Archive

HP to Contribute webOS to Open Source

Andrew Edney

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Dec 9, 2011

HP finally announced the future of webOS today, and it’s going Open Source.

This is the press release:

HP to enable creativity of the community to accelerate the next-generation web-centric platform

PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 9, 2011

HP today announced it will contribute the webOS software to the open source community.

HP plans to continue to be active in the development and support of webOS. By combining the innovative webOS platform with the development power of the open source community, there is the opportunity to significantly improve applications and web services for the next generation of devices.

webOS offers a number of benefits to the entire ecosystem of web applications. For developers, applications can be easily built using standard web technologies. In addition, its single integrated stack offers multiplatform portability. For device manufacturers, it provides a single web-centric platform to run across multiple devices. As a result, the end user benefits from a fast, immersive user experience.

“webOS is the only platform designed from the ground up to be mobile, cloud-connected and scalable,” said Meg Whitman, HP president and chief executive officer. “By contributing this innovation, HP unleashes the creativity of the open source community to advance a new generation of applications and devices.”

HP will make the underlying code of webOS available under an open source license. Developers, partners, HP engineers and other hardware manufacturers can deliver ongoing enhancements and new versions into the marketplace.

HP will engage the open source community to help define the charter of the open source project under a set of operating principles:

The goal of the project is to accelerate the open development of the webOS platform

HP will be an active participant and investor in the project

Good, transparent and inclusive governance to avoid fragmentation

Software will be provided as a pure open source project

HP also will contribute ENYO, the application framework for webOS, to the community in the near future along with a plan for the remaining components of the user space.

Beginning today, developers and customers are invited to provide input and suggestions at http://developer.palm.com/blog/.

Experience Xbox LIVE Gold for Free This Weekend

Gaming
News

Andrew Edney

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Dec 9, 2011

0

Experience Xbox LIVE Gold for Free This Weekend

This weekend only you can trial Xbox LIVE Gold features completely free, claim discounts on selected Zune Movies plus enter for a chance to WIN the Xbox Christmas Entertainment Package.

So if you have never experienced Xbox LIVE Gold before why not give it a try, it is free after all!

Don’t forget, if you haven’t signed into Xbox LIVE this week, the new Dashboard Update is available and worth checking out.

StarTech Launch Two New USB 3.0 Adaptors

News
Tech

Andrew Edney

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Dec 9, 2011

0

StarTech Launch Two New USB 3.0 Adaptors

Yesterday StarTech launched two new USB 3.0 adaptors – one for HDMI/DVI and one for VGA.

USB32VGAE USB 3.0 to VGA Adapter

The USB32VGAE USB 3.0 to VGA Adapter turns an available USB 3.0 port into a VGA output with support for high resolution video (up to 2048×1152) – a convenient external video solution that makes it easy to add multi-monitor/dual display capability to a USB 3.0-enabled desktop or laptop computer (optimal performance from USB 3.0 connection, backward compatible with USB 2.0 connection).

Leveraging the high-bandwidth (up to 5 Gbps) SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface, the adapter functions as an external graphics card to deliver smooth, high-resolution content to your VGA display; the adapter can be used to mirror your primary desktop, showing the same image on each display, or to extend your desktop to double your workspace and increase your productivity.

USB32HDE USB 3.0 to HDMI Adapter

The USB32HDE USB 3.0 to HDMI® Adapter turns an available USB 3.0 port into an HDMI output, with high resolution 1920×1080 (1080p) video support – a convenient external video solution that makes it easy to add multi-monitor capability to a USB 3.0-enabled desktop or laptop computer (optimal performance from USB 3.0, backward compatible with USB 2.0).

Leveraging the high-bandwidth (5 Gbps) SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface, the adapter functions as an external graphics card to deliver smooth, high-definition content to your HDMI or DVI-capable display (HDMI to DVI Adapter included). The adapter can be used to mirror your primary desktop, showing the same image on each display, or to extend your desktop to double your workspace and increase your productivity.

Here is the press release:

StarTech.com, a leading manufacturer of hard-to-find connectivity parts has announced the release of the USB 3.0 to HDMI/DVI Adapter (SKU: USB32HDE) and USB 3.0 to VGA Adapter (SKU: USB32VGAE), which leverage the high-bandwidth (5 Gbps) SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface to deliver smooth, high resolution content to your HDMI/DVI-capable display (HDMI to DVI Adapter included), or VGA display, respectively.

The new USB 3.0 video adapters function as external graphics cards that can be used to extend a desktop to double your workspace for increased productivity, or mirror a primary desktop, showing the same image on each display.

