Asus R1F - a 64-bit Tablet PC - SlashGear

Asus R1F - A 64-Bit Tablet PC - SlashGear: "ASUSTek, one of the top tier motherboard makers has announced a new Tablet PC product called R1F.

Some of the Asus R1F will be powered by Core 2 Duo cpu (Merom) that support 64-bit processing and there will be also models that uses Core Duo cpus (does not have 64-bit processing support). The Core 2 Duo based model will help this product to have a better battery life compared to the Core Duo models (Yonah).

The R1F is equipped with a spill-proof keyboard, which is a feature I would like to see in all tablet pc or laptop as Im pretty sloppy with my drinks. If you are security paranoia, you will love the Finger Print security system on R1F that pretty much similar to the one you can find on certain Lenovo ThinkPad models."

If this is true, then PLEASE count me in!!!

Rob Caron : Free Download: MSDN Library May 2006 Edition

Rob Caron : Free Download: MSDN Library May 2006 Edition: "For the first time, we're making the MSDN Library freely available for download from Microsoft Downloads. Previously, the Library was only available for download to MSDN subscribers. The current download is the May 2006 Edition and future editions will also be available when we release them."

"MSDN Library provides access to essential programming information, including technical white papers, software development kits and code samples necessary to develop web services and applications. This is an updated version of the MSDN Library for Visual Studio® 2005. From Download details: MSDN Library May 2006 Edition"

Somehow I have a feeling this is a result of the European Union's Anti-trust case against Microsoft. Considering the case largely involved technical documentation and its availability, this step makes it just that much easier for people to obtain technical details that are wayyyy above their heads yet at their fingertips.

I can imagine all those script kiddies just going crazy with the know-how involved in these things (including the code samples, all of which were already available online at no cost). It just goes to show how lazy people are that they wish not to research information online but on their fat-client'ed desktops -- and the E.U.'s bureaucrats are to blame.

Keep in mind that Microsoft made clear statements that absolute fulfillment of the conditions could take place within weeks -- that places the timeline to be, oh, now. And Microsoft always said the information was readily available (which it was), but the E.U.'s decisionmakers were not contented enough; they wanted the fat-client version with all the stale and plain details so all the would-be hackers can freely build software that tinkers with Windows without ever procurring a licensed copy of Windows (as the download does not require a Genuine copy).

Hmm, it also appears it is the European Union's attempt at making Windows an "open" operating system. Oh, the pain! These guys should not be making decisions about technical matters when they cannot even figure out how to print a document from a simple USB cabled printer. IDIOTS!!!

Microsoft and its 2007 series hybrid

Microsoft has been busy piecing together its 2007 series of everything, and I have chosen to jump onto that bandwagon.

Personally, I have been in the tech field since the summer of 1995 -- right before Windows 95 made its debut to the world with Rolling Stones' Start Me Up song blaring all over. As many teens of the time, I felt strongly that the world is an oyster waiting to be swept off its feet. Well, ladies and gents, I am hereby announcing my foray into the world of establishing a better tomorrow.

Effective today, I will be devoting the majority of my at-home/non-work desktop time to pre-release versions of Microsoft's 2006/2007 series software products (well, at least those that I care about). It begins with the February CTP build of Windows Vista, and another pre-release build of Office System 2007. Using freely available tools and documentation on MSDN, I intend on spending this summer learning and developing software exclusively for the .NET Framework 2.0 and family software world. The Visual Studio Express editions, the pre-release versions of WinFX, and XAML tools will grant me access to building the software the world needs tomorrow, today!

For the curious, this rid includes the following software titles (and much more horsepower than is necessary to run Vista with the "Aero Glass" effects turned on):

* Windows Vista, February 2006 CTP build
* Office System 2007, pre-release build
* Internet Explorer 7, pre-release CTP build
* WinAmp 5.x (XP version)
* WinRar 3.x (XP version)
* Mozilla Firefox 1.5.x, for cross-browser stuff (XP version)
* Adobe Acrobat Reader, latest version (XP version)
*** I am still waiting for Vista versions of Firefox, Adobe Reader, and Cisco VPN Client.

In the future, I will make available different applications/utilities that come to mind as relevant and useful.

Bye now.

Blogger and IE7-on-Vista

I am writing this posting from within Google's Blogger service, and I must admit that I am having terrible difficulties. It has taken me about 7 minutes to type this far because the textbox in which I am typing constantly redraws itself -- but not the font coloring that goes along with it.

What's more, the "Link" (for hyperlinks) is still pressed from when I made "Blogger" hot-linkable in the previous paragraph. Whatever Google is doing with Blogger, I hope it includes improvements that don't become a show-stopper for users like myself.

(For an idea of what's running on this desktops, please proceed to the other post for today.)

Google Finance: Useless, utterly useless!

1. THI - Google Search
2. Google Finance: Think-Media NV

Google Finance, currently in beta, is useless. From the 2 links above, the first is from the standard Google search for the keyword "THI" (stock ticker symbol for Tim Hortons Inc.), the second is the result when you click on "Google Finance" from the search results page.

Please notice how "Think-Media NV" is not Tim Hortons Inc. My conclusion? The algorithms used for Google Search are not the same as for Google Finance.

What does this mean? Clearly, it means that your quality of information will not be as reliable as the tried-and-true vanilla Google search.

What a sham!!!

VistaDB 2.1 database for .NET has been released

VistaDB 2.1 database for .NET has been released
This 2.1 update includes over 60 improvements, including new support for .NET 2.0 and Visual Studio .NET 2005. VistaDB is a small-footprint, embedded SQL database alternative to Jet/Access, MSDE and SQL Server Express 2005 that enables developers to build .NET 1.1 and .NET 2.0 applications. Features SQL-92 support, small 500KB embedded footprint, free 2-User VistaDB Server for remote TCP/IP data access, royalty free distribution for both embedded and server, Copy 'n Go! deployment, managed ADO.NET Provider, data management and data migration tools. Free trial is available for download.
- Learn more about VistaDB
- Repost this to your blog and receive a FREE copy of VistaDB 2.1!

With the release of VS2005 (and SQL2005) merely 36 hours ago, I will actually post more references to quality products and technical articles that empower the .NET 2.0 [the only version that should have been released] developers to build even better products.

Microsoft Infrared Communications for Windows 95 DDK

While visiting MSDN Subscriber Downloads today, I have stumbled upon a disturbing find: Microsoft Infrared Communications for Windows 95 DDK (English) (<1 MB in size, SHA-1 Hash of f322dcb5a1273240705c2c7860f95a3d5a25cf75. It is peculiar as the release date (date/time posted) was 1998-05-15 01:06:00 (UTC) and I don't believe Windows 95 is supported anymore (which it is not).

So, why-oh-why is this DDK still available, eh?

Inaugural tech/atomic Blog Post

Good evening, this is my inaugural tech/atomic blog posting.

The purpose of tech/atomic is to point out frustrations and introduce questions relating to the technology development world. I am eager to make your acquaintance and hope to share a many interesting dialogs.

Until next time, keep coding!