Google Joins EU Crusade Against Microsoft

Google has added its name to the list of browser makers fighting Microsoft. They join Mozilla and Opera on the case. Google has a lot more money than both the nonprofit Mozilla Foundation and Opera Software RSA combined, meaning that the EU now has a level competitor. Despite Chrome’s relatively low adoption rate, Google contends that packaging Internet Explorer with the Windows operating system is anticompetitive. I personally think this whole lawsuit, and the vendetta the European Union has against Microsoft, is complete nonsense. Also, it makes me wonder- if they aren’t allowed to bundle a free browser with their operating system, how will the common person be able to browse the internet to get a different one on a fresh install?

Source [Reuters]

Cambridge SoundWorks’ MovieWorks HD, Not Powered By Zii

That spiffy new MovieWorks HD that Cambridge Soundworks (a subsidiary of Creative) just launched has a UI that was rumored to be the Zii’s, leading many to believe that this is the first Zii-powered device. I just recieved an email from a Cambridge SoundWorks rep and, unfortunately, it is not.

“No, it is not powered by this processor [the Zii]. Though, that’s a great idea and we wish it was.”

Disappointing, but I’m sure Creative has something coming that’s powered by the almighty Zii.

In other Creative news, epiZENter has given a very thorough look the Vado HD and came away fairly impressed- start reading it here. Nothing But Creative has also uncovered a new iPod accessory (yuck)- the TravelSound i85.

Google Chrome and ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED

I have become a Google Chrome fan.  I started using the browser as an experiment for a few weeks, and haven’t looked back since (I chronicled the switch on my blog).  However, one thing I started to notice is that I would fairly frequently click on a page on my laptop (connected via wireless, of course) and Google Chrome would timeout, sometimes quickly, with a message that the page could not be displayed.   Expanding the little plus sign for more information on the page provided a “ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED” message.

Huh?  Looks like some kind of DNS error.

Reloading the page often would bring up the site, though sometimes I’d have to do it two or three times.  It did get annoying.  In doing some research, I found a simple fix:  I turned off my Windows Firewall.  

In Windows Vista, go to Start > Control Panel > Windows Firewall.  From there, select to Change Settings and turn it off.  I found that I received the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED page a lot less (as in, not one since then).

Anyone else run into this?  And anyone have other tips / tricks / thoughts regarding Google Chrome?

HD Demo of Android on ZMS-05

As promised, Creative unleashed their demo of the ZMS-05 running Android in high definition at the Mobile World Conference today. Currently, the video is not available in HD itself on YouTube, but sometimes it takes a while for YouTube to show that its available in HD. It does look very impressive, with no noticeable lag running the OS, and the output video to the HD monitor was not laggy at all and looked very good. It’s hard to get a good idea of what exactly it does look like, as the video was shot in standard definition. ZiiLabs says that a development platform for the Android OS will be launched in the summer of this year. Now if I could get my phone to move faster than a snail…

ZiiLabs

http://www.viddler.com/player/36762175/

Microsoft Mobilizes for Assault on iPhone

The iPhone has attracted loads of press lately, with glowing reviews on the intuitive new touchscreen interface. Palm has also launched a fairly spiffy phone of its own, the Pre. And Google has just begun to push out Android based phones. This left Microsoft, once king of the smartphone OS arena, on the defensive. Luckily, it seems the Redmond company has come out all guns blazing in a supposedly minor update to Windows Mobile 6.

At the Mobile World Congress in Germany this week, they unveiled their Windows Mobile 6.5 update plans. The most notable of these is a fairly substantial redesign of the user interface. You can see the images below, but they seem only for touchscreen devices. However, they do have the rumored honeycomb interface, and the few images that were on CNET indicate a pretty good looking interface, though not as shiny or glossy as the iPhone OS. There is a strong similarity to the Zune, which you can see in the video below. Also, I was impressed with the new contact screen, which is much better than the puny contact listing of 6.1.

Nokia MOSH: Fill Up Your Nokia

“Fill Up Your Nokia” isn’t actually the motto for the beta service, MOSH by Nokia. The official motto is “Mobilize and Share”.

Here’s basically your one stop for your Nokia phone, from games, to themes, to videos, to widgets, and much more. All for free after you register for an account. At the time I’m writing this, they claim to have 126 868 586 downloads already! There’s also the option of uploading your own created content.

I will report on this later when I find more time to register up and start the downloading, but this looks promising.

ZiiLabs to Demo High Def Android/ZMS-05 Model at MWC

The heavily hyped ZMS-05 processor will finally get its first real demo at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona beginning on Monday of next week. The demo unit, which will likely be just a ZMS SDK with a input device, will be the first public hands on with something other than the basic Linux architecture the chip is built on. This is big news, because Google’s open source operating system has just begun to take hold in the world market, and there are many companies coming out with Android-based phones this year. If customers like the Android OS, then it will only increase the demand for phones that run it, and thus will increase demand for chips inside them. Additionally, the demo is to prove to the world that Creative is plunging headfirst into a heavily competed in market, and they have to prove they have a superior product to compete. It’s the first Android device to have any type of HD capabilities- this will likely not be for the phone itself (seems pointless on such a small device), but it’s more than likely for playing back via a HDMI output jack on the device. We’ll be sure to post the demonstration and more information as it comes out on Monday.

ZiiLabs Press Release via epiZENter.net.

Free Zombies for All!

Previous style points added to the Valve stock with Gabe Newell’s recent DRM-bashing commentary have now been added to by the company’s latest announcement: free DLC for Left 4 Dead! Not only for PC users, the Turtle Rock game update will include two new campaigns and a whole new survival mode. As a L4D player myself, I can only say thank goodness. The four campaigns are excellent, but with no variation, they do get a bit repetitive and dull after hours on end. Unlike Team Fortress 2, where there is a massive multiplayer versus emphasis, the campaign is at the core of the Left 4 Dead experience. The report on survival mode is very similar to that of Gears of War 2’s horde mode, where the four players try to stay alive for as long as possible whilst being stormed upon by the mindless zombies. Valve has not announced an official release for the DLC.

Valve Software Press Release

Creative Outlet to Shut Down

Singapore’s Business Times Online is reporting (subscription required) that the concept store on Marina Square in Singapore is among the latest victims of Creative’s plan to survive this global economic meltdown. With its worst losses in nearly three years, the 208 square meter store, originally opened in 2006, was among the first notable victims of the company’s plan to “evaluate the structure of [their] field organizations” as announced by Creative US President Craig McHugh. The stores at Plaza Singapura and the International Business Park are not affected by this at this time, and will remain as Creative’s only two retail stores.

Via MyCreativeFansite
BT Article Mirror: Retrenchment Blog Singapore

Xbox: HDMI Audio Fix, Halo Wars Demo Out

The Microsoft team has finally addressed an issue which had been bugging a plethora of users following the New Xbox Experience launch at the end of last year. All Xbox Live members have been forced to install the update, which Major Nelson says will fix the HDMI audio. Users had complained about audio being delivered via HDMI not working after the update. This update was required to use Xbox Live across all regions.
Additionally, the much anticipated Halo Wars demo was unleashed a few days ago on the Xbox Live Marketplace.