Get Free Windows 7 Ultimate Signature Edition with Party Pack By Hosting Win7 Launch Party

In a new campaign to promote Windows 7, Microsoft is giving chances to Windows 7 enthusiasts around the world to be part of Windows history by hosting a house party to mark the official launch of Windows 7. The host will not only get the rare opportunity to invite friends, buddies, relatives and other guests to his or her home for a reason (Windows 7 launch), but will also get a special “Signature Edition” of Windows 7 Ultimate and Windows 7 Party Pack for free.

The Windows 7 Launch House Parties to the tune of thousands will be available globally, as Microsoft intends to select participants to host personal Windows 7 Launch Party in the following countries:

* Australia
* Canada
* France
* Germany
* Hong Kong
* India
* Italy
* Japan
* Mexico
* Spain
* UK
* USA



Other requirements is that the applicants should have a computer system that is currently running Windows XP, Windows Vista or Linux, which can be upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate. Besides, the host should invite at least five or more guests (the minimum threshold vary depending on target country) to the party venue, which can be hosted at home or other community areas such as cafe and mall.

Apparently Microsoft is sending out invites to Microsoft employees, House Party’s user base and Windows 7 testers or enthusiasts to join the house party program, and general public ca apply to be hosts for Windows 7 Launch event http://www.houseparty.com/windows7, but do note that host spaces are very limited, and only one application per household (party) is permitted. And applicants will be required to sign up for House Party account, manually or by connecting Facebook or Windows Live account. A short screener survey has to be filled out afterward. A confirmation email will then be sent to registered email address, where applicants have to click on the confirmation link found in the email to finalize the application, otherwise the application may not be considered.

As a plus for US-based successful hosts who are not Microsoft employees, they will also be eligible for a sweepstakes to win a mini-notebook laptop personal computer worth $750, of which a total of sixty four (64) prizes will be awarded.

Microsoft employees in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Hong Kong, Japan, Spain, Italy and India are expected to host parties between Oct. 8 and 12, prior to Windows 7’s official debut. Microsoft employees in other markets and countries may also host the parties, although they won’t have the benefit of the House Party support or the special party packs. The lucky winners selected to host Windows 7 launch party on behalf of Microsoft in the House Party program would hold the sanctioned Windows 7 launch parties anytime between the Oct. 22 launch and Oct. 29.

Those who are selected to host the Windows 7 Launch Party will be made known on or around September 17, 2009. If you’re not kind of people who are warm to receive guests at home, it’s possible to get free Windows 7 Professional by attending Microsoft organized Windows 7 Launch Events.

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Apple Recognized Solar Surge Charger For iPhone and iPod Touch

In case you have had a hard time looking for a socket to charge your iPhone and iPods, Novothink’s Solar Surge Charger, the first solar charger officially licensed by Apple, is the answer for you. This interesting device integrates a full-fledged solar panel on the back for iPhone and iPod energy recharge via solar energy. The custom designed solar panel is able to output 55V at 100mAh in full sunlight. The tiny LED status indicators will let you know the progress of your charge. If you worry about the bad and cloudy weather or the onslaught of night affecting you from getting your phones charged, you can still connect the phone via a USB cable for normal charging.


The Novothink’s Solar Surge Chargeris is compatible with the second generation iPhone and iPod Touch. The Apple recognized green energy solar surge charger costs $69.95.

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OWC On-The-Go Pro 750GB Hard Disk With FireWire 800/400 and USB Ports

With the current technology shift, it is always good idea to integrate few different interface standards so that you don’t have to worry about the incompatibility of one device when connected to other host system in short future. Similar to the new portable hard disk drive announced by OWC, dubbed as On-The-Go Pro series, it is equipped with three connectivity options that offer FireWire 800, FireWire 400 as well as commonly available USB 2.0 host port for easy data backup regardless of what computer system you are having.


The new OWC On-The-Go Pro series will come with 750GB memory capacity which can be easily larger than any of the internal memory in most of the PC systems for storage expansion. Some of the basic specifications include maximum of 5200-RPM that can boost up the read/write performance to 100MBps for faster data transfer and backup. Not to limit by the system interface either in terms of hardware compatibility and available bandwidth for data transmission, users can optionally choose to connect to different protocols such as FireWire 800/400 or USB 2.0 interfaces. Internally, the FireWire uses Oxford controller whereas the USB 2.0 model is based on JMicron controller.