“Our primary goal with the release of the USB 3.0 video adapters was to harness the high-speed capability offered by the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface to support high display resolutions up to 1080p/1920×1200” said John Mardinly, Senior Product Manager for StarTech.com. “The transfer speed capability of USB 3.0 ensures smoother imaging than USB 2.0 video adapters, with faster video playback, and more responsive performance from office or business applications, which presents creative ways to use a secondary monitor or multiple displays on a computer”.

Features and benefits of the new USB video adapters include:

· Support for SuperSpeed USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) Interface host connections, backward compatible with USB 2.0 (performance limited to USB 2.0 speeds)

· Support for display resolutions up to 1920×1080

· Includes optional HDMI® to DVI-D Adapter, for use as a USB 3.0 to DVI-D adapter (USB32HDE only)

· Supports Mirrored, Extended or Primary display configurations

· Driver software supports display rotation

· Supports the Windows® Aero interface

· Supports 2-channel (Stereo) audio (USB32HDE only)

· Supports the use of multiple USB 3.0 video adapters on a single system (up to 5)

These new adapters are available from leading technology resellers including Insight, Dabs, Amazon and Box.co.uk and will also be distributed by Enta, Ingram Micro and Micro-P.

MSRP for the USB 3.0 to HDMI/DVI Adapter (USB32HDE) is £89.99 GBP in the United Kingdom.

MSRP for the USB 3.0 to VGA Adapter (USB32VGAE) is £91.99 GBP in the United Kingdom.

The Home Server Show Episode 164 Out Now

Andrew Edney

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Dec 9, 2011

0

Dave at the guys at the Home Server Show have released episode 164.

Here’s what Dave has to say about this weeks show:

Mike Howard from jpeg2RAW and Mike Faucher from BYOB join Dave, John, and Jim to discuss backup issues, cloud storage, and backup strategies. This is a heavy dose of backup with very little news discussion.

As usual you can listen to the show from here.

Nokia Lumia 800 Update Rolling Out

Andrew Edney

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Dec 8, 2011

1

Nokia have announced that they have started rolling out an update to it’s new Lumia 800 Windows Phone.

Over the course of the next two weeks, starting today, a new software update for the award-winning Nokia Lumia 800 will be rolled out in the countries where the phone has been made available.

The update brings a number of performance and usability enhancements including:

Charging improvements

Voicemail notification improvement

Replying to mail improved for Microsoft Exchange 2003 users

Improved display switching in bright light

Improved audio quality

Not everyone will get the update at once – the number of simultaneous downloads has to be limited – but it should be delivered in all the initial launch countries over the course of the next two weeks. The software will be downloaded through Microsoft Zune.

A further update is planned for early 2012 to deliver more improvements to the software. There’s more information on the update process on the product support pages.

The Digital Lifestyle Show #332 – Unsupervised

Andrew Edney

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Dec 8, 2011

0

The Digital Lifestyle Show #332 – Unsupervised

This weeks Digital Lifestyle Show has just been released – its show 332.

Here’s what Ian says about this week show:

I have been working away this week and so Garry and Andrew are left unsupervised and are joined by TDL Mobile’s Jason Coombes. They chat about the weeks news including topics like the Xbox 360 Dashboard Update, Christmas wish lists, Lovefilm switching to Silverlight, My Movies updates and DVBLink clients.

You can listen to or download the show from here.

WHS 2011 Add-in: Drive Bender Updated to version 1.2.2.2

Andrew Edney

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Dec 8, 2011

1

Drive Bender, the add-in for Windows Home Sever 2011 that replaces Drive Extender, has now been updated to version 1.2.2.2.

What is it?

Drive Bender is state of the art, single point storage pool technology for Microsoft Windows. Drive Bender presents multiple hard drives as a single pool of data storage, either as one or more drive letters, or a network shared drive. Drive Bender is able to do this with any drive recognized by Windows, including external drive such as USB, Firewire etc.

Expandability

Drive Bender also provides the user with the ability to seamless expand their storage pool by simply adding a new drive. Adding a new drive expands the pool by the size of the new drive. Existing data within the pool is redistributed to the new drive to ensure the pool remain balanced.

Drive merging and converting

Drive Bender also offers a merge capability, allowing users to take a drive that contains data, and merge that drive (and data) into the pool. In addition there is also a drive conversion feature. This can take and existing drive letter (mounted against a physical drive) and convert this into a pooled drive. Once completed, new hard drives can be added to expand the once fixed drive.

Data redundancy

To further ensure data safety, Drive Bender can automatically duplicate any file added to a Drive Bender pool. File duplication is determined at the folder level and occurs on the fly as data is being written to the pool. More importantly, files are only duplicated across physical drives ensuring maximum safety and data redundancy.

Non-destructive

One of the key Drive Bender features is its non-destructive file system technology. In short, this means that all drives within a Drive Bender pool are utilizing standard NTFS format and file structures. This is to such an extent that a drive can be pulled from the pool and read on any machine capable of reading an NTFS formatted drive. More over, drives attached to the pool can be done so without modification, if a drive is added (not merged) that contains existing data, that data will remain untouched.

