Windows key finally serves a purpose in Windows 7!

The Windows key has always come off as useless to me.  I mean, you don’t really use it for anything.  It just sits there…looking at you (as all inanimate objects do).  With Windows 7 introducing so many new features and tricks, it’s easy to miss something.  Luckily, Brandon Paddock, a Microsoft employee working on the Windows 7 team took the time to iron out a list of all the “hot keys” used in Windows 7.  One feature of the new Windows key that is truly awesome is the ability to press “Win + (number key)” which will in turn list the corresponding app on the new start/launch bar.  If Word is the first app on your launch bar and you click Win + 1, up pops word.  Cool!  Simply Cool!  Continue on for the list of Windows key shortcuts provided by Brandon.

Apple changes position, approves “RSS Player…(a.k.a. Podcaster)?

Apple isn’t exactly known as having the most uniform approval methods for App Store apps.  They’ve approved some apps that make absolutely no sense at all, while denying some that could actually prove to be big money makers.  The danger is that those denied developers with apps that have some actual use are driven to 3rd party methods such as Cydia and the jailbreaking community.  The exact opposite of what Apple wants.  Podcaster, an app that had previously had a round with the App Store censors approvers, is now being given a second chance at life, albeit with a few changes.  What’s the big change?  You know what to do.

Blu-ray slowly but surely gaining market share. Digital downloads coming on fast!

The road to HD discs hasn’t exactly been smooth.  The whole dual between HD-DVD and Blu-ray left one camp sent home with their tail between their legs and the other with a tail in a much better upright position.  However, it hasn’t been smooth sailing for Sony since winning the HD format war.  Uptake of HD media hasn’t exactly been quick.  According to Netflix’s CEO Reed Hastings, “Blu-ray adoption is starting to pick up nicely”.  How nicely?  Try 700,000 Netflix subscribers, or 30% a growth!  Not bad at all.  I personally don’t think Blu-ray will be like DVD was in its early years.  HD downloads will soon take over and surpass physical media as the need to carry around physical media is being lessened with every passing day as the internet creeps into every device we touch.  For example, Netflix’s digital delivery service is passing up Blu-ray like it’s standing still.  Netflix users numbering in the “millions” used the digital method last month proving that digital, physical media free is the way of the future.  In reality, Blu-ray and digital downloads are fighting for the same market more or less.  Sure, not everyone has internet access and therefore Blu-ray will attract those users more, however, the bigger picture is moving digital.

Source: Alley Insider

Firefox Mobile coming very soon?

That’s right.  The infamous Firefox Mobile that has been talked about for months now could finally see the light of day.  The Mozilla team announced on a company blog that they are targeting a release date of early February.  In a recent meeting, Mozilla said:

We are targeting a Milestone release for the first week of February, targeting the HTC touch pro.

So there isn’t much longer to wait folks.  Fennec/Mobile Firefox is coming very soon.  

Source: WM Experts, Mozilla, Gawker *pic*

Intel 3.5GHz Dual-Core slipped

For some odd reason, *leaked* information seems to get me more excited.  I don’t know, maybe its the “surprise” factor.  Whatever the case, someone at Intel got a little trigger happy and jumped the gun by releasing info on a new processor, the E8700, on their knowledge base.  The info has since been removed but Tech Report managed to grab some information before it was taken down.

• 3.5GHz clock speed
• 6MB cache
• 1,333 MHz FSB
• 65W thermal envelope

No price has been announced yet but assuming that this replaces the 2.33GHz processor price point, one could expect a price around $270.

Source: Electronista, Tech Report

Unlocked Palm Treo Pro now available for the low low price of $699

If you are a Windows Mobile lover and have a thing for Palm, Best Buy has something for you.  The Palm Treo Pro, the hottest Palm of last year is officially available at Best Buy Mobile for a gut wrenching $699.  You have to be a true diehard Windows Mobile/Palm user to actually jump at a price like that.  The Sprint subsidized version which will come in at a much lower price will supposedly be here in mid February.  But as a gadget freak, I can understand the “gotta have it now” attitude.  Do you hear that?  Thats the sound of WM/Palm users’ wallets weeping.

Source: Crunchgear

Internet Explorer 8 RC1 now official

Everyone’s favorite Internet Explorer 8 left the “beta” stage as of noon today and is now official Internet Explorer 8 RC1.  According to the IE development team, the browser is feature complete.  The difference between beta 2 and RC1 really isn’t that great at all.  One of the few areas that have been upgraded is the InPrivate Browsing feature which allows you browse “safely”.  (As long as this option is checked, the browser will not store cookies, history, downloaded files, etc.).  Start up time also receives a healthy boost but sadly still falls behind Safari and Chrome.  Can’t win ‘em all can  ya?  Nit picks aside Microsoft has added one feature that is a very welcome addition.  What is it?

If you haven’t heard of “click jacking”, you need to read this.  Click jacking is when someone creates a fake frame on a webpage in order to trick you into clicking on links that take you to places you don’t want to go or do things that you don’t want to do.  IE 8 is the first browser to offer protection against these kinds of attacks.  Oddly enough XP and Vista 32 and 64 bit versions get the new beta while Windows 7 beta is stuck with the older IE 8 beta.  For a full review of IE 8 RC1 head on over to PC Mag.

Source: PC Mag, Slashdot