Events

Windows 8 To Be Available October 26th, 2012

Microsoft

Jim McCarthy

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Jul 18, 2012

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Windows 8 To Be Available October 26th, 2012

Microsoft announced that Windows 8 will be available to the public on October 26th, 2012!

Microsoft just announced via a blog post that Windows 8 will ship on October 26th, 2012. Here is what they said:

Windows 8 will be available on…

…October 26^th, 2012! That’s right! Just a few minutes ago, Steven Sinofsky announced at Microsoft’s annual sales meeting that customers will be able to get Windows 8 – whether in upgrade fashion or on a new PC – starting on October 26^th. Earlier this month at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, Tami Reller told attendees Windows 8 would be available in October. But now everyone has a specific date to mark on their calendars. It’s on mine!

So mark your calendars! The upgrade will cost $39.99.

Microsoft Blog Post

Microsoft talks about using your feedback to make Narrator work better with touch in Windows 8

Andrew Edney

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Jul 18, 2012

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In the next in their series of Building Windows 8 articles, Microsoft talk about using your feedback to make Narrator work better with touch.

This is how this article starts:

When the Developer Preview build was released, we took the opportunity to reach out and gather feedback on Narrator from as many people who require visual assistance tools as we could. To start with, we worked with the community of folks inside Microsoft (we are fortunate to have a significant and organized community that is engaged in the accessibility of all Microsoft products) to install Windows 8 and send us their impressions, and we held internal accessibility events where people could come and try it out in person. We also held usability studies where we invited people to Microsoft’s campus to experience Narrator on a touch screen and walk through common tasks to see where we could improve. Millions of you downloaded the Developer and Consumer Previews, and many of you tried out Narrator and sent us some great feedback. We followed up with a number of people who contacted us via @BuildWindows8. Lastly, we attended the CSUN conference for Technology and Persons with Disabilities, where we were lucky to have the chance to sit down with people one-on-one as they tried out the Windows 8 Consumer Preview for the first time on touch screens.

There were a couple of key scenarios we wanted to validate. In particular, we wanted to make sure touch users could get up and running using Narrator on a new PC, right out of the box. That includes finding and installing accessible apps from the Store, and accomplishing basic everyday tasks like sending email, reading webpages, and listening to music. The excitement around the work we’d done so far was overwhelming and gratifying, but it was clear that we still had more work to do to make touch Narrator even better.

Thanks to all of your constructive feedback, we identified key areas that we’ve improved for the Release Preview:

Responsiveness: We heard that Narrator on touch screens didn’t feel responsive enough.

Gestures: Some people had difficulty with Narrator gestures, particularly some of the more complicated multi-finger gestures.

App exploration: Finding particular elements on the screen (e.g. finding tiles on the Start screen) could be hard for people not already familiar with the particular app or UI.

Web navigation: The commands available in the Consumer Preview were not extensive enough for some webpages.

We worked heavily on each of these areas for the Release Preview, and we’re still working in some areas for the final release of Windows 8. We wanted to share with you some of the improvements you can already experience in the Release Preview today.

To continue reading, click here.

I wonder what the next article will be about?

My Movies for Mac OS X Updated to version 1.21

Andrew Edney

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Jul 18, 2012

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As you may know, I am a huge fan of My Movies, and now Brian has released an update to My Movies for Mac OS X – taking it to version 1.21.

Introduction

My Movies for Mac OS X allows you to catalog your entire movie collection from our high quality online data service containing data for more than 475,000 DVD, Blu-ray and HD DVD titles from various countries. The application supports Mac OS X 10.6 and higher.

Notice! The application is currently in Pre Release, and is freely available to everyone during this Pre Release period. The Pre Release distributions contains a time bomb functionality, allowing to function typically for one month from the release date.

