Microsoft Suing Comet Group in UK for Allegedly Selling Counterfeit Windows Recovery CDs

Andrew Edney
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Microsoft Suing Comet Group in UK for Allegedly Selling Counterfeit Windows Recovery CDs

Microsoft today started legal action against the Comet Group here in the UK for allegedly selling counterfeit Windows Recovery CDs.

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Here is the press release:

READING, England, and REDMOND, Wash. — Jan. 4, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. today issued proceedings against Comet Group PLC for allegedly creating and selling more than 94,000 sets of counterfeit Windows Vista and Windows XP recovery CDs. The alleged counterfeits were sold to customers who had purchased Windows-loaded PCs and laptops.

“As detailed in the complaint filed today, Comet produced and sold thousands of counterfeit Windows CDs to unsuspecting customers in the United Kingdom,” said David Finn, associate general counsel, Worldwide Anti-Piracy and Anti-Counterfeiting at Microsoft. “Comet’s actions were unfair to customers. We expect better from retailers of Microsoft products — and our customers deserve better, too.”

The suit charges Comet with producing the counterfeits in a factory in Hampshire and then selling the media to customers from its retail outlets across the U.K.

Comet is currently owned by French retail company Kesa Electricals PLC, although it is reportedly being purchased by private equity firm OpCapita LLP later this year.

With an emphasis on education, engineering and enforcement, Microsoft seeks to protect its customers from counterfeiting and piracy — and ensure people get what they pay for. If customers ever question the legitimacy of their software, be it a shrink-wrapped product or recovery media, they are advised to visit http://www.howtotell.com to learn more and, if they have any doubt, report the suspicious software to Microsoft.

PressReader for the iPhone and iPad Updated to Version 3.0

Andrew Edney
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0
PressReader for the iPhone and iPad Updated to Version 3.0

At the start of December we reviewed PressReader, an app for iOS devices to read newspapers and publications. PressReader has just been updated to version 3.0.

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What is PressReader?

PressReader is a free application that enables you to download your favourite publications to your PC, Mac, tablet, mobile device or eReader allowing you to read them even when you’re offline.

Enjoy your favorite daily read from a selection of more than 2,000 newspapers and magazines from 95 countries in 51 languages with PressReader!

With every article, advertisement, crossword puzzle and cartoon presented in its original context, PressReader offers many of the same rich user interface and intuitive interactive features PressDisplay.com users have come to love.

And with the added convenience of being able to hold your favorite publication directly in your hands and read it from cover to cover just the way you would in-print, PressReader makes reading full-content digital replicas an absolute delight with features such as:

  • Flipping pages like you’re reading a real publication
  • The ability to pan, zoom or rotate pages, articles and photos
  • Navigating publications using thumbnails or table of contents
  • Opening full articles in easy-to-read text views
  • Listening to publications using on-demand audio
  • Searching online across titles and selecting the titles you wish to download

What’s New in Version 3.0

✓ Compatible with iOS 5
✓ New SmartFlow* content presentation design, fully integrated with the graphical page view (iPad only)
✓ Press and Hold features
✓ Copy & paste articles into note taking applications
✓ Support for Push notification
✓ Improved localization for French, Spanish, German and Russian languages
✓ Various performance and stability improvements.
Minimum iOS version required is 4.2. Please do not upgrade if you are using a first generation iPhone or iPod Touch.

*SmartFlow can be enabled or disabled in PressReader’s Setting menu (Defaults to ON for iPad 2s and OFF for original iPads).

Download PressReader from the App Store

Apple’s 12 Days of Christmas : Day 10 – SHIFT 2 Unleashed

Andrew Edney
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0
Apple’s 12 Days of Christmas : Day 10 – SHIFT 2 Unleashed

Apple’s annual 12 Days of Christmas continues, and for Day 10 it’s the EA game SHIFT 2 Unleashed.

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You and your friends can download a fantastic selection of songs, music videos, apps and books for free. Each download will only be available for 24 hours. Get our special 12 Days of Christmas app to make it even easier to access your gifts while you’re on the go. Don’t have an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch? Don’t worry. Come back 26 December to download gifts from your computer.

You need to download the app and then each day for 12 days there will be something free.

Day 10 – SHIFT 2 Unleashed

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I wonder what it will be tomorrow?

How to use your Home Server as an AirPrint server for only $10

Andrew Edney
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How to use your Home Server as an AirPrint server for only $10

Sean Daniel has posted a great article on How to use your Home Server as an AirPrint server for only $10 on his blog.

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Here is how Sean starts his excellent post:

As I move more and more of my computing and data to the Cloud with services like SkyDrive. I am reducing the amount of computing power I have in my house. I have an iPad (v1), a Laptop, and of course my Windows Home Server.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m looking for more ways to take advantage of my low-powered Home Server to do more for me as an *always* on device.

Over the holiday’s we had a few visitors, which of course means printing boarding passes prior to leaving for the airport. It was frustrating to have to take out the laptop when the iPad is just right there. But without a compatible AirPrint printer, you can’t print from the iPad….

Or can’t you?

I found an application for Windows (and Mac OS) that installs on your computer that shares almost any printer connected to the computer, to the AirPrint service.

To continue reading his post click here.

RIM Firesales PlayBook

Jim McCarthy
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RIM Firesales PlayBook

Being the UsingWindowsHomeServer.com resident expert in tablet firesales, I thought it my duty to tell you that RIM is now fireselling the PlayBook.  Read on for details!

