Microsoft launch new Windows Media Player 9 Series Plug-in site by @ 11:10 am

Microsoft have just launched a new website dedicated to Windows Media Player 9 Plug-ins. You can download new skins, visualisations and much more.

From Powertoys and bonus packs, you'll find them all on the new site. It's a very cool place to visit if you enjoy customising Windows Media Player. Although the holiday season has ended, you can still grab the Windows Media Player 9 Series Winter Fun Pack with it's bruning log viz, it's winter ice skin and playlist tools.

If your interested in designing and making skins and visualisations for Windows Media Player 9 then Microsoft provide the tools with the software developers pack and a number of links where developers can chat and get help.

You can visit the wmplugins site HERE. Have fun!

Thursday 23 January, 2003

42.51 and 42.70 Nvidia Detonator Drivers Leaked by @ 11:10 pm

2 new versions of Nvidia's Detonator drivers have been leaked today.

Here are the key details as entered in the GeForceFAQ:

Windows2000/XP
Version 42.51
File size: 8.36 MB
Release date: 23 January 2003
These drivers have been leaked

Windows2000/XP
Version 42.70
File size: 7.48 MB
Release date: 23 January 2003
These drivers have been leaked

Thanks to Warp2Search and Guru3D who have download details and mirror sites.

Please use the forums to tell us how you find these leaked drivers.

You can visit the GeforceFAQ with a list of all official and leaked Nvidia card drivers HERE

Windows Critical Updates by @ 10:53 am

Wednesday 22 January, 2003

New Gaming Console To Take Game Performance To Highest Level by @ 11:59 am

Here is the press release.

New Gaming Console To Take Game Performance To Highest Level (Bundled With More Games Than Any Competitor)

Longboat Key, Florida – January 20, 2003 - A Tampa Bay area technology company, Infinium Labs Corporation, will develop and market a new game console that will outperform the XBOX, Sony Playstation II, and GameCube.

The company plans to market a high performance gaming console and delivery system to provide consumers with options and capabilities that are not available in today’s marketplace. The console will appeal to the hard-core gamer and the high end consumer electronic purchaser. This next generation game console provides a robust, fault tolerant delivery system that supports games on demand, game rentals, game demos, seamless upgrades and patch management. The game console is an “ALWAYS ON BROADBAND DEVICE.” It is easy enough for children to use independently yet so advanced it exceeds the needs of hard-core gamers.

Infinium Labs was formed by veteran entrepreneurs who have a successful track record in building large scale companies and advanced architectures for supporting massive eCommerce and enterprise applications. Combining skills from Telco, Data Communications, Digital Rights Management, Software Development and Security, the management team brings together a unique array of skills to develop the most robust next generation gaming console and delivery network on the market.

The Infinium Labs game console features a high tech design and offers ease of use for the variety of game players worldwide. The on-demand delivery system will appeal to hard-core gamers as well as casual users. The unique design architecture allows for delivery of a large number of games and the ability to participate in online massive multiplayer gaming. Key features include:

· Fastest console on the market

· Broadest selection of preloaded games

· Cross Platform capabilities

· State of the art design and architecture

· Advanced accessories and wireless capabilities

· Online connectivity for multi player gaming

· Seamless upgrades and patch management

· A multi tiered subscription service that meets the needs of casual, moderate and hard-core game players

· Demo games before purchasing or subscribing

· Games on demand

· Game Rentals

The advanced system provides game developers and publishers a secure and efficient software distribution system. Infinium Labs intends for game developers and publishers to reap greater profits using this new game delivery system.

Infinium Labs has engineered its prototypes and expects to unveil the new gaming console in March of 2003. The company intends to launch the game console to the U.S. consumer market by November 2003.

Infinium Labs has chosen Florida as its corporate headquarters. Florida has emerged as a leader in support of technology companies with its eFlorida initiative. Offices will also open soon in Silicon Valley and St. Louis, Missouri.

About Infinium Labs
Infinium Labs Corporation was formed in October 2002 as a global entertainment/gaming company. Infinium Labs’ mission is to market a gaming console and delivery system that will be the performance leader in the game playing entertainment industry. The company will market a robust game console that will appeal to a wide audience with its ease of use, quality assurance and robust delivery system.

You can visit their main website HERE

Spybot Search & Destroy Skins by @ 6:48 am

Some skins for the popular adware removal tool Spybot Search & Destroy are available for download.

