T-Mobile and Orange Rumored To Merge In The UK To Battle O2

Topic: Technology News

According to rumors on Dow Jones Newswires picked up by the WSJ France Telecom's Orange and German Telekom UK's T-Mobile merge.
Orange T-Mobile would be UK's largest mobile phone carrier and would make O2 just number 2.
Read more

Posted on Mon, 7 Sep 2009 14:26:45 GMT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Lady Gaga Poker Face Is Most Downloaded Song Ever

Topic: Technology News

Lady Gaga's hit single Poker Face is the most downloaded song in the UK since establishment of the download charts 5 years ago.

Lady Gaga's Just Dance is on 3rd spot. Only the Kings of Leon could squeeze themselves in between on spot 2.
This is quite impressive, as the Lady Gaga sound is in the dance category, but somehow she also managed to reach into the mainstream with her catchy tunes. Read more

Posted on Mon, 7 Sep 2009 06:17:44 GMT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Cool Things Windows 7 Offers Vista Lacks

Topic: Technology News

You have to be living under a rock to not know that Windows 7 is set to debut in only a few months and preorders for the new Os are underway now. Windows 7 has some slick new features that Vista lacks that will make the OS easier to use.

One cool feature is that you can take an open window, click on it, and shake it to minimize all other windows. That is much easier than having to actually click minimize on each window in Vista. Jump lists are another cool 7 feature that lets you access things on the quick via new menus. Read more

Posted on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:47:42 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

Microsoft Talks Windows 7 Upgrades for UK

Topic: Technology News

Microsoft has officially confirmed that there will be upgrade version of Windows 7 for the UK. Microsoft blogger Brandon LeBlanc posted that the upgrade versions are set for pre-orders in UK on September 1 and for general availability on October 22.

Right now, you can preorder the full Windows 7 for the same price as an upgrade version, but that it set to change soon. If you want the best price on full Windows 7, you need to upgrade now. Read more

Posted on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:43:40 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

Illegal file Sharers in UK Could be Cut Off

Topic: Technology News

A new amendment to the Digital Britain Reports would see Ofcom gain new powers to fight online piracy. Under the new amendment, Ofcom would be able to terminate the internet connection of users found to be sharing files.

BBC News reports that Lord Mandelson intervened personally to beef up the policy. The report gives Ofcom until 2012 to consider whether technical measures will work to catch pirates online. Read more

Posted on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:41:27 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

BT Gets More Speed from Copper Wires

Topic: Technology News

All the talk of more speed for internet users on BT and other ISPs is typically centered on new fiber installations. However, BT has said that people shouldn’t write off copper cabling already laid just yet.

The telecom has figured out a way to coax more speed out of plain old copper wiring. The new speed boost will make broadband speeds faster for the bulk of the company's users. The key to the faster speeds is a small plate that users self install on the main phone socket to reduce electrical interference. Read more

Posted on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:45:42 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

Window closing on Getting Windows 7 RC

Topic: Technology News

Tomorrow marks the last day that users can grab the download of Windows 7 RC before it is pulled and then wait for the official retail version starts. The full version of Windows 7 is set to hit on October 22nd.

Read more

Posted on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:42:45 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

IBM Scientist Create Circuit Boards Using DNA

Topic: Technology News

The amount of time, effort, and money being put into research to develop faster computer processors is staggering. One of the big problems scientists have to overcome today in designing circuits and chips is the need for speed while being able to save power and run cool.

IBM researchers have devised a new breakthrough that uses DNA to build a scaffold for a circuit board. The advancement in lithographic patterning with self-assembly is a method that arranges the DNA origami structures on surfaces compatible with current semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Read more

Posted on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:00:00 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

Brits would rather have a Gadget than Vacation

Topic: Technology News

I am a big gadget fan and I like to get new gear on a regular basis. I also like to take time away from all my gear and the bother that goes with it though. A new Ofcom report says that Brits would rather get a new tech gadget than have a holiday.

The Inq reports that Ofcom says next to food, Internet and TV is the highest priority for British consumers. When asked in the study where they were cutting back during the recession, 47% said going out to dinner. Read more

Posted on Thu, 6 Aug 2009 11:49:58 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

Microsoft Offers Windows XP Mode for Windows 7

Topic: Technology News

Microsoft has announced a new Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 that allows legacy apps to run on Windows 7 using virtualization. The mode will be offered free of charge and is based on a virtualized version of XP SP3.

ITProPortal reports that the OS needs to have security patches installed since it runs as its own OS even when virtualized. The XP Mode will only operate on Windows 7 Pro and Ultimate versions and will require a virtualization engine. Read more

Posted on Wed, 5 Aug 2009 11:40:56 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

Ofcom Survey Finds Data Speeds Lacking

Topic: Technology News

We have all been bothered at one point or another by the fact that we never seem to get the sort of speeds that our ISP promises when we buy a plan. According to new research from Ofcom, the average UK broadband user gets only a fraction of the advertised speed.

Ofcom found that het average UK broadband user gets 51% of the advertised rate of their plan. The figures are from Ofcom's own network monitoring program. Read more

Posted on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:45:00 GMT | by Shane McGlaun