Microsoft talks about reclaiming memory from Metro style apps in Windows 8

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In the next in their Windows 8 series, Microsoft talk about reclaiming memory from Metro style apps.

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Here is how the article begins:

Previous blog posts have discussed the Metro style application model using Windows Runtime. An important attribute of this app model is that apps are suspended when they are no longer visible to the user. Suspending Metro style apps in the background is a good thing, as it conserves CPU for other apps and ensures that background apps don’t cause activity that can consume resources, thereby improving the battery life and increasing responsiveness. This is outlined in detail in Sharif Farag and Ben Srour’s blog post, Improving power efficiency for applications.

But what about the memory these apps are taking up when suspended? We pointed out earlier that, as a practical matter, the OS will handle this and that your other processes will not feel memory pressure because there are suspended processes. This was an important design consideration. But we know that some of you are still curious how this will all work.

Starting with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, whenever Windows detects memory pressure on the system, it will repurpose nearly all the memory that suspended Metro style apps would otherwise hold onto. Windows 8 can reclaim this memory without having to terminate an app.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

And don’t forget that there are now only going to be 3 versions of Windows 8.

Intel announce the Intel Solid-State Drive 330 Series SSD

Intel Corporation announced yesterday the Intel Solid-State Drive 330 Series, a SATA 6 gigabit-per-second (Gb/s) solid-state drive (SSD) that gives consumers a more affordable entry into the accelerated storage performance of SSDs.

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  • New Intel SSD 330 Series offers boosted system performance for the budget-conscious PC enthusiast.
  • An ideal PC upgrade, Intel SSD 330 Series is a SATA 6Gb/s-based SSD that blends performance, Intel quality and value.
  • Available in the most popular capacities, 60-, 120- and 180GB, Intel’s newest SSD starts at a suggested channel price of $89.

Ideal for upgrading desktop or notebook PCs, the Intel SSD 330 Series offers the price-conscious PC enthusiast a brand-name SSD that blends performance, Intel quality and value. Offered in the most popular capacity points, 60 gigabytes (GB), 120GB and 180GB, the Intel SSD 330 Series boosts overall system performance and responsiveness for a broad range of applications.

“An SSD is still the single best upgrade you can make to your existing PC, and the Intel SSD 330 Series gives users the latest Intel SSD technology at a price to meet their budget,” said James Slattery, product line manager for client SSDs, Intel Non-Volatile Memory Solutions Group. “Backed by Intel’s rigorous testing process, the Intel SSD 330 Series offers our users the speed they need at a great price, backed by world-class manufacturing, reliability and tech support.”

Unlike a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) with spinning disks and moveable parts, SSDs offer a more rugged, low-power storage solution that dramatically improves system performance to keep up with today’s I/O-intensive applications. The Intel SSD 330 Series contains Intel 25-nanometer (nm) multi-level cell (MLC) NAND memory. Its SATA 6Gb/s interface doubles the bandwidth of its current SATA 3Gb/s Intel® SSD 320 Series, providing up to 500 megabytes-per-second (MB/s) sequential read speeds and up to 450MB/s sequential write speeds for faster data transfers. Random read performance can go up to 22,500 Input-Output Operations Per Second (IOPS) and 33,000 write IOPS to boost overall application and system responsiveness, significantly outperforming a typical consumer hard disk drive.

Intel offers a broad range of SSD choices within four product families. The Intel SSD 300 Family is aimed at entry-level, mainstream client users. The Intel SSD 500 Family offers more fully featured, higher-performing client SSDs for computer and gaming enthusiasts. The Intel SSD 700 and Intel SSD 900 Families are targeted for data center applications.

The Intel SSD 330 Series comes in a standard 2.5-inch/9.5mm form factor as a replacement to a slower-performing HDD. It can be used in a dual-drive desktop PC configuration to speed up boot times and applications speeds, or as a single-drive notebook upgrade.

Available now at worldwide retailers and online e-tailers, the Intel SSD 330 Series is offered at the suggested channel price of $89 for a 60GB drive, $149 for a 120GB drive and $234 for a 180GB drive. It is also backed by a 3-year limited warranty.

