On October 25th, 2001, marks the beginning of Windows XP, the most successful (one might say overly successful) OSes ever created for its time. It was so successful that even after 10 years, many computers still run Windows XP. So I thank Windows XP for it’s long servitude for the past 10 years, and many best wishes to be put in the grave to Rest In Peace.

For those still using Windows XP, please upgrade to Windows 7 or buy a new computer with Windows 7? Let’s all help Windows XP rest in peace.

]]> http://justinlee.sg/2011/10/27/happy-10th-birthday-windows-xp-wont-you-please-rip/feed/ 0 http://justinlee.sg/2011/09/22/installing-windows-8-on-parallels-7/ http://justinlee.sg/2011/09/22/installing-windows-8-on-parallels-7/#comments Thu, 22 Sep 2011 09:45:16 +0000 triplez http://justinlee.sg/?p=11319 [...]]]>

Very simply, just follow the steps:

1. Create a Windows 7 (as your OS type) VM and follow everything as usual except choosing manual installation rather than automatic
2. Before installing, you have to open [Virtual Machine Configuration > Hardware > Boot Order] and locate [Boot flags].
   In [Boot flags] write:
   devices.video.pci_device_id=0×5005;
3. Install Windows 8 as usual.
4. Install Parallels 7 guest tools.

If you’ve already installed Parallels 7 guest tools without editing the boot flags and you’re getting black screen when booting into Windows 8, just add the boot flags as described in Step 2. Now you can play with your Windows 8 on Parallels 7.

Microsoft just released a refreshed version of the Kinect for Windows SDK Beta Refresh.

What’s in the Kinect for Windows SDK Beta Refresh?

• Driver enhancements: stability fixes to prevent crashes, including those that appear when a PC goes into sleep mode
• Runtime enhancements: refinements to a number of APIs, improvements in time-stamping, and the removal of non-functional APIs to alleviate confusion (they will be reinserted if and when the functionality becomes available in future releases)

At Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2011, take a sneak peek at next step in private cloud computing with just two of hundreds of new capabilities coming in the next version of Windows Server, internally code-named “Windows Server 8.” Go to the 36:50 mark of this video for the demo.

Are you excited already?

Attention to all hackers! The Kinect for Windows SDK beta is now available for you to download! For those who don’t know, the Kinect for Windows SDK beta is a starter kit for applications developers that includes APIs, sample code, and drivers which enables the academic research and enthusiast communities to create rich experiences by using Microsoft Xbox 360 Kinect sensor technology on computers running Windows 7.

The Kinect for Windows SDK beta includes the following:

• Drivers, for using Kinect sensor devices on a computer running Windows 7.
• Application programming interfaces (APIs) and device interfaces, together with technical documentation.
• Source code samples.

I think now I have a reason to buy the Microsoft Xbox 360 Kinect to use with my Windows 7.

Fujitsu PC Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

1. Fujitsu Lifebook NH751

Fitted with a 17.3-inch Full HD screen ,the LIFEBOOK NH751 is powered by the Intel® Quadcore i7-2630QM and offers a phenomenal Blu-ray audio-visual experience via its built-in 1GB NVIDIA® graphics card and Optimus™ technology – culminating in the perfect balance between performance and battery life. Furthermore, there is also the unmatched surround sound quality, all thanks to the digital theatre system (DTS) and luxury 5.1 speakers. It is the first high-powered notebook to be launched by Fujitsu in Singapore that is designed specifically for hard-core gamers.

Technical Specifications:

• Processor: Intel® Quad-core i7-2630QM (2.0GHZ, 6MB L3 Cache)
• OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
• 17.3-inch Full-HD(16:9) 1920×1080, LED BL, 300nits for enhanced visual experience
• 8GB DDR3 (2x4GB 1333Mhz)
• 640GB SATA
• Wireless 802.11BGN
• USB 3.0 compatible
• NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 525M graphics with 1GB dedicated memory and NVIDIA® Optimus™ technology
• DTS Sound and 5.1 speakers with Tweeter and Sub-Woofer for full-bodied, rich sound.
• Blu-ray (RW) Drive

Retail Price: $2,988
Price at Show: $2,788
Promotions: Free S$200 Cash Rebate + Free upgrade to 8GB RAM + Fujitsu MH330 Mini-Notebook total worth S$ 857 (Don’t Include Carrier Case)

2. Fujitsu Lifebook AH531 (Launching at The PC Show 2011)

The new Fujitsu LIFEBOOK AH531 offers an outstanding form and comprehensive features to suit the needs of value-conscious home users seeking a desktop alternative. Unparalleled in its offerings, the AH531 achieves perfection in mobility and entertainment at a value beyond comparison.

