'Free' Win 7 Upgrades Have Fee

The free Windows 7 upgrades that Microsoft has promised buyers of new PCs powered by Vista are not always free, a consumer watchdog Web site says.

"To me, whether it's $12.99 or $17.03, the charges are all outrageous," said Edgar Dworsky, the editor of Consumerworld.org and Mouseprint.org. "It's just a single disc they're sending, and with media mail rates, it costs just over a dollar to mail."

Last June, Microsoft kicked off a marketing campaign dubbed "Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program" to keep PCs sales ticking. The program, a rerun of a similar deal in 2006 before Windows Vista's launch, gives people who buy a PC equipped with Windows Vista Home Premium, Business or Ultimate a free or nearly-free upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate once the new operating system ships Oct. 22.

Consumers who purchase an eligible PC between June 26, 2009 and Jan. 31, 2010 qualify for the upgrade.

Dworsky, however, found that while some computer makers are giving away Windows 7 upgrades, others are charging fees as high as $17 for what's characterized as "shipping, handling, and fulfillment fees."

"The problem is that a lot of this information is hidden, or impossible to find," said Dworsky today. "Disclose it, let the consumer know."

Only one major computer maker, Acer, charges nothing for the upgrade, Dworsky determined after spending hours tracking down information on vendors' Web sites and nagging public relations people to cough up numbers. Other brands -- Dell, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, Sony and Toshiba -- waive the fee for some users, but not others, with total charges for the latter running from $11.25 to $14.99.

Lenovo, on the other hand, nails every buyer with a $17.03 fee for the Windows 7 upgrade.

The mystery over who pays what is frustrating, said Dworsky. "Both HP and Sony ... [said] that they negotiated with big retail chains offering them the opportunity to allow their customers to receive completely free upgrades," he said. "[But] neither would provide a list of which retailers signed up, nor what retailers had to pay or agree to. And retailers say the manufacturers decided pricing. So they are each pointing fingers at the other. Who's caught in the middle? The consumer."

Dell, which notes on its Web site that "select countries will be offering the upgrade for free," told Dworsky that it would not, in fact, charge U.S. customers.

"Someone seems to be profiting," Dworsky charged. "The fees are way beyond the actual cost to fulfill. It would be different if it's a boxed copy with a manual, but it's not."

Most computer makers have been vague about when customers will receive the Windows 7 upgrade. If history is any hint, it could be months before buyers see it. During a similar promotion in 2007 that provided Vista upgrades to people who purchased an XP PC, users grew increasingly frustrated by delays. A month after Vista's January 2007 launch, for example, Dell and HP customers slammed those vendors for failing to deliver timely upgrades.

"You would think that they'd all do this free," said Dworsky. "Consumers are really doing the computer manufacturers and retailers a favor, helping them get rid of inventory. You'd think they would bend over backwards."

GooTrac >> Track over Google Earth

[ track multiple vehicles at the same time over Google Earth ]

　

A tracking software for you to track over Google Earth real-time by your own PC; no need to pay for the maps or service charges. It can also keep history records for you to replay afterwards. As to reports, it can provide you mileage/ routes/ idle/ over-speed/ detailed activity and fleet summary reports for management purpose. Besides, GooTrac software supports "Remote Data Server" function. The data received by server can be forwarded to any PC links to the internet for data sharing. It enables you to set up a mini-control center by yourself.

Idou: A 12.1MP camera phone to be launched by Sony Ericsson in September

Idou the new phone by Sony Ericsson is a 12 megapixel camera phone with Xenon flash. The phone is on the lines of Xperia, but is powered by Symbian foundation OS. The phone has 3.5inch touch screen with 16:9 aspect ratio. The mobile is expected to be launched by the company this summer.

The mobile was unveiled at Mobile World Congress held earlier this year. The mobile is expected to be launched by the name of Satio. The phone has a in built 12.1 megapixel camera. The mobile is expected to be available in three colors – Black, Silver and Bordeaux.

The mobile phone is finished with metallic materials that re-inforce the feeling of solidity. The idou will include Sony Ericsson’s media bar and music player. The homescreen of the mobile has been customized with Sony Ericsson Style and is similar to Sony Ericsson’s W960.

The mobile will provide you with 3rd generation of mobile networks. This enables fast data transfer speeds, easy access to the world of audio and video streaming, surfing, multimedia messaging and email where ever you go. Now you can quickly and easily send and retrieve files. Satio also offers lots of other features like Wi-Fi, 3G, a GPS chip, Bluetooth etc. You can enjoy high definition games and play many 3D games on this phone.

