Category Archives: General

Now Get Metro-Style Startscreen On Your Browser With New Plug-in “EIGHT”

Windows 8 has put in new life into the already very popular OS genre of Microsoft,and with this new found enthusiasm Microsoft lead into the life beyond Windows 7 where the emphasis is on making the user experience one to remember. The newest version of Microsoft’s massively popular OS is scheduled to make its impact on loads of Microsoft devices such as tablets, desktops, notebooks, Microsoft Surface tables. Among many of Windows 8 features such as faster boot times, less restarts, better search options, and ISO mounting the one that stands out is the introduction of tablet-like interface known as Metro.

Metro features smart updating tiles, tablet optimized interfacing and flexible apps. Metro is very new to the desktop, tablet, and laptop world but it is very familiar to those of us that use Windows Phone 7.However, there are mixed opinions about Metro.Overall Metro looks pretty good and with more apps coming out of it we can expect it to be an exceptional hit and it would display its true potential and will eventually silence its critics.

Now, If you want to use the Metro UI without installing Windows 8 until either the Beta or the final release,then your wish has come true. There is a new plugin called “EIGHT” for Firefox, Chrome, IE, and Safari which will allow you to set your browser start page so that it has the look and feel of Metro UI.

This cool plugin was created by L’ubomír Krupa to give users a small taste of what UI looks like in action while giving easy access to your favorite websites and is basically just an alternative to the start screen found on most modern browsers. It is also a very highly customizable plugin as well. It is more of a series of links to different web portals that has a Metro-feel to it. If you don’t want to install Windows 8 but like the idea of at least getting a minor preview of what it would be like, this plugin is pretty cool. It is not even close to actual metro UI but it is still worth toying around until the Beta or Final version arrives.

Download Now[ EIGHT plugin ]

Microsoft to Offer 20,000 USD to Kinect Accelerator Participants

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It was just a week ago that Microsoft announced the Kinect Accelerator program eying the developers and the startups who are using the Kinect technology to build their own innovative apps.

According to the Kinect Accelerator program top 1o finalists will get benefits like 20,000 USD investment by microsoft along with the Xbox and Windows Development Kits ,all other required resources and office space required will be provided along with the technical training from Microsoft,Winrumors Report.

What are the requirements to be qualified for the Kinect Accelerator program:

Any Kinect-enabled application on Windows or Xbox that can be a commercial business
Manufacturing to retail, education to healthcare, art installations to gaming, social to interactive play…hmmm, the possibilities
Can be cloud-hosted, on any platform, but needs to be an application
Could be one view of an application that may also have a web UI, mobile UI, etc
Kinect-controlled applications, like what you have on your phone, but on a big screen or a computer screen
Content you might expect to consume in your living room or in an operating room

Most importantly your startup/business need to leverage the kinect features and capabilities in your final product and company should be willing to develop interests in technical skills which are needed to build a functional prototype.

To apply for the Kinect Accelerator Program Click Here

Microsoft States the Reason Behind September 8 Outage

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A couple of weeks ago on a fine Thursday suddenly people all over the social networks started complaining about the Windows Live Services like the Mail services and the Skydrive services weren’t working for them.

Uptill now there was no statement made about the sudden outage from Microsoft,but yesterday on the WindowsTeamBlog they posted the reason behind the September 8 outage which had something to do with the DNS issues which was causing the problems to the services users.Apart from the outage they also stated that no customer data was either compromised or lost during that outage.

Here’s what happened,

A tool that helps balance network traffic was being updated and the update did not work correctly. As a result, configuration settings were corrupted, which caused a service disruption.

At 10:23 PM PDT we began to see service restoration. We confirmed that the incident was resolved by 11:35 PM PDT, although it took some time for the changes to replicate around the world and reach all our customers.

We determined the cause to be a corrupted file in Microsoft’s DNS service. The file corruption was a result of two rare conditions occurring at the same time. The first condition is related to how the load balancing devices in the DNS service respond to a malformed input string (i.e., the software was unable to parse an incorrectly constructed line in the configuration file). The second condition was related to how the configuration is synchronized across the DNS service to ensure all client requests return the same response regardless of the connection location of the client. Each of these conditions was tracked to the networking device firmware used in the Microsoft DNS service.

