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Syncing two computers may appear like a difficult task. Yes, it is! But there are software applications to make it simple and quick.
Here are two apps for syncing your computers:
Microsoft SyncToy
Microsoft’s SyncToy is the easiest way to sync your computers if you are using Windows based PCs that are connected by means of a home network. Microsoft’s SyncToy doesn’t come installed with Windows Xp or Vista by default. You can download it for free from Microsoft.com.
Download Microsoft SyncToy
One of the major minus points of SyncToy is that it cannot be used with a Home Network Attached Storage (NAS) drive without risking file corruption.
Google Sync
Unlike Microsoft’s SyncToy, Google Sync is a web based tool. It is a good option for syncing data from mobile devices and other devices. It is especially useful for syncing calendars and emails. The service is free and works with different platforms such as Windows, MAC OS X, BlackBerry, iPhone, Symbian and Android.
There are some paid services that are quite similar to Google Sync. However, Google Sync is way better because not only it is free but also equally efficient to paid ones.
Google Sync Link
A district court in the United States has ordered Dish Network Corporation and its sister company EchoStar to pay USD 200 million in damages to TiVo.
The fine was imposed after it was determined that Dish and EchoStar had violated on TiVo’s patents that deal with rewinding and pausing live TV.
Judge David Folsom also warned Charlie Ergen, founder of Dish Network Corp that he would “seriously entertain the award of enhanced sanctions” if Dish were to continue disregard the court’s orders. Earlier, Dish had advertised that its DVRs were “better than TiVos” while infringing of TiVo’s patents.
At the same time, Folsom accepted Ergen’s claims that Dish Network Corp believed it had been successful in designing a work around for TiVo’s patents.
“The decision confirms our belief that we designed around TiVo’s patent in good faith,” Dish Network Corp said in a statement obtained by the Associated Press. “We believe that we ultimately will prevail on appeal.”
Earlier, Dish Network Corp was forced to develop an alternative DVR software after it had lost a patent infringement case filed by TiVo in 2004 for unauthorized use of “time warp” technology.
However, TiVo claimed that Dish Network Crop’s modified software was infringing its intellectual properties as well and demanded a permanent injunction.
Hardly one week has passed since Sony launched its slim-sized PlayStation 3 in the UK. However, it has seen massive sales. In fact, its sales have increased by as much as 1000 per cent since the initial days of launch. The PS3 Slim has surpassed sales of Xbox 360 and also the Wii and DS Lite by as much as 3:1 ratio.
Sales are always affected by anticipation of new models. In Japan, sales of the PS3 were down due to anticipation of a new model’s launch on September 3rd.
In Europe, prior to the launch of the PS3 slim, overall PlayStation sales were behind the Xbox 360 by only one million units. Once the new model was model launched, the gap closed up in no time. On the other hand, the gap between both the competitors is as much as 9 times wider in the US.
PS3 Slim’s abrupt success raises many new questions: Who is buying the new units? Are they new customers or already existing ones?
So, how is the PS3 Slim performing in the US? Sufficient data is currently not available to accurately gauze the performance of the PS3 in the US. According to some sources, sales have doubled since last week. However, the reliability of these sources is in question and so we will have to wait for some more time to get the full picture.
Music streaming service Spotify expands its services to mobile phones…
Spotify is now available for phones based on Google’s Android and Apple’s iPhone. Using Spotify, users can now access four million audio tracks.
Additionally, users can also download and save 3,000 songs and play them offline.
Spotify offers a free streaming service for computers. However, mobile users have to purchase a subscription to download and save music files.
Spotify has been approved by Apple after the iPhone application was submitted for consideration in July.
The application can be downloaded for free. However, users have to pay 10 pounds to use it.
Many in the industry consider Spotify as a rival to Apple’s iTunes store.
Currently, Apple dominates the digital music market. Many speculated that Apple wouldn’t approve of Spotify’s app as it is a direct rival to Apple’s own flagship service.
Many in the music industry believe that Spotify is a viable alternative to Apple’s iTunes Service. They believe that Spotify represents a credible business model for the music industry which has found it difficult to adapt itself to the online world.
It is believed that one of the main reasons behind Spotify’s entry into the mobile market is that users pay subscriptions charges of its service which can mean lots of additional income.
