Entelligence: A Google Phone could be the death of Android

Without a doubt, the big buzz since the weekend has been over the "Google Phone," an HTC-built device called the Nexus One handed out to Google employees last week in what Google describes as a "mobile lab." Confirmed to be running Android 2.1, the Nexus One has once again raised the idea of Google selling unlocked devices directly to consumers. (Google has been selling unlocked HTC Android phones for some time, but only to developers.)

It would be a strange turnabout if Mountain View made this move, directly going in the face of previous assurances that Google had no plans to compete directly with Android hardware manufacturers. What's more, there are a lot of unanswered questions here.

Optimizing HDTV

You've bought the HDTV. You've set it up, plugged everything into it. Maybe you've even calibrated it for the best possible picture. (If you need advice on handling those chores, see "How to Install Your HDTV" and "Calibrate My HDTV".) But you're not done yet: Fiddling with a few more settings can further complement your viewing experience.
Here are five settings that you may want to change on your HDTV itself or on devices plugged into it. I won't be able to give you exact directions, because the steps differ from one manufacturer and model to the next. But I will tell you where you can typically find these options, and what they're usually called.

Picture Size for Broadcast or Cable

Your HDTV receives both standard- and high-definition TV channels, and automatically upscales standard-def video. The question you need to address is how the set should handle the aspect-ratio

[Free] Antivirus and Antispyware

The Internet is full of brilliant ideas, marvelous software…and danger. You absolutely must use antivirus and antispyware protection if you connect to the Internet. Even if your computer is locked in a WiFi-proof Faraday cage with no connection to the outside world, threats like the Conficker worm can slip in via removable drives. Going without security software is simply not an option. But what if this year's economy has left a big fat zero in your budget's security column? Never fear—you can still get reasonable protection without paying a cent.

If you decide to shell out for security, Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus 2010 is our Editors' Choice for standalone malware protection; Prevx 3.0 is another good choice with an innovative approach. You'll pay a bit more for a full suite, but you'll also get more comprehensive protection. Norton Internet Security 2010 is our Editor's Choice for security suite; it's what I use myself. BitDefender Internet Security 2010 and

Telegraph launches free Apple iPhone app

telegraph-app

The Telegraph has launched a new and improved version of its news application to help Apple iPhone users keep up with the latest headlines on the go.

The Telegraph app is available free of charge, unlike some other news applications.

The application – a small piece of software installed on a mobile device – automatically pulls in the latest news headlines and weather forecasts from the Telegraph website, making it quicker and easier to see top stories and sports results.

The Telegraph App works with Apple's iPhone, and can either be downloaded directly on to the device through the iTunes App Store, or copied across to the phone using a computer.

New features include the ability to instantly share interesting stories or pictures via email, Twitter or Facebook at the touch of a button, and access to video reports and picture galleries.

Users can also use the application to alert the Telegraph to a breaking news story. By clicking on the "Report" button, users can upload a photo and give a brief eyewitness account of breaking news.

"This new, improved app provides a really rich, multimedia news experience," said Maani Safa, head of mobile at Telegraph Media Group. "We've made the software as easy to use as possible, and there are lots of features that readers will love.

"We can provide you with up-to-the-minute weather forecasts based on your current location, or show you a list of the day's hottest news stories. And if you're catching a flight or taking the Tube, all of the stories and photos are still available, even if you don't have a mobile phone signal."

The Telegraph launched its first iPhone application earlier this year, and also makes a variety of apps for the BlackBerry and handsets running Google's Android operating system.

Solar-powered plane makes successful first flight

Bertrand Piccard, the Swiss adventurer who designed the Solar Impulse, said he hoped one day to fly nonstop around the world in the giant aeroplane.

The short, low altitude flight at a Swiss airfield on Thursday proved the prototype can fly, said Mr Piccard, who was the pilot of the first hot-air balloon to fly nonstop around the world. Several aircraft have flown with pilots using solar power before, but Solar Impulse is the first designed to fly indefinitely, staying aloft at night using batteries charged by the sun during the day.

"It was absolutely great to see this plane in the air," Mr Piccard told The Associated Press. "It's a completely new flight domain. There has never been an aeroplane so big and so light flying with so little energy."