Check for updates in the usual way and you should see a number of new skins available to download.

CLICK HERE to be directed to the Spybot Search and Destroy website.

Tuesday 21 January, 2003

Technology Vault News Goes Live on Dashboard!! by @ 9:14 pm

The Technology Vault is proud to offer our visitors a new news service. Recognising the future potential of Codename: Dashboard, you can now get live up to the minute news and update information on your desktop in the Dashboard sidebar. The Technology Vault news service joins other news feeds like The BBC, theregister, C-Net, Tech-Critic and others big names.

What you need to get our news on your desktop

1. First, you will need to install the Microsoft .NET Framework. You can get the .NET Framework by going to Windows Update. Be warned, it is a very large download at around 20mb but you only have to do it once.

2. Once downloaded, you will need to visit Windows Update again and get Service Pack 2 and install that.

3. You need to download the Codename Dashboard software from HERE, HERE or HERE

4. The software comes with a number of installed components but components can be installed or removed to taste. New componets are being made all the time. To install the Technology Vault component you need to make sure that the Dashboard is running and then click on THIS LINK. Your Technology Vault newsfeed should now be installed.

You can learn more about Codename: Dashboard from the Stop Network website HERE

This is what you should end up with...

NVIDIA Premieres International Version of NVDVD 2.0 by @ 8:12 pm

Today, Nvidia announced the international version of NVIDIA® NVDVD™2.0. With support for 14 separate languages and an extensive variety of digital media file formats, including DVD movies, music MP3s, AVI and MPEG2 video files and more.

A free trial version is available for a 14 day and is available from the Nvidia website

The languages included are Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Spanish, and Spanish (Latin America). To facilitate international sales, NVIDIA has developed an online ordering system that is fully localized in each respective language.

Nvidia says: “As we move deeper into the world of consumer electronics, NVIDIA NVDVD software player plays a key role,” said Dan Vivoli, executive vice president of marketing at NVIDIA. “NVDVD is not only the ultimate software-based DVD player, it also functions as a MP3 player, Karaoke machine, digital photo slide show player, and more. With NVDVD running on their PC, users can now enjoy an unbelievable multimedia experience—on the road, at home, in a plane, or at their desks.”

You can read the full press release HERE

AVG Update by @ 7:33 pm

AntiVir antivirus Update by @ 11:07 am

AntiVir has been updated to version 6.17.10.64. AntiVar by H+BEDV software is another antivirus software thats free for single user private use. So you don't need to spend your hard earned cash to keep your PC safe and free from nasties.

AntiVir says:

The private and individual use of the AntiVir Personal Edition is completely free of charge!
Even though viruses have now grown very numerous, one thing hasn't changed: our commitment to provide you with all-round protection. The reliability of AntiVir is demonstrated in numerous comparison test and references featured in independent trade journals.

The AntiVir Personal Edition offers the effective protection against computer viruses for the individual and private use on a single PC-workstation. In order to make possible an easy operation, the AntiVir Personal Edition is developed to the essential points.

AntiVir:
- detects and removes more than 50,000 viruses
- always among the winners of comparison test featured in computer journals
- the resident Virus Guard serves to monitor file movements automatically, e.g. downloading of data from the internet
- scanning and repair of macro viruses
- Protection against previously unknown macro viruses
- easy operation
- Internet-Update Wizard for easy updating
- Protection against previously unknown boot record viruses and master boot record viruses
- Quality "Made in Germany"

You can download antiVir from their website link or from Major Geeks

Sunday 19 January, 2003

TVTool Update by @ 8:08 pm

Cigarette lighter kit for your PC by @ 7:29 pm

This new accessory won't make your PC run faster or smoother, the only thing this accessory will accelerate is your death. But it's sure handy and it does have other uses too. You could plug your mobile phone into it or power your portable CD player.

Thanks to theinquirer who bought this gadget to our attention, FrozenCPU.com are offering a kit that enables you to fit a car cigarette lighter to the front of your PC.

The accessory can fit in the spare floppy drive bay in the front of your PC. The kit comes in two flavours (no, not menthol or lights), you can have it ready installed on a Lian-Li faceplate or a standard self-assembly kit.

You need never hunt for your cigarette lighter again.

I wonder what Windows woulds make of the new device and how it would show up in device manager?

Well I never...

Friday 17 January, 2003

3DMark 2003 teaser by @ 11:25 pm

FutureMark (the new name for Mad Onion) will be bringing out a new version of their popular benchmarking program 3DMark in the next few months. FutureMark have released a 20 second Windows Media Player 9 format movie teaser download.

