Microsoft Continues to Attack Apple on the TV and now Online too...

Microsoft has been attacking Apple for a long time now but this time Microsoft beyond ever before!!! We lately saw a series of TV ad campaign assaults on Apple and now it's gone beyond the TV. You've guessed it!!! The Web.

In an online area, Web surfers can spin a wheel and get a comparison of products for the same price. Now when you choose a a Mac you get pocket lint, and when you choose a PC you can get two other things of value. The ad is called "Spin before you Spend".

Microsoft Attacks Apple's Pricing:

Microsoft CEO Ballmer laughs at Apple iPhone:



And Here's Spin Before You Spend ad:



Let's see where the war ends!!!

Latest Video Game Technologies at Game Developers Conference 2009 - San Fransisco

Watch the latest technologies being adapted in the world of Video Games. The video highlights games enhanced by wind, vibration, and light, plus mind control and super-realistic motions.

Check out the latest in game creation from the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.

Note: This video and news story has has been taken from CNet.

Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope Enters Beta Phase

Ubuntu's next version 9.04 code-named "Jaunty Jackalope" has entered into beta phase. It is said to be coming with a lot of enhancements such as, updates to Gnome interface (now version 2.26), the Linux kernel (now version 2,6.28), the X.Org server (now version 1.6), new notifications system, improved start-up process and this time Ubuntu is going to make it to the Cloud Computing too.

Besides, this version will also support the ext4 file system.

According to the feature web page for Jackalope's beta, users will be able to "dynamically create virtual machines, configure multiple clusters into a single cloud and even provide an EBS (elastic block storage) equivalent and an [Amazon] S3 compatible storage manager".

Click here to download Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope Beta.

Please visit the Jaunty Jackalope's page for more information.

Windows 7 RC Coming in May...

Acording to ArsTechnica, Microsoft has mistakenly revealed the realease date of Windows 7 Release Candidate and that is May 2009. Along with the release date there is some other useful information like it will remain availalbe for download on Microsoft Download site till June 2009 and this downloaded version will expire in June 2010. According to my previous blog and others as well, this RC was expected during the first week of April 2009.

Actually, Windows 7 RC page made an accidental appearance on Microsoft Technet site.

ArsTechnica has a screen shot of the Win 7 RC download page.

Minimum System Requirements:

• 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor or higher
• 1 GB of system memory or more
• 16 GB of available disk space Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB memory (to enable the Aero theme)
• DVD-R/W Drive

So let's get ready to get our hands on it as it comes online.

Google Offers Game Themes for iGoogle

The long awaited game themes for iGoogle have arrived today. Check out your iGoogle page right now, apply your favorite game theme and enjoy. There are all time top and favorite games in the list to choose from such as Super Mario, Street Fighter, Galaga, Final Fantasy and even Wii Sports.

www.google.com/gamingthemes

I have enjoyed playing all sorts of classic games on the Arcade for hours when I was a kid and now it's amazing to see that you get the same thing right on you desktop.

Check the following video out for more information.

UK Government To Monitor Social Networking Sites Such as Facebook

In a recent news update by BBC, it has been mentioned that UK government is going to monitor all social networking sites in the UK for the UK citizens. This also includes all other and Facebook, MySpace and Bebo which are hot favorite all around the world amongst the Social Networking enthusiasts.

Government says that the monitoring is going to take place to decrease terrorism threats and plans. However, this could affect the business of those sites being monitored as it would affect the traffic patterns as well as a decrease in the tendency to use the Social Networking sites.

Facebook is particularly popular because of the privacy it offers over other Social Networking sites and hence most concerned.

So if you are in UK and want to say hello to Joe... They are watching you!!!

Youtube Gets Blocked in China... Again!!!

China has blocked the Youtube website again reportedly because it contained some videos which showed beatings of monks and soldiers. However, the government has not yet confirmed it that they have blocked the service.

This is not the first time though, China has been blocking websites which contained political or religiously exploited content. It is good and bad all at the same time depending on your perspective.

VoIP Giant Skype Releases Beta with SMS & File Transfer Features

Skype the VoIP giant has introduced two great features in it's beta version 3.0 for Microsoft Windows Mobile on Tuesday.

• File Transfer


• SMS

Previously these features were only available in the Desktop version 4.0.

Both features are available in the Contact list page. SMS can also be sent from the Menu options though.

These features will further enhance the usability of already popular Skype and you will be able to send important documents, photos and SMS on the fly and on the road.

You can download Skype 3.0 for free from here.

http://www.skype.com

The full version will be available in a couple of months and will surely be based on user feedback.