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Paul Thurrott is reporting that RIM is now selling PlayBooks for $299, all versions, if you can get through to the site.  Here is the link according to Thurrott.  Of course, the firesale has the web site down at the moment, and this looks like US-only, but keep an eye open if you want one of these.  I reviewed it here and concluded that while the hardware was nice, the lack of an email client limited its utility.  $299 might be OK for a mobile video player, but consider before you buy.

Hat tip to Paul Thurrott on this one…

Paul Thurrott Article My PlayBook Review

ChevronWP7 Labs Windows Phone Unlocking Service No Longer Available

Andrew Edney
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ChevronWP7 Labs Windows Phone Unlocking Service No Longer Available

Last year we told you about a service from ChevronWP7 Labs that enabled you to unlock your Windows Phone. This service is currently no longer available.

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According to various sources, ChevronWP7 Labs did a deal with Microsoft for an initial 10,000 unlock tokens, which have now all been used.

As yet ChevronWP7 haven’t said if they will ask Microsoft for more, but I guess given that all 10,000 have been sold in just two months the service was very popular.

Did you use it?

Skype for iPhone and iPad Updated to version 3.6.1

Andrew Edney
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0
Skype for iPhone and iPad Updated to version 3.6.1

The Skype app for the iPhone and iPad has been updated to version 3.6.1.

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What’s New in Version 3.6.1

Fix for audio bug on iOS 4

BYOB Podcast Episode 72 Out Now

Andrew Edney
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0
BYOB Podcast Episode 72 Out Now

The guys over at the BYOB podcast, including our very own Tim Daleo have just released episode 72.

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Here is what is included in this weeks show:

[box style=”rounded” border=”full”]2011 Tech Faves, Tim’s server woes, Mike’s ESXi update, Michael’s Crossfire, AMD 7970 specs released, facebook client, AppRap. Diehard helps fill in on this weeks BYOB Podcast.[/box]

As usual you can listen to the show from here.

Apple’s 12 Days of Christmas : Day 9 – House and 30 Rock

Andrew Edney
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0
Apple’s 12 Days of Christmas : Day 9 – House and 30 Rock

Apple’s annual 12 Days of Christmas continues, and for Day 9 it’s the pilot episodes of House and 30 Rock.

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You and your friends can download a fantastic selection of songs, music videos, apps and books for free. Each download will only be available for 24 hours. Get our special 12 Days of Christmas app to make it even easier to access your gifts while you’re on the go. Don’t have an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch? Don’t worry. Come back 26 December to download gifts from your computer.

You need to download the app and then each day for 12 days there will be something free.

Day 9 – House and 30 Rock

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I wonder what it will be tomorrow?

Review of the ASUS Eee Pad Slider SL101 Android Tablet

Andrew Edney
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0
Review of the ASUS Eee Pad Slider SL101 Android Tablet

There are many Android tablets on the market today, what sets the ASUS Eee Pad Slider SL101 apart is the built-in keyboard. And here is our review.

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  • NVIDIA® Tegra 2 1.0GHz dual-core CPU for excellent multitasking & HD video playback
  • Android™ 3.1 Honeycomb OS(3.2 upgradable) with Adobe® Flash® support
  • Full QWERTY keyboard and built-in USB port. Preloaded Polaris Office for mobile productivity
  • Ultra-wide 178⁰ viewing angle IPS panel protected by scratch resistant Corning Gorilla Glass.
  • USB port, MicroSD Card Reader, and one year unlimited ASUS WebStorage for easy sharing & expandability
  • Supreme SRS Sound with max bass response

Who are ASUS?

From their website:

ASUS comes from the last four letters of Pegasus, the winged horse in Greek mythology that represents the inspiration of art and learning. ASUS embodies the strength, creative spirit and purity symbolized by this regal and agile mythical creature, soaring to new heights of quality and innovation with each product it introduces to the market.

Specifications

Operating System : Android 3.1

Display : 10.1″ LED Backlight WXGA (1280×800) Screen, 10 finger multi-touch support
Scratch resistant glass

CPU : NVIDIA® Tegra™ 2

Memory : 1GB

Storage : 16GB/32GB, Unlimited ASUS Web Storage

Wireless Data Network : WLAN 802.11 b/g/n@2.4GHz , Bluetooth V2.1+EDR

Camera : 1.2 M Pixel Front Camera, 5 M Pixel Rear Camera

Audio : High Quality Speaker, Supreme SRS Sound, High Quality Mic

Interface : 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x Mini HDMI, 1 x Audio Jack (Headphone/Mic-In), 1 x Card Reader : Micro SD

Sensor: G-Sensor, Light Sensor, Gyroscope, E-Compass, GPS

Application : Multi-Task Support : Yes, Flash Support : Yes,
Software :
– ASUS Launcher
– MyLibrary
– MyNet
– MyCloud
– File manager
– Kindle books
– Zinio Magazine
– PressReader
– Polaris Office
– ASUS sync

Battery : 8 hours; 25Wh Li-Polymer Battery

Colour : Brown, White

Dimensions : 273 x 180.3 x 17.3 mm

Weight : 960 g

What’s in the Box?

Along with the Slider is a USB charger, power plug, docking connector to USB cable, user manual and warranty card.

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