Currently, most users who use Spotify use the free streaming service. Only 1 in every 50 users currently pays a subscription.
Spotify was launched in 2008 and now has more than 2 million users the United Kingdom alone. Additionally, more than six million users in Europe use Spotify.
Spotify is not yet available in the United States. However, the company has plans to introduce the service in the US by the end of this year.
According to the Register, HTC will soon be launching a new version of the Touch HD. Instead of using Microsoft’s Windows Mobile, it will be based on Google’s Android. The current version of Touch HD uses Windows Mobile.
The Touch HD 2 will feature a 3.8-inch touchscreen display, the same as the Touch HD. Most likely, the WVGA resolution will also be the same.
However, the Touch HD 2 will have a faster 628 MHz processor instead of the 528 Mhz processor present in the current model.
As of writing, more details such as the release date and pricing are not available.
Why the OS switch? There is not clear-cut answer to this question. However, it is possible that HTC is switching the OS as the request of a wireless carrier.
There is also a possibility that HTC is responding to customer requests. Ever since Google announced its mobile operating system last year, many users have requested an Android based version. HTC makes products that customers want and so the switch may be due to customer requests.
Designing a new version of the Touch HD with a faster processor and integrating it with Android wouldn’t be a difficult project for HTC. HTC is already familiar with the OS as it makes a number of Android-based devices. Additionally, the next version of Android will also support WVGA displays.
The original HTC Touch HD was very successful in Europe. However, it was not so popular in the U.S. because it was not offered by any carrier. The next version may be successful both in Europe and the US.
Last week, Nokia announced its new 3G netbook. It will use Microsoft’s latest OS–Windows 7. This collaboration between Nokia and Microsoft will definitely boost sales for Microsoft.
Users buying the Nokia Booklet 3G can choose either Windows 7 Starter Edition, Home Premium or Professional. The Netbook will be powered by an Intel Atom processor and is priced as $810. When compared to other netbooks in the market, Nokia’s offering is comparatively costly. However when compared to less expensive alternatives, the Booklet 3G comes with a number of features–which justify its price.
The netbook comes integrated with Nokia services such as Ovi Suite 2.0, Music for PC, Ovi Maps and Social hub. It also comes with inbuilt WLAN and WWAN support which allows the user to connect to the Internet using WiFi or mobile networks. The netbook comes with 1 GB of DDR2 RAM and 120 GB storage space.
Nokia’s decision to bundle Windows 7 with its netbook indicates that the two industry leaders are cooperating closely in the mobile computing market. Earlier, Microsoft had announced that it would launch a mobile version of its flagship office suite–Microsoft Office for Nokia’s Symbian OS-based smartphones.
Microsoft needs to promote Windows 7 for use on netbooks to tap the sales potential of this fast growing market segment. The netbook market is growing at a fast rate due to the fact that a large number of users are making the switch to netbooks from laptops and desktops due to cheaper prices and portability.
Microsoft’s earlier offering–Windows Vista was not so popular with netbook makers who preferred Windows Xp and Linux. Microsoft may try to change this trend by pushing Windows 7 as a viable option for netbooks.
Rumors on the Internet and elsewhere are getting into an overdrive as we approach September 9th when Apple will unveil the new iPod 2009 players.
Many fans believe that Apple will launch new iPod touch players with higher storage capacities and a video camera. There is also a possibility that a new camera model of the iPod Nano may be announced. Earlier there were rumors that the iPod Classic would be getting a camera. However, new rumors have surfaced which say the Apple will discontinue the iPod Classic altogether.
Though the iPod Classic is not as trendy as the newer models, it nevertheless has users who still love it. It is still worth buying. So, there is a possibility that Apple may keep the Classic for at least another year before phasing it out completely.
On September 9th, Apple will announce its new iPod players that will compete against Microsoft’s new Zune HD. To give Zune HD a tough competition, Apple will not only have to give the iPod a camera, but also an OLED screen.
In any case, the new players from Apple will definitely attract a large number of sales. Microsoft’s earlier version of the Zune was nowhere near as successful as Applie’s iPod. But this may see a reversal with Zune HD.
LG has announced the release of Chocolate BL 40, its fourth handset in its Black Label Series. With its new release, LG is set to reinvent the way users interact with their mobile phones.
