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Thursday, 26 November 2009
Guidaroo digital guides from PC Utilities
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
DoubleCAD CAD Design Software gives you an AutoCAD LT work-alike seat for free!
DoubleCAD CAD Design Software Gives You An AutoCAD LT Work-Alike Seat For Free! | |||
DoubleCAD XT is a free CAD drawing and drafting software that is fully compatible with AutoCAD LT and Google SketchUP. If you want another CAD seat in your drawing office, there is no need to spend £800+ for an extra AutoCAD LT license, simply download a free copy of DoubleCAD XT from Software Paradise.
DoubleCAD XT PRO is a 2D and 3D CAD software application for drafting and detailing – suitable for architectural and mechanical design projects. DoubleCAD XT Pro is not claiming to be an AutoCAD clone. It has been developed as an AutoCAD companion so users can continue to work within their familiar AutoCAD interface. DoubleCAD XT Pro helps streamline workflows, which enhances productivity. For example, if the DoubleCAD documentation process begins with an Xref (an Xref allows the AutoCAD user to apply any changes made to drawings shared by multiple users), the design may continue to evolve in AutoCAD without having to start over again in DoubleCAD. The drafting palette views, elevations, details, etc, will update automatically.
You can compare DoubleCAD with AutoCAD LT here: http://doublecad.co.uk/downloads/doubleCAD_xls_matrix1.pdf Software Paradise also offers CAD training courses. 2D and 3D courses take place in Winchester, Hants. Further information can be found at http://paulthecad.co.uk/training/ DoubleCAD is being launched in the UK by Software Paradise, an extensive online software source for users of business and home software. Software Paradise carries more than 38,000 software lines, including an extensive range of CAD titles. If you can't find what you are looking for, Software Paradise will find it for you! For a limited period of time, Software Paradise is giving away a free copy of Corel Designer Technical Suite x4 (worth £735) with every purchase of DoubleCAD XT Pro. Corel Designer Technical Suite x4 will automatically be added at the checkout. | |||
Editors notes: Availability and pricing: DoubleCAD XT PRO costs £425+vat. Available from Software Paradise at http://www.softwareparadise.co.uk/products/DoubleCAD_XT_Pro Also available is a free 30 day trial of DoubleCAD XT Pro at http://www.softwareparadise.co.uk/products/DoubleCAD_XT_Pro_Trial | |||
Monday, 19 October 2009
Windows 7 updates - ALREADY!
Microsoft this week released the first stability and reliability update for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 on Windows Update. The patch resolves issues that affect some computers, reported by customers who use the Error Reporting service or Microsoft Customer Support Services. If you didn’t see this update on Windows Update, the update is also available for download from the Microsoft Download Center for: Windows 7 32-bit(15.9MB), Windows 7 64-bit (20.8MB), and Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit(20.8MB).
Microsoft has released stability and reliability updates for Windows 7 before, but those were for testers running builds 7000 (beta) and 7100 (RC). Microsoft plans to regularly release Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 stability and reliability updates, so this is the first of many to come. This update builds on those that preceded it, adding the following fixes:
- When you view a PDF file that was created by using an Office 2007 document, the PDF file is displayed on the screen correctly. However, when the document is printed, some characters are missing. This problem occurs in fonts such as Calibri, Cambria, Courier New, or Gabriola, in which characters such as “fi”, “ti”, “fl”, and other combinations are frequently presented as ligatures.
- In certain scenarios, an Emergency Alert System (EAS) message does not automatically tune to the appropriate channel in Windows Media Center.
- You connect a secondary monitor to a computer that is running Windows 7. When the computer resumes from hibernation, a black screen is displayed.
- In certain scenarios, the Windows 7 Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP) diagnostic information settings are configured incorrectly for Windows Explorer. Only those users who are enrolled in the Windows 7 CEIP will be affected by this part of the update. This update limits the diagnostic information that can be collected by the CEIP.
- You put an x86-based computer that does not have Physical Address Extension (PAE) enabled into hibernation. However, it does not enter hibernation correctly. When you try to resume the computer from hibernation, a black screen is displayed. This issue does not affect x64-based or Itanium-based computers, or computers that have the Data Execution Prevention (DEP) feature enabled.
- A problem in Windows 7 affects the playback of certain media files in Windows Media Player, when Windows Media Player is started from Internet Explorer. Only those users whose media associations were changed incorrectly will be affected by this part of the update.
- On a computer that is running Windows 7, you use Internet Explorer to open the certificate enrollment webpage and to install an end entity certificate. However, the installation fails. This issue occurs if the certificate chain for the new certificate cannot be built, or if the root certification authority (CA) has not first been installed in the Trusted Roots on the computer.