It's a large file (5.6 MB .wmv file) for such a short movie and you will need the Windows Media codec and/or Windows Media Player 9 to watch it.

The movie shows a rendered tunnel with a drum base heart beat style sound which opens up with the message "3DMark 03 Q1/03" and the new FutureMark logo. Nothing spectacular to be honest, but maybe this implies 3DMark 2003 won't be spectacular either. Only time will tell.

With new graphics cards like the GeForce FX the new 3DMark 2003 benchmarking tool had better meet with it's new rendering powers. But you'll find nothing in their teaser clip to even hint of it's quality.

You can download the teaser from a number of mirrors from FutureMark

WinRAR Updated to Version 3.11 by @ 6:34 pm

WinRAR has been updated today to version 3.11. WinRAR is a powerful archive manager that can be used to reduce the size of files used on the web or email. WinRAR supports RAR, ZIP, CAB, ARJ, LZH, TAR, GZ, BZ2, UUE, ACE, JAR and ISO files.

RARLabs says: WinRAR is a powerful archive manager. You may use it to backup your data and reduce size of email attachments, decompress rar, zip and other files downloaded from Internet and create your own file archives.

This latest version is available in English, Portuguese, Thai, Korean, Turkish, Traditional Chinese, Danish.

For more information and link to downloads of WinRAR CLICK HERE

New DVD player that links to your PC by @ 6:09 pm

Shown at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and as reported in a BBC Technology News item today, SonicBlue is going to launch the first ever DVD player that will link up to your PC.

But before you jump and think you will be able to make copies of DVD movies, you won't.

You will be able to stream audio or video files on the DVD player and connect to your photos and music files.

SonicBlue's new player named the Go Video player can link to your computer network via an Ethernet connection at the back of the player or use wi-fi technology. Hay, no cables.

To read the full BBC story CLICK HERE

Many thanks to Tony for telling Newsbytes about this story.

Codename: Dashboard V1.0 by @ 6:15 am

Thursday 16 January, 2003

Codename: Dashboard final? by @ 9:09 pm

Nvidia 42.30 drivers leaked by @ 7:59 pm

The Guru of 3D have a new leaked version of Nvidia's Detonator drivers. This version is 42.30. These drivers seem to have an outdated readme file but apart from that, seem genuine.

They have the same version number as the Asus version leaked a few days ago. It's possible that these drivers are the same but now have the Nvidia branding and may have been hashed together hense the out of date readme file.

I have tried these drivers and found that the graphics and textures to look better than my previous 42.01s, however, the improvement gain is at the cost of fps as my 3DMark score was down by almost 350 marks. To be honest though, I often find drivers (or my system) needs a period to settle in before benchmark results give their best and to be fair, I didn't have a chance to do that.

If you would like to give these drivers a try, head over to the Guru of 3D website CLICK HERE

Potty about Potter by @ 7:36 pm

The web has gone potty about the 5th book by J.K. Rowling "Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix" due out on 21 June. Pre-orders for the new Harry Potter book have made it the most popular book ever to purchase online.

The news of the Harry Potter book has swept the world. From National television, newspapers and the web, the world has gone potty over Potter.

"Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix" is a third of the size of the largest book from J.K. Rowling with 38 chapters and 255,000 words.

Here is a snippet from the opening words of J.K. Rowling "Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix"

"Dumbledore lowered his hands and surveyed Harry through his half-moon glasses. "It is time," he said, "for me to tell you what I should have told you five years ago, Harry.

"Please sit down. I am going to tell you everything."

To visit the official Harry Potter (Warnerbros) website CLICK HERE

Avast Update by @ 7:11 pm

Awal's free antivirus software has been updated. It's a very small 78kb update to the software and a restart is required to install it.

Check for updates now to keep your computer safe and free from viruses.

Many thanks to Tony for telling Newsbytes the details.

Tuesday 14 January, 2003

Opt-out provided by Yahoo by @ 11:48 pm

Do you know what a web beacon is? They are tiny electronic images also known as a "single-pixel GIF". 1000s of websites use them to collect information, But Yahoo respects your privacy and now gives the surfer a chance to opt-out.

Yahoo uses the web beacons "to conduct research on behalf of certain partners on their web sites and also for auditing purposes." They also admit to using web beacons for demographic and usage information. Yahoo also use web beacons in html email that it sends to it's customers.

