The first release candidate (RC1) for Microsoft’s next OS has been released for beta testing. As a beta test, downloading it is free and only requires a valid Windows Live ID (i.e. a Hotmail account will do). Full download instructions are here.
As expected Microsoft is not giving away free licenses of their OS without a catch: this version of Windows 7 comes with two expiration dates:
Watch the calendar. The RC will expire on June 1, 2010. Starting on March 1, 2010, your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. Windows will notify you two weeks before the bi-hourly shutdowns start. To avoid interruption, you’ll need to install a non-expired version of Windows before March 1, 2010. You’ll also need to install the programs and data that you want to use.
You have to give them credit, though. Ten months isn’t that long, but it should be enough to help you decide whether to upgrade to Windows 7 or stick with Vista.
A lot less ghetto than the Nude Computer and a lot cheaper than the Antec Skeleton, here’s an acrylic open air “case” for people who want to show off their PCs insides without resorting to heat-trapping acrylic clear cases.
Just enough to hold your Motherboard (ATX and Micro ATX), your Power Supply, HDD and ODD, these Acrylic PC Case are extremely popular among Japanese Geeks. With the strict minimum this new DC-ACPCDP/B, give you on top of the basic ATX / Micro ATX 2 LED and a power OFF/ON, a reset button and one holder to carry around your setting.
While it does look cute and allows you to direct an electric fan at it for cooling (instead of relying on pansy 80mm and 120mm fans), remember that there are reasons why PC cases are enclosed. This case (tray?) will not protect your PC from dust, static discharge from you or your feline pets, or the occasional “oops, I spilled coffee on your desk”.
Also, note that the picture above shows a PC whose parts are disconnected from each other. Expect to see a lot of wires around the place after they’re connected.
Acrylic Cowboy sells for ¥ 7,500.00 (PhP 3,600) but only comes with Japanese language manuals.
For some odd reason, Microsoft’s Live Search can now solve algebra problems, probably to one-up Google Search’s Calculator.
From the looks of things, it can only solve up to cubic functions. Not really fancy if you still remember your math, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re expecting to tutor algebra to a little sister or nephew this summer.
from Live Search Twitter
Last year it was Starcraft 2, and today Blizzard announced in the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational (after another long tease in Blizzard.com) a sequel to another popular title: Diablo III.
From the Kotaku post:
Well it’s official folks! You can all scream like little girls and then pass out from complete exhaustion as Blizzard officially announces Diablo III at the 2008 Worldwide Invitational.
With around a billion MMORPGs that have come and gone since the last one, I wonder what innovations will they bring in this entry to the series. Obviously they’re going to add an auto-attack feature to save mice everywhere from the repetitive clicking that we were so used to in last decade.
Diablo III official site
2008 Britney Spears? Definitely not Sugoi. Animated version of Toxic? I guess anything other than the crazy Britney Spears would be sugoi in my book. SunUK has some pics of her upcoming video Break The Ice.
The audacious promo to forthcoming single Break The Ice is set in a futuristic world, and sees Brit depicted as a pretty, slim line superhero.
Hmm… I don’t recall the Toxic video having those scenes. Let’s just wait and see how this video turns out.
It’s August once again and those who have been studying Nihongo for some time now know that it is this month that the Japan Foundation opens the registration for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). From the Japan Foundation, Manila press release:
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) will be held on Sunday, December 2, 2007; it will commence simultaneously at 9:00 a.m. in three (3) different venues – at the De La Salle University, Taft Ave., Manila , Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai – International School, Angliongto Ave., Lanang, Davao City and at the University of San Carlos, P. Del Rosario St., Cebu City. The JLPT is administered once a year – worldwide, by the Japan Foundation in cooperation with other cultural exchange/educational institutions, in order to evaluate and certify the Japanese language proficiency of non-native speakers.
More info can be found at the JFMO website.
Japanese Language Proficiency Test 2007 [The Japan Foundation, Manila]
I’m sure that many local gamers are looking forward to the long-awaited sequels for Starcraft and Fallout, but I’m not so sure about this other sequel. For one thing it’s going to be released in the Xbox 360, a console not really popular among the masses. It’s also a 2D shooter, not something to be really excited about. And finally, it’s based on a franchise that started in 1990, over half a decade before the two titles I mentioned.
I’m talking about Wing Commander Arena, the Xbox Live game based on the classic space flight simulation series. Fortunately for us non-Xbox 360 owners, EA just released a downloadable version of the “manual”.
If you’ve played at least one Wing Commander or Privateer game, you’ll probably going to love this. Especially if you get what the movie poster is referring to. ^_^
Wing Commander 360 – Official Manual originally reported in Kotaku
Here’s something for traditional gamers out there.
The Tenth Edition for Magic: The Gathering will be released on the 1st Annual Magic Game Day. That’s tomorrow, July 14, 2007. Here in the Philippines, the Magic Game Day will be held at the Robinsons Galleria. More info are located at the Neutral Grounds forums.
In related news, applications for the online beta of 10th ed are now accepted. If you want to play for free, have a Magic Online account, and are well versed in the intricacies of Magic rules, you may want to give this a try.
If you’re not that well versed in the rules or don’t have an MTGO account but still want to play for free, the beta for Magic Online III will tentatively be reopened by July 23. Stay tuned to the Magic Online III launch blog for more details.