Technical Specifications:

• Processor: i5-2510M (2.3 Ghz, 3MB L3 Cache)
• OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
• 15.6” HD SuperFine High Back Lit LED, 220 nits Display
• 8GB DDR3 RAM
• 640GB SATA hard drive
• Intel Wireless with Intel WiDi Technology
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 525 with Optimus Technology and 1GB VRAM
• 1.3 Megapixel camera
• HDMI and Bluetooth enabled

3. Fujitsu Lifebook PH521 (Launching at The PC Show 2011)

Technical Specifications:

• Processor: AMD Brazos AMD E-350 + HD6310M
• OS:Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
• 11.6” HD SuperFine display
• 4GB DDR3 RAM
• 500GB SATA
• Atheros Wireless 802.11B/G/N
• Intel HD Graphics
• 1.3” Megapixel camera
• HDMI and Bluetooth enabled
• Weighs less than 1.4kg
• Extended battery life

Suggested Retail Price: $899
Price at Show: $899
Promotions: Free Upgrade to 4GB RAM + Fujitsu External Optical Disk Drive total worth S$ 298 (Does not include Carrier Case)

Download Factsheet - FUJITSU0100 Factsheet PH521 (9Mar)

4. Fujitsu Lifebook T901 (Launching at The PC Show 2011)

The LIFEBOOK T901 Tablet PC paves a new way of optimizing mobile productivity. Enhanced with the Dual Digitizer feature and 13.3-inch SuperFine WideXGA display, the T901 gives business users the ultimate freedom of choice between a stylus pen or the use of your fingers on the screen. The bidirectional, high transmissive back-light LED screen also offers a 160 degree viewing angle. Change your Tablet PC experience with the LIFEBOOK T901.

Technical Specifications:

• Processor: i7-2620M (2.7GHz, 4MB L3 Cache)
• OS: Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit
• 13.3” WXGA TFT with dual digitizer, 300 nits display
• 4GB DDR3 RAM
• 500GB SATA hard drive
• Intel Wireless 6205 ABGN
• NVIDIA NVS 4200M with 1GB VRAM
• 2.0 Megapixel camera
• HDMI and v3.0 Bluetooth enabled

5. Fujitsu Lifebook LH 531

Technical Specifications:

• Processor: i5-2510M (2.3 Ghz, 3MB L3 Cache)
• OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
• 14” HD SuperFine High, Back Lit LED, 220 nits Display
• 4GM DDR3 RAM
• 500GB SATA hardrive
• NVIDIA GeForce 410M with Optimus Technology and 1GB VRAM
• Wireless 802.11BGN
• 1.3 Megapixel web camera
• HDMI and Bluetooth enabled
• Available in Black, Red or Cherry Pink
• Weighs 2.1kg
• Japanese Cool Tech design philosophy. An accented curve on its side profile represents the strength of a Japanese Katana Blade

Suggested Retail Price: $1,288
Price at Show: $999
Promotions: Free S$289 Cash Back Rebate + Free upgrade to 4GB RAM + Carrier Case worth a total of $447

Download Factsheet - LH531_Factsheet

6. Fujitsu Lifebook BH531

Technical Specifications:

• Powered by NVIDIA® Optimus™ technology and 1GB VRAM, the LIFEBOOK BH531 balances mainstream features and portability with affordability
• outstanding HD graphics performance whenever it is needed while extending battery life with its Power ECO button
• weighs less than 2kg and is available in Shiny Black and Garnet Red

Suggested Retail Price: $1,488
Price at Show: $1,388
Promotions: Free S$ 100 Cash Back Rebate + Free Upgrade to 6GB RAM + Carrier Case total worth S$328

Download factsheet - FUJITSU0108 BH531 Factsheet (Mar 23)

