Sony VAIO UX390N Reviews. Tablet PCs Reviews by CNET.

The latest Sony Vaio only got a 7 out of 10 from C|Net. Maybe it is a little too ultra for it's own good!? Check out why C|Net reckons Sony haven't done their homework on this one.

Sony VAIO UX390N Reviews. Tablet PCs Reviews by CNET.: "The ultramobile PC, or UMPC, is still largely a concept in search of a purpose. While the idea of a palm-size computer running Microsoft Windows and including most of the features you'd find on a full-size desktop or laptop is an engaging one, these devices are still not exactly practical. The first generation of these handheld PCs, including the Samsung Q1 and the Sony VAIO UX50, were addled by poor performance and battery life. Representing the second wave of UMPCs, the $2,500 Sony VAIO UX390 offers Windows Vista Business, a better CPU, and more RAM than its predecessor, but the biggest improvement is the move to a solid-state hard drive that offers better battery life and stability than standard hard drives. While the UX390 is the best UMPC we've seen to date, it still runs for only a few hours and is harder to type on than your average smart phone, leaving us hard-pressed to figure out who the target audience is."  Posted by Stephen @ 7:56 AM   0 comments   

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes : Game Information About Vanguard: Saga of Heroes for PC at MMORPG.COM

A friend of mine bet me that once WoW: Burning Crusade started selling, it would rip up the charts and become the number one MMORPG. Checking the site this morning, not only does Burning Crusade NOT appear in the top 8, but the number one game as rated by MMORPG is in fact Vanguard: Saga of Heros. Get the lowdown on this new MMORPG here.

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes : Game Information About Vanguard: Saga of Heroes for PC at MMORPG.COM: "Imagine a vast, detailed world of swords and sorcery, of dragons and knights, of fiery swords and chests overflowing with treasures a world in which a myriad of sentient races and creatures, many of whom players will be able to base a character on, live and affect change. A place where players can follow very different paths of advancement, including assuming the roles of adventurers, crafters and merchants.

Characters will not only own buildings and vehicles, but they will also whisper into the ears of kings, manipulate the hand of justice, and change the direction of history. They will make their mark on a world we initially create but they ultimately shape and form."  Posted by Stephen @ 7:58 AM   0 comments   

Real retro gaming on the Wii | Crave : The gadget blog

For the nostalgic and motion sick, retro controllers available for the Wii!

Real retro gaming on the Wii | Crave : The gadget blog: "The Wiimote, Classic Controller, and Wavebird are fine for playing Virtual Console games, but they're still missing something. Maybe it's the lack of wireless, maybe it's the stark white plastic, maybe it's the slightly awkward button placement, but these controllers just can't be the best choice for playing classic NES and Super Nintendo games.

Controller-modding company RetroZone is now selling NES and SNES controller adapters for the Nintendo Wii. One end goes into the Wii's GameCube port and the other connects to the classic rectangle or dogbone controller. You still need the original decades-old controllers, and you'll be tethered to your Wii, but at least you'll be playing Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Super Mario Bros. the way they were meant to be played."  Posted by Stephen @ 7:54 AM   0 comments   

Microsoft's own antivirus fails to secure Vista | CNET News.com

Alarming news for Vista users. Check, double check and remember, Google is your friend when it comes to trying to ensure that your machine is secure.

Microsoft's own antivirus fails to secure Vista | CNET News.com: "Microsoft's own antivirus software, Live OneCare, is unable to fully protect Vista users against viruses, and one of security firm McAfee's antivirus software packages also fails to protect users, according to independent research released Friday.

Security news site Virus Bulletin, backed by a team of security researchers based in Oxfordshire, U.K., tested 15 antivirus software packages used by businesses and designed specifically for Vista, Microsoft's newest operating system. The packages were released to businesses two months ago.

The researchers tested whether each of the antivirus products would stop a set of viruses known to be currently circulating. In order to be awarded a pass, the software had to detect all the viruses with no false positives.

But out of the 15, four failed: Microsoft Live OneCare 1.5; McAfee VirusScan Enterprise version 8.1i; G DATA AntiVirusKit 2007 v17.0.6353; and Norman VirusControl v5.90. The other 11, including software from CA, Fortinet, F-Secure, Kaspersky, Sophos and Symantec, detected all the viruses."  Posted by Stephen @ 7:53 AM   0 comments   

Security Watch: Windows Vista's half-cocked firewall - CNET reviews

A real issue for amateur users. You really should either get some help or Google "firewall vista" to make sure that your computer is secure when installing Microsoft's new Vista. Check out this article for more info.