1000's of other websites you visit on a daily basis use these web beacons, but rarely does anyone give the slightest regard to your privacy. But Yahoo does. On their Yahoo! Privacy Center they supply a link to activate the web beacon or de-activate it. It only works on one browser so if you use multiple browsers you will need to take a visit in each browser.

If you would like to opt-out of being tracked by Yahoo now CLICK HERE

If you would like to read more about Yahoo's privacy policy CLICK HERE

Thanks to Breen for spotting this and telling Newsbytes.

MSI is Nvidia launch partner by @ 5:55 am

In an updated press release from MSI we are told that MSI is the launch partner of the New Generation GeForce FX Card. The press release reveals some stunning details about the new GeForce FX cards and compares it to the previous generation's top of the range GeForce Ti cards. Prepare to be gobsmacked...

MSI is the launch partner of the coming New Generation GeForce FX Card
NVIDIA unveiled their next generation GPU (graphical processing unit), the GeForce FX, on Nov. 18th during the Comdex show. The GeForce FX chip comes loaded with features, ranging from raw power to visual finesse. The GeForce FX is the first graphics chip to be manufactured with the 0.13 micron process and the first to use DDR II memory, which allows for unprecedented data rates. Preliminary specifications indicate the GeForce FX will have a core clock speed of 500 MHz, memory clock speed of 500 MHz DDR (1 GHz effective), and theoretical fill rates of 4 billion pixels per second and 16 billion anti-aliased samples per second. It also boasts programmable pixel and vertex shaders and the ability to render 128-bit color internally.

It doesn’t stop there, NVIDIA’s GeForce FX boasts an enhanced, LightSpeed Memory Architecture 3 with one of the key additions being NVIDIA’s new color compression technology. This compression is completely loss-less, meaning there is no reduction in image quality of precision. As a result, memory bandwidth is used more efficiently, especially when anti-aliasing is enabled. Speaking of anti-aliasing, GeForce FX sports two new modes, a 6XS mode for Direct3D and a new 8X mode for both OpenGL and Direct3D.

Specifications & Features of the NVIDIA GeForce FX

GPU:
• .13u Manufacturing Process
• 125 Million Transistors ( 2X GeForce 4)
• 256-Bit GPU
• Flip-Chip BGA Package with copper interconnects
• 8 Pixel Per Clock (8 Pixel Pipelines)
• 1 TMU Per Pipe (16 Textures per unit)
• > 500MHz Core Clock (Will probably vary depending on model)
• 350 Million Triangles per Second - 3x The Geometry Performance of a GF4 Ti
• AGP8X (2.1GB/s bandwidth)

Memory:
• Memory with >1GHz Data Rate (500MHz DDR)
• 128-Bit "DDRII" Type
• 128MB & 256MB Memory Capacity
• 3rd. Generation Lightspeed Memory Architecture
• 48GB/s Effective bandwidth through the use of compression techniques. (16GB/s actual @ 500MHz)

Other:
• Full DX9 Compliance (and more)
• 64-Bit Floating-Point Color
• 128-Bit Floating-Point Color
• 2 x 400MHz Internal RAMDACs
• Long Program length for Pixel and Vertex Shading
• Conditional Execution for both Pixel and Vertex
• True Data-Dependant at Vertex
• Unified Vertex and Pixel Shading instruction set
• Unified Driver Architecture
• nView 2.0 - Multi-Display Technology
• Digital Vibrance Control 3.0

Here's a table comparing the previous generation's feature set of the GeForce4 Ti compared to the latest from the GeForce FX:

Monday 13 January, 2003

BT slashes it's broadband set-up charges by @ 10:28 pm

GeForceFAQ Updated by @ 10:05 pm

The world famous GeForceFAQ has been updated with details of the latest 42.30 Detonator drivers.

Taken from the FAQ:
Windows2000/XP
Version 42.30
File size: 14.5 MB
Release date: 13 January 2003
These drivers have been leaked
Note: Very odd release.These drivers do not support DirectX9. The readme with them say they are version 41.50, the nv4disp.inf says they are 42.30 and some of the files are 42.01. They support all nvidia cards except GeForce FX.

This is just one of the many updates you will find in the GeForceFAQ.

Please use the dedicated GeForceFAQ forum to discuss you grphics card wows and to compare drivers.