After restoring service, we have identified two streams of work to drive specific service improvements around monitoring, problem identification, and recovery. Along with these service improvements, Microsoft is focused on further hardening the DNS service to improve its overall redundancy and fail-over capability.

They are working on an additional recovery process so that when such scenario occurs it will add the ability to fail over to restore service and then fail back when the DNS service is restored and also working on the recovery tools as well.

[How to] Switch back to the Classic Photo Viewer in Facebook

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Recently facebook updated their Photo Viewer a couple of weeks ago,personally i didn’t quite like it and many of the users over the most popular social networking site were complaining about the same over the Discussion boards.

Though currently we don’t know how to completely disable that feature but there are a few tricks which we can use to switch back to the classic photo viewer of facebook .

If you have already opened an image which loads in the new Photo Viewer you can just hit the F5 button to refresh the page and get back to the classic photo viewer .
You can also right click the picture and open it in new window to avoid opening it in the new viewer.
Or you can delete the ” &theater” part from the photo URL to avoid opening the photos in the new viewer .

All of the above tricks work perfectly fine for switching back to the classic view.Lets hope facebook rethinks on the new photo viewer and try and bring a better one next time around.

Windows 8 Beta Mega Christmas giveaway

Guys so now it’s time for Christmas and we are here with our mega giveaway for the season. We are giving away 3 keys of Windows 7 Ultimate, 2 keys of Microsoft Office 2010 professional,1 hostgator Business shared hosting account for a year,6 keys of Panda Internet Security 2011,10 keys of Panda Cloud Antivirus Pro, 3 keys of Tune Up Utilities 2011,15 keys for EASEUS Data Recovery Wizard, 25 keys of WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe,25 keys of WinX DVD Ripper and lastly 3 Microsoft Office 2010 Tips & Tricks Ebook..

So here is how the contest goes.We would be using point systems and the winner would be judged on the basis of random drawing( we would be using random.org for it).

First the prizes-

1st Prize- 1 Windows 7 Ultimate Key + 1 Microsoft Office 2010 Professional Key + 1 Hostgator Business shared hosting + 1 Panda Internet Security 2011

2nd Prize- 1 Windows 7 Ultimate Key + 1 Microsoft Office 2010 Professional Key + 1 Panda Internet Security 2011

3rd Prize- 1 Windows 7 Ultimate key + 1 Panda Internet Security 2011

3 consolation prizes- 1 Tune Up Utilities 2011 key+ 1 Microsoft Office 2010 Tips & Tricks Ebook + 1 Panda Internet Security 2011

We would be giving away 15 keys of EASEUS Data Recovery Wizard professional to the first 15 persons who reply to this post and 25 keys of WinX DVD Ripper Platinum to the next 25 who replied to this post.

10 keys of Panda Cloud Antivirus Pro and 25 keys of WinX HD video Convertor would be given as random and the winners would be again chosen using random.org

So here’s how the contest goes

1 point for retweeting this post.( To Retweet click here)

1 point for sharing the post on Facebook. ( Share on Facebook)

1 point for commenting on this post.

5 points for blogging about this post.

After completing any or all the tasks just leave a reply here so we can track of all the valid entries

The more points you have,the more chances for winning in this giveaway..

And Lastly our proud sponsors without whom this giveaway wont have been possible-

Digiarty Software for 25 WinX DVD Ripper Platinum worth $35.95 each and 25 WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe worth $29.95 each

Panda Security for 6 Panda Internet Security 2011 worth $81.99 each and 10 Panda Cloud Antivirus Pro worth $29.99 each

EASEUS for 15 Data Recovery Wizard worth $69.95 each

Hostgator for the Shared Business hosting account for 1 year worth $180

TuneUp for 3 TuneUp Utilities 2011 keys worth worth $49.95 each

Windows Space for 1 Windows 7 Ultimate and Microsoft Office 2010 ultimate key

TechSurface for 1 Microsoft Office 2010 Professional key

Vasu Jain for 3 Microsoft Office 2010 : Tips & Tricks Ebook

Also If you write a review about any of the Digiarty Software products,Panda Security products,EASEUS products or any TuneUp Utilities product on your blog just let us know,we would be arranging a special key of that product for you.