My Movies for Mac OS X requires you to create a user account, or log on to an existing My Movies account to be able to use the program. Your collection will follow your user account through our online servers, allowing you to switch between different clients without ever loosing your data. If you log in to an existing My Movies account, your current collection will automatically be synchronized to My Movies for Mac OS X. Users of My Movies for iPhone, iPad or Android will automatically have their collection synchronized between My Movies for Mac OS X and your movie devices.

Availability

My Movies for Mac OS X is available in two different versions; an unlimited “Pro” application, available for purchase through the Mac App Store, and a “Free” application which is identical to the “Pro” version, but limited to 50 titles, a limitation that can be lifted either through contribution points or purchased points.

The Pro application can be purchased by clicking here.

The free application is at this time not available through the App Store, but instead available as a direct download on this page. This is due to Apple not allowing for trial software on the App Store.

The Free application can be downloaded by clicking here.

My Movies for Mac OS X and My Movies for Windows

My Movies for Mac OS X is a standalone software, synchronizing with the My Movies WebService.

The application is not a client for My Movies for Windows servers, such as My Movies for Windows Home Server and My Movies Collection Management functioning as server. This means that you cannot connect it to the My Movies Windows based solutions.

It is not planned that for the software to function as a client to the My Movies Windows software package at any point. The internal structure and functionality of the application differs in many ways to how the Windows software packages function. Depending on user feedback, it may be that this at some point will change, and while we would like the requests as feedback, it is not something users should expect.

Interface Overview

Below is an overview of the interface of My Movies for Mac OS X, allowing you to see the functionality of buttons and interface areas. You can click the image to view it in a larger version.

What’s New in Version 1.21

– Added option to log in using a Facebook account.

My Movies for iPad and iPhone 1.83 Released

Andrew Edney

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Jul 18, 2012

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My Movies for iPad and iPhone 1.83 Released

Brian has just released and update for My Movies for iPad and also for iPhone – its now at version 1.83.

What is My Movies for iPad?

My Movies for iPad allows you to catalog your entire movie collection from our high quality online data service containing data for more than 475,000 DVD, Blu-ray and HD DVD titles from various countries. If you have one or more titles that is not in our service, you can report it and it will be created within 48 hours by our staff.

If you would like to evaluate the application, you can install My Movies for iPad Free, which is a freely available identical version with the exception of it being limited to 50 titles, and only 10 items in release and trailer lists.

You can use My Movies for iPad as a standalone product by adding titles by barcode or title searches, use it along with My Movies for iPhone Light or Pro or use it as a companion to our My Movies software packages for Microsoft Windows, allowing you to keep your movie collection synchronized between all devices and clients.

My Movies for iPad requires you to create a user account, or log on to an existing My Movies account to be able to use the program. Your collection will follow your user account through our online servers, allowing you to switch between different clients without ever losing your data. If you log in to an existing My Movies account, your current collection will automatically be synchronized to your iPad, and users of My Movies for iPhone can use it’s batch barcode scanning functionality to quickly add titles and automatically have them synchronized to their iPad.

You can within the program activate an online collection website of your movie collection, allowing you to send friends and family a website that allows them to browse your entire collection.

With My Movies for iPad, you can keep track of movies you own, previously have owned, rented or movies you wish to purchase. Never again will you have to purchase or rent a movie twice. Users of My Movies for Windows Media Center can also use the application to start playback of movies on their Media Center.

Features:
– Add titles by barcode, title search or manual creation.
– Preview titles with complete details before adding to your collection.
– Add titles to different groups (Owned, Wished, Rented, …), and move titles between groups.
– Report missing titles to our staff to have the titles created in our service.
– Report incorrect data to our moderation team if you find an error in our database.
– View movie trailers for titles in your collection.
– Management loans to friends and family by selecting from contacts or typing name.
– High resolution front and back covers.
– Search your collection.
– Browse using our movie wall or list views with large or small thumbnails.
– Sort titles using advanced data options.
– View actors and directors with photos, biography and list of titles the person stars in.
– Update movie profiles from our service to always have the latest, most complete and accurate data.
– Create an online collection website to share with friends and family.
– Upload your collection directly from My Movies Windows software suite as an alternative to synchronize through our online servers.
– See weekly releases of titles on Blu-ray and DVD including all details and trailers. (Release lists are not complete in all countries).
– Start playback of movies in My Movies for Windows Media Center.

