As previously announced on this site, Adobe released earlier this week, Lightroom 1.3 as well as Camera Raw 4.3.

At the same time Adobe Labs offers a public prerelease of its Software Development Kit (SDK) Lightroom 1.3 export. This kit allow developers to enable communication with Lightroom 1.3 and 3rd party tools, web sites and devices. More plugins will certainly available soon on Lightroom Exchange site.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.3 Export SDK comes with two very useful plugins: 

• FTP Export
• Flickr Upload.

Once dowloaded and uncompressed, plugin modules have to be installed on your computer on locations where Lightroom can find and load them.

• Windows XP: ..\Documents and Users\username\Application Data\Adobe\Lightroom\Modules
• Mac OS: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom/Modules
• Windows Vista:..\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom\Modules

I just quickly tried the Flickr upload module and found it easy to use and indeed very convenient as it avoids to export files on a local folder and then upload them using Flickr Uploader page or tools.

Something tells me that these plugins will become very popular  

Tags: 2007, adobe, art, blog, camera, camera raw, ces, communication, computer, development, event, export, find, Flickr, im, install, lan, LED, light, lightroom, location, nomadcom.net, pda, photo, plugin, press, public, quickly, raw, release, sdk, user, vista, web, windows, windows vista, wp, www, XP

Last week Lenovo (certainly among others) announced to its customers that owners of "qualified systems" can, if they wish, downgrade their Vista O/S to Windows XP. The offer is valid till 31st of July 2008.

Now, Microsoft announces that Windows XP operating system will remain available for sales to OEM and retail till June 2008, which is five month more than previously announced. System builder partners will be able to offer Windows XP until end of January 2009.

Windows XP Starter Edition in emerging markets where it is currently available for the rapidly growing class of hardware-constrained ultra-low cost PCs until June 30, 2010.

Long waited Microsoft Vista SP1 has not been yet officially announced and its release is not expected before 2008.

Tags: 2007, 2008, api, art, blog, ces, customer, downgrade, ia, ibm, im, IT World, lan, microsoft, nomadcom.net, press, release, train, vista, windows, wp, www, XP

It is impressive to see the quantity of bad news that reached Microsoft's headquarters this week.

Motivation may not be at its highest level in Redmond.

• Only 60 millions licenses (sic!) of Windows Vista have been sold. It is rather low considering that includes OEM and Corporate agreements (companies getting Vista licenses as part of their contract, but with no short-term plan to deploy it).

• Yahoo announced the acquisition of Zimbra, an open source server and client software for messaging and collaboration (email, group calendaring, contacts, and web document management and authoring).
• Google welcomed "Presentation", a new addition to the Google Docs & Spreadsheets family which has now all elements to compete with MS Office.
• IBM released the beta version of Symphony, a web-based open source office suite, based on the open document format (ODF).
• International Standard Organization (ISO) rejected Microsoft Office 2007 file format, called Office Open XML (OOXML), to be recognized as an ISO standard. Critics said the format was flawed and laden with MS-specific features.
• SCO group, a Microsoft ally to seize parts of the Linux market, took step of filing for Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Last but not least

Microsoft lost its appeal before the European Court of First Instance regarding 2004 European Commission act that found MS abusing of its near-monopoly position. Final  Microsoft's bill in fines (689 millon USD) and penalties could reach about 2.8 billions USD.

Don't worry Bill, on Monday starts another week!  

Tags: 2007, agreement, api, appeal, art, blog, europe, google, ia, ibm, im, International, iso, IT World, lan, language, law, LED, Management, microsoft, nomadcom.net, odf, pet, press, release, sco, space, symphony, term, vista, web, windows, windows vista, wp, www, yahoo

Whisher, a Spanish start-up, backed by Switzerland’s leading phone company, Swisscom, and the venture firm Benchmark Capital Europe is apparently very active for few month now. The principle of Whisher is that Wireless Access to the Internet should be free and accessible from everywhere which is basically the same concept than FON Movimiento, except that you don't need to purchase any specific hardware.

Whisher' users are requested to download an application through which they can share their wireless access (works also with WEP or WPA connections) with other Whisher members 

The newly released version 2.0 beta of the software offers more than just storing and encrypting connections' passwords such:

• Wireless connection manager
• WiFi sharing
• Chat with other users connected on the same wireless access point.
• Multi Instant Messenger support (Yahoo, MSN, AIM, ICQ, GoogleTalk, Twitter, Jabber)
• File Transfer (with users sharing the same wireless AP)
• LAN Support
• GeoLocation
• Other Networks connections (access via commercial access; hotspot, etc..). FON is supported too.
• Around You. Gives you informations about coming events, restaurants around the wireless connection you are currently using.

