Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

This is the latest version of the Home Office programs, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007.  The software suite includes Office Excel 2007, Office OneNote 2007, Office PowerPoint 2007, and Office Word 2007.  For those that may not have tried this latest version out before— be prepared it is a little different than what you are used to.

The ribbon menu is a departure from the older versions of Office, so you will definitely have to be able to adapt yourself to those changes.  But the program does allow you the option to save your documents in all kinds of formats including older Word versions, which is very handy since older versions of Office are unable to open Office ‘07 documents.  It did take a little getting used to when I first started using the program, but I do like it a lot now.  Continued after the break.

Via [newegg]

MORE »

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.

MORE »

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

PhoneFusion announced yesterday that their Fusion Voicemail + is coming to the Android platform that will allow users to view their voicemails and listen to them in any order they choose.  This was a big selling point of the original iPhone and now it is coming to the Android platform.

Currently, PhoneFusion offers this software for free to Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, Linux, Palm and Symbian phones via their downloaded application.  PhoneFusion announced the addition of the Android to their compatible platforms at the Under the Radar: Mobility event.  The company says the application will be available before the end of this year.

Find out more about this app.  Click more to follow.

MORE »

Many users of AVG 7.5 and AVG 8 were stuck with Windows systems that didn’t operate after the AVG security scanner software mistakenly identified a necessary Windows component as a Trojan virus. 

The file user32.dll was tagged incorrectly as a banking Trojan after a signature update on Sunday.  The AVG scanner then advised users to delete the “harmful file.“  So, of course…many listened.  And when they did, they were stuck with a system that either would not boot or else was knocked into a continuous reboot cycle.  Continued after the break.

MORE »

Sections: Computers, Security, Software / Applications, Web, Downloads, Web Apps, Websites

Just Wednesday, Microsoft announced a site set up exclusively for tech startups.  No, working with startups isn’t a new concept for Microsoft.  But often, the programs weren’t very well known, and the scope was rather narrow.  This latest launch, BizSpark, is a different story. 

First off, when joining, you get the what you might expect—Microsoft products.  Of course, there are the obvious Office, Visual Studio, Sharepoint, as well as both Windows and SQL Server.  But that isn’t all.  BizSpark works with over 300 Network Partners who can offer the program right to startups.  The really big bonus?  There is absolutely no upfront cost to join.  You do however, have to pay $100 when you leave the program.

Learn more about what you can do with Microsoft’s help after the break.

MORE »

Sections: Computers, Desktops, Laptops, Networking, Security, Software / Applications, Wireless, Web, Web 2.0, Web Apps, Web Browsers, Websites

SMobile is putting out some software to protect your G1 called VirusGuard.  Android is a very open OS and plenty of people have thought about how to keep it secure.  While Google has a kill switch for apps, that doesn’t stop you from downloading and running malware.  This new application aims to protect Android from malware, spyware and viruses.

VirusGuard only costs $4.99 and you can get it through Handango.com.  Will you need something like this?  Android is built on Linux, but that doesn’t stop people from creating malware apps to make a mess of everything. 

I am curious about what kind of resources VirusGuard will require to run.  A background app monitoring everything that is going on could be a resource hog.  I’m sure many of us have had our bad Norton Anti-Virus experiences.  If you decide to pick up VirusGuard, let us know in the comments.

Read: [SMobilePress Release]
Buy the app: [Handango Link]

• Who’s On Crack in tech: 11.21.08 edition
• Google launches Searchwiki
• Are you secure? Here’s a “Top 5” list of free security software downloads

Sections: Communications, Smartphones, Mobile, Computers, Security, Web, Google

For most of us, accidentally deleting photos is a problem.  Or so thing Diskeeper who recently released Undelete 2009, a utility that makes it so you can recovered deleted items (not just photos).  The company hopes to save consumers from that nasty “delete” button.

The makers say not only will Undelete 2009 start protecting you from errant deletes but can also save images you deleted before the software was installed.  As we know, deleted images on a camera are merely marked “deleted” and ignored by the camera after you delete them.  This software goes in and changes that designation.

As I mentioned, this is not just for photos.  The software also features Search Disk to assist you in grabbing over-writ versions of MS Word and Excel.  I find that feature alone pretty handy.  Other features include: low performance requirements and a way to permanently delete files and render them unrecoverable.
The company offers a 15 day free trial at their site.  The software costs $45.02 (US conversion from British Pounds).

Product Page: [Diskeeper]

• Microsoft Office Home and Student only $79.95 (with free shipping!)
• Microsoft unveils online store for the United States
• RadioShack’s Black Friday ad now available

In what has to be the worst name ever for any app, not just Android, Wikitude by Mobilizy offers something extremely unique: augmented reality.  In addition to being a POI (point of interest) search companion, the tool makes use of all the on-board hardware on the G1: GPS, accelerometer, data connection, camera among others.  In my opinion, this is the coolest thing on the G1 phone.

The remarkable augmented reality is basically like looking through a pair of binoculars that identifies landmarks and provides snippets of information from Wikipedia about them (video below).  Imagine you are traveling through Europe, as you are prone to do, and whip out your G1 and activate Wikitude which tells you the bar you are drinking in was visited by Napoleon.  Instantly, you’ve got your own tour guide.

See what else this cool piece of software does.

MORE »

Committing to a firm date of March 2009, RIM announced today it, too, would have an app store at its super-fun RIM BBDC (BlackBerry Developement Center).  Just like the cool kids from Apple and Google, users can shop for applications to bring new functionality or just time wasters to their phones.  Developers can begin submitting applications to RIM come this December.  In what appears to be an obvious attempt to thumb its nose at Apple with a, “whatever you can do, I can do better” attitude RIM will only keep 20% of the revenue brought in as opposed to Apples crushing 30%.

Your boss might still want you to work.

Users will have to navigate PayPal for the purchase of apps, which could make the ride a little bumpy from a diminutive screen (assuming everyone isn’t upgrading to the Storm if it shows).  What’s more, in a move to be uber-business friendly to your corporate IT, running BlackBerry Enterprise Server or BlackBerry Professional Software, can make sure you can’t get any games, just like on your laptop.  Hmmmphf. 

Might the telecoms stop RIM from offering the storefront on their phones?  Find out by clicking “more” below.

MORE »

Everyone knows that the G1 is coming out this Wednesday.  That is, unless you live in San Francisco.  You can get the G1 in San Francisco tomorrow, October 21st, at 6PM (Pacific Time) at the 3rd and Market store. 

If you’re not heading to SF for the phone early, just head off the rest of T-Mobile’s stores on Wednesday at 8AM (local time) and pick one up. 

Don’t know anything about the G1 or just want to know more about Android?  Gadgetell’s got you covered.

• HTC Touch Pro now available with Alltel
• iPhone is number 1 in mobile ads
• Yahoo finally getting their act together

Sections: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile, Web, Google