Windows XP Ready for OLPC XO; OLPC To Revisit Give 1, Get 1 in November

We reported months back, to the dismay of many Linux and Sugar lovers, that One Laptop Per Child had officially teamed up with Microsoft to port over Windows XP to the OLPC XO. According to ZDNet, Microsoft has finally now released to manufacturing the version of Windows XP that it has tweaked to run on the One Laptop Per Child XO computer.

JkonTheRun put up a single shot of the OLPC XO running the customized XP (see an enlarged picture below). We don’t have many details at the moment on how the XP interface has been tweaked but we do know that it will run many of the programs that were designed for the Sugar operating system. The system hardware has also had to be changed to run the Microsoft OS and now includes more RAM. But rest assured, we will be getting a peek at the new XP for the green system in the coming weeks.

Foley of ZDNet reported that Microsoft has no plans to make Windows available for individuals who bought an XO in last year’s Give 1 Get 1 program. The program allowed U.S. and Canadian consumers to buy the XO laptop, but only if they bought one to donate to a developing nation.

It looks like the public will have to wait until this year’s Give 1 Get 1 to get an XO running Windows XP. According to Nicholas Negroponte, the non-profit will ramp up its next Give 1 Get 1 in November of this year. He tells us that he is trying to have dual-boot machines, running both Windows XP and Sugar, ready for the new G1G1.

From : http://blog.laptopmag.com/

Microsoft blaming PC manufactures & their added software for Vista misconception

At Microsoft’s recent Financial Analyst Meeting Steve Ballmer, among other things, blamed Vista’s misconception woes on PC manufacturers who are shipping mediocre, "crapware-infested" installations, as he calls it.  Since the manufacturers have every right to do so, it’s up to Microsoft to form a game plan to combat it.

According to the Guardian, Bill Veghte, from Microsoft’s Windows group, had plenty to say to the room filled with financial representatives from the likes of Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan, and Credit Suisse.  He stated; "The final piece of it is what we do with our PC partners, whether that be HP or Dell or Sony or the many others that are a key part of the Windows ecosystem. We worked subsequent to general availability, while working with each one of these vendors to do what we called the Windows Vista Velocity Program.  We think of this as running a set of those systems and the entire software load that they have on them through a very extensive set of tests to measure everything from reliability to security to compatibility, boot time, and more. We ran over 280 systems through that process and you’re starting to see the results of that in the market today."

In the minds of Microsoft execs, the problem lies with the fact that Vista is deployed on such a wide variety of PC builds, from a variety of manufacturers.  A configuration from one brand might yield completely different results then that of another.  For example, you can take the same laptop and pre-configure it one way and you get almost instantaneous boot-times, and fantastic battery life. If you pre-configure it with software in another way you get long boots, and much less battery life.  Microsoft, as part of their restructuring plan, plans to educated its OEM providers on these subjects to try an curb any negative compatibility issues at the source.

Bad memories aside, you have to hand it to Microsoft for taking a proactive approach to changing the image of its bread-and-butter OS, but I guess only time will tell if the plan actually pays off. 

From : http://vista.blorge.com/

Nokia and Google rebuff claims of Symbian, Android merger

The two largest open-source mobile platform initiatives are swirling up rumors
that they’ll be joining forces to combine the Symbian and Android platforms
spearheaded by Nokia and Google, respectively. Allegedly informed analysts at J.
Gold Associates are claiming that a merger between Nokia and Google could kick
off in three to six months, citing both companies open-source mobile operating
systems.

Nokia previously
announced that they’ll be taking the Symbian code-base public with the
creation of the Symbian
Foundation. And, Symbian recently extended
a hand in friendship to Google, stating that they’d be “happy to collaborate
with them.” Analysts are apparently taking the collaboration offer as a sign of
merger-things to come.

But, that’s not the way Symbian, Nokia, or Google sees things. Officials from
all three camps have gone on record and dismissed reports of a merger between
the Symbian and Android efforts. Other analysts have also commented on the
possibility of a merger between the two tech-giants, saying that the rumors are
unsubstantiated.

