There may be some of you out there who are thinking about upgrading to Windows 7, but not entirely sure that your current PC is beefy enough. I think you’ll be relieved to see that you don’t need a super-souped-up rig to run Microsoft’s latest version of Windows and that you may already have everything you need.  For example my current Dell XPS M1330, easily surpasses the minimum requirements for Windows 7 and it’s more than 2 years old. Time to throw a party!

Minimum Requirements for Windows 7

If you want to run Windows 7 on your PC, here’s what it takes:

• 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
• 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

Additional requirements to use certain features:

• Internet access (fees may apply)
• Depending on resolution, video playback may require additional memory and advanced graphics hardware
• For some Windows Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required
• Windows Touch and Tablet PCs require specific hardware
• HomeGroup requires a network and PCs running Windows 7
• DVD/CD authoring requires a compatible optical drive
• BitLocker requires Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2
• BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive
• Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1 GB of RAM, an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space, and a processor capable of hardware virtualization with Intel VT or AMD-V turned on
• Music and sound require audio output

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Welcome to Windows 7

The revolutionary design of the Microsoft Arc Mouse combines the comfort of a desktop mouse and the portability of a notebook mouse. It will take you a few minutes to realize what Microsoft Arc Mouse is all about. The collapsible design at first suggested that it’s both a full-size mouse and a notebook mouse in one product. You might be confused as to who would want such a thing. Upon playing with it, you will realize that there’s actually some smarter design going on here. The unique shape and button layout does present some usability issues, but overall, the Arc Mouse may be the best solution for those looking for a full-size, travel-friendly mouse.

The benefit of the Arc Mouse is not that it works as a “notebook mouse” when you fold it in half. Indeed, the power to the mouse cuts out when it’s folded, so it won’t work in that mode at all. Instead, folding the Arc Mouse makes it more generally travel-friendly. First, it reduces the size of the device, cutting its length by more than a third. But there’s also a small, magnetic cradle on the underside of the tail portion that folds in, to hold the mouse’s thumbnail-size USB receiver. When the mouse is collapsed, the tail portion secures the receiver, ensuring that you’ll have all of the necessary pieces together when you take the mouse out of your bag.

The core “mousing” functionality works as you’d expect it to. I personally like the fact that setting up the Arc Mouse is so simple. After you insert the three, Microsoft-provided AAA batteries, you plug in the USB receiver, wait for Windows to recognize the mouse, and reboot. Mac setup is even easier, as Mac OS X found the mouse as soon as we plugged the receiver in. For its intended purpose as a travel-friendly input device, the Arc Mouse does exactly what it’s supposed to.

Product Features of the Microsoft Arc Mouse:

• Mouse folds to 60% of its fully expanded size
• Micro-transceiver snaps into the bottom of the mouse
• Folding motion turns mouse on/off
• Laser tracking for precision
• 2.4 GHz wireless with up to 30-foot range

Technical Details of the Microsoft Arc Mouse:

• Brand Name: Microsoft
• Model: ZJA-00001
• Hardware Platform: PC, Mac
• input_device: Mouse
• form_factor: External
• Connectivity Technology: Wireless
• Movement Detection: Laser
• Color Name: Black
• Warranty: 3 years warranty

Check out the Microsoft Arc Mouse and other cool gadgets offered on our specials page.

Get great deals and discounts in offers that can only be found here on mrgadget.com.au.

In a move to finally combat against Apple’s growing share in the smartphone market (both phone and software-wise), Microsoft has created their own AppStore that is ready to take submissions via:
http://developer.windowsmobile.com/marketplace.aspx.

Windows Mobile App Store Requirements for Developers:

• Get a Live ID. Dont have a Live ID? Signing up is easy!
• Sign the application provider agreement
• Create your profile Provide us with personal contact info.
• Provide company information We’ll need your business information, such as tax identification numbers and a bank account to establish your vendor account. This should come from an authorized officer of your company, or the individual bank account holder.
• Pay annual subscription fee Get great benefits for just $99 Plus taxes, if applicable

Like Apple’s App Store, the Windows Mobile App Store will be the one-stop shop for all Windows Mobiles apps managed by Microsoft. And of course, it’s logical that future releases will allow customers to purchase anywhere there is a data connection with “one-click”. Apparently, it will be called Skymarket.

