Microsoft

17:35 October 26, 2009 PDT

Google's latest deal promises to bring even more real-time data to Web searches

Since it was founded three years ago, Twitter has quickly grown into a social phenomenon used by presidents and bloggers alike for breaking news, political protests, marketing and personal blogging, offering a unique real-time cross-section of today's society. In a recent announcement made by Google's VP of search products and user experience, Melissa Mayer, the search giant said it had reached an agreement with the microblogging service and would soon be able to integrate status updates with its standard search results. Read More

Microsoft launches long awaited Windows 7

20:13 October 22, 2009 PDT

After much anticipation and speculation, Microsoft has finally released its long awaited Windows 7 operating system. Aiming to make it easier for users to “do the things they want to do on a PC”, Microsoft’s successor to the largely ill-conceived Vista brings a host of new features to the table. Read More

Belkin’s Easy Transfer Cable for Windows 7 makes upgrading smoother

05:11 October 10, 2009 PDT

Belkin's Easy Transfer Cable makes upgrading to Windows 7 easier by transferring your data...

Upgrading to a new operating system is a notorious mess — you need to find all of your data and user settings (often spending hours doing so), burn them to a DVD or other support and then copy them all to the new OS. Belkin's "Easy Transfer Cable" for Windows 7, a USB 2.0 cable with accompanying software aims to make the whole process much easier by guiding you through the transfer process, automatically finding your data and settings and streamlining the transition from XP or Vista to the upcoming Windows 7. Read More

Mouse 2.0: Microsoft's multi-touch mouse prototypes

05:01 October 10, 2009 PDT

The FTIR (Frustrated Total Internal Reflection) mouse

It's been over forty years since the first computer mouse saw the light of day, and the fact that its basic design hasn't changed all that much is a testament to the original. But that doesn't mean there's no room for improvement. A group of researchers at Microsoft has come up with five new experimental designs that tie traditional mouse functionality to increasingly popular multi-touch technology on a single device. Read More

SurroundSense uses your phone's sensors to figure out where you are

17:02 September 30, 2009 PDT

SurroundSense uses your mobile phone's sensors to figure out where you are and is particul...

Smartphones use GPS locating for a variety of functions but mainly they're used on the road where their accuracy - only within 10m - is basically a case of 'near enough is good enough'. But try using one indoors. They don't work! Nor can they distinguish between two adjacent environments, however different. And 10m can make a big difference inside a shopping complex or multi-roomed office block. In a research jointly sponsored by Microsoft, Nokia, Verizon and the National Science Foundation, a group of computer engineers from Duke University is working on achieving better indoor localization using a combination of sounds, lighting and accelerometer data picked up by a mobile phone. They hope it will supplement the use of GPS systems, which most users know, have their limitations. Read More

Dell's Latitude Z: world’s first laptop with wireless docking and inductive charging

By Jeff Salton

00:55 September 30, 2009 PDT

The Dell Latitude Z - wireless power, ultra-thin and many other features

Dell's latest addition to its Latitude series of laptops, the Latitude Z, has a number of ‘firsts’ the company is hoping will convince consumers to choose it over a plethora of other brands and models. Dell says its Latitude Z is the world's first 16-inch laptop that is less than an inch thick and also the first laptop with wireless docking and inductive charging (wireless power - no more cords to trip over or lose). The inclusion of Dell’s EdgeTouch allows users to operate commonly used applications and media controls through a touch interface on the screen’s bezel, while Dell’s Latitude ON technology delivers instant, interactive access to email, the Web, contacts, attachments and calendars. Read More

Microsoft patent multi touch screen keyboard

20:49 September 29, 2009 PDT

A diagram depicting how the Microsoft multi touch keyboard may work

Up until now, touch screen keyboards have been problematic in that the user has had to look at the screen to navigate the location of the keys. That could all be set to change with news that Microsoft has filed a most interesting patent for a touch screen keyboard that uses multi touch capabilities to incorporate the user’s own hands as a physical point of reference. Read More

GAMES

PS3 Motion Controller set for 2010 release

20:48 September 28, 2009 PDT

Sony has announced a 2010 second quarter release for its 'Motion Controller'

Watch out Wii! Nintendo’s hugely popular console, which made motion sensitive game play a household fixture the world over, could have some serious competition on the horizon. As well as Microsoft continuing to develop its impressive looking Project Natal concept, Sony has announced that its own tentatively titled “Motion Controller” is due for a second quarter release in 2010. Read More

Microsoft Office for Web reaches testing phase

19:01 July 22, 2009 PDT

Will Microsoft's web based Office applications give Google a run for their money?