The hard disk drive will be bundled with carrying case, cables and necessary software utility such as ProSoft Engineering Data Backup 3, Intech SpeedTools Utilities, Carbon Copy Cloner and etc to ease up the synchronization and backup tasks while on the move. With a standard of three year warranty provided, the triple interface FireWire 800/400/USB2.0 model will be priced at $270,followed by FireWire 400/USB 2.0 model at $250 and the cheapest USB 2.0-only model at $230.

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Garmin Next Generation nuvi 1690 GPS Enhanced with Social Networking Capability

As the GPS (Global Positioning System) usage continues to increase, some of the manufacturers are trying to integrate as many features as possible in order to differentiate themselves from the rest. Garmin, the leading GPS technology manufacturer is not exclusive from this. Just recently, the manufacturer has announced its newest portable GPS system, named as nuvi 1690 with enhanced features, specifically designed for those that are looking more than just navigation feature while driving on the road.


The new GPS is embedded with wireless capability that can link to Garmin’s proprietary nuLink service to retrieve useful information such as weather forecast, traffic information, flight status and many more through Google local search engine. On top of this, users that can’t live without social networking would definitely appreciate the great feature being added as it can now be used to connect to Ciao!, a social networking service that enables them to search for their closed friends and relatives and navigate to their directions accordingly. Other features include a complete POI (Point of Interest) NAVTEQ database, Bluetooth handsfree mode and even the environmental friendly ecoRoute feature for fuel estimation and saving.

Priced at $500, Nuvi 1690 will be released by this year and consumers will be able to get two year of free subscription to nuLInk service and subsequently at an affordable of $5 per month to continue enjoy these features.

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Track Garden Blooms with Brinno Garden Watch Cam

For green fingers there is nothing more satisfying than showing off their garden blooms to family and friends. But flowers, fruits, and plants do not last beyond the growing season and thus cannot be enjoyed by all. There is a way to capture garden stills and show these to others. Brinno Garden Watch Cam can record the growth of gardening enthusiasts’ prized plants at intervals set by them which can then be converted into a National Geographics type footage.


The 1.3 megapixel shooter can snap an image every one minute or 24-hour depending on users’ fancy. Users can choose from seven different time settings. The Garden Watch Cam gives a close-up shot of 18 inches away from the subject. The camcorder is durable and water-resistant making it suitable for rain or shine in the outdoors. Photographs are conveniently stored in the 2GB USB flash drive for easy downloading onto the PC. Users can focus the camera on a single blue rose or the herbs garden as the optics can focus from about 1.6 feet to infinity.



Users just need to fasten the Garden Watch Cam to the top of a specially designed mounting stake which can be inserted into the ground. The stake is flexible and can be adjusted to focus the lens on the subject at the desired position and angle. Brinno Garden Watch Cam runs on four AA batteries. But it is smart enough to hibernate between photo taking and switch off when it is too dark, thus extending the battery life significantly. The camera is user-friendly and easy to use – flip open the camera, insert the drive, choose the time lapse se setting, switch on the camera, and focus. The camera will do the rest of the work and users can concentrate on their gardens.

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Disable and Turn Off HomeGroup Services to Hide or Remove Home Group from Windows 7 Explorer

HomeGroup is a new service in Windows 7 that allows end-users to share files and printers with other computers running Windows 7 operating system in home networks. With home groups, users can share pictures, music, videos, documents, and printers with other people in the same homegroup with permissions support, or stream media to devices.


Not everybody will use HomeGroup feature though. For user who doesn’t use the HomeGroup feature in Windows 7, such as not creating a homegroup or doesn’t join any homegroup, the “HomeGroup” branch and icon will still be displayed in the navigation pane of Windows Explorer. To remove the HomeGroup folder from the Windows 7 Explorer navigation pane, whether it’s simplified Windows 7 style navigation pane or class full folders tree, follow below steps.

How to Hide and Remove HomeGroup Folders by Disable and Turn Off Home Group Sercives

1. Go to Control Panel -> Network and Internet -> HomeGroup, and click on Leave the homegroup link to unjoin from any existing home group.



Note: If the home group are shared and hosted from the PC, all HomeGroup connections will be disconnected.
2. Click on Leave the homegroup to confirm leaving from the home group.
3. Click on Finish when done.
4. Go to Control Panel -> System and Security -> Administrative Tools, and double click on Services. Alternatively, type services.msc in Start Search.
5. For each of the following two services:

HomeGroup Listener
HomeGroup Provider

Do the following:

Stop the service, and then double click on the service to open Properties dialog, and set its Startup type to Disabled. Click OK when done.