Toshiba Singapore Pte Ltd

1. Toshiba Qosmio F7 – for superior gaming experience (NEW)

• Processor: 2nd Generation Intel® Core ™ i7 Quad Core 2.0 Ghz with Turbo Boost Technology
• Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• 15.6” HD Clear SuperView LED backlight display, resolution 1366 x 768
• NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 540M with Optimus Technology (ext 2GB dedicated VRAM)
• 640GB 7200rpm hard drive with shock absorbers
• Bluetooth 3.0, wireless 802.11 b/g/n
• Harman Kardon ® stereo speakers
• 5-in-1 card reader (supports SD™ Card, Memory Stick®, Memory Stick Pro™,Multimedia Card™), USB2.0 and USB 3.0, and HDMI-CEC ports
• Built-in web camera

Toshiba Qosmio F750-1001X (part#s PQF75L-012002) – PC Show Price: $2,199
Toshiba Qosmio F750-1005X (part#s PQF75L-017002) – PC Show Price: $2,299

2. Toshiba Qosmio X770 – gaming in the third dimension (NEW)

The Qosmio X770 takes mobile gaming to the next level with the NVIDIA® 3DVision active shutter glasses technology

• Processor: 2nd Generation Intel® Core ™ i7 Quad Core 2.0 Ghz with Turbo Boost Technology
• Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• 17.3” HD Clear SuperView 3D display with LED backlight TFT display, resolution 1920 x 1080
• NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX560M with (ext 1.5GB GDDR5 VRAM)
• 1TB 7200rpm SATA hard drive with shock absorbers
• Bluetooth 3.0, wireless 802.11 b/g/n
• Harman Kardon ® stereo speakers with builtin Subwoofer
• 5-in-1 card reader (supports SD™ Card, Memory Stick®, Memory Stick Pro™,Multimedia Card™) USB2.0 and USB 3.0, and HDMI-CEC ports
• Built-in 3D web camera

Toshiba Qosmio X770-1001X-glass 3D (part#s PSBY5L-00D00R) – PC Show Price: $3799

Nordkapp, a group of experienced designers, strategists and technologists, recently made available a downloadable Windows Phone 7 Cheat Sheet to help mobile interaction designers with designing Windows Phone 7 apps. This A3 size cheat sheet is based on Microsoft Windows Phone 7 Design Guideline document(s) with only the important bits, added some other comments and highlighted the parts that might come as a surprise of existing Symbian, iOS or Android designers and developers.

Extremely useful if you’re trying to design a proper app UI for Windows Phone 7. Head down to nordkapp.fi/blog/2011/05/wp7-for-designers-cheatsheet/ to download the cheat sheet.

This first video of Windows 8 – Building “Windows 8″ – is a series of videos over the next few months showcasing the new features of Windows 8. In this video, it shows the first look of the new Windows 8 user interface (UI) which covers the following features:

• Fast launching of apps from a tile-based Start screen, which replaces the Windows Start menu with a customizable, scalable full-screen view of apps.
• Live tiles with notifications, showing always up-to-date information from your apps.
• Fluid, natural switching between running apps.
• Convenient ability to snap and resize an app to the side of the screen, so you can really multitask using the capabilities of Windows.
• Web-connected and Web-powered apps built using HTML5 and JavaScript that have access to the full power of the PC.
• Fully touch-optimized browsing, with all the power of hardware-accelerated Internet Explorer 10.
• New “Thumbs” keyboard layout.

Look at that smooth buttery scrolling and several physics “bounce”. It really looks like nice merger of the Windows Phone 7 UI into the new Windows 8 UI. I would definitely love to see some of the new UI trickle back to Windows Phone 7. Thumbs up for creating a great user experience with the new Windows 8. Maybe Microsoft finally gets it. I can’t wait to get my hands on Windows 8 in September.

BUILD is a new event that shows modern hardware and software developers how to take advantage of the future of Windows. Learn how to work with the all new touch-centric user experience to create fast, fluid, and dynamic applications that leverage the power and flexibility of the core of Windows, used by more than a billion people around the world.

The details of the new BUILD conference are as follows:

Date: September 13th (Tuesday)  to September 16th (Friday)
Place: Anaheim, California, USA

Who should be going?

If you are a contemporary developer, a geek who thrives on the newest and coolest, who loves the freedom of the web and the power of all devices from mobile to desktop, you need to join us to help BUILD the future.

For more information or to register, head over to www.buildwindows.com.