Microsoft is all set to launch Microsoft Office 2010 codenamed Office 14 an upgraded version of Microsoft Office 2007. Sources say that Office 2010 will be released in the second half of 2010. The new version will be available for Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista and Windows7. Microsoft has claimed that Office 2010 will be more role based than the previous versions. Many of the features incorporated will be tailor made keeping in mind the demands of various professionals and other work groups. Office Open XML standards will be implemented in the new 2010. Many new features will also be included in the new version. These include a built in screen capture tool, a tool which removes the background, smart art templates, document protected mode and author permissions. Office button is all set to be replaced by a new menu button which helps to view a full window file menu named the backstage view. this backstage view will give access to functions such as printing and sharing which are task oriented. Support for jump lists for Windows 7 is also provided. The ribbon interface is all set to be revamped. Technical testing of the application will begin by July. Microsoft is all set to compete with Google by offering Web based Office. All the applications will be available on offer with provisions for online sharing and editing. the launch will coincide with the launch of Office 2010.

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Chrome OS is all announced and one has to only wait and see whether it will be any match for Windows or Mac OS. Google in its official blog has announced that Chrome OS is nothing but a natural extension to its Chrome browser. It is entirely focused on the internet and is mainly targeted at net savvy users. They say the reason for the development of Chrome OS is that present day OS evolved at a time when internet was unheard of. Present day situations demand the need for an OS which is dedicated to integrate the functionality and features offered by the internet. Cloud computing will be a major factor which will influence the design of the new OS. It is built on Linux but Google claims that the windowing feature will be new. However reports which claim that it will usurp Windows are baseless for Chrome Os is targeted at netbook users at present and it is completely open source unlike others. Google has also said that it will be different from its Android OS which is devoted exclusively for mobile smart phones. Chrome OS is set to be released by the second half of 2010. Google has also claimed that its security architecture will be totally new and built from scratch.

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Microsoft recently launched Bingtweets a totally new search engine which combines the power of Bing search engine and popular twitter updates. This was launched in collaboration with Twitter and Federated Media. The great advantage of this new web application is it combines the best of Bing while providing the best of Twitter on a sidebar on the left. Microsoft’s Bing already sported Twitter search results on its Bing page but the searches were only from prominent Twitter users like the official Twitter pages. The site has some cool interesting features that include trendy topics from popular terms as well as by popular people, places and products. Bingtweets is the second venture from Federated Media and Microsoft. The first was ExecTweets which allowed engaging of business executives on Twitter. Though Bingtweet is an amalgamation of Bing and Twitter search results the site doesn’t mix up results form both instead in addition to bing results twitter results are shown on the left hand side side bar.However Microsoft actually differentiates the various twitter feeds which are popular into different groupings making it easier for people to identify what is better for them. Microsoft has stated that it has plans to incorporate more of twitter search results into its Bing search engine but how Microsoft will do it remains to be seen.

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StaNav technologies ( a pioneer of GPS Navigation in India and provider of India’s 1^st GPS navigation software, SatGuide) recently sent us an email asking us to consider their product SatGuide PND Moov 300. Priced at Rs.16,990.This device comes preloaded with details of 200+ cities on Guide maps and more than 15 lakh destinations and can be quite handy for the regular traveler. Voice prompted directions and entertainment are also on offer and they all come at affordable rates than the ones available right now. Also unlike mobile pho9ne based navigation this does not need GPRS or a WiFi connection to keep it powered. More infomation can be had at www.satguide.in.

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Forgetting passwords and retrieving them can be a tedious process and can lead to loss of vital data especially if the service is something like Google . Now Google has extended the features for password recovery option. This includes a password recovery process by sending text message to the user. All one need to do is go to settings and ans select “Password Recovery Options” . Then all one need to do is enter one’s cell phone number and click save. The next time anyone forgets his/her username all one need to do is to enter the user name on the password assistance page and this will prompt Google to sent a text message a recovery code. All this can be done without leaving the page or redirecting to another account. In fact all the password recovery options can be used as this will improve chances of recovering the account.

