Microsoft's made no secret of the fact that a patch for Vista - sans the SP1 update - will disable the OEM BIOS Hack and Grace Time Hack some use to get around activation. Naturally, SP1 will do so as well, but if you try to get around it, you can only avoid it if you disable / hide the update.The release of Windows Vista Service Pack...Read more...
We reported earlier that there is a show-stopping bug with one of the prerequisite patches for Vista SP1 which is causing computers around the world to get stuck in an endless loop of reboots. <insert your own joke about improved stability and reliability here>Microsoft didn't take long to evaluate the problem and respond:“So far,...Read more...
AMD just sent over an update on the progress of motherboard support for AMD Phenom processors for those inerested in more than just the latest AM2+ motherboards. AMD also sent info on how to check for processor support from different motherboard vendors.AMD now has 17 motherboards listed that are recommended for use with a...Read more...
At the time of NVIDIA's 3-Way SLI launch, we were unable to bring you Crysis benchmark numbers that we felt comfortable with. This was partly an NVIDIA driver issue and also because we were waiting on a patch from Crytek that would allow for more efficient SLI scaling overall. With the release of the Cyrsis 1.1 patch, we now have...Read more...
We just got received word directly from AMD regarding the purported delays to the next wave of Phenom processors that were initially slated to hit sometime this quarter, but have been pushed out to Q2...You may have seen a few online headlines today indicating “AMD Phenom processor delays.” I’d like to clarify where things stand...Read more...
A recent update to Quicken Pro is having an adverse effect on some Macs. By adverse effect, we mean that it's deleting non-Quicken related data on the desktop. Yes, the desktop, the same place that users often put data they're currently working on.“The update caused several Mac users to lose data from their Desktop folders, infuriating...Read more...
When we took a look at the ASUS Eee PC we noted the little 'warrant void if removed' sticker covering the memory access port, but we didn't really care. After all, ours was just a review unit and despite our repeated and futile attempts to convince ASUS officials that our dog ate our demo unit, we ultimately knew that we were going to...Read more...
Earlier this week we reported that a disgruntled Eee purchaser was considering taking ASUS to court over alleged GPL violations. Those supposed violations stemmed from the alleged failure to provide complete source code for the software on the Eee PC in an accessible manner & location. As we initially suspected, it appears...Read more...
Asus is quickly making inroads here in the US with their line of highly integrated smart-phones. A little birdie let this gem slip out to us today and it certainly looks sexy-sleek. The P527 is a tri-band phone with integrated GPS and WiFi functionality, in addition to a new Asus feature dubbed "Travelog". "Capture and Share Exciting...Read more...
Apple introduced the iPhone in the U.K. and Germany on Friday, and at the same time unleashed software update 1.1.2 on the world. Little did they know it had been broken already.Erica Sadun at The Unofficial Apple Weblog obtained jailbreaking code for the 1.1.2 update almost simultaneous with its release last night, and tests this morning...Read more...
One thing you have to love about Apple are their benchmarks. When they used to tout the PowerPC series of chips, they had benchmarks showing how the G4 and G5 could topple anything that AMD or Intel were producing. Then came the transition to Intel, and those benchmarks magically reversed themselves, perhaps in small part due to...Read more...
Apple has been busy updating their hardware to keep up with the latest mobile platform from Intel, dubbed “Santa Rosa”, but there are still two systems that are based on the mobile technology that haven't been updated since the refresh: the MacBook and the Mac Mini.The Mini may be getting discontinued soon if rumors are true, but its platform...Read more...
In early August Microsoft released a pair of performance and compatibility updates. Now they’ve released four (yes, four) more updates as we await Windows Vista SP1.The first, KB941649, addresses “the compatibility, reliability, and stability of Windows Vista.” This type of vague description always makes me feel warm and fuzzy about an OS’s...Read more...
Apple warned that its latest update, 1.1.1, might disable some hacked, unlocked phones, but it appears there are cases of unhacked phones being bricked. It is not clear exactly why this is occurring, as Apple has yet to comment on the problems. But the rash of reports from those who have not unlocked or modified their phones...Read more...
Software unlocking of the iPhone has become the "deal of the day" with paid and unpaid solutions. Apple has an answer for that, and you may not like it. Apple issued a statement Monday afternoon warning users of unlocked iPhones that the next software update it ships will probably break their phones....Read more...
The short answer is: yes, Microsoft is updating/changing software in a stealthy fashion. Microsoft's own Nate Clinton has acknowledged that the Redmond juggernaut is indeed updating computers regardless of the preferences set by the user in the 'automatic updates' settings menu.According to Nate, here's what's happening:“So what is happening...Read more...
This past week, we attended an event where Intel gave us specific detail on the new hardware and features that are part of their vPro platform technology for 2007. If you’re unfamiliar with vPro, it’s not a singular product or chip. Like Centrino for example, vPro is an Intel platform technology that’s comprised of a CPU, chipset, network...Read more...
It's been less than two months, and already we've seen two iPhone software updates. This second one, like the first, focuses on bug fixes. Much like the first, there aren't many details available. This one weighs in at 92MB.It's pretty amazing how Apple continues to do this, as experience has shown that carrier certifications of these types...Read more...
No, it wasn't a bad Windows Update patch that caused the massive Skype outage that started last Thursday and continued into the weekend. It was the semi-synchronized massive reboot across the globe, which exposed a bug in the Skype Code. On Thursday, 16th August 2007, the Skype peer-to-peer network became unstable and suffered a critical...Read more...
That was fast. Only a day after introducing their new line of aluminum and glass iMacs, Apple has released updates for them. The updates were only vaguely identified as providing "important bug fixes." Owners of the day-old 20-in. and 24-in. iMacs should install iMac Software Update 1.0, Apple said in a terse message accompanying...Read more...
Back in February of this year, we took a look at the AMD 690 series chipset and praised it for its affordability, power efficiency, and strong performance relative to its competition. Since then, the 690 series chipset has gone on to be somewhat of a success for AMD with over 35 different motherboards based on various flavors the chipset...Read more...
Back in February of this year, we took a look at the AMD 690 series chipset and praised it for its affordability, power efficiency, and strong performance relative to its competition. AMD has since taken the 690 series chipset and optimized it further through some BIOS and software level enhancements that result in marked performance gains...Read more...