Ease to try

Because of our non-destructive file system, taking Drive Bender for a test drive is easy. Simply specify the drives to be included in the pool, and you are ready go. The drives are not formatted (unless specified), the only change made to the drive is the addition of a folder that holds the contents of the pool and a small number of configuration files.

The technology

Drive Bender employs existing, proven kernel mode file system technology. Having spent many years developing kernel mode drivers, we are able to use this experience to great extent. The end result is a product whose performance will closely match that of the underlying drive.

The story

Early in 2010 we prototyped a Drive Extender style application with the view of releasing a product that would work with all versions of Microsoft Windows. However soon thereafter, Microsoft announced Vail (a new version of Windows Home Server) and a small business server product, codename Aurora, both of which contain their Drive Extender technology. Given this, and the possibility that Drive Extend may well make its way to other Microsoft platforms, we shelved the project.

However later that same year, Microsoft announced that they would be dropping Drive Extender from all their products (including Windows Home Server 2011), leaving the door open for Division-M to resurrect the Drive Bender project!

Release v1.2.2.2 release (2011-12-04)

– Bug fix: Some users are seeing higher than normal usage of the WmiPreSE.exe process.

Download Drive Bender from here

Google+ for Android Updated

Android
News

Andrew Edney

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Dec 8, 2011

0

As well as updated their Google+ app for iOS, Google have also released an update for Android.

Real-life sharing rethought for the web, wherever you are.

Google+ for mobile makes sharing the right things with the right people a lot simpler.

Features:

Circles let you share the right things with just the right people.
Visit the stream to get updates from your circles or see what people are saying nearby.
Instant Upload automatically uploads videos and photos to your own private album on Google+, making sharing a snap.
Messenger is super-fast messaging for everyone in your circles.
Mobile Hangouts allows you to video chat with up to 9 friends while you’re on the go.

What’s in this version:

Search
+1 photos
+1 comments
High resolution photo upload support
See if someone’s online and currently typing in Messenger conversations
Start Messenger conversations by just entering a phone number
Links to posts or profiles can now open inside of the app
Instant Upload supports videos again
Several stability improvements and bug fixes

Get it from Android Market now

My Xbox LIVE App for iOS Released

Apple
Gaming

Andrew Edney

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Dec 7, 2011

0

Hot on the heels of the Xbox Companion app for Windows Phone, Microsoft have also released the My Xbox LIVE app for iPhone and iPads.

Take your Xbox LIVE experience wherever you go with the My Xbox LIVE app. Track and compare your achievements, connect with your Xbox LIVE friends, and change up your 3D Avatar. Review all your recent great games you and your friends love to play and compare achievements with them. Jump into our games hub to learn about the latest LIVE games and apps. Access Xbox Spotlight feeds, get breaking news from Xbox LIVE, game tips and tricks, gamer spotlight and much more.

Download from the App Store now

Xbox Companion App for Window Phone Now Released

Andrew Edney

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Dec 7, 2011

1

Xbox Companion App for Window Phone Now Released

The Xbox Companion app for Windows Phone has now been released – go get it!

Discover great entertainment with the power and convenience of your Windows Phone! Search for your favourite movies, TV shows, music, and games, and play them on your Xbox from your phone. Xbox 360 console and Xbox LIVE membership required.

Check out our guide to installing the Xbox Companion app

How To Install the Xbox Companion App on Windows Phone

Andrew Edney

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Dec 7, 2011

0

Whilst we are waiting for Microsoft to release the Xbox Companion app, here are the instructions on how to install it, just so you are prepared!

The Xbox Companion allows you to use your phone to find and play content on your Xbox 360 console. Use the app to browse items in the Xbox LIVE Marketplace. When you find a video that you want to watch, tap the Play button on your phone and the content will start playing on your console.

To install the Xbox Companion app, you need:

A Windows Phone with Windows Phone 7.5 software

Note You must be signed into your Windows Phone and your console using the same Windows Live ID

How to install the Xbox Companion app

On your Windows Phone, tap Marketplace.
Browse or search for Xbox Companion.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install the Xbox Companion app.

Set the Xbox Companion to Available on your console. Here’s how:

From Xbox Home, go to Settings and then select System.
Select Console Settings.
Select Xbox Companion.
Select Available.
Return to Xbox Home.

Start the Xbox Companion app

On your Windows Phone, tap Games.
Tap Xbox Companion.

Your Windows Phone connects to your Xbox 360 console.

An Evening at the into Windows Phone Insider Social with Alex James

Andrew Edney

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Dec 7, 2011

1

An Evening at the into Windows Phone Insider Social with Alex James

On Monday night, UWHS was invited to an exclusive invite-only into social event hosted by Alex James, so off we went in search of phones, apps and cheese.

