Archive for the 'Tech News' Category
This time Microsoft is fast to release the security patch for a critical vulnerability recently found in Internet Explorer (IE). The patch was released early this morning so you should patch your IE now!
Who needs to patch?
Any user of Internet Explorer from IE 5 to IE 8 Beta 2. Basically, you’ll need to install the security patch if you are using WinXP or above.
Check the version of your IE : In IE > Click Help > About Internet Explorer
Why patch?
Without applying the patch, an attacker might take advantage of this IE vulnerability to gain control of your system when you visit a specially crafted web page using IE. The attacker could gain Administrative right to your system if you are logged on as Administrator, so it’s lethal.
How to patch?
Go to this Microsoft Security Bulletin page, click the link of your IE version and the download will start. Run the downloaded file and restart the PC after installing. That’s it.
What to do next?
Well, of course I would recommend you to use other web browsers, such as Firefox , Opera or Google Chrome.
Cheers!
So you heard them! Intel has completed the development phase of its next-generation 32 nanometers (nm) processors. They are now planning to roll out an entirely new 32nm processor in the fourth quarter of 2009! No sign of slowing down in processor development despite cutting its next year revenue forecast by 1 billion.
In fact, it’s always the plan in Intel to introduce an entirely new processor micro-architecture with a cutting edge manufacturing process about every 12 months. They proudly claimed such achievement to be an effort unmatched in the industry, this I totally agree with no doubt at all.
Besides, producing 32nm chips next year would mark the fourth consecutive year Intel has met its goal.
You may ask what’s so fascinating about 32nm?
Well, it simply means by using such technology Intel is able to use more energy-efficient, denser and higher performing transistors on a processor. Hence, giving you more power with less energy consumption.
Hopefully we’ll also see price dropping for older processors, which will be a bargain for the consumers.
On a side note, AMD just released their first 45nm Opteron server processor last month, now Intel is talking about manufacturing 32nm processors next year. Looks like AMD still have a long way to catch its main competitor’s tail, huh?
I can’t believe this is the 3rd post I write about GMail in 7 days. Last Thursday, they rolled out voice & video chat, then I mentioned about GMail Mobile, today they announced another new feature : Change theme for your GMail.
GMail Themes feature is not officially enabled yet, you’ll only see it in coming days. Anyway, below is a sneak peak of the 30+ themes that you get to select :-
If you like the movie Matrix, GMail engineer even came out a theme called Terminal for you :-
Besides, the default GMail theme also will have a minor facelift. I just can’t wait to see them!
GMail Mobile 2.0 was released on 23rd Oct and I upgraded it immediately. The newer version is still very small in size (256kb), but now supports more J2ME phones (Nokia N95, BlackBerry, etc.) with over 35 languages for users to select.
Well, it’s undeniable more useful features have been added into v2.0, but I still experience slow connection (even on 3G) every now and then.
Useful features :-
- Application loading up pretty fast – You don’t have to wait for too long until you see the emails list
- Support multiple accounts – Log in to different gmail accounts in 1 application
- Offline message composing – You may compose email when you are having poor signal then send it later
- Multiple mobile email drafts – Compose multiple email draft and save it in the mobile phone
Glitches :-
- Need refreshing (to load new emails) after logging in.
- Loss of connection even signal is good.
I suppose GMail has become the top pick for free email service nowadays, so if you are using it GMail Mobile 2.0 is the application you must have on your mobile phone especially you are always on the move.
Intel just did a counter attack at the right time! After knewing AMD is catching up with the launching of its first 45nm Opteron processor, Intel today announced its latest desktop processor, Core i7!
This new desktop processor from Intel, the first member of a new family of Nehalem processor designs, is claimed to be the fastest desktop processor by scoring a world record of 117 for the SPECint_base_rate2006 benchmark test. This is by far the most sophisticated Intel desktop processor ever built with new technologies that boost performance.
Some highlights of Intel Core i7 :-
- Clock Speed at 2.66GHz-3.20GHz
- 8MB L3 Cache, shared among all 4 cores
- Turbo Boost Technology
- Integrated memory controller for higher memory bandwidth (somehow AMD has been doing this since 2001).
- 2x the bandwidth, compared to previous Intel Quad Core “Extreme” processors
- 40% performance increase for immersive 3-D games, without increasing power consumption
- Intel Quickpath Technology, enables it to 8-threaded (4 cores running multiple computing threads simultaneously) performance
- Power Gates, for power-saving & performance boosting
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Intel Launched Fastest Desktop Processor, Core i7
Just within a week Google added new Voice & Video chat feature in Gmail, today you’ll see a new Google Voice Search feature for iPhone. However, this is the first time I see Google is catching with Microsoft (Tellme Service) and Yahoo (oneSearch with Voice) in Voice Searching for mobile phones.