Windows has it’s own clipboard application; however, sometimes I find myself losing the last clipboard I pasted because I have overwritten it with another. As such, a better clipboard manager should make my life easier.

Introducing Clipdiary, this is a clipboard manager whose forte is managing clipboard history. As per product description, clip diary would make sure you never lose data once copied. The program has a clipboard history, which you can easily grab to be pasted back to the windows clipboard or just paste it directly to your application.

The Clipdiary is very easy to use and only uses “Ctrl+D” key combination to access it’s functions.

Image from Clipdiary.

I came across a software that is free, and marketed as having no string attached which also labels itself as the fastest disk imaging software.

The Macrium reflect is a free disk imaging software which has the following key features:

1. You would be able to create a disk image while Windows is running using Microsoft Volume Shadow copy Service (VSS)

2. The image can be put to network, USB, Firewire drives and DVDs

3. There is a built in scheduler

4. There are 32 bit and native 64 bit versions

5. It has industry leading compression levels and speeds

6. It has HTML log files

7. There is a built in CD/DVD packet writing engine

8. It supports packer writing to DVD DL media on Windows Vista

9. Linux based rescue CD with network access and full GUID. The size is 6.5MB

Download the application here — Macrium.

The image from here – Macrium.

Microsoft previously filed for a patent on hot or not which allow users to rate a picture on it’s hotness level. The patent application states that the contributor would upload self images for viewing and would then be rated by viewers that provides an opinion on various fashion or cosmetic looks.

In an excerpt of the application description for the patent:

“The contributor uploads self images for viewing and rating (or voting) by viewers who choose provide an opinion on different fashion and/or cosmetic looks of the contributor. The contributor takes images show the contributor presented with a number (e.g., two) of different fashion choices. The snapshots can then be processed for upload to a website or other accessible location by one or more viewers. The viewers can cast a vote for one of the images by selecting the desired image, in response to which the viewer and/or contributor will be presented with overall statistics for that set of images as to how other viewers voted, as well as a next set of photos depicting the user in a different fashion and/or cosmetic choice. This process can continue until terminated.”

Where is Microsoft going to use this patent? Maybe in their BING search engine that has all the eye candy they can put there.

Have you spotted places where they have used this already?

Image from the web.

Ok, I am no MAC user and would never be, but I saw this article on computer magazine which read — “iWork ‘09 Can Take Care of Business”.

I was curious about the iWork and as such looked more into the offerings. The following are key items of the iWork ‘09:

Pages ‘09

This is the word document for iWork and is said to be an advanced tools for writing and easy page layouts. The main features include Full screen view, dynamic outlets, mail merge with numbers, enhanced template chooser, MathType and EndNote.

Numbers ‘09

This is equivalent to the Microsoft spreadsheet excel which has easy to use formulas, one click charts, and table categories. Key features include: Easy formulas, Formula list views, table categories, advanced charts, template chooser, and more ways to share.

Keynote ‘09

This is equivalent to the Microsoft presentation which has cinematic animations, transitions, and effects in Keynote to get you captivated. Key main features include: Magic move, theme chooser, more transitions, chart animations, keynote remote, and more ways to share.

Compatibility

The iWork can open and save Microsoft documents, word, excel, and powerpoint presentations.

Visit the official website for iWork.

Image from Apple.

iPhone software minus the gesture recognitions has pretty lame features like the lack of copy and paste, linear inbox of text messages and replies, search capability, etc.

The iPhone 3.0 already has a copy and paste functionality however; multi-tasking is not yet allowed. According to Apple, background processing decrease battery performance, it doesn’t allow the iPhone to go to sleep mode, doesn’t allow the iPhone to operate at the lowest power.

With all the excuse, Apple is one of the few companies that dictate what features would come into their products. Unlike Microsoft which dumps everything to users trying to become a vendor for everyone. Apple’s target market is at the high-end but it still doesn’t mean they can cut features as much as they want. Apple is using it’s branding power to silence critics, to silence their consumers and still glorify their products.

How about you? Do you wish the iPhone 3.0 has multi-tasking abilities?

Image from Apple.

Maybe you knew, maybe you didn’t but there’s a new Halo game coming out in September and you should know about it if you’re a Halo fan boy.

Halo 3: ODST [Orbital Drop Shock Trooper] is the next Halo game that will feature Firefight [a co-op multiplayer mode].

From the release:

[...] up to four players can assume the role of an ODST squad and fight together to take on increasingly challenging waves of enemies. Also included are three new “Halo 3″ multiplayer maps on a 2nd standalone disc, which includes all original “Halo 3″ maps, as well as the “Legendary,” “Heroic,” and “Mythic” Map packs for a total of 24 maps.

“Halo 3: ODST” is available for pre-order in both a standard package and a “Halo 3: ODST Collector’s Pack” which includes the game and a new and exclusive Wireless Controller. Those that pre-order “Halo 3: ODST” at participating retailers worldwide will receive a token to unlock Sgt. Johnson as a playable character in Firefight.

