Software & Apps News - Page 157

The latest and most important Software & Apps news - Page 157.

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Windows 8 will have support for some seriously large HDDs

Anthony Garreffa | Dec 1, 2011 1:23 AM CST

As always, the MSDN blog has a long, but interesting read on large disks and large sectors in Windows 8 and goes into lengthy detail of how the upcoming OS will handle such things.

I will note, that in the article, they state that from a recent IDC market research report, that they estimate the maximum capacity of a single hard disk will reach 8TB in 2015. But, does this take into consideration the flooding in Thailand? I don't know. Impressive to think though, 8TB in a single disk. Imagine losing all that data. Eep.

Microsoft see two challenges that require attention with large disk sizes, first, ensuring that the entire available capacity is addressable, second, support the hard disk drive vendors in their effort to deliver more efficiently managed physical disks - 4K (large) sector sizes.

Continue reading: Windows 8 will have support for some seriously large HDDs (full post)

NVIDIA releases GeForce 290.36 beta driver

Anthony Garreffa | Nov 28, 2011 7:47 PM CST

NVIDIA have just released the GeForce 290.36 drivers that are set to offer some improvements to a bunch of games, as well as adding support for some new BenQ 3D Vision-capable monitors.

First up we have some new SLI profiles for Crysis 2, Heroes and Generals, Inversion, Stronghold 3, and Syndicate. PhysX has been updated to 9.11.11.07 which includes the best PhysX experience for Batman: Arkham City. For a full rundown on what 290.36 offers, check it out below:

NVIDIA Ambient Occlusion:

Continue reading: NVIDIA releases GeForce 290.36 beta driver (full post)

AMD release yet a new driver, Catalyst 11.11b

Anthony Garreffa | Nov 28, 2011 7:10 PM CST

AMD have obviously been very hard at work between gaming and working on new video cards, with the release of another driver in the form of Catalyst 11.11b performance driver.

This driver brings some Crossfire performance scaling to Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim as well as a bunch of improvements to other gamers such as Batman: Arkham City, RAGE, Assassin's Creed: Revelations, and Battlefield 3. A full list of improvements is below:

Elder Scrolls Skyrim:

Continue reading: AMD release yet a new driver, Catalyst 11.11b (full post)

Crytek's CryENGINE 3 gets licensed for Digital Visualization Projects

Anthony Garreffa | Nov 28, 2011 4:33 AM CST

Crytek GmbH have in the last few days announced that they closed a licensing deal for CryENGINE 3, its proprietary real-time development solution, with Crystal CG, a world-leading digital image service provider.

Crystal CG is dedicated to providing customized solutions that use 3D digital visualization technologies and have worked on a few widely-recognized projects such as the "Grand opening ceremony of Beijing 2008 Olympics" as well as the "London 2012 Olympics mascot promotional film" as well as a number of various visual communication projects.

Crystal CG have tapped the CryENGINE 3 for their upcoming projects, which they will use to further enhance their production values and achieve even better outcomes in a significantly shorter amount of time.

Continue reading: Crytek's CryENGINE 3 gets licensed for Digital Visualization Projects (full post)

Microsoft are improving the setup experience of Windows 8

Anthony Garreffa | Nov 21, 2011 11:16 PM CST

There is a huge post on the MSDN blog about Windows 8, and how they are improving the setup experience. Microsoft are really working hard on perfecting Windows 8 and after reading the blog I'm 100-percent confident they are on the road to success.

They've got some big challenges ahead of them, and are committed to get more PCs working with Windows 8 than any previous version of Windows was capable of. With more than 450 millin PCs that will be Windows 8-capable, Microsoft expect that many systems that are currently rocking along with Windows Vista and even Windows XP will be eligible.

Windows 8 will also now be offered through an online installation, with a "pre-key" inside the setup image that is downloaded to a unique user, this means that you won't even need to enter the 25-digit product key during installation. In pre-installation, Windows 8 will scan your PC to determine compatibility, resulting in a summary report that shows what programs and devices on your system will/won't work, and what items require your attention.

Continue reading: Microsoft are improving the setup experience of Windows 8 (full post)

Microsoft will be tweaking Windows Update, and its handling of restarts in Windows 8

Anthony Garreffa | Nov 15, 2011 3:16 AM CST

One thing that really irks me with Windows (and even OS X) is updating and the requirement of restarting. I've never understood how operating systems have come this far with everything happening behind the scenes, yet it requires user intervention to do simple things like "when would you like to restart, I've just done updates, come on!".

Microsoft are working on this for Windows 8, which will see Windows Update consolidate all the restarts in a month, synchronizing with the monthly security release. This means that your PC will only restart when security updates are installed and actually require a restart. Security updates are released in a single batch on the second Tuesday of every month, where this will keep the system secure, in a timely manner, reduces restarts and makes restarts more predictable.