The phone specifications are:
Dimensions 112.0 x 55.0 x 13.0 mm
Weight 126gm
Display 360×640 pixel, 16,777,216 color TFT touch screen
Memory 128MB internal, expandable up to 16GB
Camera 12MP with autofocus, xenon flash and video LED flash
OS Symbian Series 60, 5th edition
Connectivity GPRS, HSCSD, EDGE, 3G, WLAN, Bluetooth, USB
Battery Standard battery, Li-Po 1000 mAh

Google Pokes Microsoft Where It Hurts with Chrome OS

Google has escalated its challenge to Microsoft with plans to develop a Chrome Operating System based on Linux. The Windows challenger will run on both x86 and ARM chips, and Google says netbooks will have the open-source Chrome OS in 2010. The Chrome OS will run applications on the Web, relieving users of the burden of software maintenance.
Google isn't satisfied to challenge Microsoft with office-productivity software, search and the browser. On Tuesday the company announced an operating system to challenge Windows.

Google Chrome Operating System is the company's attempt to "rethink what the operating system should be." Google Chrome OS is an open-source, lightweight operating system initially aimed at netbooks. Google Chrome OS will run on x86 as well as ARM chips, and the company said it is working with multiple OEMs to bring several netbooks to market in 2010. Google plans to open-source the code later this year.

"Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS. We're designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the Web in a few seconds," said Sundar Pichai, vice president of product management and Linus Upson, engineering director, in the Google blog. "The user interface is minimal to stay out of your way, and most of the user experience takes place on the Web."

A Web-Based Approach

Google Chrome OS runs within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel. Google said all Web-based applications will automatically work and developers can write new applications using Web technologies. The apps would run on any standards-based browser on Windows, Mac and Linux, Google said, giving the developers the largest user base of any platform.

"We hear a lot from our users and their message is clear -- computers need to get better. People want to get to their e-mail instantly, without wasting time waiting for their computers to boot and browsers to start up," wrote Pichai and Upson. "They want their computers to always run as fast as when they first bought them. They want their data to be accessible to them wherever they are and not have to worry about losing their computer or forgetting to back up files."

Even more important, the duo said, users don't want to spend hours configuring their computers to work with every new piece of hardware , or have to worry about constant software updates. Google figures when its users have a better computing experience, the company benefits by having happier users who are more likely to spend time on the Internet.

A Threat to Microsoft?

"This is Google's attempt to poke Microsoft once again with a sharp stick and see what they can do to weaken Microsoft's position," said Michael Gartenberg, a vice president at Interpret. "Google has done this in the past by giving away semi-free versions of software like Google Docs, but that hasn't put Microsoft's Office business in any trouble yet."

As Gartenberg sees it, the notion of creating a free OS for netbooks doesn't make much business sense. The netbook market, he said, is beginning to disappear as these miniature machines become more like full-function PCs with new every new iteration.

"Most people use a netbook or laptop to run PC applications," Gartenberg said. "Linux has failed in the netbook market because it can't run PC applications. The return rate of Linux-based netbooks to Windows-based netbooks is dramatic and there's nothing here that would indicate that Google Chrome OS would be a change for the different. This is not a threat to Windows, or a threat to Mac OS for that matter."

What is the difference between a Virus, Trojan, and Worm?

Basically, they all fall under the generally category of "viruses". However, there are a few distinctions.

Virus :- Technically, a virus infects another file (attaches or inserts itself into it). They usually infect program files or MS Office documents. From there, it can replicate, do damage, etc. Unlike a worm, these do not function as a stand alone (except possibly to infect a given file).

Worm :- This is almost identical to a "true virus", except that it lives on its own and generally doesn't infect other files (although it can replace them). Usually, these copy themselves using e-mail, networks, disks, etc. Again, these are very close to a true virus, and can do the same kind of damage.

Trojan Horse :- This type of program doesn't copy itself but does do damage to your computer. These types of programs rely on people to pass them around and to run them. They do not e-mail themselves. The idea is to make the program look like it's something harmless, like a screen saver or joke, so it gets sent around.

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About The Concept NOKIA 888 A phone of the future

*design concept

“Form follows you”
A personal mobile communication device which lets you be free and fun. It is light, simple and carefree. You can change its form according to your needs during the day.

*target

It is targeted to the young consumers who are likely to be active and take place in a lot of different activities.

*why this target ?