Learn more from the Intel website

Fujifilm Launch the FinePix F770 EXR Digital Camera

The Fujifilm FinePix F770 EXR sets the new standards for long zoom compact cameras thanks to its enviable specification with 16MP EXR-CMOS sensor, GPS, RAW capture and 20x optical zoom lens all wrapped up in a sleek and stylish body. Making it the perfect camera for families and travellers to capture a huge range of photographs and is available now for £299.99

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Maximum zoom, minimum size

The body of the FinePix F770EXR is incredibly thin at just 1.4” yet manages to include a 20x optical zoom lens. The 25-500mm focal range (equivalent to a 35mm camera) is able to tackle a vast range of subjects from wide-angle landscapes through to tightly cropped wildlife pictures. The wide zoom range capability is due to the newly designed Double Sliding Lens System that features two additional lens elements within the optical construction to extend the zoom capabilities and boost image resolution. And with the addition of Fujifilm’s Intelligent Digital Zoom users can get a maximum telephoto setting of 1000mm, to pull in even the most distant objects.

EXR-CMOS – Flexible and versatile image sensor

The FinePix F770EXR features Fujifilm’s unique EXR-CMOS sensor which has been further evolved. The EXR Auto, automatically optimises settings according to scene types, and has now been expanded to offer 103 different shooting patterns and which pushes the camera’s low-light capabilities even further. Start-up time as well as auto focus speed has also been optimised, with the users now able to focus on their subjects in as little as 0.16 seconds.

A landmark in GPS functionality

Travelling photographers, or those simply wanting to pinpoint their location, will benefit from the FinePix F770EXR’s improved GPS functionality. A new high sensitivity antenna also helps to find the camera’s position more quickly. The camera can also indicate nearby landmarks and the distance the user is away from them.

Better handling for great results

The FinePix F770EXR has some key handling improvements to help make picture taking even more enjoyable. On the front of the camera, an ergonomic, rubberised handgrip* ensures users get a firm hold and gives extra stability when shooting at the extreme telephoto length.

The top-plate, meanwhile, has the addition of a Function (Fn) button for faster access to regularly accessed features including ISO setting, Film simulation, etc. On the back of the camera, the 3-inch LCD shows images and menus with great clarity thanks to the extra bright 460,000 dots LCD, making it easier to see in bright lighting conditions.

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The FinePix F770EXR will be available in black, red, blue and white finishes

*rubberised grip available for black, red, blue colours only

Fujifilm FinePix F770EXR key features

 

· High quality Fujinon 20x optical zoom covering 25-500mm (equivalent to a 35mm camera)

· Intelligent Digital Zoom boosting range to approx.40x

· 16 mega-pixel EXR-CMOS sensor

· Superb build quality and finish

· Extra bright 3.0-inch LCD with 460,000 dots

· Full 1080p HD movie capture

· ISO 100-12800 *

· P, A, S, M exposure modes for creativity plus Scene modes

· RAW file capture

· Film simulation modes

· Macro focusing down to 5cm

· Optical image stabilisation

· Motion Panorama 360 mode

· High sensitivity GPS

*ISO 6400 is effective in image size M or lower, ISO 12800 is effective in image size S

Learn more from the Fujifilm website

FireCore update Apple TV ATV Flash to version 1.5

FireCore have today released an update to its ATV Flash software for the Apple TV 2, taking it to version 1.5.

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This is what FireCore posted on their blog tonight:

Today we’re happy to release a brand new version of aTV Flash (black) which includes a revamped player that is optimized for iOS 5.0 and later. This new player improves performance for virtually all file type resulting in noticeably smoother playback. We’ve also baked in a number of other goodies including NFS streaming, subtitle timing settings, additional translations and a mountain of other improvements and fixes.

What about the ATV3 and the untethered version for ATV2?

Work is still underway on both fronts, and we’ve had some encouraging reports come in over the past few days. However, it’s still too early to give any kind of ETA but we hope to have more news soon.

