At the Mobile World Congress Microsoft revealed the much anticipated latest release of Windows Phone/Mobile (whatever you want to call it). This particular version has been considered long over due by many users. Windows Phone 7 had also been delayed numerous times, and also the original version of WP7 was scrapped completely and a rework was created.

The new OS is a completely different approach to any other phone operating system including older versions of Windows Mobile. WP7 moves to a tile based menu/group of icons which can be customised by the user with contacts or applications.

From the various demo’s which have been uploaded to the internet shows WP7 to be a very responsive and pleasant experience. This is helped by the applications like the contacts application to be loaded like a panoramic image which the user creates gestures to move across the menu.

A big announcement for the OS was the integration of the Xbox Live service and the ability to have your avatar and gamerscore available on your device. At the event they also mentioned the ability to play online with users around the world on other WP7 devices, PC’s and Xbox 360′s, which means that it will be interesting how the experience will be for all users across the platforms.

Microsoft is also taking a stronger position on the hardware which its partners are producing, by creating a list of requirements which each device must have including for touch based devices a large capacitive screen, minimum 5 mega-pixel camera with LED flash and three dedicated hardware buttons (back, home and Bing search). This means a more consistent user experience across all devices available.

With all of this announced Windows Phone 7 Series is looking to be a very strong competitor in the mobile arena, and be sure to look out for more info at Mix2010 coming soon.

Microsoft’s Bing, which uses the ‘decision engine’, is a pretty good search engine. There are features included which aren’t available with other search providers, and now they are available on the iPhone and iPod Touch.

All your search needs fulfilled by Bing on iPhone

The new Bing application will join the list of Microsoft applications which are already available on the App Store including Microsoft’s Tag and Seadragon.

When you open the application you will be greeted by Bing’s daily image, which also includes the facts which you see on the desktop version. You can search for images, movies, maps, businesses, news, directions or just you normal search. The Maps feature works quickly and accurately when finding your position, which is always good when you are trying to get somewhere quickly.

Bing's Daily Image is a nice feature compared to Goolge's offering

The App is available now via iTunes on the App Store.

]]> http://ashmansays.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/bing-for-iphone-released/feed/ 0 ashmansays Bing_iPhone Bing_iPhone_2 http://ashmansays.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/office-2010-beta-available-soon/ http://ashmansays.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/office-2010-beta-available-soon/#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:59:12 +0000 Admin http://ashmansays.wordpress.com/?p=120 ]]> AshMan says…

The web page for the Office 2010 Beta has gone live and is showing three different versions which will be available for test.

Office 2010 Beta Page

Home and Business is one of the versions available and probably will be the most popular of the downloads, and it includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote,Outlook, and Office Web Apps.

Professional is the next version available offering Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Access, Publisher and Office Web Apps.

The final version which is available of the three is Professional Plus which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook with Business Contact Manager, Access, Publisher, Infopath, Communicator, SharePoint Workspace, and Office Web Apps and it mentions that it is only available to Volume License Customers.

All three are expected to be offered in both 32 and 64 bit, and if you are a MSDN or TechNet subscriber you can already get access to the download from your normal download area. I am downloading my copy and will report back with a review shortly.

Are you a student? Do you want to know how to make your own PC and Xbox 360 Games? Well if you are already answering yes to these questions this camp is for you!

The camp runs from Friday December 18 2009 through to Sunday December 20 2009 and will be a nonstop experience full of gaming, development, learning and fun. You’ll hear about Imagine Cup and how you can help change the world through technology, learn about XNA and how it makes development for Windows and Xbox as straightforward as possible for both 2D and 3D games.

You’ll also team up with others who are as keen to get into game development as you are, potentially forming up proper partnerships to enter Imagine Cup, the world’s biggest technology competition for students.

And, best of all, it’s free to attend. And, even better, if you’re one of the first 50 students to register by December 8, Microsoft will cover your accommodation as well – you just need to get to the event, and we’ll look after the rest! How good is that!?

Prizes, gaming, learning game dev, fun, teamwork, challenges, all rolled up into one 3 day experience. Sounds good to me!

Agenda:

December 18

10:30 – Registration

11:00 – Camp Day 1 Begins

18:30 – Camp Day 1 Ends

19:00 – Pizza and Xbox Gaming Night

December 19

8:30 – Camp Day 2 Begins

18:30 – Camp Day 2 Ends

19:00 – LAN Party

December 20

8:30 – Camp Day 3 Begins

16:00 – Camp Day 3 Ends

*Agenda subject to change.

To RSVP simply follow this link: http://www.microsoft.com.au/events/register/home.aspx?levent=374345&linvitation

Not too long ago a hacker from the Netherlands found a simple exloitation that allowed him to take control and read the files of jailbroken iPhones.

The hacker didn’t do any permanent damage to the devices he accessed, he demanded for money to restore and give control back to the owner. He then gave up the hacking spree and informed the community on how to block the exploits.

This was only just the beginning of what is seeming to be a string of problems for jailbroken iPhones. Australian users have become the recipient of the first iPhone virus according to Mashable.

iPhone's first Virus spreading through Australian and Japanese jailbroken phones.

The virus is called ikee, and like before is non-destructive but changes the background of the device to an image of Rick Astley.