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One of my friend Binny introduced a concept called plugin week, the idea is to release plugins for an entire week. After the success of plugin week 1 which happened last december (2008) he started week 2 now. But there is a difference in this new plugin week, he is also releasing plugins for Drupal, Gimp and some other open source tool.

So far binny released three plugins for week 2, I appreciate Binny’s initiatives.

Plugins released so far.

1)  Worpress Plugin for Weather
2)  Shopping  Cart Plugin for Wordpress
3) Wordpress Image Gallery

I am sure this will be a great carnival for all open source geeks.

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Extendible Messaging and Prescence Protocol is based on Xml and is open source and is used in the real time instant messaging and prescence information. Now it is usually a platform on which third party applications like Gtalk, Pidgin and other open source IM clients are based. XMPP as a protocol has gained wide acceptance and can be seen from the popularity it enjoys. It nowadays find itself being extended with the introduction of voice over internet protocol and file transfer signaling. the most desirable aspect of XMPP is that it is open source and modifications and improvement of the software is possible. Like email any one can install the jabber server and run it to talk to other clients. The XMPP standards foundation is responsible for improving the standards and extending the capabilities of the XMPP protocol by developing extensions. The XMPP is decentralized which meas anyone can run a jabber server. So unlike AOL and MSN which contains a centralized server Gtalk doesn’t have one. Every user on the network has a unique Jabber ID (usually abbreviated as JID).The JID is structured like an email address which bypasses the need for a central server and also includes a DNS address for the server user resides separated by an at sign (@), such as username@domain.com.

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USSD allows for faster communication between the user and the client application. Most of the applications making use of USSD is based on menu and a lot services including chat and prepaid services are offered. The major applications making use of USSD include prepaid roaming and chat.  A menu is used for mobile prepay and also involves a USSD connection if there is a need to call while roaming. The connection is made via a MSC which connects to the Home Location Register in the home network. The request is now routed to the USSD gateway in turn routing the request to the server which hoststhe application. The balance is checked and the server initiates the same process via the same method back to the client additional information indicating the time available is also sent to the user. Mobile chat and other related applications like friends finder can also be put to  perfect use by employing the USSD. The advantage of using USSD is that these applications require a faster connection to interact. Such applications also require additional technologies besides USSD to function, including applications to detect whether users are available or not at cetain particular locations.

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Unstructured supplementary service data  is a capability associated with GSM based mobile phones with the ability to process real time data. Messages sent via USSD cannot be stored and sent later or manupulated. This implies that it is session oriented.  Messages can be sent from the cell phone screen page directly. Response times of applications using USSD is less compared to other SMS since USSD is session oriented. USSD allows for virtual home network where the commands sent via USSD are routed back to Home Location Register of the home mobiles network. Sim application toolkit and the wireless application protocol complies with USSD.  This concept is the same as that while roaming. USSD is basically a trigger rather than some application and it can be used to sent text between the user and various applications. Basically it enables other applications to function based on USSD. USSD is something like telnet while on the other hand SMS is like a regualr mail.

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Firefox has tweaked and added features to its Web Browser with the release of Firefox3.5 . Firefox claims that it is much faster than previous versions but the difference could not be felt on a fast internet connection. The difference was noticed only when the bandwidth was low. Firefox comes with support now for more than 70 languages. It now supports Ogg Theora encoded Video and Ogg Theora encoded Audio  keeping in line with its open source traditions. A private browsing mode with the option to completely remove any traces of the site visited is also supported. In this mode no data of any sort will be “remembered”. THis includes cookies, forms, passwords and other data including web cache files. Files that were downloaded while in private session will not be displayed in the downloads list. However bookmarks created will not be erased.Location aware browsing is also supported where information can be passed to the websites which tell the location of the user which allows more choice for the user location wise. Support for native JSON and web worker threads are also provided. Support for the lates web technologies include downloadable fonts, color correction, CSS media queries, Javascript query selectors, HTML 5 local storages and SVG transformations. Firefox as usual is packed with features.

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