Future operating systems from Microsoft

Microsoft is working on at least three new operating systems namely Windows 7, Windows 8 and Midori. Windows 7 is expected to release by 2009 end or 2010 start.

As a successor of Windows Vista, Windows 7(codenamed Blackcomb) will come up with a host of new features like a new media center, support for systems with multiple graphics cards, new paint, new wordpad, support to integrate gadgets directly to windows explorer etc.

A research project Midori when lauched will be Microsoft's Windowsless O.S. It is said to be an internet centric operating system and will aim at providing complete connectivity between devices and applications.

Windows 8 hasnt been officially announced by the company but sources claim that Microsoft has started hiring professionals for its development. See here

World War II : Road to victory

Ever wanted to create history? If yes, here is your time. Matrix Games and IQ Software have announced the release of ther debut game, World War II : Road to victory. World War II : Road to victory is a strategy based game wherein the player can get the actual World War II experience. The battles are fought at places from France and Russia covering the Europe to the deserts of North Africa.

You can move your allies to your side to gain more power, concentrate on strengthening your combat units from airborne soldiers and armored divisions up to nuclear weapons, use resources to upgrade you arms and ammunition and a lot more. You have the choice of playing the game as a single nation or multiple nations to have the real experience. Historical leaders enhance the performance of your armies, strategically important events that seek your attention take place in the game from time to time. Your decisions in such issues decide the course of war. Amazing graphics and sound effects coupled with excellent gameplay make it a must play game for every strategy game enthusiast.

Cuil - Google's new rival

A new search engine 'Cuil'(pronounced cool) is all set to give sleepless nights to google employees. It is being said that Cuil is the biggest search engine and has an index span of around 120 billion web pages.

Cuil is the outcome of hard work by Anna Patterson, ex-google employee, her husband - Tom Costello, and two other ex-google engineers, Russel Power and Louis Monier. Cuil started operating from 28th July 08 and got enormous response from surfers.

Rather than placing the search results in a vertical manner, one below the other like most search engines, Cuil places them in a magazine like manner i.e. horizontally in columns, which looks pretty neat.

Google has been getting competition from various search engines in the past like Teoma, Vivisimo, Snap, Mahalo and Powerset but this is the first time that a search engine developed by ex-google engineers is in the contest. Google responded to Cuil on its blog by saying,"Having great competitors is a huge benefit to us and everyone in the search space, It makes us all work harder, and at the end of the day our users benefit from that."

Logitech ChillStream Controller

Logitech ChillStream gamepad has got Xbox 360ish looks. Actually it is for PC. With its patented Cooling System technology you can forget about those sweaty palms while playing games. It actually flows air onto your fingers and the palm of your hand to prevent them from getting sweaty. The gamepad has good ergonomic design to fit comfortably in your hands. The buttons are well placed, so that you can have hours of gameplay without any strain in your palms. It has nice rubber grips on the side which give better grip while holding the gamepad.

Specifications

System Requirements
Windows® XP, or Vista™
PC with Pentium® processor or compatible
Available USB port

Package Contents
Logitech® ChillStream™ Controller
User guide
Gaming software
1-year limited warranty

The Art of Murder : FBI Confidential

The Art of Murder : FBI Confidential is basically a point and click game developed by City Interactive which has also developed games like Project Freedom, WWII: Pacific Heroes, and Wings of Honour previously.

The plot of The Art of Murder: FBI Confidential revolves around a rookie FBI agent named Nicole Bonnet. New York is witnessing a series of gruesome murders. Players have to play the game as Nicole and unfold the mystery to find out who is behind all these killings. Naturally the game has a dark and dingy storyline suitable for mature players only.

The Art of Murder: FBI Confidential keeps the player involved throughout the game with its excellent graphics and amazing sound effects. One has to constantly deal with puzzles and twists to crack the codes and advance in the game. It has got 20 in-game 3D characters, 100 puzzles, 15 main locations (200 pre-rendered images in total), and 5,000 dialogue lines.

Here are some of its pics:

 
  

   

Nokia Supernova 7310

I think this is the most decent and good looking phone in all of the Supernova phones released by Nokia. It has no jingles and bells, just a purely sober phone. Some of its features include a 2 MP, to shoot pictures at 1600x1200 pixels, Xpress-on covers with 3D textured designs, TV out etc.

Dimensions : 106.5 x 45.4 x 12 mm, 58 cc
Weight : 83 g

Display Type : TFT, 16M colors

Size : 240 x 320 pixels, 2.0 inches

Vibration : Yes

Memory : Phonebook 2000 entries, Photocall

Call records : 20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed calls

Card slot : microSD (TransFlash), up to 4GB, buy memory, 32 MB internal memory

Data : GPRS Class 32, 88 kbps

HSCSD : No

EDGE : Class 32, 296 kbits

3G : No

WLAN : No

Bluetooth : Yes, v2.0 with A2DP

Infrared : port No

USB : Yes, v2.0 microUSB

Browser : WAP 2.0/xHTML

Colors : Steel Blue, Wasabi Green, Candy Pink, Mushroom Silver, Plum Jam, Electric Blue, Yellow Mellow

Camera : 2 MP, 1600x1200 pixels, video (QCIF@15fps)

Other Features :
- Java MIDP 2.0
- Stereo FM radio with RDS
- MP3/AAC/AAC+/eAAC+/WMA player
- MPEG-4 player
- Built-in handsfree
- Voice command/dial/memo
- Xpress-on covers with 3D textured designs
- Push to Talk
- Macromedia Flash Lite 2.1
- TV-out
- T9

Battery : Standard battery, Li-Ion 860 mAh (BL-4CT)

Stand-by : Up to 300 h

Talk time : Up to 4 h

Nokia Supernova 7610

Love it of hate it, this is Nokia 7610. Looking at its shiny face it feels that it has got a touch screen user interface. But wait, slide it to reveal the keypad. I wonder why is Nokia still not making cellphones with touch screen interface.

Nokia 7610 is scheduled to hit the markets by 3Q 2008.
This 99 gm phone boasts of a 16million color screen which is now a days Nokia's standard. It has 3.15 megapixel camera. It has 64 MB inbuilt memory and option of expanding memory using microSD card.

Specificaions

 

Size Dimensions : 98 x 48 x 15 mm, 63 cc

Weight : 99 g

Display Type : TFT, 16M colors

Size : 240 x 320 pixels, 2.0 inches

Vibration : Yes

Memory Phonebook : 2000 entries , Photocall

Call records : 20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed calls

Card slot : microSD (TransFlash), up to 2GB, 512MB or 2GB included, 64 MB internal memory

Data : GPRS Class 32, 88 kbps

HSCSD : Yes

EDGE : Class 32, 296 kbits

3G : No

WLAN : No

Bluetooth : Yes, v2.0

Infrared port : No

USB : Yes, v2.0 microUSB

Browser : WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML

Colors : Muted Gray, Steel Blue, Red, Bright Lilac, Pristine White

Camera : 3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, autofocus, video(VGA@15fps), dual LED

Other features :
- Java MIDP 2.0
- Stereo FM radio with RDS
- MP3/AAC/AAC+/eAAC+/WMA player
- MPEG-4 player
- T9
- Built-in handsfree
- Voice memo
- Xpress-on covers

Battery : Standard battery, Li-Ion 860 mAh (BL-4S)

Stand-by : Up to 300 h

Talk time : Up to 5 h 20 min