This virus has spread in the same manner, by exploiting unsecured SSH access. iPhones share the same root password for SSH access as part of Apple’s factory settings.

However if you are the owner of a locked handset, Apple switched off SSH access as a default setting, and users of jailbroken iPhones are urged to turn SSH off when not in use, or to simply change the root and mobile passwords.

This new virus has only attacked so for a range of IP addresses in Australia, though there is word that it is filtering through a number of Japanese iPhones.

Infinity Ward has certainly had a rough time with the PC Community with the launch of Modern Warfare 2. COD 4 – Modern Warfare was a fantastic game for consoles and PC, and this is part of the reason why gamers feel MW2 has taken leaps backwards.

Best Buy in the US held an online chat featuring some employees from Infinity Ward. This chat was opened up to all comers…and it was brutal. As it showed from the gamers perspective how dumbed down the MW2 experience will be on PC compared to COD4.

Some of the questions asked were literally asking for some hope, but to no avail Infinity Ward only made things worse for gamers. Some of the questions were:

Moriarte: Ignoring IW.net, is the PC version a direct port of the console version?

Mackey-IW: No, PC has custom stuff like mouse control, text chat in game, and graphics settings.

kaRMa: Please give me a direct answer. On the PC version. Are all games hosted by players, and is there a five-second delay when host migration is in effect?

Vince-IW: yes

With Modern Warfare 2 being launched today. I really hope that PC Gamers are only wanting a single player experience if they choose to buy the PC version, and stick to COD4 for the mulitplayer action.

The latest build of Snow Leopard has retained its support for the Atom Processor – but the question which people are asking is will it be the last version?

Because of the support built into the operating system, many have taken advantage of it and transformed your Netbook into a Hackintosh. However word has been spreading around that Apple was attemping to stop “Hackintosh” users who were running OS X on Netbooks by blocking the Atom support.

Apple might be removing Atom support from Snow Leopard

Build 10.6.2 however still retains the Atom support, which means that Netbook OS X users can still live to see another day. This build is not final however, and in the final version this support can still be removed.

But until then happy “Hackintoshing”. Let me know if you are using a Netbook with Snow Leopard or any other version of OS X.[

Amazingly somehow supposed screenshots of the upcoming Halo: Reach game has been leaked onto the internet. These blurry screenshots appear to be showing off the arsenal which will be available in the Halo game as well as locations and currently unannounced features.

Apparently these screenshots have originated from Bungies own forum, but since reportedly have been taken down. It is still unknown if these screenshots are from the BETA which is set to be released to fans who preordered Halo 3: ODST, but from what we can see Microsoft and Bungie have another awesome Halo game.

The quality of the screens isn’t top notch but surely is good enough to wet the appetites of Halo fans across the globe. You can find below the reported screenshots.

Halo:Reach leaked screenshot

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Mac users may be in for a treat, a good one for potential buyers and possibly a bad one for new MacBook Pro owners. According to Apple Technology site Applesana.es a new generation of MacBook Pros maybe coming soon.

Browsing through the configuration files of the latest build of Mac OS X, the most recent operating system out of Cupertino, two references can be found. It is reported that the 10.6.2 update (build 10C531) holds these new configuration files. These files make reference to MacBook Pro 6.1 and MacBook Pro 6.1b whilst the current generation MacBook Pros are designated 5.1 through to 5.5.

A refresh of the current MacBook Pros is not impossible following the recent update of the MacBook and iMac to i5 and i7 intel processors, even though the Pros were refreshed in June 2009.

MacBook Pro 6.1/b Config Files Source: Applesana.es

As an owner of a Acer Aspire One netbook, I’ve grown used to the convenience of being able to carry around a laptop which is capable of most daily tasks (also the ability to run Windows 7) but also being able to not notice that I have a laptop in my bag all of the time.

Acer Aspire Timeline 1820PT - $1599

A problem I have found however that for when I’m in a meeting or lectures at University I would prefer to have something which I could just scribble notes on. Acer has just announced a solution to my problems…the Acer Aspire 1820PT Timeline.

This ultra portable features:

• A ulra-low-voltage Intel Core 2 Duo Processor Su7300 (1.2Ghz)
• Windows 7 Home Premium
• 11.6″ WXGA Glare Multi-Touch Widescreen
• 2GB DDR3-1066 Memory
• 250GB Hard Drive
• 802.11 a/b/g/Draft-N Wireless
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Bluetooth
• Webcam
• 8Hour Battery
• VGA & HDMI
• 1 Year Warranty

This is a pretty good package for only $AUD1599 RRP. Connectivity also includes gigabit Ethernet if you ever required to transfer large files to or from the tablet.

An added feature and the first of many similar laptops to come is the multi touch tablet screen. This allows you to use the touch features built into Windows 7 to control and interact. A stylus is also included providing the ability to neatly write memos directly into the provided software from Acer (Touch Portal and Touch Memo) or directly into Microsoft’s One Note.

Acer Aspire Timelin 1820PT - $1599

This is looks to be a promising laptop and the return of a style of laptop which was trying to break into the market in 2002 where Acer was at the leading edge with the C110. I was lucky enough to be the first student in the world to test the C110 and hope to have a review of this laptop soon. So stay posted!