Though the successor to Windows XP, code-named Longhorn, will only due late next year, beta testing for Longhorn is due to begin this summer.

Some details had already emerged at previous Microsoft conferences, such as so-called aero glass transparency, which allows content from one window to show through parts of the window on top of it. Animated icons and shading effects available in Longhorn dramatically enhance traditional Windows elements, too.

This time more have been revealed at the 2005 Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, or WinHEC. The following are some information of Longhorn revealed:-

• New Document Format – Metro
  

  Longhorn will also incorporate a new document format called Metro–which uses XML (eXtensible Markup Language) and other technologies (including parts of Avalon)–that aims to standardize advanced graphics in documents across multiple platforms and applications (similar to the way documents in Adobe’s PDF format have become ubiquitous).

• Well Connected, Media Friendly
  

  Longhorn will support cell phones in the same way that Windows now supports digital cameras, with technology for everything from transferring and synchronizing data (such as music files and contact information) to displaying the phone’s content and capabilities in a Windows Explorer-like view.

  Longhorn will handle IP-addressable devices on a local-area network just as Windows XP now manages hardware connected via USB or PCI.

• Security
  

  Longhorn will feature what Microsoft calls Secure Startup–technology intended to determine whether a system has been tampered with while offline.

For more detailed information, please read the source.

How many Gig is your current laptop harddisk? Feel not enough space to store your songs, anime and movies?

Anyway, Fujitsu is planning to sell 2.5-inch hard drives for laptop with a capacity of 200GB in the first half of 2007.

Fujitsu current largest capacity for laptop 2.5-inch harddisk drives is 120Gig. Their going-to-be-launch 200Gig drives, intended for use in notebook PCs, will consist of two disk platters that will store up to 100Gig each, for a total of up to 200Gig.

The higher capacity will be achieved through the use of perpendicular recording technology in the new disks, Fujitsu says.

Perpendicular recording is a method of storing information using magnetic fields to represent each bit. In disks that are commercially available today, the bits, or magnetic fields, lay flat on the disk surface. In drives using perpendicular recording, the bits stand upright. Because they take less space, more bits can be packed on the disk, and so more recording capacity is available.

[Fujitsu 200Gig Laptop HDD]

Well, we have seen all sorts innovative ideas from Google like Google AdSense, Google AdWord, Google Maps, etc. They have now conquered the Internet. So, what probably be Google’s next step?

An article from Softpedia suggested some products with high probability that will be launched by Google.
Here is the list (I arrange it according to the likelihood of launching the product):-

• Google services for cell phones – Probability: 100%
• Better advertising services – Probability: 100%
• Local services – Probability: 95%
• New Google services for users – Probability: 90%
• G Messenger – Probability: 90%
• CRM/ERP type software – Probability: 75%
• Video content distribution – Probability: 65%
• G Browser – Probability: 50%

Personally, I think other than those with 100%, G Messenger and G Browser have very high chances to be launched sooner or later.

[Source – Google Twilight Zone]

As a 64-bit enabled user, I’m so glad finally home-use Windows OS has entered 64-bit computing !!

At WinHEC 2005, Microsoft announced it is finally ready to bring 64-bit computing to the mainstream and is shipping x64 editions of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. The 64-bit versions of Windows were released to manufacturing in late March and will now be available from PC vendors.

However these 2 64-bit OS will not be sold on retail shelves, it will be only as an option for manufacturers selling PCs like Dell and HP, with 64-bit processors from AMD and soon Intel.

64-bit OS will still run 32-bit application like what we all are using today. So, no worries about incompatibility. :) Microsoft expects 64-bit computers to make up a significant number of PCs that ship next year.

However, the current application market still lack of 64-bit applications, even Microsoft’s own 64-bit capable programming environment, Visual Studio 2005, is still in beta at the moment. Once all the programming compilers turn into 64-bit, I’m sure programming compiling will not take as long time as we are suffering now. :)

[Source]

Here is a Review Of Windows XP Professional x64 edition by cNet.

Anyway, go 64, go !!

ViewSonic Corporation, a worldwide Visual Technologies company introduced today the world’s first LCD with 4 milliseconds respond time – VX924.

This LCD is utilizing ClearMotiv^TM Technology that includes the Dynamic Structure Technology and Amplified Impulse Technology to effectively reduce the response time of the liquid crystal in presenting true crisp images.

4 milliseconds is a new record breaking in LCD response time for the ViewSonic R&D team after the introduction of the world’s first LCD with 8 milliseconds. However View Sonic will not be introducing any product with below 4ms response time because there is no visible difference of value for end-user below 4ms.

Wanna read more?

Go to [Source]

Intel just announced they will begin shipping WiMax chipsets to major equipment manufacturers, including Siemens AG of Germany and Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. of China, on 18 April , 2005. Products built on Intel WiMax chipset are expected to be launched by this autumn.

For you information, WiMAX stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access and provides data links at distances of up to 30 miles at a maximum speed of 70mbps (megabits per second). WiMax is based on IEEE802.16-2004 standard and is designed to provide wireless broadband Internet access to end-users beyond Wi-Fi range and speed.

[Source 1]
[Source 2]