What is the into Windows Phone App?

Film, fashion music, food, travel, gadgets? Whatever it is you’re into, you’ll find it through into by Windows Phone.

You’ll get access to hand-picked offers and money can’t buy experiences, content and articles from top UK contributors and have access to really unique events, plus with this app, you can show the best bits of Windows Phone to your friends earn points along the way. Share, tweet, like and invite your way to some fantastic rewards.

Pin the app to your Start screen and through the Live Tile you can keep up to speed with all the new great rewards and offers coming to into by Windows Phone.

The Into Social Event

The event itself was a great party, with some great music. Alex introduced some new up and coming artists called Isabel Rose and Bebe Black, both of whom were very good, and also the Chipping Norton All Stars. There was a great DJ in-between those acts, and Alex himself even did some DJ’ing later in the even, along with Mr and Mr Jones (that’s Sophie Ellis-Bextor and her husband Richard Jones in case you didn’t know).

And yes, there was cheese, both on display, and with a huge table of fondue.

There were also lots of other food and drink, including a special cocktail created for the event by the amazing mixologist Nick Moran called the Windini.

There were also demos of the app, plus an Xbox with Kinect to play on.

And here is a short video by Alex explaining into:

Into with Alex James

If you have a Windows Phone, you should definitely check out the into app!

And thanks again to Alex James for being such a great host – we can’t wait for the next one.

Microsoft Announces the Windows Store

Andrew Edney

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Dec 7, 2011

0

Yesterday Microsoft announced the Windows Store.

Here is an excerpt from the blog post:

This is the first post in our new Windows Store blog, which will be dedicated to informing developers both on the progress of the Store as a service, and the platform and economic opportunity the Store represents.

In September, we announced the Windows Store as part of Windows 8 and the distribution point for Metro style apps. And today, at our Store Preview event in San Francisco, we described the app policies and business terms for the Store, both of which are now published to our Dev Center.We also announced our First Apps contest for developers, and confirmed that we’re also inviting a select set of developers to submit Metro style apps for inclusion in the Beta version of the Store.

We’re also proud to publish the Store’s developer-first economics—with up to 80% revenue share for apps sold through our platform. Combining the broad reach of Windows, a new developer platform, best-in-class developer tools, a reimagined user experience, support for new chipsets, and a built-in Store with industry-leading business terms—Windows 8 is the largest developer opportunity, ever.

As with the Building Windows 8 blog, this is a dialog. Comments will be supported and the common sense rules apply. Thanks in advance for your consideration and interest in the Windows Store!

This looks really interesting and I look forward to hearing much more on this in the coming months.

Microsoft Launch the First Apps for Windows 8 Contest

Andrew Edney

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Dec 7, 2011

0

Microsoft Launch the First Apps for Windows 8 Contest

Are you a budding developer? Want to develop some apps for Windows 8? Well Microsoft have just launched a new contest you might want to take a look at.

Here are the details:

Windows 8 is powered by apps, and we’re excited to see all the great apps our developers will build.

The First Apps contest will select eight winning apps to be the very first apps in the Windows Store when it opens. This is your chance to show off your great app and to be part of an exclusive group of developers invited to participate in the Store when it first opens. The winning developers will also get some goodies to help them build even better apps:

A Samsung Windows Developer Preview PC from the BUILD conference, so you can test your apps with touch and sensors
One year of Windows Azure, so you can build apps that feel connected and alive
A two-year subscription to the Store, so you can continue to update and improve your app

What to know before you participate

Submissions are due by Sunday, January 8 at 11:59pm PST. This gives you just over 30 days to design and develop your app. Finalists will be notified on Sunday, January 15. Finalists must update their app to run on a new, confidential Windows 8 build provided by us and resubmit their app before February 3 to be eligible to win.

You’ll need a Windows Live ID to sign in to the contest site and submit your app. You’ll also need the Windows 8 Developer Preview with developer tools in order to start building your app.

Our panel of judges is very excited to review the innovative apps you submit. The judges are:

Jensen Harris, Director of Program Management, Windows User Experience
Antoine Leblond, Senior Vice President, Windows Web Services
Jason Zander, Corporate Vice President, Visual Studio

What to consider as you build your app

The judges will be evaluating apps based on how well they embrace the Metro style principles, as outlined at BUILD. Great Metro style apps adapt to a variety of form factors and screen resolutions, so our judges will be evaluating each app on both a Samsung Windows Developer Preview PC (1376×768 resolution) and a laptop (1920×1080 resolution).

Visit the Dev Center to learn more about designing Metro style apps and building Metro style apps.

All apps must comply with the App Certification Requirements.

Ready to participate?

Enter the contest ›

Read the Official Rules ›