Image Courtesy : Gizmodo

“PhotoSynth allows users to combine an array of photos of a single location into a navigable, three-dimensional image called a “synth” and upload it to Photosynth.net to share with the world. The technology, which originated in a Microsoft Research project, is an altogether new way of putting photographs together.

Microsoft recently introduced their first ever Gaming specific Keyboard and Mouse Combo called the Sidewinder X6 Keyboard and Sidewinder X5 Mouse. From the pics you can see that it has a Detachable keypad which when not in gaming mode transforms into a full-programmable macro pad !

The X5 Mouse features 9 Buttons out of which 5 are User Programmable powered by a 2000 DPI laser tracking sensor.

The X6 Keyboard will cost  US$ 79.95
The X5 Mouse will cost US$ $59.95

The Gaming Keyboard Mouse Combo will be available next month !

Check out the Official Press Release from Microsoft :

SideWinder line expands with first-ever keyboard and new SideWinder X5 Mouse.

LEIPZIG, Germany  Aug. 20, 2008  Today at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany, Microsoft Hardware debuted the SideWinder X6 Keyboard - the most versatile gaming keyboard on the market with the first-ever switchable key pad that can be attached to the left or right side of the keyboard for ultimate flexibility. To round out the SideWinder line, the Hardware team is also announcing the SideWinder X5 Mouse, a fast, powerful gaming mouse designed to give mainstream gamers a competitive edge.

The switchable key pad makes the SideWinder X6 Keyboard ideal for gaming as well as productivity, as the key pad functions as a standard num pad in normal keyboard mode, but becomes a programmable macro pad in game mode. Complementing the unique versatility of the keyboard are features specifically designed for gaming, including the capacity to store up to 90 macros per game and backlighting that helps users get immersed in the game.

“We know that consumers don’t want to pull out and set up a second keyboard for a gaming session, so we created a device that was perfect for both gaming and regular computer use,” said Kevin Flick, user researcher for Microsoft Hardware. “With the switchable key pad, gamers will have a fantastic, customizable experience whether they’re playing their favorite game or creating Microsoft Office PowerPoint presentations.”

Powerful Versatility
The SideWinder X6 Keyboard’s switchable key pad allows gamers to program up to 90 macros per game with the help of a set of dedicated macro keys as well as a fully programmable key pad. With mode switching, gamers can instantly go from Microsoft Office Excel to their favorite game - and place the macro pad on whichever side they prefer for gaming. The X6 also offers the following features to take advantage of its adaptability:
• Mode switching lets gamers manually toggle the keyboard from standard mode to either of two gaming modes. LEDs show the selected mode.
• Automatic profile switching detects the application that is running and applies the custom profile.
Designed for Gaming
The SideWinder X6 Keyboard is more than a standard keyboard with a few extra bells and whistles - it was built from the ground up with gamers in mind, to give them an edge up on their competition. To complement its versatility, the keyboard has the following additional features to produce the ultimate gaming package:
• New Cruise Control feature continues an action without having to hold down the key or keys assigned to the action. Gamers can use Cruise Control with up to four keys at a time.1
• In-game macro record button lets gamers record any sequence of keystrokes - even standard chat messages. Macros are stored on the PC hard drive and can be easily shared.
• WASD gaming keys, the most commonly used keys for gamers, have front-face lighting for enhanced visibility.
• Quick-Launch key gives one-touch access to Windows Vista Games Explorer, allowing gamers to quickly see the games in their PC’s game library.

Get Immersed
Gamers enjoy a heightened experience when adsorbed in the gaming world. Research shows many gamers like to dim the lights, and the X6’s two-color adjustable backlighting helps set the mood to achieve total immersion. The red backlighting indicates standard keys that are not programmable, while the amber color indicates custom-programmable macro keys in game mode that can be tuned to the gamers’ preference. The X6 also includes full media keys and volume and backlighting control dials to fine-tune the gaming experience.

SideWinder X5 Mouse
Today, Microsoft also announced the SideWinder X5 Mouse, a fast, powerful gaming mouse designed to give mainstream gamers a competitive edge. The nine-button gaming mouse is designed for handling with vertical side buttons, adjustable sensitivity switching up to 2,000 DPI, five customizable buttons, and a Quick-Launch button that instantly launches the Windows Vista Games Explorer.

