TechThisOut!
Tech news, reviews, and how-tos!
Windows Vista & Office 12 Public Beta Registration
Mar 22nd
Microsoft has decided to open the public betas of Windows Vista, Office 12, and Exchange Server 12 up early by allowing people to sign up in advance for a spot and be notified when the beta is available. The TechNet email system will enable you to be one of the first to enjoy the public beta. From the Microsoft site:
Lead evaluations for new technologies and understand their impact on your IT environment and their potential for your company by pre-registering here. You will be the first to be notified when the Windows Vista, Office “12,†and Exchange “12″ public beta More >
Tech This Out’s first TTOCast
Mar 12th
Okay, lately I’ve been working on a top secret podcasting idea and I finally made it happen last night. After a few hours of extreme editing and talking, it seems that I have finished the first TTOCast (podcast). Please note that this is the very first episode and is very short, only about 3 minutes. It is only a demo and I hope to improve on future episodes. TTOCast’s will be published every Sunday and will review the latest technology stuff going on.
The TTOCast was created using GarageBand on Mac OSX as part of a bundle of iLife ’06. Along More >
Free USB Thumb Drive from Microsoft!
Mar 6th
Microsoft is once again trying to promote anti-piracy by giving out free USB thumb drives pre loaded with all the information you will ever need about piracy and using genuine Windows. There has been no word of people getting them yet, as there is a 6-8 week shipping wait, and probably a lot longer now that word has gotten out. You don’t need a credit card or any of that, just a microsoft passport. Check it out here.
Fun new Apple products, but not what most expected.
Mar 1st
I’m very sorry this post is a day late. I have been very busy lately packing and such and haven’t had much time to be on the computer in the past day.
Anyways, at the Apple event I mentioned in my previous post, Apple has released a few new products for us, although not quite what we expected: a new $99 leather iPod case, the iPod HiFi (very nice speaker for the ipod, more on that later), and the Intel Mac Mini, which was somewhat dissapointing.
First off, the Intel Mac Mini is a very nice addition to the Intel mac family. More >
Apple Event Tomorrow!
Feb 27th
According to Apple, their will be an Apple Event held tomorrow, Tuesday, February 28th, 2006 — at which Apple is said to be releasing a few “fun” products.
Their are rumors of an Intel iBook, an Intel Mac Mini, a full, 3.5 inch touch screen video ipod, and much, much more. However, no one knows for sure and Apple is known for their clever surprises.
I’m personally hoping for the new Mac Mini, with the Intel processor. As you all know, I switched to Mac. I have a 17″ Intel Core Duo iMac and a 12″ PowerPC G4 iBook. Why not spend More >
Mary had a little lamb…
Feb 20th
Okay, being the bored person I was today, I got out my cell phone and started pressing random keys on the keypad. Eventually, I got into a pattern.. 1 2 1 2 333.. etc. Over the timespan of a few hours, I finished “Mary had a little lamb” on my cell phone keypad.
1 2 1 2 3 3 3 5 5 5 6 6 6 1 2 1 2 3 3 3 5 5 6 6 2 1 Mary had a little lamb, little lamb.. little lamb, marry had a little lamb whos fleece was white as snow.
Sad, I know. More >
Windows Defender
Feb 19th
Microsofts AntiSpyware Beta has been comletely revamped with many bug fixes and improvements, along with a new name, Windows Defender.
Windows Defender (Beta 2) is a free program that helps protect your computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software. It features Real-Time Protection, a monitoring system that recommends actions against spyware when it’s detected, and a new streamlined interface that minimizes interruptions and helps you stay productive.
Windows Defender is free but requires an authentic installation of Windows in order to install.
Thanks to Jake Jarvis for the information on Windows Defender
More >iPod shuffle prices lowered
Feb 19th
Due to prices of release of the $149, 1 GB iPod nano, the iPod shuffle prices have decreased. The 512 MB iPod shuffle is now $69 while the 1 GB is $99.
On that note, Apple released a 1 GB iPod nano a few days ago, which I think will be a great competitor to the shuffle, being only $50 more and having a screen.
Sorry for the lack of entries lately… very busy! I have also updated the about page if you want to check it out. You can get there by clicking here, or clicking “About” on the top of More >
Download the feed icon!
Feb 16th
Most of you have seen the orange feed icon on almost every website ever since Firefox started using it quite a while ago. But recently, Microsoft adapted the rights to it and has put it up for download in many different formats (AI, EPS, SVG, PSD, PDF, PNG, JPG, GIF) at feedicons.com. You can also get it in various colors, if orange isn’t “your thing”.
Advertisements in all the wrong places
Feb 15th
I was listening to a radio show the other day on the radio when they started talking about advertisements. It’s true — it seems as though there are advertisements everywhere these days. On the internet, on the side of roads, billboards, etc! Heck, I heard that they will soon be putting advertisements next to the white paint where you park your car in parking lots! But now Microsoft is seeming catching onto this train off oddly placed, and inconvenient advertisements…
Microsoft is including a “Welcome Center” for new owners of Windows Vista PCs. The OEM-Modifiable screen displays services such as Antiviral More >