What is My Movies for iPad?

My Movies for iPhone allows you to catalog your entire movie collection from our high quality online data service containing data for more than 575,000 DVD, Blu-ray and HD DVD titles from various countries. If you have one or more titles that is not in our service, you can report it and it will be created within 48 hours by our staff – a service you will not find elsewhere.
You can evaluate the full application, by downloading My Movies for iPhone Free, which is a freely available identical version with the exception of being limited to 50 titles, and only 10 items in release and trailer lists.
You can use My Movies for iPhone as a standalone product, or use it as a companion to our My Movies software packages for Mac OS X, allowing you to keep your movie collection synchronized between clients.

What’s New in Version 1.83

Added: Facebook Login option.
Added: Option to turn on flash when scanning barcodes.
Added: Vertical swipe option to switch between front and back covers on cover scrolling..
Change: Updated RedLaser barcode scanner library.
Change: Users now gets a better message if the password on their account have been changed.
Fix: Titles without covers is included in cover scrolling when swiping between covers.
Fix: Issues with connection model when connected to WHS both internally an externally.
Fix: Issue with multiple Dune players, where it could connect to the incorrect player.

Download My Movies Pro for iPad Download My Movies Pro for the iPhone

Adobe Reader for iOS updated to version 10.3

Apple
News

Andrew Edney

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Jul 18, 2012

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Adobe Reader for iOS updated to version 10.3

Adobe have today released an update to their Adobe Reader app for iOS.

Adobe Reader is the free global standard for reliably viewing and sharing PDF documents across platforms and devices. Easily and efficiently access the widest range of PDF file types—including PDF Portfolios, password-protected PDF documents and Adobe LiveCycle rights-managed PDF files. Now available for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, Adobe Reader offers fast, high-quality interaction with PDF.

View PDF files
• Quickly open PDF files from email , the Web or any application that supports “Open In…”
• View PDF Portfolios, PDF Packages, annotations and drawing markups
• Read text annotations such as Sticky Notes

Access encrypted PDF files
• Open and view password-protected PDF files
• Access files secured by Adobe LiveCycle Rights Management, which helps protect sensitive documents
• Supports the highest grade of PDF encryption, up to AES256

Interact with PDF files
• Search text to find specific information
• Use bookmarks to jump directly to a section in your PDF file
• Select single page or continuous scroll modes
• Easily zoom in on text or images for a closer view
• Quickly navigate through large files using thumbnails
• Select and copy text from a PDF file to the clipboard

Print and share files
• Print wirelessly with AirPrint
• Share PDF files with other applications using “Open In…”
• Email PDF documents as attachments

Available languages
English, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Swedish, Russian, Czech, Polish and Turkish

What’s New in Version 10.3

• Add text to your PDFs with the Add Text tool
• Use forms that have Field Validation, Calculation, and Formatting
• Organize and manage your documents in Reader’s improved file organizer. Create folders, copy, move, rename, and delete files.
• Help us make Reader better by optionally sharing anonymous usage data with us
• Look up definitions with our new Dictionary Support (requires iOS 5 or later)
• Fixed several bugs and performance issues

Download from the Apple App Store

Raspbian based SD card image released for the Raspberry Pi

Andrew Edney

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Jul 18, 2012

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Raspbian based SD card image released for the Raspberry Pi

The first SD card image based on the Raspian distribution has been released for the Raspberry Pi.

