Google Chrome 3 Supports Extension Services

1 of the most exciting new features which came with Google Chrome 3 was its support for extensions. However in the months it has been since it came out, most Chrome users are still confused as to how and where they can get these extensions to install.

For some time now, users of the latest versions of Google Chrome would have been noticing the message:

Firefox implementing Direct 2D and Chances of beating Microft Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer with its long release cycles needs to embrace a much more broader vision than just coming to par with current browsers. At the rate IE is moving Google might release Chrome 10 before Microsoft can roll out IE 10.

In the recently released details about Internet Explorer 9 — which were rather disappointing — among one of the few improvements was support for rendering content using Direct2D , a new API introduced by Microsoft in Windows 7, which provides hardware accelerated rendering of vector content.

Disposable Paper Laptops

Je Sung Park when he says that disposable cameras and cell phones have gained acceptance, so why don’t we take the next step and bring out a disposable computer. His Recyclable Paper Laptop is quite a raw version and could do with some refinement. It uses recycled paper or pulp material all packed in layers. This is so that you can easily replace the damaged portions (even corrugated paper will tear easy). The vibe of a Paper Laptop is intriguing.

NOKIA N96: All in One

This is NOT a phone. Seriously! It’s more like a micro-handheld computer fitted with security features that will put the CIA to shame and also put an end to TVs, laptops and what not! This small device has so much in it that I’m still striving to figure out what all gizmos it will soon replace! Its navigation system is as accurate as they come. It’s connected to satellites, which will in a year or so, let you click photos of places in NEW YORK even as you sit at the nukkad sipping chal! You can already watch all national TV channels on it; All this with a pretty decent battery backup of 1.5 days. And did I mention the amazing 5 meg camera, which shoots DVD quality videos? Phew!

FAQ: Buying the right Windows 7 upgrade

When I wrote on Monday about the ins and outs of what counts as proper licensing of Windows 7, I was worried that it might turn into a flame war. But, instead, readers sent in a whole bunch of really good questions on the intricacies of licensing Windows 7 that went beyond the basics I had covered.

Things like dual-boot machines and systems with beta versions of the operating system raise all sorts of interesting licensing challenges.

Before we dive into the edge cases, though, here’s a recap of the basics on Windows 7.

For those upgrading their PC, they can choose from Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate editions. There is also a family pack that includes three upgrade licenses for Windows 7 Home Premium.

Many people will have to do what is known as a custom or “clean” installation, which involves backing up one’s data, installing Windows 7, then restoring the data and re-installing all applications.

All users of XP will have to go this route, as will those moving from a 32-bit version of Vista to a 64-bit version of Windows 7 (or vice versa), as well as those who are moving from a higher-end version of Windows Vista to a lower-end version of Windows 7.

Those moving from Windows Vista to the same version of Windows 7 (or to Ultimate) can do what is known as an “in-place” upgrade, which preserves files and applications.

Anyway, on to the tough cases. Here are some of the questions that readers sent me, as well as the answers I heard back from Microsoft.

Q: I installed the release candidate version of Windows 7 on a reformatted hard drive that previously had Windows Vista installed. Can I use the Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade version to install a licensed copy?
A: Yes. You can do a custom installation (“clean install”) to Windows 7 using the upgrade. The Windows 7 installer will detect you have the RC installed, enabling you to do this.

Q: Try as I might, I haven’t been able to find any reliable information on whether I can upgrade from Vista Home Premium Edition (that came with my HP Laptop) straight to Windows 7 Professional/Ultimate, or whether it is only possible to upgrade from “Vista Home Premium” to “Windows 7 Home Premium.”
A: You can do an in-place upgrade from Home Premium to Ultimate, provided you aren’t switching from 32-bit to 64-bit or vice versa. Going from Home Premium to professional, however, requires a custom installation. (For a chart of which versions can be done via in-place upgrades, check out this Microsoft Web page.)

Q: I have Vista Basic on two computers and XP on the other one. So all I would have to do is use a Windows 7 upgrade disc on all three computers? Does one disc do one computer or will it do all three? I live in Canada, not the U.S.
A: In both the U.S. and Canada, your best bet is probably the Windows 7 family pack, which offers a license to upgrade up to three PCs.

Q: Can you use an upgrade disk to run XP (or Vista) in dual-boot (meaning that one partition or hard drive has the older operating system and the other partition or drive has Windows 7?
A: Microsoft treats a dual-boot machine as if it were two PCs, so you can only use the upgrade if you are installing over an existing Windows partition. So, unless you have two licenses already on that system, you will need a full copy of Windows 7.

Q: What about upgrading a Mac?
A: In order to qualify to use the upgrade version, Mac owners need to be running a previously licensed full copy of Windows (not just a beta version). That applies whether one they are using Windows in Boot Camp or using a virtualization product like Parallels or VMWare’s Fusion.

During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina.

Source – CNet News

50 Free Tools for Your USB Stick Download Info

 

Media playback, office tools, virus scanning and more: Turn your USB flash drive into a portable powerhouse with these 50 free applications.

 

If you jump from computer to computer on a regular basis, you’ll often come across the frustrations of having a system without the software you need. Well with the convenience of a USB flash drive, there’s no reason why you can’t take all of your favourite apps with you on the road.
Whether you want to burn CDs, create a web page, edit audio tracks or use your favourite browser, these tools require no installation and will launch directly from your USB stick. And not only are they portable, but they’re all really useful apps! So dive in and fill your boots (well… USB stick) with these great tools.

