a retail store. John Biggs of CrunchGear reported yesterday that Microsoft is indeed opening retail stores. No information as to where these stores will be located.

In a press release, Microsoft announced the hiring of David Porter as corporate VP of retail stores. It will be Porter’s call as to when , where and other specifics for the planned Microsoft branded retail stores.

According to arstechnica, plans for this effort were hatched in April 2008Wait and see.

I’m set to build/buy another PC so I’m in a quandery if I should wait. July is a long time. Other blogs reports that an upgrade from XP (which I have) will be available for a minimal fee. BUT, “upgrade” here means a clean install. Vista users will get a direct upgrade path.

Marketing geniuses at Microsoft will be selling “Non-Starter Packs” which is basically a downgraded version. Meaning it can only run three apps at time. WTH! Who does that? Doug Barney says Microsoft will then hit users for additional mulah for an upgrade. WTH! again. Calling all crackers.