In a move anticipated for some time, Microsoft has announced that the next incarnation of its ubiquitous Office software will include free web based versions of several of the suites popular applications. Although late to the party, Microsoft’s foray into online applications - which have now entered the technical preview phase - is set to put the squeeze on well established online office suite rivals like Google and Zoho. Read More

GAMES

Sony goes into battle with its motion controller for PS3

By Paul Best

01:21 June 4, 2009 PDT

Sony Computer Entertainment shows off a motion controller prototype for the PS3 at the E3 ...

A day after Microsoft took the wraps on its Project Natal motion control system at the E3 expo in Las Vegas, Sony Computer Entertainment has followed suit, showing off its own motion controller prototype for the PlayStation 3. And while the announcements have been popularly characterized as something of a “controller wars”, they're really a signpost pointing the way gaming has been heading since Nintendo stole the show with its Wii motion-sensing game console in 2006 – the need to capture the hearts and minds of the growing gaming audience, especially the moms, dads and similar less hardcore gamers. Read More

GAMES

Microsoft shows off Project Natal motion-sensing control

00:58 June 3, 2009 PDT

The Xbox 360 Project Natal concept peripheral

“You are the controller.” No, it’s not some new Zen proverb for gamers, it’s how Microsoft describes its new motion-sensing, controller-free technology code-named Project Natal. Following details leaked a few weeks ago when the US patent office released documents, Microsoft has given a demonstration of the technology that looks and behaves a little like a Sony PlayStation Eye on some serious steroids. Read More

Recently on The Mobiler

01:23 May 25, 2009 PDT

AT&T subsidized netbooks available across the U.S. this summer

Over at The Mobiler, we've recently looked at Lenovo's NVIDIA ION-based IdeaPad S12 netbook, Microsoft clarifying its Windows Marketplace app sharing policy, the Android Cupcake OS 1.5 being released for US T-Mobile G1s, leaked details of Nokia's N900 Maemo tablet, Virgin Mobile offering Wi-Fi on every flight, and AT&T's subsidized netbook program going US-wide this summer. Read More

Windows 7 Release Candidate available to the public

06:02 May 5, 2009 PDT

If you missed out on the limited public beta release (Build 7000) of Windows 7 back in January, here's your chance to score the first release candidate (Build 7100) of Microsoft's big redeemer. This time around, there'll be no limit on the number of downloads or the number of serial numbers given out - until the end of July, that is. Read More

Microsoft wants us to hear it on the Vine

04:00 April 30, 2009 PDT

Hearing it on the vine: Microsoft Vine's widget-based dashboard

With the Facebook and Twitter social networking juggernaut rolling ever onwards, Microsoft is looking to jump on the bandwagon with its new social web app called Vine. While sites such as Facebook and Twitter use the global span of the internet to let users connect with people from all corners of the globe, Vine makes its focus local, concentrating on keeping users in touch with family, friends, activities and major events in their community, including disasters and emergencies. Read More

Ultrasound images a snap with a smartphone

23:56 April 27, 2009 PDT

Dr William Richard (left) takes an ultrasound probe of colleague David Zar's carotid arter...