Now, Windows Update will notify you of any upcoming automatic restarts. If Windows Update has already detected, downloaded and installed security updates and requires a restart, Windows Update will notify you of an upcoming automatic restart through a message on the login screen that will persist for three days. This gives you an option of "Update and shutdown", or "Update and restart" at the login screen. You can still kick it old school and go to Windows Update in Control Panel, or do it like I do and search for "Update" in the start bar.

Continue reading: Microsoft will be tweaking Windows Update, and its handling of restarts in Windows 8 (full post)

GIGABYTE 3D Power hands-on with G1. Assassin 2 X79 motherboard

Cameron Wilmot | Nov 14, 2011 2:01 AM CST

We are really letting loose now with our Intel X79 Express content and next up is another GIGABYTE video related to said product and this time it's another software feature called 3D Power and it's included with GIGABYTE's full range of X79 motherboards that should be online at many places as of now.

3D is obviously a big theme with GIGABYTE's X79 range of products and while there is little "3D" as we know about GIGABYTE's new software utility, 3D Power, we do like the insane level of control it gives you over your brand spanking new motherboard.

3D Power gets its name for its 3-way digital engine which allows you to control digital CPU power as well as both digital memory power controllers. This is all made possible since GIGABYTE's full range of X79 motherboards use an all digital power system with added controllers which give you the ability to fine tune power related options and settings down to a level we've never really seen before.

Continue reading: GIGABYTE 3D Power hands-on with G1. Assassin 2 X79 motherboard (full post)

Sony opens registration for PlayStation Suite SDK beta, allows developers to build apps for Android and Vita

Anthony Garreffa | Nov 11, 2011 3:20 AM CST

Sony's PlayStation Suite SDK was shown off at the Tokyo Game Show in September, but Sony have just opened up the SDK application process for a closed beta test. This allows Windows XP and Windows 7 users in the US, UK and Japan to submit their credentials for early access.

For those who get approval from Sony will have the ability to develop apps for use on the PS Vista when it drops in February, 2012, along with the PS Suite - that "hardware-neutral" framework that will allow access from non-PlayStation branded products, including the Xperia Play, Tablet S and Tablet P, with the potential for third-party devices to come too.

The PlayStation Suite SDK uses the C# programming language, and doesn't require developers to have access to actual Sony hardware. You can apply to be a Sony developer by clicking the following link.

Continue reading: Sony opens registration for PlayStation Suite SDK beta, allows developers to build apps for Android and Vita (full post)

Opera Mini 6.5, Opera Mobile 11.5 released

Anthony Garreffa | Nov 3, 2011 12:19 AM CDT

Opera Software have just rolled out a small update to their mobile browsers which includes some new features as well as the usual optimizations such as improved network performance and lower memory usage. Opera Mini 6.5 and Opera Mobile 11.5 now sport enhanced bookmarking functionality with a small star in the address field that lets you quickly save those links you want to keep and add them to your Speed Dial.

Opera have also added in a built-in data counter, found in the "Help" menu, the counter lets you monitor your data consumption, which could be very useful for data conscious users. Tracking your data consumption on your mobile plan is usually hard, requiring that you sign into your providers website or use an app to monitor it, but having it built into Opera (which is where a majority of your browsing will be done) is very handy indeed.

On top of this, it will gel well with Opera Turbo. Opera Turbo compresses web data by up to 90-percent before sending it to your phone. This is great for those on low data plans, mixed in with the data counter, you could keep a tab on your consumption very easily.

Continue reading: Opera Mini 6.5, Opera Mobile 11.5 released (full post)

Google+ intros powerful photo editing suite, makes it free

Anthony Garreffa | Oct 30, 2011 8:52 PM CDT

Google+ has added Instagram-like controls to its photo section. The section has always had basic editing, because Google+ shares its photo albums with Picasa, so any edits made there would bounce back. But now they're stepped it up a few notches and built it directly in. The new controls only work in the desktop version, and can be accessed by clicking the edit button when you're in the fullscreen light-box view and selecting "Creative Kit".

From there, you're launched into an editor which is powered by PicNik (my niece Alisha will love that). From here, you can crop and tweak photos, but also included is an Instagram-like filter where you can perform some powerful edits. Included is a "Sunless Tan" tool, which can do exactly what it says... you use a brush to apply the tan and somehow it works out where the edges are and turns anyone into a reality TV star ready for the Jersey Shore, b*tch.

Right now there is a seasonal toolkit: Halloween. This allows you to add blood spatter, gravestones, "Dracula Dermis", and other fun stuff to your pictures. The Creative Kit is Flash-powered, so if you were thinking you might hit it up by signing into the non-mobile version of Google+ from an iPad, you're completely out of luck.

Continue reading: Google+ intros powerful photo editing suite, makes it free (full post)