This is what Liz just posted on the Raspberry Pi blog:

We are pleased to announce the release of our first SD card image based on the Raspbian distribution. This is the result of an enormous amount of hard work by Alex and Dom over the past couple of months, and replaces the existing Debian squeeze image as our recommended install. Notably, it is the first official image to take full advantage of the Raspberry Pi’s floating point hardware for, amongst other things, much faster web browsing.

Users who are still using Debian squeeze will definitely want to switch to this, as it contains numerous tweaks and performance improvements to the firmware, kernel and applications. Those who are using the recent Debian wheezy beta will also see a very worthwhile, but somewhat smaller, improvement.

Among many others, we would particularly like to thank:

Mike Thompson and Peter Green from the Raspbian project

Simon Hall for his optimised ARMv6 memcpy() and memset() implementations

Everyone who has contributed to the Raspbian project so far

Special thanks to Edgar (gimli) Hucek, whose omxplayer accelerated media player is preinstalled in this image, and Sergio Conde for his work on packaging it for distribution.

The image is available now from the Raspberry Pi downloads page.

Check out what happened at the Q&A session with the Raspberry Pi Foundation

Kitchen Gadgets: the Heston Blumenthal Creative Range by Salter

Gadgets
Tech

Andrew Edney

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Jul 18, 2012

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Kitchen Gadgets: the Heston Blumenthal Creative Range by Salter

As it’s July already, the Christmas press events are coming thick and fast, and one of the events we visited last week included a range of kitchen gadgets by the famous chef Heston Blumenthal.

Part of the Heston Blumenthal range by Salter, this creative range is a collection of clever, precise, state of the art baking tools and gadgets to give the ultimate precision in the kitchen, as well as unique design style.

Precision Digital Measuring Jug

This measuring jug has a 1 litre detachable jug with ml, cup, fl.oz and pint markings. It has a really useful Add & Weigh ‘zero’ function allows for measurement of multiple ingredients in the same bowl meaning you don’t need separate containers already weighed out. It can automatically converts flour, sugar, milk, water and oil from weight to volume and it has an easy to read display on the handle. This will cost you £35.99.

Dual Ended Spatulas

These spatulas are made of silicon, with hard core and flexible ends, and retails for £18 for a pair.

3D Cookie Cutters

These cookie cutters can be used to make cookies of different shapes, but the major selling point is that you can make 3D cookies by slotting the cookies together once they have been baked. These retail at £15 and are a lot of fun.

Professional Whisk

This whisk has a large balloon for whisking in plenty of air and it felt very sturdy. This will set you back £12.

Adjustable Measuring Spoons

These adjustable measuring spoons are a great idea. Not only can you easily and accurately measure between 1/8 teaspoon up to 1 tablespoon, but they are easy to clean. You just set the amount you want to measure and it’s a simple as that! A set of two will cost you £18.

Adjustable Rolling Pin

This rolling pin in a lightweight hollow plastic rolling pin with interchangeable depth guide discs. You just decide on the depth you need, unscrew the ends of the rolling pin, set the plastic depth guide discs and start rolling. This will cost you £22.

Final Thoughts

One thing I noticed about the entire range was the quality – it was very good indeed, and when you consider the price, that is almost surprising.

This is not another celebrity endorsed brand, I was told that Heston personally approves each and every product, and so if it’s good enough for him, is it good enough for you?

These would make great Christmas presents – who knows, maybe even I will get some and see how I get on in the kitchen!

Everything other than the digital measuring jug will be available later this year, in plenty of time for Christmas. The jug is available now.

Learn more about the Heston Blumenthal Precision range from here

StableBit DrivePool for Windows Home Server 2011 Beta 1.0.2.6324 released

Andrew Edney

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Jul 17, 2012

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StableBit DrivePool for Windows Home Server 2011 Beta 1.0.2.6324 released

There has been another beta build from CoveCube! StableBit DrivePool development marches on – now its version 1.0.2.6324.