The Solar Impulse, which has a wingspan of a Boeing 747 but weighs less than a small car, flew 1,150 feet at just one meter above the ground, Mr Piccard said.

"The goal was not to make a big flight, but to see if this aeroplane is behaving the way the engineers designed it," he said. "And the result was excellent.

"On the other hand, we see how long the road is still before we fly around the world with it," Mr Piccard said.

Solar panels will be attached next year for the first flight at night powered by solar energy, followed by a series of other tests, he said.

Mr Piccard and his co-pilot Andre Borschberg will alternate in the cockpit when they try to take the aeroplane around the world in 2012.

Mr Piccard set a world record in 1999 when he and Brian Jones, a Briton, took their balloon, Breitling Orbiter III, on a 20-day circumnavigation of the globe - an achievement that had eluded many before them, including Steve Fossett and Richard Branson.

Windows Live: Couldn't Install Programs


Trying to install Windows Live Messenger and get: Couldn't install programs message just like above? This is how to fix it:
  1. Remove all older versions of Windows Live Services (if you have previously installed or attempted to install any Windows Live Services). Clear the entries your computer by following the steps below.
    • Click Start, click Run, type appwiz.cpl and then click OK.
    •  In the list of currently installed programs, select any Windows Live (you may see more than one program with the Windows Live name) and then click Change / Remove.
    •  If you are prompted to confirm, click Yes.
    • Do this until all Windows Live programs (except Windows Live OneCare) are uninstalled.b.      In the list of currently installed programs, select any Windows Live (you may see more than one program with the Windows Live name) and then click Change / Remove.
  2. Restart your computer. This is important.
  3.  Once you have all the above dependencies installed, then download and install the appropriate software from the links below based on your language requirements. To perform this installation, follow these steps:
    • Visit this link: http://g.live.com/1rewlive3/en/wlsetup-all.exe   
    •  Save the file to your desktop
    •  Then Select Run
      Note: If you are prompted for confirmation to run the program, select Run
    • Confirm your acceptance of the Terms of Use and the installation will begin

  4.  Once the install is complete, drag the WLSetup.exe file to the Recycle Bin (this file is no longer needed)

Most Rugged Handsets: Tough Cell Phone

There are quite a few phones built for people who work in extreme environments, love adventure sports, or are just plain clumsy. Nextel and Motorola have long had a hold on the rugged market, with handsets like the Motorola Clutch i465. Verizon offers two rugged handsets: the Motorola Barrage and the Samsung Convoy. Multimedia performance and 3G data speeds on both phones weren't the best, but call quality was respectable. AT&T went a long time without offering rugged models, but it now has the Motorola Tundra and the Samsung Rugby. Finally, for real durability you should consider the unlocked Sonim XP3 Quest. Not only can it survive a full dunking in water, you can also use the XP3 to hammer a nail. (Kent German - Cnet)

  1. Motorola Clutch i465 | $39.99
  2. Motorola Barrage (Verizon Wireless) | $129.99
  3. Samsung Convoy SCH-U640 (Verizon Wireless) | $49.99
  4. Motorola Tundra VA76r (AT&T) | $179.99
  5. Samsung Rugby SGH-A837 Black (AT&T) | $129.99
  6. Sonim XP3 Quest (unlocked)

Assassin’s Creed II video game review

Format: Xbox 360 (tested), PS3 and PC
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Released: Out now
Score: 8/10

Ubisoft Entertainment S.A.Image via Wikipedia
The first few hours spent with Ezio Auditore da Firenze will be measured ones. Far from landing in Renaissance Italy as a deadly assassin from the outset, you find yourself transported into the body of the newborn Ezio, tapping buttons to wriggle his tiny limbs in a cute introduction to Assassin’s Creed’s control scheme. Fast-forward to his teenage years, and the handsome, roguish Ezio is scrapping on the Florence riverside with a rival family, skipping across the cities’ rooftops with his beloved older brother, beating up promiscuous fellows who have scorned his sister, and running errands for his noble parents.
Full Article: Telegraph

How to Install HDTV

Bringing home your shiny new HDTV is just the beginning of your home theater adventure. But don't settle, as many HDTV buyers do, for just plugging your new set into your existing setup. The next steps you need to take after bringing your HDTV home are crucial to both your enjoyment of the set and getting the most out of your investment.