Author: jitheshb

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Microsoft warns users against using vLite

vlita

THE GLORIOUS empire of the Vole, upon which the sun does not set, is miffed that people would want to slim down its flagship operating system, Vista.

Earlier this week we mentioned a third party application, called vLite that offered to turn Vista from an over-bloated slug into something a bit closer to British Medical Association guidelines on obesity.

Speaking to News.com, a huffy SpokesVole did not bless such changes that strip out applications from Windows Vista prior to installing it on your system.

He hinted darkly that one day you might need one of those applications and your cut down operating system will fail you in your hour of need.

Future Windows updates and service packs could be impossible to download and your system will become unstable.

Apparently, the Vole does have a project as part of its Windows 7 development process, to create a slimmed-down Windows kernel called MinWin. Pity about the name as any Goon fan knows Min was an ancient crone who seems on the verge of breaking down. In ancient Egypt the God of fertility, Min, also had huge gonads.

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Heat probs reported for Intel E8400s

Intel

A HEAP of heat problems with Intel’s E8400 microprocessor are being reported on a host of hardware forums.

Users are claiming that the sensor diodes aren’t up to scratch and that’s causing the overclockers to get overheated themselves.

That’s not something Intel is admitting. A response from an Intel techie to a user over at OC Forums claims it has nothing to report on sensor problems but that just seems to be adding fuel to an already crackling blaze.

A search on Saint Google reveals there’s plenty of heated discussion raising people’s temperatures around the world.

source:theinquirer

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Mozilla freezes Firefox 3.0 Beta 3

Mozilla

As Mozilla Corp. began the final push on Firefox 3.0 Beta 3 this week, it also announced that at least one more beta will be necessary before it starts building release candidates.

On Tuesday, Mozilla “froze” the code for Firefox 3.0 Beta 3. Testing of the beta is scheduled to start on Monday.

At the same time, in a message to the mozilla.dev.planning newsgroup, Mike Beltzner, Mozilla’s interface designer, said that a fourth beta would be required.

“[We] will be adding another milestone before moving on to Release Candidate builds,” Beltzner said. “Our goal is to do a quick turnaround on Firefox 3 Beta 4, but we cannot provide a good estimate until we know the size and scope of blockers remaining after the Beta 3 code freeze.”

As of Beta 3, all efforts will turn to addressing bugs that could stymie the preview’s release, Beltzner added. “We will be driving the list of blocking+, P1, target=beta 3 bugs to zero,” he said. As of Thursday at 9 p.m. (EST), there were three bugs that met his criteria; in Mozilla’s nomenclature, such bugs are dubbed “blockers,” meaning they are crucial enough that they require solutions before the beta is allowed to ship.

According to notes from a Tuesday meeting, Beta 3’s tentative schedule points toward a release on or about Feb. 13.

Those same notes also noted the status of efforts to make the browser’s add-ons compatible with the upcoming preview. Approximately 41% of all extensions, by usage, have been modified so that they will work with Beta 3, Mozilla reported. Several widely-used add-ons, however, do not yet support Firefox Beta 3, including IE Tab, Forecastfox, Fasterfox and Firebug.

Mozilla released Firefox 3 Beta 2 on Dec. 18, beating a self-imposed deadline by several days. The company regularly declines to set a release date for the final version of the browser.

source:computerworld 

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Panasonic Launches Seven New Digicams

Panasonic

Panasonic recently launched seven new compact digital cameras targeted at various market segments. For details, read on…

The new line of super-slim Lumix FX-Series digicams is introduced with the DMC-FX35, complete with Panasonic’s first-ever 25mm ultrawide lens. The FX35, with 10.1 megapixels, features 4x optical zoom, Advanced Intelligent Auto mode, a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens offering f2.8 brightness and the new fourth-generation Venus Engine image processor. It will be available in the US in March in silver, black, and blue, at an MSRP of $349.95.

Also announced were two point-and-shoot models: the DMC-LZ10 and DMC-LZ8. Featuring two key enhancements over last year’s DMC-LZ7, the new models feature Leica DC VARIO-ELMAR lenses and wideangle shooting – 30mm on the LZ10 and 32mm on the LZ8. Further, both boast manual controls, convenient AA battery operation, 5x optical zoom, Intelligent Auto Mode, and Venus Engine IV. They will be available in February in black and silver, at an MSRP of $249.95 and $179.95 respectively.