Symbian is expected to match Android on its free-for-all pricing structure,
giving open access to anyone wishing to use the mobile platform. The move should
help Symbian compete on the same playing field as Android, and makes the case
for both mobile platforms keeping to true to their path.

[Via: InformationWeek]

Nokia pays Germany after pulling out of factory deal

Nokia has said it will reimburse a German state
over 1.3 million euros to resolve a plant closure dispute.

Nokia will pay
out the sum to North Rhine-Westphalia, after announcing earlier this year it was
closing down its last plant in Germany in the town of Bochum.

Nokia’s
reimbursement is in part a payback to the German research ministry, which gave
Nokia four million euros in grants to finance its factory in Bochum.

When
Nokia decided to close Bochum, massive protests sprung up over the anticipated
losses of 2,300 jobs.

From : http://www.kualalumpurnews.net/

It's Official: Peggle Comes to DS

July 24, 2008 - After months of fan speculation and a hard
denial from the company a few months ago, PopCap is ready to out its biggest
franchise: Peggle is, indeed,
coming to the Nintendo DS by the end of the year. The casual game publisher made
the announcement at the Casual Connect event in Seattle this evening during
PopCap CEO David Roberts' keynote.

Peggle, for those not in the know, is
an action game that blends elements of pachinko into a simple physics-based
point-and-click action game where a well-placed tumbling ball can net a player
millions of points in a single shot. Peggle on the Nintendo DS will be an all
new rendition of the game – while it will feature several of the same features
as the popular PC version, PopCap has promised that the handheld game will be an
experience all its own.

The Nintendo DS
version of Peggle is currently in development at Q Entertainment, best known for
Lumines on the PSP and Xbox Live Arcade, as well as the Meteos series on the
Nintendo DS. The portable game will feature unique touch-screen controls and a
whole slew of new options and gameplay elements.

PopCap and Q are
remaining hush on a features list right now, but we do know that the Nintendo DS
version will retail for $29.99 and hit shelves by Winter 2008. The company also
announced two other Nintendo DS games that will release by this November:
Amazing Adventures: The Forgotten Ruins and Mystery P.I.: Portrait of a
Thief

Check out our full Q&A with PopCap
Vice President Greg Canessa where he talks about the company's Nintendo
DS line-up and future products for consoles.

From : http://ds.ign.com/

New Battery 75UYF 1691P for Dell 4000 8000 C600 C800 CP

FEATURES:

- Brand new and high quality Battery Pack . 100% OEM compatible !

- Full one year warranty!

- Replacement battery for Dell 1691P

- No memory effect.

- Quantity: 1



SPECIFICATIONS:

- Chemistry: Li-ion
- Volts : 14.4V
- Capacity :3800mAH
- Dimension :138.50x90.00x21.00mm
- Weight : 390g
- Color : Black

COMPATIBLE:

- Best Replacement charger for the original Battery:

Dell

1691P , 1K500 , 2M400 , 310-0113 , 312-0009 , 312-0028 , 312-0522 , 312-3250 , 312-3280 , 3149C , 3H352 , 3H625 , 3K120 , 5081P , 5208U , 53977 , 66912 , 6H410 , 75UYF , 77TCJ , 8208U , 851UY , 8M815

- Compatible with models: :

Dell :