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Software - you've bought it (not licensed it)!
According to a story in The Register, a US Court has ruled that software companies cannot prevent purchasers from re-selling software, in effect disallowing the claim that only a licence to use the software has been sold to the purchaser.
This obviously has far-reaching implications, since the licensing of software is enshrined in all end-user agreements which purchasers have to sign when they install the software.
The court ruling arose from an action by Autodesk, who sued Timothy Vernor, who was selling legitimate copies of Autodesk software on eBay, for copyright infringement, claiming that it sells only licences to use its software and that those who pay for it do not necessarily have the right to sell it on.
The court ruled: ". . . the transfer of AutoCAD copies via the License is a transfer of ownership".
Windows 7 upgrade from XP - a possible solution
A message from the CEO of Laplink
On October 22, 2009, earlier than originally expected, Microsoft® will release worldwide its newest operating system Windows®7. Unlike the release of Windows Vista, the press and early testers seem to be in agreement that this version of Windows is the best yet.
Headlines and Reality
Public opinion has markedly changed towards Windows recently, and now even the most cautious analysts recommend upgrading to Windows 7 sooner rather than later. Whether you want to benefit from superior performance, improved ease-of-use, or new multimedia functionality, the biggest question is how to “get” to Windows 7. The easiest solution is to buy a new PC with Windows 7 pre-installed. But for many users, their hardware isn’t too old and will run Windows 7 just fine. In fact, one of the major improvements of Windows 7 over Vista is the need for less “horsepower“ – a PC that is working just fine with Windows XP or Vista will probably handle Windows 7 without any problems.
That’s why I expect many users will choose to upgrade their PC rather than buy a new one. Our data suggests that around 70% of computers are still running XP and a majority have PC’s that are Windows 7 compatible – they may not have upgraded to Vista in the past because it required greater hardware resources.
There is one catch, however. Microsoft does not support upgrading from XP to Windows 7.
If upgrading from Vista to Windows 7 and if you’re choosing a “like version” (say, Vista Home Premium 32-bit to Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit), then the upgrade Microsoft provides is smooth, easy and effective.
However, if you choose an “unlike version” of Vista (or any version of XP), you may have a problem. For example, let’s say you have Vista 32-bit and want to add RAM to your PC as part of the upgrade. You need a 64-bit version of Windows 7 to address more than 4 GB of RAM, which means you are upgrading to an “unlike version.” Or perhaps you want to move from Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional. Again, this is an “unlike version.” In these situations (and many more), Microsoft will allow you to install an upgrade version of Windows 7, at the upgrade price, but requires you to do a “custom” install (not "upgrade"). This means you must copy all your data and applications to a safe place (external storage), install Windows 7, and then reinstall all your applications and copy back all your data.
I think there will be many confused and frustrated customers, because out of the 66 upgrade scenarios outlined by Microsoft, only 14 are supported by Windows 7 as an in-place upgrade. In reality, there are many other scenarios – even more than Microsoft has outlined, but the big issue will be XP to Windows 7. All of these “unsupported” scenarios require a custom install; no easy upgrade path available from Microsoft.
The Solution
That’s why we just released PCmover® Windows 7 Upgrade Assistant. It is the ONLY software program available that is able to facilitate a complete in-place upgrade to Windows 7 on a computer running Windows XP (or most other Windows versions as well). All programs, files and settings will remain the same as they were on the old operating system.
As you probably know, PCmover is the #1 selling software in the world to help move from an old PC to a new PC – all your programs, files, and settings are automatically transferred over. Since we have this “complete move” technology, we decided to modify it to handle an in-place upgrade scenario, which is similar to a normal migration – the old PC just becomes the new PC.
We will be selling PCmover Windows 7 Upgrade Assistant for about US $30, but we are offering “Windows 7 pre-release” pricing of $14.95 until October 22. (That’s about €12 or £10.) I am confident that if you buy this product, you will agree that it is money well spent!
My Personal Experience
Last week, I upgraded my business laptop from XP Professional to Windows 7 Ultimate. Naturally I used Laplink PCmover. Before I actually started the migration, I created an image of my hard drive to archive the entire PC. I used our new disk imaging software (Laplink DiskImage, which will be released publicly later this month) and saved a perfect copy of my system to an external hard drive. Using PCmover, I decided not to “move everything”, but de-selected those applications that I did not want to have anymore or that I knew were not going to work on Windows 7. I also de-selected some folders where I stored multimedia files that I had already copied to a portable hard drive.