New services that should be available soon :

• Voice Support
• Global File Sharing 

Plateform supported : Windows XP, Linux, Mac O/S. Vista not available yet.

The software is still beta and some stability and registation problems have been reported. More information on their Blog

Tags: 2007, access, aim, api, art, blog, capital, ces, connection, connections, europe, event, fon, fon movimiento, free, global, google, HP, ia, icq, im, instant messenger, internet, lan, location, messenger, Mobile Communications, msn, network, nomadcom.net, password, phone, problems, release, sco, services, share, sharing, swiss, swisscom, switzerland, Telecommunications, twit, Twitter, user, vista, whisher, wifi, windows, wireless, wp, www, XP, yahoo

Finally, long waited HTC S620 (Excalibur) upgrade to Windows Mobile 6 has been released. This upgrade was already available in July for T-Mobile Dash users.

Windows Mobile 6 upgrade will provide the following new and improved features :

• Stay connected to your e-mail, calendar, and contacts.- Find what you need quickly and easily including business listings, maps and directions with Windows Mobile's powerful search and filtering features.
• Get access to corporate networks for data and documents stored on file shares and SharePoint sites.
• Fit your style with a variety of designs ranging from touch screen devices with slide out keyboards to sleek full-keyboard smartphones or compact flip phones.
• Receive HTML e-mail support, improved security and encryption, greater integration with Microsoft products including direct SharePoint® intranet access from e-mail links and superior connectivity to Windows Vista™.

45 MB upgrade package is available on HTC member page but be ready for a slow connection as I can imagine the server to be a bit overloaded with S620 and TyTN upgrade downloads.

More once upgrade completed
Update completed, first impressions posted

Source: HTC Club 

Tags: 2007, access, arc, art, blog, ces, connection, connectivity, design, europe, excalibur, find, htc, im, keyboard, lan, list, login, map, microsoft, mobile, Mobile Communications, network, nomadcom.net, pda, phone, phones, post, power, press, quickly, release, S620, screen, search, security, share, smartphone, space, Telecommunications, touch, touch screen, TyTN, update, upgrade, user, vista, windows, windows mobile 6, windows vista, WM6, wp, www

Just finished to watch Hugo Ortega's video presenting HTC Shift and I must admit I like the HTC idea of bringing to us an UMPC (Ultra-mobile computer) which has 2 processors and 2 operating systems working independently on board.

Is the UMPC form factor market ready to take-off soon ?
Is the double O/S option chosen by HTC the winning one ?

A recent research by In-Stat found the following:

• The UMD worldwide forecast is for more than 8 million units in 2011.
• 2008-2010 will be key years for the development of a market inflection point of anytime/anywhere wireless connectivity that is necessary for widespread adoption of the UMD paradigm.

Some specifications: 

• Size: 19 x 13.5 x 3cm
• Weight: 0.9 kg 0.791 kg
• 7 inches display
• Resolution : 800×480 – 1024×600
• Operating Systems : Windows Mobile 6 & Windows Vista Business
• CPU's : Qualcomm 400 MHz for WM6 & Dual Core 800 MHz Intel A110 for Vista
• 7 days battery capacity running on WM6 only. 3 hours on Windows Vista
• Ram Memory : 1 GB
• Hard Drive : 40 GB
• Communication : WiFi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth 2.0,
• Phone data : Quad band GSM/GPRS/EDGE – Tri-Band UMTS/HSPDA
• 1.3 MB built-in camera
• 1 USB 2.0 port, 1 VGA port
• 1 Finger print reader
• 1 SD Card reader
• Slide out Tilt display
• Price tag : 1200 euros (?)
• Availability : Q3 2007

The very interesting concept is the possibility to switch from one environment (e.g WM6) to the second one (Vista Business) and back in just the press of a button. Input can be done either using the QWERTY keyboard or the hand-witting recognition system.

Streaming video is available on Gottatobemobile.com or there is a 250 MB video available for download here.

Shift on HTC website  

Tags: 2007, 2008, 24, 802.11, arc, ATT, availability, blog, camera, capacity, card, card reader, ces, communication, computer, connectivity, development, forecast, gsm, htc, HTC shift, ia, im, IT World, keyboard, King, lan, memory, MIT, mobile, Mobile Communications, nomadcom.net, nyt, pda, phone, press, reader, resolution, search, shift, space, Telecommunications, ultra-mobile, UMPC, usb, video, vista, web, website, wifi, windows, windows mobile 6, windows vista, wireless, WM6, world, worldwide, wp, www

Few years ago, it was Internet over Telephone network but the situation is shifting and we have now, with Internet broadband access, Telephone over the Internet.