Easy access to subtitle options through the Playback Menu

Full Changelog

  • Revamped player with improved performance (AppleTV 4.4 and later)
  • Added NFS streaming
  • Added Catalan, Czech, Korean and Traditional Chinese translations
  • Added support for localized TV show pattern: TV Show/Season #/S##E##.extension
  • Added manual subtitle time correction (-10.0s to +10.0s)
  • Added support for embedded .FLAC cover art
  • Added support for .AC3, .DTS and .MOD files
  • Improved .EYETV file handling
  • Improved audio synchronization in slow and unstable networks
  • Improved slideshow operation with small images
  • Improved movie folders detection logic to ignore hidden files
  • Improved metadata fetching to support movies split into multiple files (dvd#, cd#, disk#)
  • Improved zoom mode operation for non-square pixels
  • Improved DVD menu handling
  • Improved .OGG file handling (now correctly treated as audio)
  • Improved error handling for connection issues
  • Improved buffering logic
  • Improved installation routine
  • Other minor UI improvements
  • Resolved format detection that was causing rare playback issues
  • Resolved issue with volume level resetting during rw/fw
  • Resolved floating crashes usually observed when using SMB with Windows 7 shares
  • Resolved conflicts with XBMC related to SMB
  • Resolved issues with metadata fetching for ‘Show.Name.###.extension’ pattern
  • Resolved crashes observed in folders with significant number of files
  • Resolved playback error on DVD and ISO files observed when file path contains ‘?’ character
  • Resolved crashes when working with long file paths
  • Resolved rare issue with incorrect pre-playback screen layout
  • Other miscellaneous bug fixes

Fantastic! Where can I get it?

If you’re already running a version of aTV Flash (black) the new 1.5 version can be installed through the Maintenance –> Manage Extras menu. Links for the new version can also be found in your account under the Downloads tab.

If haven’t yet tried aTV Flash (black) you can learn about all the great benefits here.

Let us know what you think.

Halo 4 to be released worldwide on 6th November 2012

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The countdown has begun for the landmark entertainment event millions of fans worldwide have been anticipating for more than four years. “Halo 4,” the hotly anticipated sequel to the iconic franchise that has shaped entertainment history, will launch worldwide on 6th November 2012.

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“Halo 4” marks the return of legendary hero Master Chief, named by Fast Company as “one of the most popular characters in gaming history,” and aims to set a new standard for blockbuster interactive entertainment. Set four years after the events in “Halo 3,” Master Chief returns to confront his destiny and face an ancient evil that threatens the fate of the entire universe. Developed by 343 Industries, “Halo 4” marks a new beginning for the landmark entertainment franchise that has sold more than 40 million games worldwide and inspired multiple New York Times best-selling novels, live-action shorts, comic books, action figures and apparel.

“We are beginning a new saga with ‘Halo 4’ and embarking on a journey that will encompass the next decade of ‘Halo’ games and experiences,” said Phil Spencer, corporate vice president of Microsoft Studios. “Millions of fans worldwide have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to step back into the boots of Master Chief, and with ‘Halo 4’ leading the charge, we’re confident 2012 will be the most successful year in Xbox history.”

“Halo 3,” the biggest consumer product launch of all time when it released in 2007, concluded the original game trilogy, but left many unanswered questions around the fates of the series’ beloved hero, the Master Chief, and his artificial intelligence companion, Cortana. On 6th November, fans will experience the next chapter of the iconic franchise.

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Personally I can’t wait! Bring on the Master Chief!

RIM Release BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0.1.358

Research In Motion (RIM) announced that the new BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0.1.358 is available now.

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A new version of the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ OS – v2.0.1.358 – is now available to all users. This free update can be downloaded over-the-air from your BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet.

The BlackBerry PlayBook OS v2.0.1.358 contains many updates including:

  • Browser enhancements to address performance with some websites
  • Improvements to support Android apps
  • Optimizations to Video Chat, PIM and BlackBerry Bridge applications
  • And much more!

WHS 2011 Add-in Drive Bender Tomcat (v1.3) out April 24th

The new version of the Windows Home Server 2011 add-in Drive Bender, codename Tomcat, also known as version 1.3 should be out April 24th.

This is what Anthony tweeted:

v1.3 has a date… all being well it will hit on the 24 of April.

Here are two new screenshots to keep you going.

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This is certainly looking very professional, and I look forward to see the final release.

Have you tried the beta? If so, let us know.

Iomega release Home Media Network Hard Drive Firmware Version 2.104; brings Lion Time Machine support

Iomega have released updated firmware for it’s Home Media Network Hard Drive, bringing with it Time Machine support for Lion.

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Version 2.104 – Release date 04/11/12:

Iomega strongly recommends all customers download the update file and review the included ReadMe. This update will change some of the default behaviors on your device.

  • Fixes an issue with Remote Access and secure SSL certificates
  • Adds Time Machine support for the Mac OS X 10.7 operating system
  • Fix for netatalk 2.0
  • Minor bug fixes

This update is not data destructive and will upgrade your current version, however, ALWAYS back up your data before performing any firmware update.