Installing Windows 7 on the PC took nearly 20 GB of hard drive space (seemed like a lot to me). Then I ran PCmover again which restored my applications, settings and data automatically. It was pretty quick – and I didn’t have to find all my CDs, serial numbers or find the various programs I have downloaded off the Internet the past few years. Not having to reinstall 30-40 applications probably saved me 4-8 hours.
My experience wasn’t unique. Just last week, PCmover received the prestigious Editor’s Choice award from PC Magazine. The last paragraph says it all:
"Laplink PCmover is an impressive piece of software for those who want to move on to Microsoft's latest and much-praised new operating system without losing all their precious apps and settings. It's worth the price of purchase for Vista users, because it's better than what Microsoft offers, and it can be a life saver for XP users, who aren't supported at all. Some of its processes seem geared towards migrations between two machines as opposed to an in-place upgrade, but that's a minor inconvenience. I think Laplink has addressed what is possibly the biggest obstacle to anyone wanting to upgrade to Windows 7, and I can't recommend the software highly enough."
PCmover Editions
For all who move to Windows 7 by buying a new PC, the best solution for saving time, money and aggravation is to use the latest version of PCmover. It is the only program that moves all your selected applications, settings and data to your new PC.
PCmover comes in several different “editions” designed to meet your specific needs. In addition to the Upgrade Assistant, we continue to offer Professional (our flagship) and Home, which is so named because it meets the needs of most “home” users at a lower price.
We are also releasing PCmover Netbook Edition, which will have all the power of Professional but designed to work with Netbooks – also at a lower price.
And we will soon be releasing updated versions of Business and Enterprise, as we continue to provide money-saving solutions for organizations deploying new PCs.
Conclusion
Windows 7 is not all hype. This is a case where headlines and reality meet. It’s a good product but implementation can be a bit difficult. That’s why Laplink is working hard to smooth the bumps in the road, so you can more easily move to Windows 7 – which I highly recommend.
And whether you buy a new PC or upgrade your old PC, I thank you for considering buying PCmover to help you. I assure you that PCmover will save you time and money.
Sincerely,
Thomas Koll
CEO Laplink Software
P.S. Learn more about the different editions of PCmover. And remember that PCmover Windows 7 Upgrade Assistant has a special low price until October 22. Best of luck with using Windows 7!
Note:
Laplink.com add the following notes which should be borne in mind:
- PCmover Upgrade Assistant should be used only as intended and as described in the User Guide. If you attempt to use this product for unintended purposes, your computer may become unstable or unusable. If you have any questions, please visit technical support.
- Some programs on your old computer may not be compatible with a newer operating system.
- Files with Digital Rights Management (DRM) such as music files and programs that require keys or serial numbers with a hardware fingerprint may require reactivation.
- Some programs with unique copy protection may need to be reinstalled or reactivated with their original key or serial number.
- Be sure to deactivate programs with online-managed activation (such as various Adobe products and iTunes) before upgrading your operating system.
- Antivirus and Anti-Spyware programs may not be automatically installed on your new operating system
- Specific hardware drivers will not be moved to your new operating system.
- PCmover is not designed for migrations from newer operating systems to older operating systems. For example, we do not recommend attempting to migrate from a PC running Windows 7 to a PC running Windows XP as doing so may render your system unstable.
- Please note that PCmover Upgrade Assistant serial numbers are unique to PCmover Upgrade Assistant and will not work with other editions of PCmover.
- Windows 7 upgrade DVD is not included.
We have not yet evaluated this product. Reader reports would be welcomed.
Friday, 25 September 2009
Microsoft Answers to cover Win7 & XP Sept 28
Microsoft will start its Windows 7 forum on September 28, 2009. The forum will be monitored by Microsoft support personnel, MVPs, and others. If you are considering upgrading to Windows 7, have Windows 7 RTM, or will be purchasing a PC with Windows 7 installed, you may wish to save this link:
Microsoft Answers originally only supported Windows Vista. However, on September 28 (PST), the site will begin offering support for questions around Windows 7, Windows XP and Windows Live.
Saturday, 19 September 2009
Win7 $29.99 offer for students
For US students only?
Microsoft has just launched a new site, allowing currently enrolled college students to purchase a Windows 7 Upgrade license for only $29.99, matching the price to Apples Snow Leopard Upgrade disk. Win741.com gives current College Students a chance to upgrade to either Windows 7 Home Premium, or Professional if you need the ability to join a network domain at your school. Both versions are set at the $29.99 price point, and are offered in 32 or 64 bit options.
