OC Extreme!: January 2009

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Windows 7 Beta now available to the first 2.5 million downloaders.

For those who have been itching to try or have a copy of the Windows 7 Beta via illegal download sites and stores, now you dont have to, but I suggest you act fast.

I would like to share to you that the Windows 7 Beta (build 7000, 32-bit and 64-bit) is now available for the first 2.5 million downloaders.

Microsoft TechNet:
.... Download the Beta for a hands-on trial. For a limited time, Microsoft is making this pre-release version of Windows 7 available to the first 2.5 million people who download. Ready to take a test drive? You can get one by trying the Windows 7 Beta....

For IT Professionals, see this TechNet page:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/dd353205.aspx

For typical windows users, see this page:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/beta-download.aspx

Just a reminder, this is "BETA" so it's not glitch-free, it expires on Aug. 1, 2008, and Microsoft is not providing technical support to this. For problems, you may seek fellow beta testers or as always, just google-it.

As with any BETA software, feedback is highly appreciated, so feel free to contribute. Oh by the way, you need a Windows Live ID. Also, the minimum recommended specs:

1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor
1 GB of system memory
16 GB of available disk space
Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB memory (to enable the Aero theme)
DVD-R/W Drive
Internet access (to download the Beta and get updates)

Cheers to all! Happy downloading and beta testing.

Friday, January 9, 2009

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 Reviews.

Hardware Zone:
http://www.hardwarezone.com.sg/articles/view.php?id=2780&cid=3&pg=1

bi-tech.net: Nvidia GeForce GTX 295 1,792MB & Quad SLI
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2009/01/08/nvidia-geforce-gtx-295-quad-sli-review/1

Demons (TV series)

Demons is a British six-part supernatural television drama series produced by Shine Productions, which premiered on ITV1 on 3 January 2009. It is produced by the same company that made the British supernatural drama Hex.

The plot follows the adventures of a London teenager Luke Rutherford, who learns that he is the last descendant of the Van Helsing line by the sudden arrival of his American godfather Rupert Galvin. Luke is charged with the role of smiting the gathering dark forces of the world whilst trying to live an ordinary life of exams and parties. Rupert Galvin helps train Luke with the assistance of Mina Harker, a blind concert pianist and authority on half-lives, i.e., vampires, demons, zombies, and werewolves). Luke's best friend Ruby also joins in on the action.

Official Page: http://www.itv.com/Drama/cult/Demons/default.html

IMDB Entry: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0844487
Wikipedia Entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demons_(TV_series)

[TechReport] AMD's Phenom II.

Here is a more comprehensive review by TechReport:

http://techreport.com/articles.x/16147

Thursday, January 8, 2009

[HWZ] "Here Be Dragons" - AMD Phenom II

I got this review by HardwareZone in my inbox today:

http://www.hardwarezone.com.sg/articles/view.php?id=2778&cid=2&pg=1

I would still wait for other reviews. Feel free to read the whole review, although here is a preview (synthetic, multithreaded, and gaming scores):

CES 2009- Unveiled!

[ZDNet] Windows 7 Should be a Fixta Free For All.

If Windows 7 is indeed more like a service pack/release, then may it be the Vista SP2, just as the ZDNet blogger said or ranted.

The article: http://blogs.zdnet.com/perlow/?p=9367&tag=nl.e539

Jason Perlow wrote ... ... Windows 7, for all of its performance improvements and bling, is essentially one big service deluxe pack for Windows Vista. It’s the Windows Vista that customers were promised when they bought “Vista Capable” PC’s 3 years ago,... ... Let’s face it, Windows 7 is Windows Vista Service Release 2, more than a service pack but less than a major release, with only a few added extra features, or as I am now in the custom of calling it, Windows Fixta. And since Windows 7 is essentially a performance and usability fix for a defective product, I’m of the increasing opinion that a Windows 7 upgrade should be free to anyone who was conned into buying Windows Vista...

Update: I got this in my inbox.

Download Squad wrote ...

For everyone wanting a free upgrade to Windows 7, Microsoft finally has an answer. Unfortunately, it probably isn't the answer you wanted to hear.

Starting on July 1, 2009 any new systems purchased will be eligible for the no-charge update. In addition to purchasing the PC after that date, there are three more rules:

* End users must purchase a new PC that is pre-installed with an eligible Windows Vista OS. Retail boxed Vista versions likely won't qualify.
* Your computer must have a valid Windows Vista COA attached.
* The only Windows Vista® versions eligible for the program are Home Premium, Business, and Ultimate. Vista basic users are out of luck.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

3M MM200 Projector.

Official Page: http://www.3m.com/mpro

BusinessWire.Com article:
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090106005556&newsLang=en

MM200 Engine to Debut at Consumer Electronics Show
2009 International CES

ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This week, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, 3M™ will unveil the MM200, a new design in the company’s expanding miniature projection portfolio. Offering brilliant color and VGA resolution with an exceptionally thin profile, the 3M MM200 represents an evolutionary leap in mobile projection technology...

... When integrated into a cell phone, handheld accessory or digital camera, the MM200 engine can project up to a 50-inch image while drawing only 1 watt of power. The MM200 uses an advanced liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) electronic imager and is illuminated with multi-colored light emitting diodes (LEDs)...

The Official Nerd Herd Screensaver.

Now you too can show your Nerd Herd loyalty by installing the attached Screensaver.

If you have trouble installing please call Chuck Bartowski.

Get it here:
http://www.nbc.com/Chuck/Chuck_setup.exe

Leverage (TV Series)

Leverage is an American television drama series on TNT which premiered in 2008. The series is produced by director/executive producer Dean Devlin's production company Electric Television, which recently produced three The Librarian TV movies for Turner Network Television (TNT). The series follows a group of criminals led by a former insurance investigator, who pull off sophisticated cons against other criminals, especially corrupt corporations and those who have taken advantage of innocent people.

Official Page: http://www.tnt.tv/series/leverage/
IMDB Entry: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1103987/
Wikipedia Entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leverage_(TV_series)