The newly launched Lumix FS-Series of digital cameras debuted a pair of 10.1-megapixel models, the DMC-FS20 and DMC-FS5, both of which feature a 30mm wideangle Leica DC lens with 4x optical zoom. The FS models, a stylish sister-line of the highly-acclaimed LUMIX FX-Series, combines easy operation with a slim, compact look. Both models have Intelligent Auto Mode – an advanced intuitive system of technologies that help users take better photos more easily. The DMC-FS20 (MSRP $299.95) will be available in pink, black, and silver; while the DMC-FS5 (MSRP $249.95) will come in red, black, and silver. Both will be available in the US market sometime next month.

Finally, Panasonic introduced two new additions to its award-winning TZ family of LUMIX digicams, the DMC-TZ5 and DMC-TZ4. Both pack a 28mm wideangle, 10x optical zoom Leica DC lens in a compact design. Other features include Intelligent Exposure and Digital Red-eye Correction. The DMC-TZ5 is available in blue, black, and silver, at an MSRP of $349.95; while the DMC-TZ4 comes in black and silver, at an MSRP of $299.95. Both models will be available in late March 2008.

source:tech2 

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Sony Ericsson Launches 2 New Mobiles for Japan Market

Sonyerc

Sony Ericsson has launched two new handsets, but unfortunately it seems they’re only meant for the Japanese market. In that case you may wonder why we’re so concerned. Our logic is that perhaps we could show the company that a country like ours that’s one of the (if not THE) mobile friendliest markets on the planet should be getting snazzy mobiles like these too.

The two handsets are the W61S (slider) and the W62S (flip). The W61S is loaded with a 5.1 megapixel autofocus camera and falls under the Cyber-shot umbrella. It’s equipped with a CMOS sensor and aside from 3x optical zoom it uses Sony’s ‘Exmor’ technology from the Pro Alpha DSLR. The camera boasts Kaokime Lite (auto-adjusts brightness on face detection for ideal facial tones), Smile Shutter Lite (auto-releases shutter on detecting smiles) and anti-shake abilities.

As if that weren’t enough, the W61S has a large 2.8 inch WVGA display with a resolution of 400 x 800 pixels that apparently uses Reality MAX technology as in Sony’s Bravia HD TVs. WOW!! Aside from all that (as if all that’s not enough to make you want to fly to Japan), it has other usual features such as Bluetooth, GPS, TV-out and external memory support via microSD cards (Not M2?)

Next up is the W62S flip phone equipped with a 2.7 inch WQVGA display that sports a resolution of 240 x 432 pixels. There doesn’t seem to be too much information provided about this particular phone other than the display size and the fact that it will also support external memory up to 2GB via microSD cards, and that it will have a 2 megapixel camera.

Prices haven’t been announced as yet, but the W61S will be out this April in Spectrum Pink, Shadow Black and Prism White, while the W62S should be out a bit earlier, in March, in Silver/Leather, Black/Rose and White/Lime.

source:IntoMobile 

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iPhone’s SDK Key Leaked!

ilock

iPhone lovers have yet another reason to bring out the champagne and caviar. Some kind soul has apparently leaked what seems to be the iPhone’s application SDK key. What this means for iPhone users is that third party application developers can now come up with software for the iPhone that can be officiated through iTunes without any worry that the device will get bricked. With the SDK key users may not even need to jailbreak their devices to install third party apps.

It’s quite likely that Apple will develop a new SDK key, but the fact that things even got to this stage with the always-in-the-news iPhone pretty much tells us there’s no stopping either side from making or breaking down the gadget’s defenses.

For your information here’s the “Key to the Kingdom”: 18 84 58 A6 D1 50 34 DF E3 86 F2 3B 61 D4 37 74.

source:tech2 

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Android SDK Available for Download

Android

Google’s Android platform is something we’ve been looking forward to for some time now. Initially the Google phone seemed as if it was going to be this year’s iPhone and steal the limelight from anything that came into its path. Eventually it wasn’t the device itself that everyone was talking about, but the OS the device would run on – Android.

Android is a software stack for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware, and key applications. It will allow developers to create various apps for the same platform using the Android Software Development Kit (SDK). Dalvik, which is customized software, has been specifically designed to run on top of a Linux kernel, and this is what’s being used to run the Java programming.

But enough about the details that you’re already undoubtedly aware of. For more in-depth information you can check out the official website and even download the Android SDK if you’re so inclined.

Developers, start programming!

source:tech2 

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Sony Updates Vaio Line with Penryn

Sony

Sony has finally updated its sexy Vaio series with the latest Intel Penryn processors. Apart from this upgrade, a few models have been equipped with Blu-ray drives as well.