In order to qualify, all you need to is provide them with your college e-mail address (.edu). An e-mail will instantly be sent to that mailbox with a link to purchase Windows 7 at this fantastic price. If you don’t have a College e-mail address, you can also scan and upload a copy of either your school ID, Course Schedule, or proof of course payment to them. It is currently unknown how long it will take them to review these before confirming or denying your claim
Regarding to the 32bit/64bit option, it appears you have to decide which version you want BEFORE you confirm your purchase. The first thing you are asked in fact is which version you want, and link you to a somewhat helpful FAQ explaining the issues. Once this is decided, is does not appear to be possible to switch back to the other version.
Also, this offer is not for a physical copy of Windows 7, but for a downloadable ISO. According to this site, the ISO will be able to do clean installs once you burn it to a disk.
- It is not known if this offer is available to students outside US, or is restricted to US students only. If you are a student, please let us know your experience with this offer.
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Beta 2 of SeaMonkey 2.0 Internet apps suite
The latest beta of the Mozilla-based SeaMonkey Internet-based apps suite has been released, and is downloadable from http://www.seamonkey-project.org/releases/seamonkey2.0b2/.
Building on the Netscape Communicator and Mozilla Application suites, SeaMonkey 2.0 Beta 2 combines a web browser based on the same core as Firefox 3.5.3 with an email and newsgroups client, a simple HTML editor, web development tools and IRC chat.
Features of the SeaMonkey® Suite
Browser ("Navigator")
Tabbed browsing. Homepage can be multiple pages, in tabs.
Popup blocker.
Image Manager to remove offensive images or speed up the rendering of web sites.
Find as you type: Just start typing to jump from link to link or to find a word or phrase within a page.
Plus: Advanced security settings; Password, Download, and Cookie managers; Themes; multi-language and multi-platform support.
Mail & Newsgroups
Junk mail controls: SeaMonkey's adaptive junk mail control gets smarter with use and is personalized to the e-mail that you receive.
Customizable Labels and Mail Views. Color code email, sort mail with views to help go through email much faster.
Multiple Accounts: Manage all mail through one interface.
SeaMonkey Messenger includes Enterprise-ready features such as S/MIME, return receipts, Address Books, LDAP support, and digital signing.
Composer
Powerful HTML editor with dynamic image and table resizing, quick insertion and deletion of table cells, improved CSS support, and support for positioned layers.
IRC Chat ("ChatZilla")
Simple yet powerful IRC client. Keep track of multiple networks and channels with a familiar tabbed interface.
Change the look and feel of the chat with motifs; choose from several built-in motifs, many more downloadable, or create with CSS.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR MAC USERS:
The Java Embedding Plugin that ships with SeaMonkey 1.1.18 is not compatible with Mac OS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard" - visiting a website that runs a Java applet will result in a crash. Snow Leopard users are advised to manually upgrade the plugin to the latest version (currently 0.9.7.2). The Java Embedded Plugin can be downloaded fromSourceForge. For installation instructions see the readme file that is shipped with the plugin package.
Download Now
SeaMonkey 1.1.18Other systems and languages: http://www.seamonkey-project.org/releases/#1.1.18
Thursday, 10 September 2009
90-day eval of Windows 7 RTM can be downloaded from here.
Download the new 90-day Trial of Windows 7 Enterprise to test and evaluate the 90-day eval of Windows 7 RTM.
The Springboard Series for Windows 7 enables you to test your hardware, software, and deployment strategies and get deployment guidance, step-by-step tutorials, and more.
Key resources: the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Solution Accelerator, the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows 7 RC, and the I PD guide for Windows Deployment Services. Check out features of Windows 7 with the TechNet Video: Windows 7 Feature Overview. And here are some new deployment webcasts and videos:
•
Thrive Live! Migrating Windows XP to Windows 7 Using Windows Easy Transfer and USMT
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Windows 7 Deployment Enhancements
•
Windows 7 Planning and Deployment Tools
Registration code is included in the download.
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Tuesday, 1 September 2009
Record VoIP calls with Skype Recorder
As far as we know, this app only works with Skype. It is free to try, downloadable from http://www.extralabs.net/downloads.htm#Skype_Recorder, costs $18.95 for a personal licence.
According to Matt Hartley, " Windows has a few applications to make recording authorized interviews possible over Skype should you wish to do so for podcasting. The best I have seen in recent months has to be Skype Recorder from Extralabs Software."