Gallery: Top 50 Portable Tools

Twitter to soon get ‘new tweet’ notifications

The world’s most popular micro-blogging service, Twitter, is set to roll out a new feature for users who access their account through their browser: notifications. Just like you would get a ‘You have 2 new emails’ notification in your inbox, the Twitter notifications would announce how many new tweets you have gotten since the last time you logged in.

“We’re starting a limited test of notifications on Twitter.com for when you have new tweets. So if one of the folks you follow has tweeted since you loaded your homepage, you’ll get a little notice saying ‘1 new tweet’ that, when clicked, will display the new content,” Twitter’s official Status page said. “We think it improves the tweet consumption experience and hope to roll it out to everyone as soon as we can.”

Twitter user @stephromanski noticed the new feature and immediately posted a screenshot of the same:

(Click to enlarge)

Since the announcement, a few noted Web journalists have come up with other uses for notifications that they (and we) would like to see implemented.

Harrison Hoffman writes on CNET: “It would make a lot of sense for Twitter to build out a notification system for @replies, re-tweets, and direct messages, like Facebook has for Wall posts and other actions.”

San Francisco Chronicle’s Zennie62 says: “My idea is to send the tweet to the user via email so that it appears in one’s mobile phone email account, thus the person doesn’t have to have an app on their phone or go to their computer to know what tweets they’re getting.”

We hope Twitter is listening!

Source:- www.ThinkDigit.com

Get ready for your mobile phone bill to get a lot cheaper!

If India’s Communications Minister A. Raja has his way, mobile phone tariffs will drop even further. If two new government initiatives go through, the consumer might just see a drastic cut in his monthly phone bill.

Lowering termination

The Economic Times is reporting that on Tuesday, at a meeting with CEOs of all telecom companies, Raja proposed reducing the termination charges that mobile phone carriers currently face.

A termination charge is basically the fee that Vodafone would pay Bharti Airtel if one of its customers were to call an Airtel user. Currently, this charge is set at 20 paise per minute, which most companies pass on to the user. However, under the reduction Raja proposed, the charge would be 10 paise per minute, which would reduce local and STD tariffs by about 15 per cent.

The next step in this proposal is to get the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to analyse and approve this reduction, followed by its implementation.

Mandatory per-second-billing?

A lot of new telecom operators, such as Tata Docomo, have started offering ‘per second’ billing services, as opposed to the ‘per minute’ pulse that has always existed. This move has prompted some of the bigger players, such as Airtel, Loop Mobile and Vodafone, to join the bandwagon and cut their costs.

The TRAI has seen this trend and is considering the possibility of making it mandatory for telecom operators to offer per-second billing for mobile phone usage. While the TRAI initially proposed this notion last month, it has now said that a consultation paper on the same would be prepared by December.

Top Twenty-Six Ways To Kill Time

Occasionally, when you are not dealing with lack of time, you are dealing with an excess of time. While rare, it can happen. So, enclosed below, are twenty-six ways to kill time.

**WARNING* Do NOT attempt to unplug an atomic clock! *WARNING**

1. Organize. It never hurts to prepare for dealing with the lack of time.
2 . Work. It never hurts to get money to spend for the next time time is plenty!
3. Clean dryer lint filter. This may be why you have soggy towels.
4. Buy postal stamps. Every time I need a stamp, I just thank myself for stocking up on them when I was killing time.
5. Write a Guide article. New field reporters accepted daily!
6. Stock up on weather forecasts. Instead of wasting a few hours looking for a weather forecast, why not stock up on them? They usually last for 3-5     days, if kept refrigerated.
7. Wax your automobile, if you have one. Preventative maintenance.
8. Clean your GuideNET Terminal. Preventative maintenance.
9. Remove arachnid webs from dwelling. They are known to annoy even the most unsanitary hitchhiker.
10. Grease your lunchbox hinges. Squeaky hinges ruin appetites.
11. Clean your air conditioner filter, if you have one. Allergies go bye-bye.
12. Spend a day pushing buttons in an elevator.
13. Learn CPR. You never know when your ticker will tick out.
14. Learn the Heimlich Maneuver. You never know when you’ll bite your last bite.
15. Learn First Aid. You never know when you’ll get a fatal injury.
16. Get a GuideNET Update. Preventative maintenance.
17. Ride the bus. Also good for killing money.
18. Give blood. H+ is in demand.
19. Cuddle your cat. Cats have feelings, too.
20. Shoot your clock. That will defiantly kill time.
21. Empty your rain gauge. Mine accumulated 4,000 centimeters one time.
22. Watch television. Educational programs spawn more and more time, though.
23. Read a book. You could actually LEARN something.
24. Dip into public baths. Look for signs that say “Swimming Pool”. (Note: some hitchhikers should pay special attention to this suggestion.)
25. Observe vehicles traverse by. Watch out for city lawn mowers.
26. Organize your lint collection. ’nuff said.

Author: Ryan Tucker

Kareena refuses to romance Shahid Kapoor, again

The lie of so-called ‘cool break up’ between Shahid and Kareena was exposed when the duo refused to romance in two new songs for their much-delayed Boney Kapoor film Milenge Milenge.

Though Kareena refused to comment, a source close to her says, “Kareena is more than happy to extend all cooperation to producer Boney Kapoor and director Satish Kaushik, but she won’t shoot an extra songs for the film. Shahid is a closed chapter.”

This has made hapless Satish Kaushik to use the footage for the two songs, which would be used as promotional videos. It is also said that the actors would not promote for the film together.

A music video for the newly-recorded Himesh track was also planned as part of the film’s promotion. However, there would be no joint appearances by Shahid and Kareena.