Security Watch: Windows Vista's half-cocked firewall - CNET reviews: "When is a personal firewall not truly a firewall? How about when it's made by Microsoft? Last week I listed how home users won't see all of the 'new' security features available within Windows Vista, the new operating system from Microsoft. One of those 'new' security features is the Windows Firewall, available in all editions of Windows Vista. The Windows Firewall is of course not new; it's already available in Windows XP SP2, but it works only one-way, that is, it only blocks malicious inbound connections. In Windows Vista, Microsoft says its new Windows Firewall is now two-way, that it adds outbound protection, but a closer look reveals that this is more deceptive marketing spin. With Windows Vista what you get turns out to be a half-cocked firewall that's hardly worth the upgrade."  Posted by Stephen @ 7:52 AM   0 comments   

Outsourcing your 'Warcraft' skills | CNET News.com Outsourcing your 'Warcraft' skills | CNET News.com: "According to an estimate from a company called Power-levels.com, it would take someone starting from scratch 768 hours to reach the highest level you can hit in World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade.

Or, for someone who had already topped out at level 60 in the original WoW, it would take 384 hours to get to the top level, 70, of Burning Crusade.

That's a lot of hours, and if you're one of the many people with limited time who still wants to play online games like WoW at the highest levels, Power-levels.com and a growing number of competitors may have just the solution. That is, if you're OK with breaking the rules, as well as what some say is the spirit of the games."  Posted by Stephen @ 7:50 AM   0 comments   

Apple's Jobs calls for DRM-free music | CNET News.com Apple's Jobs calls for DRM-free music | CNET News.com: "In a rare open letter from CEO Steve Jobs on Tuesday, Apple urged record companies to abandon digital rights management technologies.

The letter, posted on Apple's Web site and titled 'Thoughts on Music,' is a long examination of Apple's iTunes and what the future may hold for the online distribution of copy-protected music. In the letter, Jobs says Apple was forced to create a DRM system to get the world's four largest record companies on board with the iTunes Store.

But there are alternatives, Jobs wrote. Apple and the rest of the online music distributors could continue down a DRM path; Apple could license the FairPlay technology to others; or record companies could be persuaded to license music without DRM technology. The company clearly favors the third option."  Posted by Stephen @ 7:50 AM   0 comments   

Pirates of the Burning Sea : Life with Beta - Pirates of the Burning Sea for PC at MMORPG.COM

Well it looks like they are entering beta testing and are offering 50 free beta accounts. I reckon they are probably all gone by now but you might want to check just in case.

Pirates of the Burning Sea : Life with Beta - Pirates of the Burning Sea for PC at MMORPG.COM: "Operating an MMO beta is fantastic. You get all the fun of interacting with real players who are really playing your game, but you're still below the radar enough that the pressure isn't overwhelming. It's a great opportunity to learn what it's going to be like to run a live service.

We started our beta program a year ago, in late 2005. Players who tried the game back then and then tried it again more recently are amazed at how much has changed. But that's what a year of development gets you! The game has come a long, long way in that year and is much better than ever before."  Posted by Stephen @ 9:05 AM   0 comments   

The BlackBerry Pearl White: smooth as Barry White | Crave : The gadget blog

Whiteberry!? Blackberry release their latest offering. This article from the C|Net blog gives you the lowdown. Remember, it is a US based article so prices will be in US dollars.

The BlackBerry Pearl White: smooth as Barry White | Crave : The gadget blog: "Forgive the horrible pun in the headline (five days in Vegas will do that to you), but corniness aside, the important news is that T-Mobile and Research in Motion have just released a white version of the BlackBerry Pearl and it's now available for purchase online and in retail stores.

The new pearl-white color is part of T-Mobile's and RIM's strategy to appeal to general consumers and the younger crowd, providing them with a full-featured smart phone in a sleek and stylish package. The BlackBerry Pearl White's feature set is identical to the original Pearl's.

