Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

You’d think that with all the viruses, malware, spyware and what not on Windows, Microsoft would offer some sort of protection.  Well, actually it does, currently the service costs $49.95 per year and is called Microsoft Live OneCare.  It’s one of the many things Microsoft has that’s easy to forget about.  That’s not a bad thing, though, as it will be leaving on June 30, 2009.

To replace OneCare, Microsoft is working on “Morro.“  Morro is the project-name for its new, free virus protection program.  According to the Reuters article, Morro is being designed to work on “smaller, less powerful computers.“  That probably means it is being made to work with netbooks.  Continued after the break.

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Microsoft sure has been busy with their Zune lately.  First, they announce a new 3.1 software update which includes a few free games and now they are set to cut prices on the Zune. 

The price cuts aren’t jaw-dropping, but they are pretty nice, nonetheless.  Price cuts around the holiday season might just do the trick to persuade some potential PMP buyers to go with the cheaper Zune.  The 4GB version’s price goes down to $99.  Meanwhile, the 8GB model goes from $149 to $139.  The last model, the 16GB model, goes down by $20, from $199 to $179.  If you want to pick up some Zune accessories to go with your new Zune, then you will be happy to know that Microsoft has also cut prices on several Zune products. 

More after the break.

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Today, Microsoft has officially released the new 3.1 update for the Zune, which comes with a few major additions such as four new games as well as some general improvements. 

First, let’s begin with the new game updates.  Checkers, Sudoku, Space Battle, and a multiplayer version as well as a single player mode of Texas Hold’em have all been made available for free.  Apple has many more games available, but some of them cost money.  I’m sure Zune users will be happy to know that they can get some free high quality games.  The above picture of what the Texas Hold’em splash screen would look like on the Zune.  Continued after the break.

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2008 has not been kind to Yahoo.  It began with a buyout offer from Microsoft that they promptly screwed up, and was followed by the disintegration of their ad deal with Google and two rounds of layoffs.  Now it appears CEO Jerry Yang has finally had enough.

Yang announced his resignation last night, saying he will remain on the board of directors and reclaim his old title of “Chief Yahoo.”  Yang has been under the microscope of his shareholders ever since he rejected Microsoft’s offer of $33 per share for being too low.  Yahoo’s shares are now trading at a mere $11 each.  He now appears to regret his decision.

“To this day I would say that the best thing for Microsoft to do is to buy Yahoo,“ he said at a conference two weeks ago. And when quizzed on if he would stick to a higher price that he demanded back in May added, “Oh no. At the right price, whatever the price is.“
But Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer didn’t bite and said a couple of days later, “We are not interested in going back and re-looking at an acquisition. I don’t know why they would be either, frankly. They turned us down at $33 a share.“

Ouch.  Yahoo has begun the search for a successor, but finding someone willing to take over the tough job of turning around what was once the net’s top search engine won’t be easy, and for now what lies in the company’s future is anyone’s guess.

Read: [PC World]

• Contest: can you be Yahoo’s next CEO?
• New Xbox Experience features Street Fighter II Turbo “branded destination”
• Microsoft to offer free virus protection

Sections: Web, Websites, Google

One of the things Apple has on Microsoft (among many) is that they have a fully functional online store available in many countries around the world.  Not until recently, Microsoft only had online stores set up in countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and Korea.  However, they unveiled a website for the United States, which sells many Microsoft products such as Office 2007, games, Xbox 360 components, and Zune products. 

Microsoft essentially has two ways of getting the products you requested to you.  The first way is the traditional shipment delivery method.  Basically, after you order something, it will be shipped to your within however much time it specifies.  The other way, which is more modern, to get what you purchased to you is via download.  Continued after the break.

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Sections: Computers, Desktops, Laptops, Gaming, Accessories, Games, Web, Downloads, Websites

Usually, Canada has to pay more for the same technology we Americans enjoy for a cheaper price.  We can often be thankful that we can get the same item for cheaper here than Canada.  However, a Canadian retailer, Future Shop, has put up a listing for the Microsoft Zune Second Gen 8GB player - one that will make you pretty surprised. 

Future Shop is listing the 8GB player 149.99 CAD, but after a 50 CAD discount, it becomes 99.99 CAD.  That price, 99.99 CAD, is equivalent to about $82, which is more than $50 cheaper than any 8GB Zune you can find in the United States.  In case you live in Canada and want to take advantage of this offer, you better do it quick because in a few days, the price for this Zune will go back to 149.99 CAD. 

Read [Future Shop]

• Microsoft to offer free virus protection
• Apple and a gaming console?
• New Xbox Experience features Street Fighter II Turbo “branded destination”

RadioShack’s Black Friday ad is now out and here’s what they are offering to those brave folks willing to wait in line for the 6AM opening:

• Canon PIXMA MX300 Office All-in-One Printer (Requires Purchase of EX-Z9 Camera) - Free after $50.00 MIR.
• Memorex MCC228 HD Digital Camcorder- $79.99 (regularly $119.99)
• TDK DVD+R Discs (50-Pack) - $7.99 (regularly $27.99)
• TDK DVD-R (50-Pack) - $7.99 (regularly $27.99)
• Casio EX-Z9 8.1MP Digital Camera Bundle- $99.99 (regularly $139.99)

Keep reading to see the entire list.

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Sections: Audio, Video, Computers, Gadgets / Other, Imaging, Web

Not only is Microsoft wanting to be one of the new boys in town in the social networking arena, with their new Microsoft Live platform; they are also planning to muscle in on the digitally distributed PC gaming market.

General manager for Windows Live, Chris Early, confirmed in an interview with ShackNews that Microsoft does indeed have concrete plans to dole out full PC titles.  They will be doing this through their Marketplace application, and with this move, will be attempting to play with the big boy in the PC gaming realm, Steam.  Read about Microsoft’s plans after the break.

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Sections: Gaming, Games, Miscellaneous, Web, Downloads, Web 2.0, Web Apps, Web Browsers, Websites

Microsoft just announced that they are giving Windows Live a major face lift.  They plan to debut a whole bunch of new beta Windows Live features to help users combine all parts of their online life.  These features are not going to just be Microsoft services either.  But they will all be under the Windows Live umbrella page.

Even though they already hold the title of the most used messenger program; they obviously want to reach even farther into the online cookie jar.  Microsoft wants to offer competition with the popular social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace.  Whether or not they can actually provide any kind of competition coming into the game this much later remains to be seen.  What’s Microsoft’s plan?  Keep reading.

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Sections: Computers, Desktops, Software / Applications, Web, Downloads, Web 2.0, Web Apps, Web Browsers, Websites

No kidding, right?  I think maybe everyone but Nokia saw it coming.  Or maybe they did too…just not at this drastic of a level. 

According to the popular market research firm Canalys, Nokia’s market share dropped down to 38.9 percent in the third quarter; which is down from 51.4 just a year earlier.  On the other hand, Apple jumped to 17.3 percent, and RIM increased to 15.2 the same quarter.

Canalys credits some of the Apple and RIM increases to new phones and new marketing strategies.  In a statement, the firm said “"The introduction of the iPhone 3G in July and Apple’s expansion into many more countries helped propel the vendor to second place globally.“  Continued.

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