Download the firmware from here

Microsoft outs Windows 8 editions; Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro, plus Windows RT for ARM

Microsoft have announced the versions of Windows 8, and instead of being a lot of different SKU’s, there are basically 3. Oh, and if you wan’t Media Center then it’s an economical “media pack” add-on to Windows 8 Pro!

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These are the specifics about the versions which Microsoft posted earlier:

Windows 8 has the flexibility you need – whether you’re on an x86/64 or a WOA PC. You can use a touch screen or a keyboard and mouse – and switch anytime. It’s beautiful, fast, and fluid design is perfect for a wide range of hardware. And you’ll love browsing through the Windows Store and downloading all the apps you want. And those apps can work together too so you can share photos, maps, contacts, links and whatever else you want faster and easier. All editions of Windows 8 offer a no-compromise experience.

First, Windows 8 is the official product name for the next x86/64 editions of Windows.

For PCs and tablets powered by x86 processors (both 32 and 64 bit), we will have two editions: Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. For many consumers, Windows 8 will be the right choice. It will include all the features above plus an updated Windows Explorer, Task Manager, better multi-monitor support and the ability to switch languages on the fly (more details on this feature can be found in this blog post),which was previously only available in Enterprise/Ultimate editions of Windows. For China and a small set of select emerging markets, we will offer a local language-only edition of Windows 8.

Windows 8 Pro is designed to help tech enthusiasts and business/technical professionals obtain a broader set of Windows 8 technologies. It includes all the features in Windows 8 plus features for encryption, virtualization, PC management and domain connectivity. Windows Media Center will be available as an economical “media pack” add-on to Windows 8 Pro. If you are an enthusiast or you want to use your PC in a business environment, you will want Windows 8 Pro.

Windows RT is the newest member of the Windows family – also known as Windows on ARM or WOA, as we’ve referred to it previously. This single edition will only be available pre-installed on PCs and tablets powered by ARM processors and will help enable new thin and lightweight form factors with impressive battery life. Windows RT will include touch-optimized desktop versions of the new Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. For new apps, the focus for Windows RT is development on the new Windows runtime, or WinRT, which we unveiled in September and forms the foundation of a new generation of cloud-enabled, touch-enabled, web-connected apps of all kinds. For more details on WOA, we suggest reading this blog post which shares more detail on how we have been building Windows 8 to run on the ARM architecture.

So what do you think?

Personally I think calling Windows RT something that doesn’t have 8 in the title is very odd, and will confuse people!

Also, I am not sure yet what I think about Media Center being “an economical media pack”. Does this mean they will actually do some more development on it? Will it come with all the codecs I will ever need? Or is this just a way of Microsoft to make some extra money? And what do they mean by “economical”?

Tell us what you think!

Learn more about the different versions from here

Apple Updates iBooks to version 2.1.1

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Apple has just updated it’s iBooks app to version 2.1.1 bringing with it some minor fixes and addressing an issue with sign-in.

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This is what Apple said about iBooks 2 when it launched:

iBooks textbooks can be kept up to date, don’t weigh down a backpack and never have to be returned. Leading education services companies including Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, McGraw-Hill and Pearson will deliver educational titles on the iBookstore℠ with most priced at $14.99 or less, and with the new iBooks Author, a free authoring tool available today, anyone with a Mac® can create stunning iBooks textbooks.

“Education is deep in Apple’s DNA and iPad may be our most exciting education product yet. With 1.5 million iPads already in use in education institutions, including over 1,000 one-to-one deployments, iPad is rapidly being adopted by schools across the US and around the world,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Now with iBooks 2 for iPad, students have a more dynamic, engaging and truly interactive way to read and learn, using the device they already love.”

The new iBooks 2 app is available today as a free download from the App Store. With support for great new features including gorgeous, full screen books, interactive 3D objects, diagrams, videos and photos, the iBooks 2 app will let students learn about the solar system or the physics of a skyscraper with amazing new interactive textbooks that come to life with just a tap or swipe of the finger. With its fast, fluid navigation, easy highlighting and note-taking, searching and definitions, plus lesson reviews and study cards, the new iBooks 2 app lets students study and learn in more efficient and effective ways than ever before.