Looks like smartphones are getting even smarter. We can already access our email, GPS navigate and use a wide range of business document formats, making them an integral part of a business person’s day. Now doctors might soon be packing a smartphone alongside their stethoscopes. Computer engineers at Washington University in St. Louis have coupled a smartphone with USB-based ultrasound probe technology to produce a mobile imaging device that fits in the palm of a hand. Read More

Today on The Mobiler

02:23 April 20, 2009 PDT

Today over at The Mobiler we've looked at Samsung's prediction that 29 percent of the mobile market will be made up by smartphones in 2012, using the iPhone as an ignition key for the Peapod electric vehicle, a custom homescreen for the BlackBerry Curve that makes it look like the Pip-Boy 3000 wearable computer from the hit RPG Fallout 3, a 3D PalmOS game running on the Palm Pre with MotionApps Classic emulator, the winner of Microsoft's Mobile Incubation Week, a launch date for Windows Mobile 6.5, and Dilbert taking on the dreaded Rebaterus. Read More

LAPTOPS

Field Tested: Lenovo's dual screen Thinkpad W700ds

By Dave Weinstein

00:32 February 16, 2009 PST

ThinkPad W700ds with secondary screen enabled.

Lenovo's W700ds has an ingeniously concealed second screen built into the lid that "pops out" via a spring loaded mechanism. There's also a laundry list of features including a built in webcam, fingerprint scanner, 5 USB ports, a FireWire port, a DisplayLink port, both VGA and DVI graphics, big bright 17" 1920x1200 display, 2 ExpressCard slots, an SD card reader, and couple of features that are rather specific to high end photography and graphics design. Gizmag's Dave Weinstein has been putting the W700ds to the test, read on for his full report. Read More

Last chance to download the Windows 7 beta

18:50 February 8, 2009 PST

If you're interested in downloading the Windows 7 beta, but haven't found the time to do so yet, we recommend you do so right now, as Microsoft will be closing the beta program within a few days. Read More

INVENTORS AND REMARKABLE PEOPLE

How Sony's R&D budget subsidized the Xbox 360 processor for Microsoft

23:58 January 1, 2009 PST

When Sony entered into a partnership with Toshiba and IBM to design the Cell processor for their PlayStation 3, they agreed that IBM would eventually sell the Cell to other companies. What they didn't know was that parts of the Cell would be sold to their major competitor Microsoft for use in the Xbox 360 processor - before the Cell was completed. Read More

IBM introduces Linux-based Virtual Desktop

03:32 December 8, 2008 PST

IBM introduces Linux-based Virtual Desktop

While Linux erosion of Microsoft’s desktop dominance hasn’t really reached the mainstream yet, the popularity of the open source operating system has seen a steady increase as variations become more user friendly. Recognizing that rise in popularity IBM, along with its business partners, Virtual Bridges and Canonical has released a Linux-desktop solution that is designed to drive significant savings compared with Microsoft-desktop software by amplifying Lotus collaboration software and Ubuntu to a larger user base through virtualization. Read More

Microsoft's fold-up mouse

00:03 October 20, 2008 PDT

Microsoft's Arc Mouse all folded up and ready to travel

No-one would deny that laptops are wonderful things. They’re portable, powerful and give us something to do on boring train rides or plane trips. But, like everything, they have their downsides and relying on a trackpad or micro-sized portable mouse to shift the mouse cursor around the screen is one of them. Now Microsoft, who makes some pretty decent keyboards and mice it has to be said, has introduced the Arc Mouse, which it says combines the comfort of a desktop mouse with the portability of a notebook mouse. Read More

eMachines’ powerful mini-desktop PC the size of a dictionary

02:03 October 14, 2008 PDT

The 'fit anywhere' eMachine EL1200 Desktop Series PC.

Thankfully the days of the big, beige box seem to be well and truly behind us. Now PCs are available in all shapes and sizes with eMachines EL1200 Desktop series opting for the popular smaller end of the spectrum and at a budget price. With PCs making their way out of the study in recent years the compact eMachines EL1200 Desktop Series PCs are designed to fit neatly into main living areas such as kitchens, family rooms, family den, studio apartments, dorm rooms, smaller bedrooms and home offices. Read More

Iomega eGo Helium portable hard drive

By Noel McKeegan

19:49 October 2, 2008 PDT

Iomega is looking to provide a partner in style for the MacBook Air with its latest portable hard drive release. The 320GB eGo Helium is a 0.63 inch (16 mm) thin, 7 ounce (200 gram) unit wrapped - naturally - in an anodized aluminum shell that includes drop protection for mishaps up to a height of 51 inches (1.3 meters) on to industrial carpeting. Read More