The winners would be announced on the day of Christmas..

Regarding Comments: Most of the comments would automatically held for moderation,so don’t worry we would be approving all the comments..

Update: The comments are now closed thanks everyone for participating in the giveaway,it would take us time to compile the results. so the results would be announced on the first day of New Year..

Sorry Guys we were late to announce the winners

The first prize goes to- daniel
The second prize goes to- Rahul Garg
third prize goes to- Kamlesh Kawadkar

Three consolation prizes goes to- ha14,Neo and Siddanth A

Rest all the winners would be notified via mail..

We would be contacting all the winners via mail within a day..

Microsoft offering massive discounts on Thanksgiving week

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Today it’s thanksgiving day and Microsoft is offering huge discount on it’s various products including Windows 7,XBOX 360,Kinect and Zune HD.

Some of the hot offers provided by Microsoft

Windows 7 Family Pack + Cisco Router: $149.99

Zune HD 32 GB: $229.99

A teaser has been added on the XBOX site stating that huge discounts would be provided on Black Friday-

During Thanksgiving week, Xbox LIVE Marketplace is the place to be, with a one-week sale featuring big discounts on some of the hit Marketplace items, with huge discounts on some of the most popular Marketplace offerings on “Black Friday,” November 26.

Major Nelson has posted a comprehensive posts giving details about the offers on games and other things related to XBOX 360 which would be offered on Black Friday.

Check all the offers from Microsoft store here.

Giveaway: Bing laptop skins

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The guys at Schtickers have sent us a couple of Bing Laptop skins for giveaway.Earlier these skins were available only for the Microsoft Employees but now everyone can get if from here

Laptop skins are:
• Easy to apply and remove
• A cool way to instantly makeover a laptop
• Available in a variety of styles and sizes
• Removable and reusable
• Intended for the top outside of a laptop

Laptop Skins create a unique personalized look, and are easily applied to the top of any laptop. And they come off as easily as they go on. Laptop skinsare available in a wide range of different sizes, and can be trimmed to fit if needed.

Besides the Laptop skins they have iphone and ipad skins as well,which you can get from here

We have also got 3 skins for the giveaway.For the giveaway you have to do is to tweet or share this giveaway on facebook and post here. We would be announcing the winners on 5th November.

The contest is open worldwide and the winners would be chosen using random.org..

Microsoft Brings Games on Demand to the Web With New PC Game Store

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REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 22, 2010 Microsoft Corp. today announced the Games for Windows Marketplace, a new online PC games store that combines the convenience of the Web with the power of Games on Demand online distribution. Launching Nov. 15, the Games for Windows Marketplace will offer PC gamers a robust lineup of games they love, easier navigation and purchase, and recurring specials such as Deal of the Week.

“With Games for Windows Marketplace, we set out to create a digital store built for PC gamers end-to-end,” said Kevin Unangst, senior global director, PC and Mobile Gaming, at Microsoft. “And by integrating with our existing Xbox LIVE and Windows Live services, we’ve made it easier than ever for millions of gamers to see for themselves how easy buying PC games can be.”

A Streamlined Experience

Built from the ground up for convenience and performance, the Games for Windows Marketplace (http://www.gamesforwindows.com) will remove the barriers between gamers and the games they love by offering the following:

•	Online access, anywhere. Optimized for speed, the store allows for ultra-fast downloads; this means fewer clicks to purchase and download, delivering faster turnaround for gameplay. And since the service lives on the Web, gamers can download games on a PC, anytime, and can easily redownload games they purchase if needed.
•	Deals and discounts galore. Gamers can check out screaming deals on select games every time they visit the Marketplace, as well as the Deal of The Week and other recurring and seasonal offers.
•	Game search functionality. Gamers can search by titles or genres to quickly find the games they want; they can even find new games from their favorite publishers with dedicated publisher pages.
•	Fresh design. The clean, intuitive look and feel makes browsing for games a simple, enjoyable experience. Gamers can easily navigate between pages as they search for the perfect game.