Announcing the launch of the phone, LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company CEO Dr. Skott Ahn said, “The new LG Chocolate will dramatically change the way we interact with our phones. The new Chocolate reflects the originality and sophistication of the Black Label Series and like its predecessor, we are confident that the new Chocolate will create its own legacy and further enhance our standing in the market.”
The LG Chocolate BL 40 comes with an unconventional 4-inch widen touchscreen. The 21:9 HD LCD eliminates unwanted side scrolling and opens up space for on-the-go computing. The handset includes 7.2 HSDPA for faster internet access and email, enhanced multimedia features such as theater-like movie player, enriched image viewer and a dual screen UI. One of the plus points of the dual screen UI is that is allows users to view different types of content simultaneously at the same time.
The LG BL 40 provides users with a simple touchscreen navigation with an upgraded S-Class user interface. The UI features 3D graphics and is very fast and responsive. Accessing applications using the phone’s touchscreen is very easy and intuitive. One notable feature offered by the phone is its one-touch copy and paste function, thanks to the wider screen.
Overall the design of the phone is very innovative and refreshing. Its slim, colorful design gives it a unique identity. In addition, it also comes with a scratch-resistant glass surface which will keep it looking new and good for longer periods of time. More details such as the pricing and when it will be available for sale have not yet been announced.
List of features offered by the BL 40
– GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
– 3G HSDPA 900 / 2100
– 4.01? TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
– 5 MP camera with LED flash and auto-focus
– S-Class Touch UI
– Multi-touch capable
– 1GB internal memory with microSD support (up to 32GB)
– WiFi
– Bluetooth
– A-GPS
– DivX support and TV-out with Dolby Mobile
The biggest threat Windows 7 faces comes not from Mac OS X or Linux, but from Microsoft’s own Windows Xp. Windows Xp is much mature and stable and needs less system requirements. So, for most business and normal users, it is a much better choice than Windows 7 or Vista. However, recent statistics reveal that the number of Windows Xp users is slowly declining. Is this an indication of “game over” for Windows Xp?
Recent statistics compiled by the Web measurement company Net Applications indicate that during the last month Windows Xp’s share of the OS usage market reduced by 1.1 per cent. This equals its November 2008 drop.
On the other hand, statistics reveal that the share held by Windows Vista and Windows 7 is on the rise. Vista’s share increased by 0.9 per cent while Windows 7′s share also increased by 0.3 per cent. The majority of the users still use Windows Xp. Windows Xp commands a share of 71.8 per cent while Vista and Windows 7 have a share of 18.8 and 1.2 per cent respectively. On the other hand, Mac OS X’s share remains constant at 4.9 per cent.
Windows Xp’s continuing dominance is a serious problem for Microsoft. If business establishments continue using Windows Xp and choose not to upgrade to Windows Vista or Windows 7, it would mean lots of potential revenue lost for the company. Taking into consideration that most people do not want to buy new computers or upgrade their hardware just to run a new operating system, Microsoft will definitely lose revenue due to Windows Xp.
However, it can be said with certainty that Windows 7 will do what Vista couldn’t for Microsoft. Windows 7 has received an overall positive response from both users and industry experts. It may thus find better acceptance with business establishments. Additionally with declining hardware prices, consumers may slowly buy new PCs or upgrade their hardware and buy the latest offerings from Microsoft.
Mac users who have upgraded to the latest release–Snow Leopard are having issues getting their HP printers to work. It appears that the upgrade breaks already installed software.
A large number of users have posted messages of HP’s support forums asking for assistance in getting their printers to work. It seems that HP printers are not the only ones facing compatibility problems. Other printers from Brother, Canon, Epson and Lexmark also have issues in functioning properly with Snow Leopard.
A representative from HP has clarified that HP is currently working on a solution to the problem. New drivers are being developed which will enable Snow Leopard users to use the printers without any issue. However, regarding the availability of the drivers, he only mentioned that they will be available “in the near future”.
Apple has published a list of printers and other hardware that are compatible with Snow Leopard. This list currently includes some models from HP and other printer companies.
This incompatibility issue comes as a surprise as Apple has taken a lot of effort to ensure complete compatibility with existing applications.
Current HP printer owners may have to wait until Apple and HP release a solution to the problem.
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