SideWinder: It’s Only the Beginning
The SideWinder X6 Keyboard is the first keyboard to join the popular SideWinder family of gaming products. Established in 1995 and revived in 2007, the SideWinder line is known for its top-notch PC gaming peripherals, including mice, game pads, joysticks and steering wheels.

Pricing and Availability
The SideWinder X6 Keyboard and SideWinder X5 Mouse will be widely available in September 2008 for an estimated retail price of $79.95 (U.S.) and $59.95 (U.S.), respectively.3 The products are available now for pre-sale on Amazon.com and will ship in September when they are widely released. The SideWinder X6 Keyboard and SideWinder X5 Mouse will be backed by a worldwide three-year limited hardware warranty from Microsoft Corp. More information about these and other Microsoft Hardware products can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware.

Microsoft has improved its Web Reach with the introduction of its Live Services. Microsoft still is trying hard to improve its Live Services and has been working on what is known as Live Wave 3 which is the the next version of Microsoft’s Windows Live software and services and is expected to be launched for Beta Testers in coming weeks !

Live Wave promises improvements in all of Microsofts Live Services including the Live Common Installer and other popular Live Services like Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Photo Gallery are all undergoing a major improvement !

Whats more special about Live Wave 3 is that its built keeping Windows 7 in mind and all of its Services will seamlessly integrated with the next version of Windows ! Microsoft Live Developers expressed this about an year ago, here’s what they said :

“While Windows Live is a service that is available across devices, we know most customers connect to their services on a Windows PC using Internet Explorer. We have a unique opportunity to provide a seamless experience for customers who choose to use our services with Windows and Internet Explorer.

“While we will target a seamless experience on Windows Vista, we will make a bet on the Windows 7 platform and experience, and create the best experience when connected with Windows 7.  We will work with the Windows 7 team and be a first and best developer of solutions on the Windows 7 platform.

“Our experiences will be designed so when they are connected to Windows 7 they seamlessly extend the Windows experience, and we will work to follow the Windows 7 style guidelines for applications.  We will work with the Internet Explorer 8 team to make sure we deliver an experience that seamlessly extends the browser with our toolbar and other offerings.Search and MSN.”

Links :

• microsoft2.net
• zdnet.com

Sony’s win over the Blu-Ray format was enough a reason for Microsoft to provide support for Blu-Ray in its Windows Operating System.

Microsoft has almost completed its work on a Feature Pack, focusing on the Storage aspect which will add Blu-Ray media and smart-card driver functionality to Windows XP and Windows Vista.

According to Official Microsoft Connect Site :

There are 3 technologies available for this Pre-Release-Each will have its own installer:

Active Storage Platform: This pre-release package enables the Windows platform to restrict access to portable devices (such as a USB Flash Device) via a certificate or password authentication based on the IEEE 1667 standard specification.

Image Mastering API update for Blu-Ray media: This feature enables the Windows platform to do master style optical burning on Blu-Ray media.

Smart Card Driver: This release provides support for new form factors, such as ICCD/CCID.

Microsoft periodically releases Feature Packs specifying on certain aspects like the previous Feature Pack aimed at improving Wireless Support

Check out the Pre-Release WebSite for Windows Feature Pack for Storage : Click Here

Tired of such messeges ? You’ve tried your best to free up space by deleting those old movies or games but are still wondering who’s eating up all that space ?

Check out these Simple 8 Steps to Free Up your Disk Space : (Courtesy : pc-washer.com )

1. Empty the Trash
   The first and easiest thing that you can do to clean up your hard disk is to empty the Recycle Bin. The Recycle Bin is a temporary storage place for deleted files. You can often gain quite a bit of extra space simply by right clicking on it and choosing the Empty Recycle Bin option. Remember that once you empty the recycle bin, you will not be able to retrieve any of the files because they are now permanently deleted. It is a good habit to occasionally empty the Recycle Bin even when you don’t do a full disk cleanup.
2. Remove temp files
   Temporary files are created when you download and install software, open files in e-mail and instant messaging programs, or transfer files. In most cases, your computer only uses these files at the time they are created. Generally, they live in a folder on your hard drive called C:\Documents and Settings\[user account]\Local Settings\{Temporary Internet Files, Temp}. Usually the program that created the temporary files deletes them when it’s finished, but sometimes the files are left behind. This can happen for a number of reasons - the program might have been interrupted before it finished installing, or it crashed during a restart. Delete all files under these folder. You might get error messages telling files are being used. Just ignore them.
3. Compress infrequently used files
   Compressing files that are not frequently used frees up disk space, but does not slow down the computer.
   1. Compress old files: Go to Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools and run “Disk Cleanup”, check all boxes including “Compress Files”.
   2. After you click “OK” this may run for many hours if it is run the first time…

