Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Millions of Sidekick lovers were excited with Microsoft’s announcement of the acquisition of Danger last February.  While the software giant has confirmed that Danger would live in Microsoft’s new Premium Mobile Experiences team and detailed how Microsoft plans to use Danger’s platform, the silence on plans about Sidekick have grown ominous.

“No new phone” has been confirmed at a recent pre-Mobius event.  However, the company seems to be working on synergies between the Windows Mobile and the Premium Mobile Experiences teams.  Some Windows Mobile team members are even joining the Premium Mobile Experiences team, so a saucy Danger ‘component’ shouldn’t be ruled out in Windows Mobile phones in the future.

Integrate Danger’s offerings into the Windows Mobile core would be an interesting task with substantial potential benefits. Danger’s operating system and back-end enables social networking, gaming, instant messaging, and other popular features.

Via [Geek.com]

With laptops becoming more and more popular, its not surprising that there are numerous designs for cases, while most appear to have function in mind, this latest, while it is functional seems to be a lot more stylish. Its easy to say that this is quite possibly the geekiest laptop sleeve that I have seen to date—the case is yellow with a black border and in the shape of a Windows folder which is proudly labeled “My Document.”

For someone to use this, you would have to be really comfortable with your level of geekiness, because you are sure to stand out wherever you go. The case is made from vinyl and is available (currently) only at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City, no word on just how much it will set you back.

Product [25togo] Via [Oh Gizmo!]

Google Search is big, everyone knows that.  But what we may not have know is how big.  According to estimates, Google Search is on track to overtake Microsoft Windows business by this time next year.  But will that be all the Redmond giant loses?

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Following up on the earlier rumors, HP has begun to officially offer the Mini-Note 2133 with Windows XP. Although HP has commented that Windows XP will be pre-installed they are doing it by way of the free Vista downgrade option, so when the notebook arrives it should include an install disk for both XP and Vista Business.

In addition to the Windows XP offering, HP has also added a few new configurations to the Mini-Note line-up. Instead of the original four configurations to choose from there are now eight. This should sound like welcome news with more to choose from, however it makes the XP downgrade offering seem just a little on the shady side. 

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After announcing the launch of its latest BlackBerry handset - the BlackBerry Bold, Microsoft and RIM have announced an agreement that will bring Windows Live Messenger and Live Hotmail to all BlackBerry handsets. This would allow users to access both their Windows Live Messenger and Live Hotmail using their e-mail addresses and passwords, just once.

With Windows Live Hotmail and Live Messenger on their BlackBerry devices, users will be able to the following; set an automatic message delivery and message synchronization using push technology, utilize a dedicated inbox for Windows Live Hotmail messages delivered automatically to users’ handsets, display HTML e-mail with graphics, web links and contact photos, send instant message and join group chats, see status and preferences of Windows Live Messenger contacts, customize status message, save conversations, display avatars, send and receive picture and files, and use more than 60 emoticons.

Windows Live Messenger and Live Hotmail will be available for the BlackBerry beginning summer of this year in multiple languages.

Read [Microsoft Press Pass]

Yahoo! may have successfully deterred a Microsoft takeover, but it cannot escape the fact that it still has to work with the software maker in its other products. Barring all indifference’s with Microsoft, Yahoo has quietly made available the new Yahoo! Go 3.0 in beta mode for Windows mobile-powered handsets. And no, Yahoo did not underplay the new version of its mobile web browser to get back at Microsoft. On the contrary, it has transformed Yahoo! Go 3.0 into a powerful mobile web portal with features that even the Microsoft guys would love. These new features are; a new mobile web start up page that displays what’s new since the user’s last visit plus previews of users favorites, an improved oneSearch that now includes up-to-date flight information and content from Yahoo Answers as well as Wikipedia, enhanced design and navigation that gives users an option to use the traditional carousel or the icon display, mobile widgets from eBay, MySpace and other sites that fully support mobile widgets, and other customization features. This is suffice to say that Yahoo has transformed Go 3.0 into a more powerful mobile internet facility for mobile phone users.

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$899 million euros or $1.4 billion is definitely a huge sum of money and it seems like Microsoft would not just want to lose that amount over an anti-trust ruling that the EU has slapped Microsoft in February 2007. The fine was a result of a case filed against Microsoft for failing to comply with a 2004 ruling. So, Microsoft is appealing the EU ruling and hoping against all hopes that the EU would heed its plea to overturn the ruling or at least reduce the fine.

If you recall, sometime in 2004, the EU slapped Microsoft with a $768 million fine after it failed to comply with an anti-trust ruling that ordered Microsoft to provide rival companies with data that would allow their servers to connect to the Windows platform which was the predominantly used operating systems in majority of the PCs in 2004. In return, Microsoft is allowed to charge reasonable royalties for giving rival companies access to its Windows Platform.

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Microsoft has released Windows XP SP3 to the masses and also re-added Vista SP1 as an automatic update. After having some recent compatibility issues, Microsoft had delayed SP3 for XP and although SP1 for Vista remained available, it had to be manually downloaded.

It seems everything has been fixed and both updates are now available and waiting to be installed. Simply wait for Windows Update to kick in, or if you feel like you cannot wait any longer lunch the Update get the satisfaction on having an up to date system, at least for a little while.

Via [Engadget]

Remember what we told you about Skype needing to give itself a boost to avoid getting sacked by its mother company, eBay? Well, after successive announcements the past couple of weeks, it looks like Skype is really out to prove itself and hopefully sends the signal that its “synergies are strong.” For its latest buzz creation strategy, Skype has just taken version 3.9 for Windows out of beta.

So, what’s in mean for us, the Skype-using public with this new version? A couple of good features actually, including reduced background noise during calls, less delay, fewer call drops and fewer cut-offs. Plus, changing headsets, headphones and microphone will now be easier as Skype 3.9 will adjust the settings of the devices automatically. Another major improvement made by Skype is the taking out the default profile image that previously shows up when authorization request is incoming. This is in response to users’ demand as some of them encounter offensive profile photos of other Skype users. These plus other improvements which the Skype blog did not mention, are supposed to come with the new version of Skype for Windows.

It’s up to you if you want to be part of Skype’s move towards strengthening its synergies. By all means download the new Skype for Windows version or just continue using the old one.

Via [Skype]

It turns out that April 29 was not the day for Windows XP SP3 to be officially released. However it was not just SP3 that was delayed, all of the updates for both Windows XP and also Vista have been stopped temporarily. The issue is due to another product called Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System, which was causing some incompatibility issues. In addition to XP’s SP3, the SP1 for Vista is also being affected. The update for XP was put on hold, while the update for Vista is still available, its just not available as an automatic item. Microsoft is encouraging anyone who is running Microsoft Dynamics RMS to not install Vista SP1.

Via [CrunchGear]