Should be interesting to see how long-time 3rd party developers will react to this new model given, they’ve been selling direct to the public for many years.

Via Solsie

Next month at Tech Ed 2009, Windows Mobile 6.5 will officially be released. To be honest, I don’t really know how to react to upgrades of the Windows Mobile platform having been burnt by so many other releases. It also doesn’t help that I have come to love the iPhone OS over the last year or so.

Let’s see how this iteration will turn out. Who knows, Microsoft may have learned from the past and will present us with something worthy of our spending. Bring on Tech Ed 2009!

Via Boy Genius Report

Yes, there is a way to create new files as well as edit documents & attachments on your Windows Mobile 5.0/6.0 smartphone! Documents To Go is the first and only stand-alone product to create, edit, and view Microsoft Office 2007 files on Windows Mobile smartphones. Plus, new “Zip & Send” technology allows you to compress a file and then have it instantaneously e-mailed off. This is a must have for anyone needing to use Office files while on the go.

Try it for FREE now: Documents To Go Premium Edition For Windows Mobile

Just Like Office on Your Desktop:
Whether it’s a file from your PC or an e-mail attachment, Documents To Go allows you to use these files the same way you do on your desktop computer. It’s that easy. Now you can have your forecasts, contracts, product manuals, part numbers, budget charts, purchase orders, directions, to-do lists, sales presentations, bank statements, school work, manuscripts, or any other kind of Office document at your fingertips with full editing capabilities!

100% Document Fidelity:
Documents To Go is built upon InTact Technology which ensures 100% fidelity of your files after they are edited on the handheld. No other mobile Office program incorporates this cutting edge technology.

continue reading "How to edit and create documents on your Windows Mobile : Documents To Go"

Does the guy in the Microsoft “Welcome to Windows 7 Video” look like the Grease Lightning version of  John Travolta or what?! Maybe it’s just me…

I haven’t had the time to play with Windows 7 but I like what Microsoft says it can do e.g. compatibility with more devices, faster, touch-navigation capability, better window management. Then again, I’m a bit jaded by the Windows Vista experience i.e. didn’t see a huge jump in functionality from Windows XP.

Check out the video and the Windows 7 site for yourself. There’s even a link for you to download a beta copy of Windows 7!

In the meantime, I have to pack for a trip to the Philippines. Perhaps when I get back I may consider trying it out on my older PC.

Welcome to Windows 7 Video Page

You got to give it to Microsoft for being sport. Knowing full well that iPhone has become a ubiquitous device used not just tech-savvy individuals but also by less tech-inclined consumers, the Apple rival came up with its own iPhone application.

continue reading "Microsoft Releases Seadragon iPhone App"

BlackBerry, Palm and Symbian handsets all get Microsoft Office via Documents to Go. I don’t know about you, but for me, Microsoft Office programs are an integral part of my life. Now iPhone users can also get them on their handsets soon enough through the same service.

continue reading "Microsoft Office for the iPhone to Arrive Soon"

Seeing as many handsets based on the Windows Mobile OS have specialized music players, the possibility of using the Zune software on phones doesn’t seem too off-mark. Well, guess what? In a rather lengthy interview by UK’s CIO Magazine, Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer just as good as confirmed it.

continue reading "Windows Mobile Devices to Carry Zune Media Player"

We’ve already heard a lot about Microsoft’s next generation operating system, Windows 7, especially since rumors are that it’s going to be released next year instead of 2010 which was the original plan. Some lucky beta testers and developers get first look on the user interface, and now a set of screenshots surfaced online and they look pretty authentic.

continue reading "Windows 7 Screenshots Leaked by Beta-Tester"