The Technology Vault is the new official home of the world famous GeForceFAQ. The GeForceFAQ has 100's of answers to your Nvidia graphics card problems. It is now in a new searchable database to make it easy for you to find the answers you need. It is regularly updated and contains many links and file downloads to help you on your way.

IrfanView Update by @ 9:44 pm

irFanView has just been updated to version 3.80. irFanView is a very fast freeware 32-Bit graphic viewer for Windows.

You can read about what irFanView can do HERE

You can download your free version HERE

irFanView says: IrfanView is a very fast freeware 32-Bit graphic viewer for Windoze 9x/ME, WinNT, Win2000 and Windows XP. The first graphic viewer with Multiple (animated) GIF support, One of the first graphic viewerswith Multipage TIFF support and the first graphic viewer with Multiple ICO support.

This program is freeware.

Thanks to Fitsy for sending this story to Newsbytes.

GeForce FX production quirk by @ 5:34 pm

Digitimes has reported that According to industry sources, Nvidia is said to have decided to handle all the design and production of new GeForce FX (NV30) graphics cards to ensure product stability and quality. Card makers won't get a look in where the NV30 is concerned.

They say that the more simple NV31 and NV34 chips will be handed to card makers as usual. It will only be the high end, top of the range NV30 chips that Nvidia are going to handle.

So where does this leave us? PNY and MSI have already made hints that they are going to offer some high spec cards.

What's being said here is Nvidia are going to place it's own orders for the full cards and then sell on the completed cards to card manufacturers.

The top of the range NV30's are expected to be released at the end of February according to the report.

To read the full story from DigiTimes, CLICK HERE

Spybot Update by @ 5:07 pm

This is what Spybot looks like

Sunday 12 January, 2003

Radio Caroline on Sky Digital by @ 9:29 pm

The 'pirate' radio station 'Radio caroline' popular for it's own style of album based music in the 60's is about to hit Sky Digital. Like all good pirates, it's not going to be on Sky's EPG (Electronic Programme Guide).

According to a number of reports around the web, Radio Caroline is to go on air on Sky Digital on Monday (sometime). Caroline will not be included on the Sky's EPG. To tune in you will need the following information:

11.623 (H)
symbol rate 27.5
FEC 2/3

If you are unsure about how to manually tune your Sky Digibox please visit our forums where I'm sure the members will be only too please to help out.

The reason for Radio Caroline not appearing on the EPG is that Caroline and Sky have yet to thrash out an agreement on how much Sky will charge to be included.

Although I have read a number of reports of this news around the web, it seems that Media Bullet was the first to break with this exclusive CLICK HERE

Those of you who are too young to remember who or what Radio caroline was can read the full history of the radio station from it's early beginings as a pirate station on the only official Radio Caroline website HERE

Those of you who will be listening in, here is their schedule for tomorrow:

00.00 - 07.00 Continuous Caroline Music
07.00 - 10.00 Nigel Harris
10.00 - 13.00 David Foster
12.00 - 13.00 Continuous Caroline Music
13.00 - 16.00 John Patrick
16.00 - 18.00 Caroline Viewpoint
18.00 - 19.00 Roy Masters Foundation of Human Understanding
19.00 - 21.00 Mike Brill
21.00 - 24.00 Riga Steve

Radio Caroline has been broadcasting on the internet for a number of years now. If you fancy listening in, you can enjoy their internet sounds in Windows Media Player CLICK HERE for Radio Caroline LIVE!

Saturday 11 January, 2003

On Windows Update tonight by @ 10:33 pm

Codename: Dashboard update v6.5 by @ 10:03 pm

Codename: Dashboard has an update available. Version 6.5 (Beta) has many bug fixes over version 6.1 which include:

- Different browsers can now be launched by news components
- Notepad multiline problem fixed
- Multiple images can be added at once to Slideshow
- Left side component title problem fixed
- Folder watcher system buttons match current theme now
- Prefs forms reflect current theme
- WMP9 visualization bug fixed

Codename: Dashboard is, an application that resides at the side of your screen, similar to the "Sidebar" component featured in the now-infamous Longhorn video.

Built on the Microsoft .NET Framework, it is a host for interchangeable components. Through these components, Codename: Dashboard allows you to have any information you want, on your desktop, all the time.

