iTech Engine

Anyone who is debating between getting Office 2007 now or waiting for Office 2010 can get 2007 now and 2010 when it comes out -See http://office2010.microsoft.com/en-us/tech-guarantee/ for details.

If you do get 2007, make sure you get the copy of 2010 when its available - I've heard a few people say they did this with Office 2003/2007 and thought it meant they could get 2007 free at any time - years later. You need to order the upgrade by Oct 31 2010.

Also, our March poll is live:
Do you sync your mailbox with a smartphone or pda?
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=39473

Google now offers a cycling option to those using its maps service to get directions. The service is only available right now in certain US cities but, as with the roll out of Street View, it won’t be long until it appears here in the UK.

Google has added a “by bicycle” to the service that provides directions “by car”, “by foot” or “by public service” in response to huge demand from the public. The calculated route will consider a number of factors including bike lanes and hills.

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The search giant say that it’s been the most requested feature since the maps service launched.

Google has also added bicycle trails to its maps. And it’s also employed Street View tricycles to explore these areas and capture Street View imagery.

Link: The Register
 

Virgin is finally importing TiVo to the UK later this year. After its departure from UK homes in 2003, the hugely popular American digital video recorder (DVR) will return to help Virgin develop its next-generation set-top box.

The two companies will look to combine video on demand services available online such as BBC iPlayer and YouTube with traditional programming and DVR capabilities, much like the BBC’s Project Canvas.

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As well as video content, there will be a rich array of additional information such as actors' biographies, related news and bonus features. Their goal is to win over viewers that typically watch TV while using their laptops.

Other familiar TiVo services such as personalised recommendations and live recordings will return, albeit with the incorporation of online content.

Link: the Telegraph

 

Every year at TechFest, Microsoft employees (and a few invited guests) get to take a look at some of the projects out of Microsoft Research. These aren't finished products--you'll see a lot of exposed wires and tape--and in fact, they may never become completed products at all, but each project shows what we're thinking--and maybe where we're going.

This year I met with a team from MSR Asia who have constructed what they hope will eventually be a pico-projector portable computer, and in this project you can see inspiration from Microsoft Surface and Second Light. The possibility I like best about this is the ability to touch your games while still seeing what is there. Additionally, if you use physical controls on apps, such as knobs, you can actually paint labels on the controls themselves.