With the so called "unify messaging system" all type of communication can reach your email inbox while travelling but in some situation, sending a fax (yes it still exists) while on the move may not be so easy than it seems and even very costly (money and time).  

This week, German company PamConsult launched a beta version of PamFax, a Skype Extra (add-ons), which makes possible faxing a document from any Internet broadband connected computer (with Skype software installed and activated).

The process is rather simple :

• Select the document to be sent
• Enter recipient(s) fax number
• Optionally, select a cover page
• Select notification methods : Skype Chat, SMS (0.26 USD) an/or email.
• Pay the fax using Sky Credits
• Optionally, preview it

PamFax comes with its own website where you can configure your default settings, consult logs and check current sending rates

There are 7 different, per page, rates which are currently the following:

• Most European countries and North America :0.23 USD
• 4 zones of selected countries from all over the Word with price tag between 0.40 and 1.38 USD
• Most African countries : 1.64 USD
• Rest of the World :  2.19 USD

  Check rates on Pamfax website

Technical requirments:

• Windows 2000 SP4, XP or Vista (32 or 64 bit)
• Internet Explorer 6 or better
• Latest Skype (min. Skype 3.0)
• Installed Skype Plugin Manager

During the beta phase, PamFax is only available to Skype users outside Canada and USA

Every user gets 1 test fax in zone 1 (0.23 USD) for free.

Download on PamFax website 

Tags: 2007, access, add on, api, blog, ces, communication, computer, europe, fax, free, ia, im, install, internet, ITU, lan, launch, LED, Mobile Communications, money, network, nomadcom.net, PamConsult, pamfax, phone, plugin, review, shift, simple, skype, skype extras, Skype Fax, sms, space, Telecommunications, Travel, USA, user, vista, web, website, windows, WinFax, world, wp, www, XP

Some ICT specialists found what they consider the best way to quickly and securely install Windows Vista in about 2-3 minutes. As announced everywhere, Vista needs powerful hardware…even for such installation as you can see on this video.

 

 

Source: Mr. Lavomisse 

Tags: 2007, blog, Fun, Great Ideas, howto, ia, ict, im, install, lan, list, microsoft, minutes, nomadcom.net, power, quickly, securely, space, video, vista, windows, windows vista, wp, www, youtube

That's it, holidays are over and everyone is back to work… today oh surprise, lots of sites announce the soon release of lots of new ultra-mobile computers. 

Interesting enough is the wide selection of operating system proposed (Vista, Windows Mobile, Linux). I wonder which solution will emerge and if the most chosen one will be the most convenient one for frequent travelers.

What are your prognostics ? 

 

Sony Vaio UX

• CPU 1.3 GHz Intel Solo Core U1500
• 4.5 inch 1024×600 display
• 1 GB Ram
• 32 GB solid state disk
• Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0, Firewire, CompactFlash & Memory Stick Duo slots
• Integrated 802.11 b/g
• WAN specifications unknown
• OS : Windows Vista
• Price :  3860 USD !

Source : jkOntheRun

OQO Model 02

• 1.5GHz VIA C7M ULV processor (also available with 1.2GHz)
• 60GB hard drive, shock-mounted with active drop detection (also available with 30GB)
• 1GB DDR2 SDRAM (also available with 512MB)
• Dimensions: 5.6" x 3.3" x 1.0"
• Weight: 1.0 lb
• 5 inch, 800 X 480 displayscrolling
• Embedded EV-DO WWAN (optional) for Sprint
• Integrated WiFi 802.11a/b/g
• Bluetooth® 2.0, USB 2.0
• OS : Windows Vista
• Price : from 1500 USD

Source : OQO

HTC X-7500 Athena

• CPU: Intel XScale, 624 МHz
• 5 inches, 640×480 TFT display
• 128 MB RAM 256 MB ROM
• Hard Disk: 8 GB
• Bluetooth 2.0, MiniSD slot,GPS-receiver
• Integrated cameras: main 2 Mp or 3 Mp
• WAN : GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA
• Dimensions: 133,1x97x20 mm (plus 4 mm keyboard)
• Weight: 350 g.
• O/S Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC Phone Edition
• Price : about 1700 USD

Source : HTC.ru 

 and there are more to follow such Nokia N800, which is apparently only equipped with 802.11 b/g 

Tags: 2007, 24, 802.11, blog, camera, ces, computer, computers, flash, Gadgets, gsm, hard disk, HP, htc, ia, im, keyboard, lan, memory, mobile, Mobile Communications, model 02, n800, nokia, nomadcom.net, oqo, phone, release, sony, space, Travel, traveler, ultra-mobile, usb, ux1xn, VGN UX1XN, vista, wifi, windows, windows vista, wp, www