To read more information on this exciting project, take a trip over to Danny Smurf's website HERE

Friday 10 January, 2003

Latest AVAST proggy update by bluetracker @ 7:13 pm

NotebookPC with Dual Format DVD Recordable Drive by bluetracker @ 6:47 pm

Latest Twist to the CLIÉ Handheld unveiled by bluetracker @ 5:26 pm

New iAVS update by bluetracker @ 3:06 pm

If you don't have avast set to do automatic updates, press the update button now and get the latest update.
Added detection of Win32:Sobig
Current version 0212.11 10/01/032

Thanks to forum member 'Slarty' for posting the info below on the Newsbytes forum.....

The Grisoft AV solution AVG has also recieved an update to cover the same virus
Update 443 now available. Added detection of I-Worm/Sobig.
January 10, 2003
SNAP!

Thursday 9 January, 2003

DVD Handycam® camcorders by bluetracker @ 11:18 pm

Avast Incremental Update by @ 11:01 pm

Awil's free antivirus software has just had an Incremental update.

If you don't have avast set to do automatic updates, press the update button now and get the latest Incremental update. This update offers protection against the I-Worm/Naith.B, I-Worm/Naith.C. and a number of other new viruses. As this is an Incremental update the download size is around 48kb.

You should see on your control panel of Avast 4 the following information:

Current version of database 0212.10 01/09/03

Newsbytes recommends that everyone should use some form of antivirus. You don't have to pay to be protected, programs like Avast from Awil and AVG from Grisoft are totally free of charge for the home user.

Consumer Electronics Show 2003 by bluetracker @ 6:06 pm

In a press release Sony have released details of their CES 2003 which begins 9th January at the Las Vegas Convention Centre.

Among many items of interest to hit the high streets this year is one many have been waiting for (and the first in a series of 'goodies' to be reported on in this column).

Another AVG Update by @ 1:53 pm

Wednesday 8 January, 2003

Windows Media Player 9 by @ 11:08 am

Microsoft have released Windows Media Player 9. Over 120 new features, including Fast Streaming, quicker startup, and smart jukebox features make this the best Player yet say Microsoft.

Microsoft have released the Official final build of Windows Media Player 9. Version 9.00.00.2980 is the latest version which has been optimized to work with Windows XP.

CLICK HERE to download your copy now. The file size is 9.9mb and is dated 7 January 2003.

NVDVD Update by @ 10:56 am

nVidia have updated their DVD player NVDVD. NVDVD is a full featured DVD player that is optimized to work with nVidia's graphics cards.

nVidia says that version 2.27 has the following updated features:

- Improved VCD playback
- Improved Windows XP Fast User Switch mode
- Improved default color control settings for Hardware overlay and VMR modes
- Improved user interface performance
- Fixed region problems that occurred after installing new DVD-ROM drives
- Fixed problem with left/right/sub speaker configuration downmixing

NVDVD is a 7.14 MB download and the file is dated 7 January 2003

You can visit the NVDVD webpage HERE

Intel® XScale™ by bluetracker @ 1:52 am

In a press release today Intel® have announced that among others;
Abocom, Fujitsu, Lite-On, MSI and Philips are to use Intel® XScale™ Technology Based Processors, to Power new Smart Displays

These new and upcoming products will enable wireless PC access throughout the home.
Retail availability for these Smart Displays running on Intel XScale technology is expected soon from ViewSonic and Philips, with products currently targeted to be released later this year from Fujitsu and TriGem.

Smart Displays are wireless flat-panel displays that are used as monitors when docked to a base desktop PC, but when detached, become a mobile monitor using 802.11b wireless LAN technology to access information and applications from the desktop PC from anywhere in the home.

The devices are based on Microsoft Windows technology and work with your home PC operating on Windows XP Professional with service pack 1

Michael Iannitti, director, Intel Extended Computing Division, is quoted as saying "Intel XScale technology based processors provide the high-performance needed for Smart Display devices to access applications and data from the base PC,"
He goes on to say, "The XScale application processor is specifically designed for low-power consumption to help enable long battery life for these devices."


Additionally, we are informed, Intel provides a Smart Display reference design optimised for Intel XScale technology based processors that enables O.E.M. and Original Device Manufacturers to quickly deliver class-leading products. As part of these reference designs, Intel provides many of the necessary elements, including Intel StrataFlash® memory and Intel wireless LAN technologies to help OEM design teams create innovative Smart Display devices.

"The Philips DesXcape detachable monitor has benefited from Intel's highly scalable platform, including the high-performance, low-power Intel XScale technology based processor," said Alex Lee, general manager, Smart Displays, Philips Consumer Electronics. "The Intel platform has enabled us to bring the DesXcape detachable monitor, a high quality Smart Display, quickly to market."