6. The HomeGroup icon and group will no longer be shown in the navigation pane of Windows Explorer in Windows 7, as shown in illustration below.





Check out more Windows 7 usage hacks or tips and tricks.

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BenQ Joybook S35 and Joybook S43 Ultra-thin Notebooks

The world leading innovator of digital lifestyle product, BenQ has expanded its two luxury style distinctive Joybook series notebooks named as Joybook S35 and Joybook S43, which are targeted for mobile businessman and Internet enthusiast. The new BenQ Joybook S35 is equipped with 13.3-inch LED backlight display with 1366 × 768 pixels resolution, Intel GMA4500M Graphics, 500GB hard drive, DVD Burner, built-in webcam, 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v2.1 EDR, 4-in-1 card reader, 3 USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, and 2-channel TruSurround HD sound system with SRS Headphone 360.


On the other hand, BenQ Joybook S43 is equipped with 14-inch LCD display with 1366 × 768 pixels resolution. Furthermore, the notebook also built-in 8X Super-Multi DVD burner, an integrated ATI Mobility Radeon HD4330 dGPU, 500GB HDD, 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v2.1+ EDR, 4-in-1 card reader, 3 USB 2.0 ports, RJ-45, HDMI, and two-channel sound TruSurround HD.

Both joybook series notebook will be available with options of energy-efficient ULV Intel processors, including Intel’s ULV processors (Core 2 Duo SU7300, Core 2 Solo SU3500, or Celeron 723/743). The S35 comes with 4-cell battery that support up to 5.5 hours operation time and Joybook S43 notebook comes with 6-cell battery that support run time up to 5 hours.

Joybook S35 weighs only 1.6 kg while S43 weighs only 2kg. The BenQ Joybook S35 and Joybook S43 CULV notebooks are currently available in China, Taiwan, and the Asia Pacific through selecting leading retailers and BenQ.com website.

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HTC Touch2 Runs On Windows Mobile 6.5

HTC has unveiled its latest smartphone, known as HTC Touch2. The compact and stylist form factor form has been preloaded with the Microsoft latest Windows Phone software, Windows Mobile 6.5. The HTC Touch 2 is the first ever HTC phone which runs on Windows Mobile 6.5 and new Windows Phone services like My Phone and Windows Marketplace. With the new Windows phone software, the HTC Touch2 is expected to deliver an exceptional experience that make it easier for users to stay connected with their friends.


“The HTC Touch2 delivers a familiar touch experience that millions of people have come to expect and rely on from HTC in their daily lives,” stated Peter Chou, Chief Executive Officer, HTC Corporation. “Whether it’s making a call, checking in with a friend or simply responding to an important email, the HTC Touch2 puts you in touch and in control.”

Featured with TouchFLO interface that provides access to calendars, contacts, media and the web, HTC Touch2 is also incorporates Google Maps for Mobile, YouTube and etc. Besides, it allows users to check and manage multiple email accounts. In addition, the phone is also packs in a zoom bar.

Features of the HTC Touch2 includes the following:

* Processor: Qualcomm MSM7225, 528 MHz.
* Display: 2.8-inch TFT-LCD touch-sensitive screen with QVGA resolution.
* Camera: 3.2 megapixel color camera with fixed focus.
* Expansion slot: microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible).
* GPS: Internal GPS antenna.
* Dimensions: 104 X 55 X 12.9 mm (4.1 X 2.16 X 0.51 inches).
* Memory: ROM: 512 MB, RAM: 256 MB.
* Weight: 110 grams (4 ounces) with battery.
* Connectivity: Supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

The HTC Tocuh2 is expected to be available on October 6 in European and Asian markets in early Q4 2009.

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HTC Hero Android Phone Coming Soon To Sprint

Good news for Sprint and Android fans! HTC Corporation and Sprint have announced that HTC Hero Android phone is coming to Sprint on October 11, 2009. It’s the first U.S. mobile device that incorporates redesigned UI – HTC Sense, combining open and innovative Android platform with high-speed connectivity of America’s most dependable 3G network.


“The arrival of HTC Hero and the Android platform to Sprint’s network is an important milestone for our customers and the U.S. wireless industry,” said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president of product development at Sprint. “With the dependability and coverage of Sprint’s 3G network, HTC Hero users will appreciate a much better experience than is possible now with any other Android phone operating in the United States.”

