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.
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
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
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
- 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.
- Restart your computer. This is important.
- 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
- 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)
- Motorola Clutch i465 | $39.99
- Motorola Barrage (Verizon Wireless) | $129.99
- Samsung Convoy SCH-U640 (Verizon Wireless) | $49.99
- Motorola Tundra VA76r (AT&T) | $179.99
- Samsung Rugby SGH-A837 Black (AT&T) | $129.99
- 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
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
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Released: Out now
Score: 8/10
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.
Computer won't boot, needs a re-install
The problem: Turning on the computer results in a message that states Windows can't boot because something is missing (a boot loader, an important file, etc.) or something is wrong. There are many variations on this message, but they all say basically the same thing: You will not be getting into Windows.
Quick-fix triage: Load the original XP, Vista, or Windows 7 (Really? Broken already?) CD or DVD in the system and boot the system from there, which might require hitting a key to bring up "boot options" or pressing a key when asked to "Press any key to boot from CD." Wait for the CD to load—it may seem like it's installing, but it's just loading a mini-system for installation and, in this case, repair. Follow the prompts to repair an existing installation, or, in the case of Vista or 7, ask it to repair the startup process.
What you'll need:- XP, Vista, or Windows 7 installation CD/DVD: It may be from a computer manufacturer and not look like a Microsoft-obtained, holograph-packed disc, so look around a bit. If it's a "System Restoration" disc, be sure that you can boot from it and install a full copy of Windows from it.
- USB thumb drive: At least 1GB in size.
- External USB drive or blank DVDs: For backing up important files.
- Ubuntu Live CD or Knoppix Live CD: Both are Linux distributions, but we're just using them because they run on most kinds of hardware without installing, and can transfer the files you need to your backup media. Ubuntu should work; if it doesn't, give Knoppix a go. You can use the free tool UNetBootin to transfer the ISO you downloaded to a thumb drive, which is necessary if you're backing up to DVDs, and recommended in any case to speed things up.
If that doesn't work, and you really feel this system can boot again except for some silly error, try creating an Ultimate Recovery CD, as detailed at the How-To Geek's home away from Lifehacker.
If that worked, hooray! If not, soldier on to the next step.
Back up the files: Have your USB hard drive or blank DVDs handy, and remove the Windows CD/DVD from the computer if you tried to use that for a fix. Stick your thumb drive with the Ubuntu (or Knoppix) image into a USB slot, then boot up the computer. You may have to hit F12 or another key to boot from USB, or change a setting in the BIOS (which you can access by hitting a key—written in that fast-disappearing text—at boot-up). You'll be asked to choose a language, then hit the option to "Try Ubuntu without any changes." After some loading, you'll arrive at an Ubuntu desktop.
Move your cursor to the "Places" menu, and check to see that your USB drive (MyBook, in my case) or blank DVD is showing up. You should also see the hard drive Windows is running from. On an XP or Vista system, there's usually just one, but on Windows 7, there are two—a "System Reserved" (fairly small) and a larger, main drive. Check to see that you can open and access those files as well.Ask your relatives which files and documents are important to them. When doing my own tech support work, I usually back up the entire "My Documents" folder (with "My Music" and "My Pictures" included), their Outlook or (yes, sometimes) Outlook Express email data (explained here), and their Firefox profile or, more likely, their "Favorites" folder for Internet Explorer (
C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Favorites in XP, or C:\Users\Username\Favorites in Vista or 7). In any case, always ask, and make sure there isn't any software they can't locate a license for.
If you're burning to DVD, head to the Applications menu in your temporary Ubuntu system, mouse over the Accessories sub-menu, and select "CD/DVD Creator" when it pops up. You'll get a folder you can drag files you want to burn into, then hit "Write to Disc" to burn them.
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