Here is how CoveCube describes this application:

Combine all your hard drives into one big storage pool (except the system drive with the OS).
Add and remove drives from the pool at any time without re-partitioning or manually moving folders.
Create duplicated folders on the storage drive pool that are protected against single drive failure. If a drive fails on which a duplicated file was stored, the contents of that file will remain readable even without the drive.
All your data is stored in standard NTFS files. You can always access your files even if the Windows Home Server completely crashes or this add-in can’t be used.

This beta version’s change log:

1.0.2.6324

* Finalized translations.

* Updated UI controls to latest.

* Updated installer for compatibility with the next Scanner release.

Download the latest beta version from here

My Movies for Android 1.81 Now on Google Play

Andrew Edney

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Jul 17, 2012

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Brian has just released version 1.81 of My Movies for Android.

My Movies for Android is the fastest, easiest and most impressive way you have ever kept track of your movie collection. Using our high quality movie database of more than 350,000 titles on DVD and Blu-ray, you quickly get access to a large quantity of details of the titles in your movie collection, including movie trailers, high resolution covers and much, much more.

What’s in this version:

– Added: Facebook login option.
– Update: Updates for Android 4.0 interface.
– Various bug fixes.

You can find My Movies for Android in Android Market in two editions, My Movies for Android Free and My Movies for Android Pro – the applications are identical with the exception that the free version is limited to maximum 50 titles, and only 10 items in trailers and title release lists.

The Pro version is available for DKK28 (~$5) + VAT in Europe. The free version allows you to fully evaluate the software before buying the pro version – if your collection already contains more than 50 titles, the free version simply only lets you synchronize the first 50.

Click here to open the pro application on Google Play.

Click here to open the free application on Google Play.

Own your own UAV with the Spy Hawk from RED5

Andrew Edney

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Jul 17, 2012

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Own your own UAV with the Spy Hawk from RED5

RED5.co.uk, recently announced the Spy Hawk plane featuring a 5 megapixel video camera with live feedback to the 3.5” LCD screen on the transmitter, a 600m range and state of the art stabilisation technology.

The Spy Hawk is a 3 channel glider with a built in FPV (first person view) video system that sends a high quality, 5 megapixel live stream to the 3.5” LCD screen on the transmitter. It features an advanced stabilisation system that makes it super easier to fly, even for first time pilots with little or no practice at all. Simply switch on the ‘autopilot’ and the built in gyro will kick-in, keeping the plane at the correct altitude. With the plane actively giving you a helping hand, you get to concentrate on the fun side of flying.

The Sky Hawk has a range of up to 600 metres with an average flight time of 20 to 30 minutes from a single 7.4v lithium-ion polymer battery. The Spy Hawk is made from EPO crash resistant foam, so in the unlikely event that it will allow you to crash it, it is strong enough to resist a bumpy landing. Thanks to its reasonable size, it’s easy to carry around, and is perfect for a trip to the park or anywhere else you’d like to get a great bird’s eye view.

The Intelligent automatic control and video signal binding, enable you to fly more than one Spy Hawk glider at the same time, so you can chase your friend’s plane around and record the dog fight with high quality video and sound. Press the enter button on your rubberised remote and the camera will start to record your progress through the sky and save the video to a 4GB SD card. It even features a sunlight screen guard for the remote that allows you to see the screen in the unlikely event the sun is shining!

Specifications

First person view glider with built in 5 megapixel camera
Made from EPO crash proof material
C1404 brushless motor KV3000
ESC: 6A
Transmitter: 2.4GHz 4 channels vs 3.5” LCD monitor plus 5.8GHz video transmission
Live video distance: 400 metres
Auto-pilot module
Video recording module
7.4V battery 450mAh
Wing span measures approx. 84cm
Overall length measures approx. 62cm
Weighs approx. 180g
Flying time approx. 20 – 30 minutes
Charge time approx. 40 minutes

Check out this short video:

Available to pre-order from www.RED5.co.uk for £245.95.