Microsoft to release Office 2008 for Mac on January 15

Microsoft plans to ship the Mac version of its popular Office suite by January 15. The suite includes Word 2008, Excel 2008, PowerPoint 2008, and Entourage 2008, which is a contact and scheduling application. Microsoft is also plan to add a feature that allows users to export powerpoint presentations to iPod or iPhone. PowerPoint slides can be projected on a big-screen digital TV through an Apple component AV or composite AV cable plugged into an iPod or iPhone. The same setup is used for showing any picture on the devices on a TV. The full version of suite is priced at $399.95 an upgrade version at $239.95 for existing Office 2004 users. The Media edition costs $499.95.

source: here

iPhone launched in France

Orange, the mobile phone and Internet arm of France Telecom launched iPhone in France. It is available for 399 Euros with a subscription plan, existing customers of orange can buy it for 549 Euros and for 749 Euros it can be used in any network.

Apple opens Holiday guide

Apple is all set to use the holiday season to its maximum. Apple opened a holiday guide in the website which is connected to Apple's online store. I didn't see any special offers with iMac range but a lot of iPod, iPhone accessories are available.

Last year the traffic at Apple iTunes store was so large that the site crawled. The year before it was the iPod that created the buzz. Now with the iPhone, Apple is certainly a having big holiday time.

Visit here

T-Mobile to sell unlocked iPhones in Germany

T-Mobile will be offering unlocked iPhones, without contract in Germany. It is priced at 999 Euros without any contract and 399 Euros for iPhones with two year contract. Vodafone sued DT in German courts arguing exclusive contract for iPhones are violating German competition laws. T-Mobile continues to sell iPhone in Germany.

Why Microsoft's Zune is not as hot as Apple's iPod?

This is my personal experience. I feel that Microsoft is not paying enough attention to the Zune media player. I have been browsing through the website of zune, www.zune.net. I just want to know about features of the player. I got the website with a nice animation, fine. I clicked on Zune orginals in the homepage and , I got the above error page. I tried back , forward buttons to return to home and all in vain. I still don't know why Microsoft doesn't allow users to browse through Zune. How can one make a website for a product on which there is no link to home page from an error page? So I am still "Access Denied " to Zune.

Apple updates Mac OS X Leopard

Apple issues first major update for Mac OS X Leopard. According to Apple, Mac OS X 10.5.1 addresses issues with Airport, Back to My Mac, Disk utilities, iCal, Mail, Networking, Printing, Security and Firewall, System and Finder, and Time Machine. It is considered as one of the most important security update from Apple in recent times. Users can update Leopard from here(Apple's website) or through automatic update mechanism in Leopard. The file size is 110 MB.

Apple releases Final Cut Express 4

Apple Inc releases the next upgrade to its video editing software Final Cut Express. Final Cut Express 4 adds support for the latest AVCHD cameras, allows mixing of standard and high definition content on a single timeline, includes the ability to import iMovie ‘08 projects and FxPlug cinematic effects and filters. It is priced at $199.

Apple's website: click here

Avast reaches 40 million registrations, announces 20 % off on all Avast Products

Avast Antivirus, a popular antivirus software reached 40 million registration recently. Avast is a very popular antivirus solution mainly because its home edition is free for non commercial purpose. Also the updates are very quick a thing home users always love.

As part of 40 million celebration Avast products are available with 20% discount for next 20 days.

Avast website: click here

Flickr reaches 2 billionth photo

Flickr reaches another milestone. yukesmooks uploaded the 2 billionth photo to the Flickr. The photo is of a gum tree. For Visiting the photo click here.

Flickr is owned by Yahoo!

VMware updates Virtualization software for Mac

VMware, the world's leading Virtualization firm launched VMware Fusion 1.1 which includes support for the Mac OS X Leopard. The new version supports Vista 32 and 64 bit editions. It also supports 3D acceleration. VMware also launched beta importer for Fusion. It is available free of cost. It allows to import third party virtual machines to VMware. The Fusion is available for $60 from VMware website.

VMware Fusion website: click here

Facebook launches ad platform

Facebook launches ad platform raising user privacy concerns. The ad policy is similar to referral model. Facebook is following the foot steps of My Space in the social networking arena. Microsoft Corp. signed a deal for $250 million recently for Facebook ad contract till 2011.

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YouTube sued by Indian music label

Super Cassettes, an Indian Company filed a suit against the Google's YouTube service for posting its copyright content in the website. Super Cassettes Industries is seeking a permanent injunction and damages on the dissemination and display on YouTube of the content and on Monday obtained an interim restraint order in the High Court in Delhi. Google has to move the content until final order is received.

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Skype joins the Leopard Application Casualty List

Application problems with the Apple's newly released Operating System Leopard continue to grow. Users are complaining about various applications like Skype, Warcraft are not working in Leopard. The problem is due to the firewall of Leopard. It digitally signs program when it allows to access. So programs that change while running face problems with firewall. Also there are reports about a wireless connectivity problems as well. The wireless speed dips from 54 Mbps to 3-4 Mbps.

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Reliance and Microsoft to offer IPTV to Indian Homes

Reliance Communications signed a deal with Microsoft Corp. to take IPTV services to Indian homes. According to the deal Reliance Communication will pay $500 million to Microsoft for software service. Reliance plans to launch IPTV service by next March.

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Microsoft to sell ESPN programs through XBOX 360 Live

Microsoft had signed a deal with ESPN to offer downloads of sports shows through XBox 360 Live. Xbox 360 users can buy commercial-free standard-definition versions of select NCAA games for $3, and high-definition versions for $4.50, within 48 hours of the game's conclusion. ESPN TV shows, like the other TV content on the Xbox Live download site, cost $2 for standard-definition and $3 for high-def versions.Microsoft and ESPN said people can purchase complete NCAA basketball and football games, the X Games sports competitions and programs like ESPN's "Madden Nation," which chronicles a competition of "Madden NFL" video game players, from the Xbox Live Web site.
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Vodafone launches MusicStation service in UK

Vodafone launches music download services in UK. They signed a contract with Omniphone to offer MP3 download services for 1.99 pounds. Users of compatible phone sets can start using the services now. More handsets will be supported later.

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