Because they move and change place too much. They do a lot of different things during the day. So that’s what my design offers : to adjust to the moment, the place and the function.

*technologies that are used

It uses liquid battery, speech recognition, flexible touch screen, touch sensitive body cover which lets it understand and adjust to the environment. It has a simple programmable body mechanism so that it changes forms in different situations.

*the functionality of design

You dont have to carry it in your pocket or on your wrist. You can carry it anywhere, in anyform. You can roll it, bend it, put on your clothes like a clip. It also makes some form changes that makes it more ergonomical: i.e. when you want to talk on the phone, the body form turns into the form of the good old telephone. You can personalize these forms and record them. So it fits you the best in the way that you have chosen. The functions that it has also create a feeling of electronical pet, as it senses your moves, understand what you want, respond you in the best way. It learns you, to fit you better.Also e-motions lets you send forms to the other 888 users. It could be the shape of a heart or a small dance. This way you can talk without words.

*how the user interacts

E-motions… It means electronical motions that 888 has. You can send and receive forms from / to friends. You can send a heart shape to your girlfriend, so her telephone turns into an icon of heart. Or you can send a dancing form to your friends to call them to the party tonight. This is the fun side of the product. If we look from the functionality side, 888 is quite flexible. You can put it into your pocket, roll it and make it smaller, or put on your wrist when you want to make a video call on the go. If you want to talk like a normal telephone, there you have your telephone shape. We go through a lot of places and situations in the daily life, so it seems like one form is not enough.

*what is unique ?

You can change the form of the body. Not just the color. And you can do the same by sending an e-motion to your friend.

*the inspiration

The idea is that “the perfect form” does not exist. “Form follows you”
We create the perfect form for each function.

Tamer NAKISCI
industrial designer

Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts
Istanbul / TURKEY

'm All For the Environment...But You Can't Have My iPod

A new survey finds consumers wants to buy greener and more environmentally-friendly products...but not if it means being inconvenienced.

A new "Eco Pulse" survey of just over 1,000 American households finds that while Americans are trying to buy greener products and be more environmentally conscious with their purchases…but don't want to give up modern conveniences. When asked if they would give up cell phones, microwaves, air conditioning, computers, or iPods, most Americans said "no"—even if they thought those products were harming the environment.

"Consumers don't want to give up the modern conveniences of life," said Suzanne Shelton, whose firm The Shelton Group conducted the survey. "We're all basically saying, 'I'll be green as long it doesn't make me uncomfortable or inconvenienced.'"

Some 38 percent of survey respondents would be willing to give up their iPods if they were hurting the environment…which, of course, means 62 percent would not be willing to give up their precious media players. The percentages go down from there: only 35 percent would give up their dishwasher, 25 percent would give up their microwave oven, 21 percent would give up their cell phone, 14 percent would give up air conditioning, and only 13 percent would give up their televisions. Even less popular sacrifices on the altar of eco-consciousness? Computers and cars, with only 7 and 6 percent of respondents, respectively, willing to give them up.

Over a fifth of respondents—21 percent—weren't willing to give up anything, even if they knew it was harming the environment.

The Shelton Group speculates that the most effective way for consumers to adopt green products it to make environmentally-friendly products as convenient and easy to use as the less eco-savvy items they replace. Examples would be Energy Star appliances—which typically require no additional effort from consumers after purchase—and straight-ahead replacements for existing products.

Windows 7, Now Stronger Against Hackers

The new Windows contains a safe unlinking feature, making attacker exploits far more difficult than before.

You’ve got to keep building better mousetraps, and that what Microsoft appears to have included in its new Windows 7. The OS includes a feature called safe unlinking that makes it a great deal harder for attackers to exploit bugs within the operating system.

It’s in the part of the kernel responsible for allocating and de-allocating memory, and works by checking before the removal of an entry to ensure it’s not an OS exploit called a pool overrun.

Peter Beck, a member of Microsoft's Security Science team, wrote:

"This simple check blocks the most common exploit technique for pool overruns. It doesn't mean pool overruns are impossible to exploit, but it significantly increases the work for an attacker."

The company decided to act because “the proportion of security bulletins affecting the Windows kernel has been increasing, from under 5% in 2007 to just over 10% in 2008.”

A similar feature was added to Service Pack 2 for XP, and added to Vista. One concern was whether it would affect speed, but Beck pointed out that “in practice this check adds no more than 8 instructions to the binary in each place it occurs; this is not enough to make a noticeable difference.”