Features: Top features include the following:

• All-new campaign content. The “Halo 3: ODST” campaign explores mysterious events leading up to the Master Chief’s return to New Mombasa in “Halo 3.” Experience the fate of Earth from the brand-new perspective of a special forces ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), adding a unique outlook and new gameplay elements to the events that unfold in the trilogy’s finale. This new chapter captures the same great feel of previous “Halo” experiences while offering fans new tactics, tools and weapons to defeat the Covenant.
• A new hero: Prepare to drop. ODSTs or “Orbital Drop Shock Troopers” are highly-trained special forces operators. Known for their courage, valor and willingness to tackle missions no sane soldier would, ODSTs pride themselves on being the first unit deployed into hostile situations, often in one-man drop-pods that burn through planetary atmospheres at break-neck speed.
• Expanded multiplayer experience. No “Halo” game would be complete without groundbreaking multiplayer content. “Halo 3: ODST” introduces an entirely new way to play “Halo” with Firefight, a cooperative multiplayer mode included on the campaign disc that lets up to four people jump immediately into combat. As an ODST squad, you will face increasingly challenging waves of enemies together, striving to earn the highest scores possible, while various “Halo 3″ “Skulls” are progressively activated. The experience is intense and ever-evolving. “Halo 3: ODST” also includes a separate, standalone multiplayer disc which includes three new “Halo 3″ multiplayer maps, all original “Halo 3″ maps, as well as the “Legendary,” “Heroic,” and “Mythic” Map packs for a total of 24 maps.
• Ever-growing community options. Players will continue to enjoy all the great “Halo 3″ technological innovations, including Saved Films, screenshots, Campaign Scoring and four-player co-op over Xbox LIVE. All of the new “Halo 3″ multiplayer maps fully support the Forge editor, offering near endless gameplay customization possibilities for fans.
• Key to “Halo: Reach.” As a special bonus for fans, all copies of “Halo 3: ODST” will provide access to the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta when the beta goes live. More information about the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta will be shared at a later date.

Game should hit Sept 22 of this year. Look for it. Pre-order it. You know you want to.

Hellboy is a demon who fights for justice and smokes as if there’s no tomorrow. He may be fictional but Frank Gonzales’ Xbox 360 hellish Hellboy mod reminds one of his Right Hand of Doom and thinking that he’s really around you.

The case is all red, red and red. I wonder if Hellboy drives a Ferrari too. See more pictures of the awesome mod here.

Via: Joystiq
Image: Frank Gonzales

In some recent Microsoft news on PC World, the company has decided to make another version of its new Windows 7 operating system without Internet Explorer included. In fact there’s no browser whatsoever included in the operating system.

This is a move by the software company to perhaps appease the European Union in their antitrust case against the company. The move comes in the shadow of a similar operating system offering it made available earlier through Windows XP N and Vista N. The "N" denoted that there was no Windows Media Player included in the operating system.

I’ve said it before and I’ll continue saying it. I like Microsoft. They make software I used on a daily basis. Do they screw it up sometimes? Of course! I’ve yet to find a piece of software or any product really that doesn’t mess something up. I’ve argued many times that I think many of the lawsuits against Microsoft are just a waste. Nobody has ever forced anyone to purchase a Microsoft product. I’ve got options to choose from to this day, and I continue to choose, and pay for, Microsoft software to be installed on my machines legally.

The PC World news story talks about how there are a variety of people upset at this move by Microsoft calling it "puckish". I call it giving people what they asked for in the operating system. If you thought it was unfair for Microsoft to bundle its browser in Windows, and that that move somehow limited your choice, then not putting any browser in the operating system should give you the ultimate choice for your system. Go get whatever you want and use it.

Apple Safari version 4 web browser is reported by the company to have been downloaded by 11 million times during the first three days from it’s release. According to the report, the browser was downloaded by 6 million times. Ok, my team downloaded this browser at least 5 times not because we want to use this browser, but because the client wants us to test the SharePoint site we are building for them on this browser.

Anyways, the browser first came out in public beta last February and Apple has been marketing this browser as the fastest browser in the world compared to Firefox and IE8.

Apple says that the browser is at least three times faster when loading HTML web pages against IE8 and Firefox. The company is touting their Nitro JavaScript engine that is around 8 times faster than IE 8 and 4 times faster than Firefox.

Testing our SharePoint sites across various browsers is already a pain, and another browser named Safari doesn’t put a smile on my face.

Download Safari.

Image from CNET.

An Apple executive couldn’t contain himself of taking a stab at Microsoft Windows Vista during the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference. Microsoft is moving fast to erase the Windows Vista image and replace it with the upcoming Windows 7, and the Apple executive thought this is the best time to kick the software giant while the Vista is still in the minds of people.

Despite all the positive remarks on Windows 7, the apple executive is saying that Windows 7 is still the same Windows Vista code base, and labels the operating system as just another Vista.

Bertrand Serlet who is the senior vice president of software engineering at Apple, said — "just another version of Vista. Vista has failed to catch on with mainstream consumers and businesses. Microsoft has dug quite a hole for themselves with Vista, and now they’re trying to get out of it with Windows 7."

Apple is releasing OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) in September which supports Microsoft Exchange and and other internal tweaks. What’s funny is why Apple is taking a stab at Microsoft but supporting their technologies.

Anyways, OS X might be a great operating system but they still wouldn’t get past 20% market share. Vista’s failure and sales is far more than the best effort of their operating system.

Image from Apple.