The ExtraLabs website states: "The software will start the recording by itself as soon as you start talking on Skype. The conversation over, Skype Recorder will encode the recording to the specified format and will save the ready file on your hard drive. Due to the built-in audio player, you will be able to listen to the recording in no time and do whatever you like – delete it, move or upload to the site."
Features:
Manually start/stop/pause, or automatically record Skype calls
Convert your calls to MP3/OGG/WMA/WAV format
Built-in audio player, built-in FTP client
- 'Spy' mode
Monday, 17 August 2009
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
DataViz Releases Documents To Go 2.0 for Android
New version adds support for Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe PDF files, enhancements for Microsoft Word and Excel files, plus a free viewer edition for all Android-based devices
Milford, CT, - August 11, 2009 – DataViz®, Inc., a Microsoft® Gold Certified Partner and provider of Microsoft Office compatibility solutions is now shipping Documents To Go® 2.0 for Android™. The new version brings a feature rich, enterprise-grade productivity tool to devices based on the Android platform.
The 2.0 update enhancements include:
- Microsoft PowerPoint® File Support
The new Slideshow To Go® component allows viewing, editing and creating of PowerPoint presentations. With support for the latest file formats, including Microsoft Office 2007, business travelers can effortlessly "flick" through slides, review notes, rehearse timing and make any last minute modifications when on the go.
- Adobe® PDF File Support
The PDF To Go® component provides high-fidelity viewing of Adobe PDF files with options for page view, word wrap, multiple zoom levels, auto-rotate, bookmarks, search, select and copy text, and support for password-protected files. With PDF To Go, knowledge workers can keep all important reference materials at their fingertips.
- Enhancements for Microsoft Word & Excel® File Support
Documents To Go 1.0 offered robust viewing and editing of Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) and Microsoft Excel (.xls, xlsx) files. Version 2.0 extends the feature set by adding find and replace, word count, number formatting, sheet formatting, contextual menus, improved selection modes and scrolling, optimizations for touch, and a 'Live Folder' for instant access to recently used documents.
- FREE Version for All Android-based Devices
A non-expiring, free version of Documents To Go 2.0 that provides all Android-based device users with the ability to view Microsoft Word and Excel files and attachments is now available. Customers using this free version can unlock the complete feature set described above by purchasing a 'Full Version Key.'
Pricing and Availability
Documents To Go 2.0 is available exclusively through the Android Market for FREE in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. The 'Full Version Key' which unlocks the premium features is also available through the Android Market for $29.99. Customers who previously purchased Documents To Go version 1.0 will receive the 'Full Version Key' at no charge. Supported devices include the T-mobile G1, HTC Dream, HTC Magic, T-mobile myTouch 3G, HTC Hero, Google Ion, Samsung Galaxy, Samsung i7500 and other devices running Android OS. For more information on Documents To Go and RoadSync for Android: www.dataviz.com/GetAndroid
About DataViz
Founded in 1984, DataViz develops and markets Office compatibility and productivity solutions across many platforms including Android™, BlackBerry, Java®, Linux, Palm OS®, Symbian OS™, Windows Mobile®, Windows® and Macintosh®. DataViz partners include Microsoft®, Motorola®, Palm®, RIM, Samsung, Sony Ericsson® and other industry leaders. For more information: www.dataviz.com/About
All product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. ©2009 DataViz, Inc
Android is a trademark of Google Inc. Use of this trademark is subject to Google Permissions.
Friday, 31 July 2009
When Will Windows 7 RTM Be Available?
According to this Windows Team Blog posting, Volume License (VL) customers with an existing Software Assurance (SA) license will be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English starting August 7, 2009 via the Volume License Service Center (VLSC). The rest of the languages for Windows 7 RTM should be available within a couple of weeks following the English release. For IT professionals who are not part of the VL program, if you have a TechNet subscription, you will be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English on August 6, 2009, and the remaining languages by October 1, 2009. Evaluation versions of Windows 7 Professional for IT professionals will be made available via the Springboard Series shortly after RTM.
Windows 7 Upgrade Paths
For a quick view of the supported and unsupported upgrade paths for Windows 7 SKUs, download the Windows 7 Upgrade Paths document that outlines possible upgrade scenarios from older versions of Windows. For a Web version of this document, see Windows 7 Upgrade Paths in the Windows Client TechCenter Library.
Windows 7 Upgrade Paths
For a quick view of the supported and unsupported upgrade paths for Windows 7 SKUs, download the Windows 7 Upgrade Paths document that outlines possible upgrade scenarios from older versions of Windows. For a Web version of this document, see Windows 7 Upgrade Paths in the Windows Client TechCenter Library.
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Windows 7 RTM Announcement
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