What’s New in Version 2.1.2

  • iBooks 2.1.1 addresses an issue which prompted you to sign-in with your Apple ID at unexpected times. If you experienced this issue, please open iBooks after updating.
  • This version also contains minor stability and performance improvements.
iBooks 2 is available now for free in the App Store

Apple release Flashback malware removal tool for Lion

Last week we told you that Apple had released an update to remove the Flashback malware, now they have released a Flashback malware removal tool for Lion.

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This update removes the most common variants of the Flashback malware. This update contains the same malware removal tool as Java for OS X 2012-003.

If the Flashback malware is found, a dialog will be presented notifying the user that malware was removed.

In some cases, the Flashback malware removal tool may need to restart your computer in order to completely remove the Flashback malware.

This update is recommended for all OS X Lion users without Java installed.

Download the removal tool from here

Xbox 360 Kinect Support coming to Skyrim

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A few days ago news broke that Kinect support was coming to Skyrim for Xbox 360 owners.

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This is what was posted:

Fully knowing that you can’t get enough of your favorite dragon shouts, we’re pleased to announce that Kinect™ for Xbox 360® support is coming to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Available for free as a title update slated for release this month, Skyrim Kinect for Xbox 360 Support will feature more than 200 Voice Commands…including the game’s dragon shouts.

In addition to Dragon Shouts, the Kinect for Xbox 360 integration offers voice commands throughout the game including Hotkey Equipping, Follower Commands, and all Menus (Items, Magic, Map, Barter, Container, Favorites, and Skills). With Voice Commands, quickly create and load saves during gameplay and access menus and inventories. Skyrim’s Kinect for Xbox 360 Support also adds new functionality including special map functions, additional hotkey options, and the ability to sort inventory items by name, weight, and value.

To get an early look at Kinect for Xbox 360 support, watch the video above featuring programmer Ricardo Gonzalez, who put together the preliminary concept for Kinect for Xbox 360 Support during the Skyrim Game Jam.

A full list of Voice Commands will be revealed in the coming weeks, and we’ve got more Skyrim news coming. Bethesda Game Studios has been hard at work on creating the first set of game add-ons that will be exclusive to the Xbox 360. This additional content will add new quests, locations, features, and much more to the world of Skyrim. Stay tuned for more details.

Check out the video below for more:

Battlefield 3 EA Battlelog app for iPhone and iPad available now

If you are a fan of Battlefield 3 and you have either an iPhone or an iPad then you can now get the EA Battlelog app!

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This is the app description:

Hooah! Battlelog is going mobile! With Battlelog on your iPhone, you can stay connected to Battlefield 3 and your gaming friends while on the go.

Battlefield 3 is built around the social platform Battlelog (http://battlelog.battlefield.com), where you meet new gaming friends, compare stats, talk tactics, “hooah!” your friends’ progress in the game and get essential updates straight from the developers.

Now, you can access most features of the full-fledged Battlelog platform on your iPhone! This free app gives you the ability to keep up to date on what is happening right now in Battlefield 3 and how your friends are progressing.

Features in v1.0.0:

Battle Feed
Get real-time notifications when your friends unlock new weapons or get new awards. “Hooah!” and comment on their posts.

Com Center
See which friends are playing right now and what servers they are playing on. View your friends’ profiles and plan for tonight’s game by leaving a message on their wall.

Stats & Unlocks
Track your progress and performance on the battlefield with detailed soldier stats. Check out the dog tags you have collected from your foes and see what new weapons, gadgets, vehicle upgrades, and specializations you are about to unlock next.

Leaderboards
Compare your standing among your friends on the friends leaderboard and view the top worldwide players on the global leaderboard.

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Download now from the Apple App Store

WHS Add-in Update : LDisk for Windows Home Server version 3.0.2

Intelisan’s Windows Home Server add-in LDisk has been updated to version 3.0.2.

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LDisk Windows Home Server Add-In adds iSCSI Target Storage capability to your Windows Home Server. Using LDisk, you can create a single appliance to provide all your storage and backup needs.

– iSCSI Target Storage for Windows Home Server

– IP SAN (Storage Area Network)- Block transfer

– iSCSI SAN interface over Ethernet

– Snapshot with schedules, revert, and convert to volume

– Fully protected data using SAN Volume duplication

– Supports all Internal or external drives

– Drive Extender for WHS 2011

– Storage Expansion through iSCSI for WHS 2011

Version 3.0.0.2:

    1. updated due to a packaging problem

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Learn more from the Intelisan website