It would seem that it is now fast becoming a case of "Have Monitor will travel" and the days of being tied to a computer workstation at home are now numbered. Whether this new tech will prove a hit with the home market, given there are laptops and notebooks already firmly entrenched in the market remains to be seen. It is however; I suppose a handy thing to have if you're 'caught short' in the middle of a game of "Quake".

Monday 6 January, 2003

nVidia Detonator 42.01 drivers by @ 10:16 pm

Thanks to Warp2Search, this version of the 41.02 Detonator drivers is for Windows 98/ME. They support DirectX9 and have full multilanguage support. Version 41.02 was released for Windows 2000/XP just before Christmas.

The drivers are dated 11 December 2002.
File size is 13.08MB
These drivers have been leaked and are not supported by nVidia.

CLICK HERE to visit the Warp2Search website where you will find an ever growing list of mirror sites to download from.

The details of these drivers have been added to the GeForce FAQ. Don't forget to use the forums to tell everyone what you think about these drivers.

###################################

AVG Update by @ 10:04 pm

Grisoft have just updated their free antivirus software AVG. Grisoft says that this update adds detection of I-Worm/Avron, I-Worm/Baconex, Win32/Erdine, I-Worm/Ronoper and new variants of I-Worm/Opas, I-Worm/Galil, W95/Radix, Win32/Porex.

If you use the Outlook Express plug-in, you should see the following message at the foot of your emails:

Version: 6.0.437 / Virus Database: 245 - Release Date: 06/01/2003

The file size is 930.6kb and a reset od your system is not required.

Many thanks to forum member clive fro sending this news to Newsbytes.

######################################

Sunday 5 January, 2003

Windows Messenger/DX9 fix by @ 11:47 pm

Users with Windows XP who use Windows Messenger who also updated directX to version 9 may find that Windows Messenger freezes or crashes. While the world waits for Microsoft to come up with a fix, the good folk over at Neowin.net have offered a fix (of sorts).

It seems to be a problem between DirectX9, Windows Messenger and Windows XP's built in firewall.

Click Here to read the details of how to fix this annoying bug.

####################################

A new breed of virus attack for 2003? by @ 11:14 pm

Security experts are warning of a new breed of virus attack. The danger with this new form of virus is it's speed. Unlike conventional attacks which take hours to spread, this new form of virus could knock out millions of computers in less than a minute.

A number of new technics could be used. One of them is named warhole worm which could create a huge outbreak in about 15 minutes. Another is a flash worm which could do the same damage in a matter of seconds.

According to a report on MSN it says that the year 2002 was a quiet year as attacks go, but this might just be the calm before the storm.

The report also goes on to say that as new anti-terrorism legislation was introduced, virus writers have homed in on special dates like September 11th and "a themed virus" had been found. Newsbytes reported on a threat by a hacker last Tuesday who said he would release a virus if Iraq is attacked. If you didn't read the story you can catch it HERE

Symantec chief researcher, Eric Chien comments in the report that most early virus attacks were script written. Like loveletter, kiddies copied them and modified them. Now we have code red and nimba which did not rely on users downloading and executing an e-mail attachment. "They use hacker exploits in combination with viruses so that they can execute on their own."

From the report, it seems that most of what has gone before, especially script written viruses are well covered by antivirus software. As for the new style viruses, alot of work needs to be done.

It's an interesting article which ends with some advice from Eric Chien which says we should all take responsible for the Internet as a whole.

CLICK HERE to read the full story.

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Codename: Dashboard update v6.1 by @ 5:20 pm

Danny Smurf has just released beta version 6.1 of his popular Dashboard. For those of you who have never tried it, it is a utility that adds an information bar like the one seen in the next generation OS from Microsoft 'Longhorn'. It is packed with features like weather information, news headlines, email checkers, clock, slide show, folder watch and much more. New features are being added all the time. This version fixes some of the bugs found in version 6.0.

You can grab your copy of Dashboard 6.1 HERE or visit Danny Smurfs website for further details HERE

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Saturday 4 January, 2003

New avast! 4 antivirus software by @ 10:37 pm

ALWIL software have just released a new version of their free (for home use) award winning antivirus software. avast! version 4 is now available for download.

avst! antivirus software claims 100% detection of In-the-Wild viru