It offers push e-mail, Bluetooth, a 1.3-megapixel camera, music and video playback, and expandable media. It also supports T-Mobile's myFaves service, which gives you unlimited calling to five contacts, regardless of carrier. The BlackBerry Pearl White is priced at a fair $149 with a two-year contract, and Internet and e-mail plans start at $19.99 per month for unlimited e-mail and Web browsing."  Posted by Stephen @ 9:00 AM   0 comments   

Foxmarks Bookmark Synchronizer | Firefox Add-ons | Mozilla Corporation

A nice way to keep your bookmarks in sync if you use Firefox on more than one computer!

Foxmarks Bookmark Synchronizer | Firefox Add-ons | Mozilla Corporation: "If you use Firefox on more than one computer, you'll want Foxmarks. Install Foxmarks on each computer, and it will work silently in the background to keep your bookmarks synchronized. As a bonus, log in to my.foxmarks.com from any computer anywhere to access your bookmarks."  Posted by Stephen @ 3:15 PM   0 comments   

Editors' top hard drive MP3 players - CNET Reviews

Disk space was certainly something I was looking for in my latest MP3 Player. I received some vouchers for Christmas and immediately started looking for a device that did the MP3 thang as well as could act as a mass storage device. Nothing honking mind, you, around 2GB was the goal. I was chuffed to find that the LG UP3 did the trick and plays Ogg's to boot!

These puppies however break the disk space barrier. 30GB starting territory. Check 'em out.

Editors' top hard drive MP3 players - CNET Reviews: "High-capacity hard drive digital audio players are the kings of MP3 land. From a modest 5GB a few years back to up to 120GB today, hard drive-based players still give you the most bang for your buck. You can now carry your entire music or media library in a device that has shrunk over time (see the supersleek Apple iPod, for example). Newer models, such as the Creative Zen Vision:M, boast color screens with photo and video support. When you're shopping for one of these, consider the following: extras such as an FM tuner or a line-in audio recorder (see the Cowon iAudio X5); battery life (see Cowon iAudio X5L); format compatibility; and price. If you want to run with your MP3 player, check out a flash-based player."  Posted by Stephen @ 4:09 PM   0 comments   

Silkroad Online : Game Information About Silkroad Online for PC at MMORPG.COM

Why pay good money for a MMORPG when you can play the Silk Road Online for free!? The Silk Road has to be one of the most beautifully rendered MMORPG's this gamer has seen. Of course if you want some souped up items, or if you made some bad choices early on in character development, you might want to pay for items that can help some of these issues. However, for a wonderfully immersive world, you might want to check out, The Silk Road Online.

Silkroad Online : Game Information About Silkroad Online for PC at MMORPG.COM: "Silkroad Online is a historic/fantasy MMORPG based on the history of China along the famous Silk Road. In this MMO, the Silk Road is carefully reproduced, but in a much smaller scale. Elements of fantasy gaming such as the use of special magical skills and abilities are also integrated. Character creation involves choosing a name, appearance, starting clothing type, and starting weapon. New equipment can be bought from NPC vendors or player-run stalls, with the later tending to have far superior goods. Also, special items can be bought via the Silkroad Online official website’s Item Mall using real-world money."  Posted by Stephen @ 12:28 PM   0 comments   

Microsoft Office 2007 RTM Reviews. Office suites Reviews by CNET.

But will I install it on my PC over OpenOffice?

Microsoft Office 2007 RTM Reviews. Office suites Reviews by CNET.: "Microsoft has finalized the code of Microsoft Office 2007, and corporate customers will be able to get their hands on a download of Office Small Business 2007 around November 30. But you'll have to wait until early next year to buy a boxed version of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and the other members of the Office 2007 family. The consumer editions of Microsoft Office 2007 are expected to hit stores early next year, in step with the Vista operating system."  Posted by Stephen @ 9:33 AM   0 comments   

AVG Free Advisor: AVG Anti-Spyware Free

Been tinkering around with several Anti Spyware programs over the last few years as the threat becomes more pronounced. I stumbled onto AVG's antispyware offering today and have to say, of all of the free offerings out there, this one has to be the most (a) stable (b) simple and (c) easy to configure. I will keep you posted!

AVG Free Advisor: AVG Anti-Spyware Free: "AVG Anti-Spyware Free is a free anti-spyware protection tool developed by GRISOFT for home use. We invite you to join the millions of satisfied customers worldwide who have downloaded the software and now enjoy the benefits of AVG Anti-Spyware Free."  Posted by Stephen @ 9:32 AM   1 comments