4. Remove unnecessary system files
   Delete unnecessary files: Go to Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools and run “Disk Cleanup”, check all boxes but not “Compress Files”. After a while you will get a report of the files you can remove and the amount of space that will be freed; click “OK”.
5. Remove obsolete files
   Obsolete programs and Windows components take up space and may slow down your computer.
   1. Delete unnecessary programs: Go to Start -> Settings -> Control Panel and run “Add or Remove Programs”. In the “Change or Remove Programs” panel, carefully remove any programs you don’t need on your PC. Leave all Windows programs and patches alone.
   2. Delete unnecessary Windows functions: Go to Start -> Settings -> Control Panel and run “Add or Remove Programs”. In the “Add/Remove Windows Components” panel, carefully remove any programs you don’t need.
6. Empty Prefetch folder
   Windows XP’s Prefetch folder helps programs to start faster. Unfortunately, it has a tendancy to get bloated - pre-loading for every program you ever start, not just the ones you use frequently. I empty the pre-fetch folder about once a month. You can simply delete the contents - it won’t affect your programs or data. Or, if you want some automation, here’s a great Prefetch utility.
7. Clear System Update Files
   When you install security fixes, updates, patches etc in Windows XP, several folders with odd looking names are placed in the Windows directory (usually C:\Windows). The folder names will look something like this: $NtUninstall. These are backup folders containing the files needed to uninstall updates, should they cause problems. After a month or less of using XP with the new updates, I delete the folders and remove their entries from Control Panel / Add or Remove Programs. Here’s more information from Microsoft on safely deleting the Service Pack Uninstall folders.
8. Take back System Restore space
   If you’re using System Restore, you can get back disk space by going into disk cleanup and clearing all but the most recent restore points.
   1. Start Menu / All Programs / Accessories / System Tools / Disk Cleanup
   2. from the Select Drive dialog, click OK or press ENTER
   3. click the More Options tab and click Clean up¡­ under System Restore click OK or press ENTER at the next dialog which asks if you want to clean up all but the most recent restore points

Its been only about a month since Firefox 3 was launched. Mozilla surely must’ve expected to increase its market share. This was evident from the World Record attempt that Mozilla tried at !

The average market share for Firefox was 19.27% in June, up from 18.41% in May. IE dropped from 73.75% to 72.95% in the same time frame.

Today Internet Explorer has 69.88% , while Firefox captured a market share of 20.68%.

So within a month Mozilla has managed to increase its Market Share by 2.85% which is still pretty good !

After all the high end drama that was going on months ago in which the Microsoft-Yahoo Deal was called off, it now seems that Yahoo itself is now interested to deal with Microsoft !

Investor activist Carl Icahn with Microsoft’s support is trying to remove the Entire Yahoo Board. Microsoft said in a Official Statement that either it will purchase only the “Search” function with financial guarantees or simply buy the entire company.

Yahoo too made an Official Statement showing its interest on working out on the Deal with Microsoft. Take a look at the Official Statement :

Yahoo!’s Board of Directors continues to stand ready to enter into negotiations with Microsoft Corporation for an acquisition of Yahoo!. Indeed, as recently as June, Yahoo!’s independent directors and management approached Steve Ballmer about just such a transaction, only to be told that Microsoft was no longer interested even in the price range which they had previously proposed. Now Mr. Ballmer and Mr. Icahn have teamed up in an apparent effort to force Yahoo! into selling to Microsoft its Search business at a price to be determined in a future “negotiation” between Mr. Icahn’s directors and Microsoft’s management. We feel very strongly that this would not lead to an outcome that would be in the best interests of Yahoo!’s stockholders. If Microsoft and Mr. Ballmer really want to purchase Yahoo!, we again invite them to make a proposal immediately. And if Mr. Icahn has an actual plan for Yahoo! beyond hoping that Microsoft might actually consummate a deal which they have repeatedly walked away from, we would be very interested in hearing it.