Among the new upgrades, the first series to get a spruce-up is the Vaio AR60. This new series comes with an Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 processor, Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics (512MB VRAM) and a Blu-ray drive. The 17-inch WUXGA widescreen display gives you 1080p Full HD in brilliant color, with X-black LCD screen enhancement and super-bright double lamp illumination. The AR60 also provides 4GB RAM, hybrid DVB-T digital/analog tuner, remote control, and HDMI.

Next to be upgraded is the VAIO SZ70 Series. The highlight of this series is the fact that these are  lightweight (1.79kg) ultraportable machines that boast a carbon fiber chassis and power-saving LED screens. The notebook also incorporates an Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 processor and a unique Stamina Mode switch that allows users to select between settings i.e. they can choose extended battery life of over 5 hours or exceptional graphics power, depending on what they need. It has 4GB of memory and a 250GB hard drive.

Next up is the VAIO CR30 Series, which can be customized with either C2D T8100 or T8300 processor. It offers a 1.3 megapixel Motion Eye webcam, and a unique AV Mode feature that lets you watch films on DVD or play audio CDs without needing to start Windows.

The final product in our list is the Sony Vaio TP2 Home Entertainment Center. This is the famous circular HTPC that now packs in an Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, Blu-ray Disc Combo Drive, HDMI, hybrid DVB-T digital/analog tuner, and a 500GB hard disk.

source:tech2 

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Canon VIXIA HV30 HD Camcorder With Advanced DIGIC DV II Image Processor

Canon-hv

Canon has recently announced the launch of its latest VIXIA HV30 HD camcorder, which is the successor to the highly acclaimed, award-winning Canon HV20, incorporating Canon exclusive advanced features to bring knowledgeable and demanding videographers the ultimate in HD video and digital photo quality.

The latest Canon VIXIA HV30 is the stylish and compact camcorder which able to capture 16:9 format, true 1080 High Definition resolution video to MiniDV cassette tapes.

Key Features Of Canon VIXIA HV30:

* 2.96 Megapixel Full HD CMOS Sensor (1920 x 1080)
* DIGIC DVII image processor
* SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization
* 2.7-inch Multi-Angle Vivid Widescreen LCD
* Instant AF (Auto Focus)
* HD Video Lens – 10x HD Genuine Canon Optical zoom
* HDMI & Advanced Accessory Shoe Terminals
* 30p Progressive Mode and 24p Cinema Mode

“With the exception of those features, the product is the same as the HV20. Is it a revolutionary product? No. But it’s a very strong product as the HV20 was a very strong product and we added just a couple of features…to make it even more attractive to a wider range of consumers,” said Mitchell Glick, assistant manager of Product Marketing, Consumer Division for Canon USA.

The new Canon VIXIA HV30 HD camcorder is expected to be available at the end of February for $999.

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Barracuda bites back in ClamAV spat

Clamav

Security vendor Barracuda Networks has vowed to defend itself against a patent infringement accusation by Trend Micro..

Barracuda claims to have received repeated requests from Trend Micro to remove ClamAV from its products or pay a licence fee.

ClamAV is a free and open source security application originally developed by Tomasz Kojm in 2001. More than a million unique IP addresses download updates daily.

The software was acquired by Sourcefire, the company that created Snort, in August 2007.

However, Barracuda claims that Trend Micro is seeking to enforce a patent that gives it control of antivirus scanning at the gateway, thereby dragging ClamAV, as a gateway scanning tool, into the row.

“Trend Micro’s actions illustrate that ClamAV and other open source projects remain vulnerable to commercial patent holders attempting to hinder the free and open source community,” said Dean Drako, president and chief executive at Barracuda.

“Trend Micro appears to be seeking an interpretation of its ‘600 patent such that it would have exclusive control of gateway antivirus scanning.

“Scanning for viruses at the gateway is an obvious and common technique that is used by most businesses worldwide.

“So this interpretation would mean that anyone, including the owners of the more than one million active ClamAV installations, could potentially be sued by Trend Micro.”

Barracuda claims that Trend Micro’s subsequent ITC claim alleges that Barracuda infringes on Trend’s ‘600 patent, but effectively implies that any anyone using ClamAV at the gateway infringes on the patent.

Barracuda believes that the patent is invalid due to prior art, and that neither its products nor ClamAV infringe the patent.

“Trend Micro’s claim with the ITC is unfounded since the ITC generally oversees import issues,” said Drako.

“Barracuda designs and manufactures all of the products in question in the US. We believe that Trend Micro’s actions are a blatant abuse of the US legal system.

“Since Trend Micro is a consumer of free and open source software we call on Trend Micro to drop these attacks.”