Inspiron 2500 , Inspiron 2500 C700 , Inspiron 2500 C800 , Inspiron 2500 C900 , Inspiron 2500 P1.0G , Inspiron 2500 PIII 700 , Inspiron 2500 PIII 850 , Inspiron 2500 PIII 900 , Inspiron 3700 , Inspiron 3700 400PII , Inspiron 3700 450PIII, , Inspiron 3700 500PIII , Inspiron 3700 C433, C466 , Inspiron 3700 C433GT , Inspiron 3700 C466GT , Inspiron 3700 R450GT , Inspiron 3700 R500GT , Inspiron 3800 , Inspiron 3800 C450ST , Inspiron 3800 C500ST , Inspiron 3800 C500SW , Inspiron 3800 C600 , Inspiron 3800 C600SW , Inspiron 3800 C700 , Inspiron 3800 C700SW , Inspiron 3800 PIII 500/600/650/800 , Inspiron 3800 R500GT , Inspiron 3800 R600GW , Inspiron 3800 R650GW , Inspiron 3800 R700 , Inspiron 3800 R700GW , Inspiron 3800 R700SO , Inspiron 3800 R750 , Inspiron 3800 R800 , Inspiron 4000 , Inspiron 4000 C600 , Inspiron 4000 C600GW , Inspiron 4000 C700 , Inspiron 4000 C800 , Inspiron 4000 P1.0G , Inspiron 4000 P900 , Inspiron 4000 R600 , Inspiron 4000 R650 , Inspiron 4000 R650GW , Inspiron 4000 R700 , Inspiron 4000 R700GO , Inspiron 4000 R800 , Inspiron 4000 R850 , Inspiron 4100 , Inspiron 4100 1.0G , Inspiron 4100 1.1G , Inspiron 4100 1.2G , Inspiron 4100 866 , Inspiron 4150 , Inspiron 8000 , Inspiron 8000 C600 , Inspiron 8000 C600XW , Inspiron 8000 C700 , Inspiron 8000 G650VW , Inspiron 8000 G700UO , Inspiron 8000 P1.0G , Inspiron 8000 R1.0G , Inspiron 8000 R600 , Inspiron 8000 R650 , Inspiron 8000 R700 , Inspiron 8000 R800 , Inspiron 8000 R850 , Inspiron 8000 R900 , Inspiron 8100 , Inspiron 8100 1.13G-M , Inspiron 8100 1.2G-M , Inspiron 8100 833-M , Inspiron 8200 , Latitude C series , Latitude C500 , Latitude C510 , Latitude C510 C1.06G , Latitude C540 , Latitude C600 , Latitude C600 700 , Latitude C600 750 , Latitude C600 850 , Latitude C610 , Latitude C610 P1.0G , Latitude C610 P1.2G , Latitude C640 , Latitude C800 , Latitude C800 1.0G , Latitude C800 850 , Latitude C810 , Latitude C810 P1.0G , Latitude C810 P1.1G , Latitude C810 P733 , Latitude C840 , Latitude C840 1.8G , Latitude C840 2.0G , Latitude C840 C1.6G , Latitude CP , Latitude CP M166ST , Latitude CP M200SD , Latitude CP M233ST , Latitude CP M266XT , Latitude CP series , Latitude CPI , Latitude CPi 233ST , Latitude CPi 366 , Latitude CPi A300ST , Latitude CPi A366ST , Latitude CPi A366XT , Latitude CPi A400XT , Latitude CPi D233 , Latitude CPi D233ST , Latitude CPi D266XT , Latitude CPi D300 XT , Latitude CPi R PII 400 , Latitude CPi R400GT , Latitude CPiA , Latitude CPiA300ST , Latitude CPiA366ST , Latitude CPiA366XT , Latitude CPiA400XT , Latitude CPiC333GT , Latitude CPiC400GT , Latitude CPiR , Latitude CPiR400GT , Latitude CPm , Latitude CPm 166ST , Latitude CPm 233ST , Latitude CPm 233XT , Latitude CPT , Latitude CPt 433 , Latitude CPt 450 , Latitude CPt 466 , Latitude CPt 500 , Latitude CPt 600 , Latitude CPt C333GT , Latitude CPt S 500 , Latitude CPt S 600 , Latitude CPt S450ST , Latitude CPt S500GT , Latitude CPt V433/V466GT , Latitude CPt-C series C400GT/550 , Latitude CPtC , Latitude CPtS , Latitude CPtV , Latitude CPtV 466GT , Latitude CPX , Latitude CPx 450 , Latitude CPx 500 , Latitude CPx 650 , Latitude CPx 750 , Latitude CPx H450GT , Latitude CPx H500GT , Latitude CPx J650GT , Latitude CPx J750 , Latitude CPx PIII 500 , Latitude CPxH , Latitude CPXH 500GT , Latitude CPxJ , Latitude CPxJ 650GT , Precision M40 , Precision M50 , Precision Workstation M40 , Precision Workstation M50
Auction : New Battery 75UYF 1691P for Dell 4000 8000 C600 C800 CP