Features Of HTC Hero (Sprint):

* 3.2-inch touch screen with pinch-to-zoom capability and fingerprint resistant coating
* Built-in 5 megapixel camera, GPS navigation and trackball navigation
* Easy access to personal and business e-mail, IM and text messaging through POP, IMAP and Exchange Active Sync accounts
* Easy access to popular social networking sites including Facebook, Flickr and Twitter
* HTC Footprints enables users to chronicle their special moments by capturing a digital postcard on their handset
* Stereo Bluetooth 2.0 Wireless technology
* Accelerometer, light sensor and home screen widgets for improved usability
* Sprint TV with live and on-demand programming
* NFL Mobile Live and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile
* Visual voice mail for quick and easy access to specific voice mail messages

“Sprint and HTC are helping to drive openness and innovation in the mobile industry with the introduction of the Android-powered HTC Hero,” said Andy Rubin, vice president, mobile platforms for Google. “As the world’s first truly open mobile platform built with the Internet in mind, Android provides to consumers the same Internet services they have become accustomed to on their desktop PC. Offering access to thousands of applications, a suite of Google services, and unique personalization features, the HTC Hero offers a compelling mobile experience.”

“HTC Sense on HTC Hero revolves around three basic principles: Make it Mine, Stay Close and Discover the Unexpected. These principles are based on the recognition that people want their mobile device to conform to their needs and wants, easily keep them in touch with the most important people in their lives, and surprise them with small moments of joy and delight,” commented Jason Mackenzie, vice president of HTC America. “Working with Sprint to introduce HTC Hero to the US was a natural fit, as both HTC Hero and Sprint’s Simply Everything plan are designed to give customers everything they need in a simple package.”

HTC Hero full-featured smartphone that offers synchronization for integrated Google mobile services including Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail and YouTube will hit Sprint stores starting October 11 for $179.99, after a $150 in rebates and a two-year service agreement.

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Trend of GPS-enabled SmartPhones in Personal Navigation Device Market

Nowadays technology convergence is a new trend with more and more feature sets being integrated into conventional mobile phone. Among all those new features, GPS (Global Positioning System) is one of the most common one especially for mid to high end mobile devices due to its useful functionality and widely ecosystem support. Based on the latest research report from iSuppli, the trend of GPS capable mobile phone is on the way to replace the current available PNDs (Portable Navigation device) and will potential overtake them by year 2014.

According to iSuppli’s report, PNDs was dominating the worldwide market with 86.5 million units as compared to GPS capable smartphones at 39 million units since last year. And this year the units have increased to 114 million PNDs while the GPS enabled smartphones continue to climb up to 57.8 million units. As expected, popularity of GPS-capable smartphone continue to grow with 130 million of PNDs and 117 million of GPS ready mobile devices by 2011. And by 2014, the smartphones with GPS capability are expected to overtake conventional PNDs in terms of market share with significant boost to 305 million units versus 128 million of PNDs.

No doubt, this is mainly contributed by strong software eco-partners support that able to improve the system user interface with larger screen display support and more importantly, consumers no longer need to carry a dedicated PND as now they can have an all-in-one smartphones device with multifunction capability including GPS module while on the move.

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Download Free Dekisoft Monitor Off Utility to Turn Off Monitors for Power Saving

If you are having an older version of laptop that doesn’t equip with the capability to switch off the LCD monitor but would like to have one enabled for power saving whenever they are not in use, then this tiny utility may able to assist you. Named as Dekisoft Monitor Off Utility, it can enables a simple shortcut key setup that can be used to turn off monitor at a predefined interval as an effort towards greener environment.


Once install and launch the tiny utility, users will be brought to a simple GUI. Without any complicated setup, there are only two HotKey assignments with each of them dedicated for turning off the monitor and starting the screen saver respectively. So in order to set to turn off the monitor correctly, just click on ‘Setup HotKey’ and tick on ‘Enable HotKey to turn off monitor(s) or buttons followed by the preferred HotKey combinations (For instances Ctrl +Alt + L) and you are almost done. Besides, there is a configuration that allows users to set the monitor shut off delay time (in seconds) so that they have some time to intercept the action whenever there is a need. On top of this, users can use the same setup to trigger the workstation lock or screensaver at own preference.

Consumed around 370kB of your hard disk space, Monitor Off is a very simple but useful utility that can be used in any Windows system such as Windows 98, 2000, ME, XP and even Vista. The only pre-requisite is it requires .NET Framework 2.0 or later to work correctly. If you need a standalone version, users can get it here at no charge.

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