A Growing Portfolio

Games for Windows Marketplace will launch with a managed portfolio of 100 top-quality titles. The launch roster includes blockbuster games such as “Fable: The Lost Chapters” (Microsoft Game Studios) and “Grand Theft Auto III” (Rockstar Games Inc.) from some of the industry’s biggest developers, such as Capcom Entertainment Inc., 2K Games, Square Enix Co. Ltd. and more. In addition to top retail games, the portfolio will bring new indie titles to the forefront and continue to grow with many of the best games in the industry including titles such as “Lego Universe” (Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment) and “CarneyVale” (Microsoft Game Studios), which will hit the Games for Windows Marketplace and retail stores at the same time and date; recent hits such as “Dead Rising 2” and “Lost Planet 2” (both from Capcom); and perennial best-sellers such as “Max Payne” (Rockstar) and “Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition” (Square Enix).

“We plan to deliver some of our biggest and best PC franchises on Games for Windows Marketplace from day one,” said Christian Svensson, corporate officer and vice president of Strategic Planning and Business Development at Capcom. “Digital distribution continues to drive growth in PC gaming, and we’re excited to partner with Microsoft and bring amazing games to this growing marketplace.”

Games for Windows Marketplace will also be the place to find iconic franchises from Microsoft Game Studios, such as “Flight Simulator,” “Gears of War,” “Halo” and “Zoo Tycoon,” as well as upcoming blockbusters “Fable III,” “Age of Empires Online” and “Microsoft Flight.”

Easy Access to a Massive Gamer Community

Using the new marketplace is a breeze: anyone with a Windows Live ID (Windows Live, Xbox LIVE, Games for Windows – LIVE or Zune account) can login and immediately start shopping in the Games for Windows Marketplace. The new store also supports Microsoft Points (as well as credit card purchasing), allowing the more than 25 million users of Xbox LIVE, Zune Marketplace and Games for Windows — LIVE to use their Microsoft Points balance seamlessly across platforms.

The new Games for Windows Marketplace launches Nov. 15 at http://www.gamesforwindows.com.

A Great Move By Microsoft

This is a great move by Microsoft for the use of gamers. Not only will this make purchasing games so much easier but also the support and downloading far simpler. And with an outstanding company like Microsoft this should offer competitive prices and great downloading speed .

35% off Select PC’s at Microsoft store!

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We have been a member of Microsoft affiliates so with this regard we have got the mail that Microsoft is offering 35% off select PC’s at Microsoft Store while stock lasts.Here is what we have got in the mail

Microsoft Store is offering 35% off select PC’s while supplies last with offer code: 70EEBF44AA694760AA6 . Please let your customers take advantage of these great discounts. Below is a list of eligible PC’s for this promotion as well as the text link.

35% Off PC’s with Code: 70EEBF44AA694760AA6
CVF-00039 Acer AOD250-1584 Blue – Config
CVF-00065 Toshiba Mini NB305-N411BL Texture Finish in Royal Blue – Config
CVF-00084 Sony – W211 Blue – Config
CVF-00090 Sony – W211 Brown – Config
CVF-00108 HP Mini 210-1098SE Vivienne Tam Edition Netbook Chmpgne Gold Config
CWF-00098 Lenovo U450 Black – Config
RCF-00013 Dell Inspiron Zino 6999 HD Desktop Piano Black – Config
CWF-00146 Dell Inspiron 1764 Notebook Obsidian Black Config
RCF-00002 HP Pavilion TouchSmart 300-1128 Black – Config
CWF-00134 Lenovo Y550P Black – Config
CXF-00006 HP Touchsmart 23in, 600-1050 – Config
CWF-00085 Dell Adamo 13 Black – Config
CWF-00045 Dell Adamo Notebook – Config
CXF-00014 Sony All In One Blu-ray Black Config

You can purchase the laptops with 35% off at Microsoft Store here.

Update:Microsoft Store has paused their 35% off Select PC’s promotion due to inventory issues but will be back soon. We would keep you updated once it’s available again..

Facebook and Bing to announce a new partnership today

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Facebook has just confirmed via it’s official fan page that the two big giants would be announcing a new partnership today. Here is what the facebook team wrote on it’s wall-

Tune in to Facebook Live at 11:30 AM PT today for a live event with Facebook and Bing to announce a new partnership: http://apps.facebook.com/facebooklive/

Still very less information is available about this new deal but we are hoping more integration of Bing in Facebook.We would be posting more information when available..