Cross Over – using Windows apps on a Mac
I have found that the easiest way to run many apps on a Mac is CrossOver for Mac. It’s built on the Wine codebase, but is a much easier and friendly way of installing Windows apps in virtual “bottles” on a Mac. They actively fund the Wine community.
It’s funny that most Mac users don’t seem to know about it. There doesn’t seem to be much need to buy Parallels and have a heavy overload on your system if most of the apps you want work fine here.
You can try and give it a spin. Here are the applications that are strongly supported, however, you could probably be lucky if you use any other software as well (Yes, many games are supported).
Google Gears: Browser up, OS down!
We all knew this was coming and it has finally come. The final problem of offline access to web-based services has been addressed by Google Gears which was released last week. Today, I saw the first instance of it being available to the end user via the Google Reader.
You can have consistent, transparent access to all your favorite websites/web applications through the browser. The OS becomes less important now and the need for natively installed OS specific applications is greatly reduced.
It would be interesting to see the changes this will bring in our world!
Closure
So you quit your job in a good software company, move to a new country, start school again but it just doesn't feel complete until you do that one thing: Format+Clean+Reinstall Windows on your laptop.
I finally got around to doing that yesterday and it's only now that I feel like my "transition" is complete.
Interestingly, as a cheaper alternative to Microsoft Office 2003, I go ahead and install Microsoft Office 2007 Beta (which can be had for as low as $1.50 which gives you a valid license till Feb 2007). And I am quite impressed by it. Coupled with Microsoft OneNote 2007 Beta, I feel all set for school. Proudly using Microsoft Outlook 2007 Beta for all my structured and non-browser information needs I am happy that they have removed the Exchange Server bias and treat IMAP accounts with more respect. I also go ahead and install Internet Explorer 7 RC1 and I am surprised at myself for not using Firefox anymore. More interestingly, I also go ahead and Format+Clean+Reinstall the OS on my phone and I suddenly become aware of how stress-relieving this activity can be.
Ofcourse, I do not feel complete until I have installed Zonetick which I so willingly bought as the best solution to the "what time is it there?" problem. 
Nor can I feel at ease until I install my good old Babylon - a tool which is surprisingly indispensible despite the fact that a browser can probably get you more information than it. Probably its only winning factor now is that it's a more efficient and structured interface to the big-bloated-information-blob the Internet is.
With a light heart and a light mind I sleep at peace when I retire to bed.
Windows Live Local Outlook Add-in Beta
Windows Live Local for Outlook (Beta)
It's less than 3 MB. Give it a spin.
Windows Media Player 11 Bete released
Taking a big cue from Google, Microsoft too has entered the "Beta" frenzy. Well, I don't care. I am all charged up and excited about the latest update to Windows Media Player. Windows Mobile Pocket PC & Smartphone owners, don't worry about getting ROM upgrade, no plans of a Pocket PC or Smartphone version yet! But this desktop version does enhance syncing with compatible devices to supposedly "a better partnership as compared to iPod and iTunes".
It's main highlight seems to be URGE service (with MTV) and a revamped Media Library.
Read an amazingly enticing review on it here.
GWT – First nail in Windows’ Coffin
Microsoft so far was confident about Windows since they provide a very easy to use development tools - the Visual Studio. Using those, a developer can create binaries for any variant of the target device without any incompatibilities.
On the other hand, Web-based client development is a nightmare. Opera, Firefox, Netscape, Popups blocked, JavaScript disabled, Coookies Washed, Different Screen resolutions, differing Bandwidths are some of the hostilities a developer needs to face.
Due to this, it seemed quite unlikely that we would see the web development platform offering any serious competition to the thick OS-hosted softwares of Windows.
Ed Burnette reports that yesterday Google released the Google Web Toolkit (GWT) which unifies web-development. Like an MFC of sorts, we will now see many glossed up AJAX developed web clients, since this will really simplify and hasten web client development. You write the code in Java and the hosted eclipse converts it into AJAX based JavaScript.
Do give it a spin.
Google Shut Up!
It's quite sad that even before Microsoft can release it's Windows Vista, a respectable company like Google cries foul over it's integrated search feature.
How can a company innovate and provide a good experience to it's end users if the "new companies" keep trying to break it's legs.
This particular case is: Microsoft has decided to include a search box in Internet Explorer 7, just like we have in Firefox & Opera. If it defaults to MSN Search, there's nothing wrong? Should Microsoft be defaulting it to Google Search? Definitely not. Google pays a lot of money to Firefox & Opera so that their search boxes default to Google Search. But obviously, Microsoft won't be interested in any kind of money to default it to Google. This worries Google, and they go to court!
Well, the court ruled that there's nothing wrong in what Microsoft is doing, since they have made it very easy to change the target of the search box and have also provided OEMs the capability to brand it before first boot. What more can they do?
Now consider this:
I have a Sony DVD player. This DVD player comes with a swell remote control. Now, this remote control has some buttons, which are actually meant for a Sony TV. It has buttons for changing the input source & controlling the volume of the TV. So if I have a Sony TV, I can use just one remote control, the DVD control, and enjoy watching the DVD on the Sony TV.
Now, if I don't have a Sony TV, then those buttons are of no use to me. And there's no way I can re-configure the buttons to work with the different brand TV. Is this a case for an Antitrust issue? Google guys, do you have a Sony DVD player and a Hitachi TV? If yes, then you should move court!!
A very pithy post about this can be found here.
Windows Live! – A reaction – no real innovation
Well
I checked out the Windows Live thingy and am not really very impressed by it.
Microsoft had to do this as a bare minimum reaction to stay in business.And this is exactly what this is. A bare minimum reaction.
Most of the things they announced already exist either on Yahoo! or on Google! and it doesn't seem like it's gonna be a better version.
If Yahoo! and Google offer eclairs, I want Microsoft to offer full chocolate bars. That's how competition should be. But it seems Microsoft has started with giving out eclairs themselves.
What is Windows Live?
Your online world gets better when everything works simply and effortlessly together. That's the basic idea behind Windows Live. So the things you care about - your friends, the latest information, your e-mails, powerful search, your PC files, everything - comes together in one place. This is a brand new Internet experience designed to put you in control. And this is just the beginning - you'll see many more new services in the coming months.
What are they offering?
Live.com beta
Have your way with this page. Sign in, get the content you want-news, sports, search results, whatever-add columns, and move stuff around at will. It's all you.
Seems to be the same as 
But the AJAX seems a lot better and the gadgets thing got me a little interested.
Windows Live Mail beta
It's all new web mail, built from the ground up. Preview your e-mail without loading a new page each time (like Outlook®) drag and drop messages into folders, and generally power through your e-mail in a flash.
Couldn't log in to it. It's not RTM. But I doubt if it will be better than GMAIL.Probably will have a more Microsoft like look and feel. The 2 GB is welcome.
Windows Live Safety Center beta
It's like taking your PC in for a tune up at the service station. If the service station was free and available 24/7. Get free on-demand virus cleaning and a comprehensive PC health checkup to help keep your PC running its best.
Seems cool. Will be interesting to see what the guys at Symantec would have to say abou this. No firefox support! You got me biased!
Windows LIve Favorites beta
You are away from your own computer and want to get to the important sites you use everyday? No problem, now that your Internet Explorer Favorites can travel with you.
del.icio.us has done it. Yahoo! My Web 2.0 has it. In fact, it does a lot lot more. Nice to see Microsoft has come around to noticing the need. When will roaming profiles be common!
Windows Live Messenger beta
Coming soon - This will be the next-generation MSN Messenger. The name is new, but it will still be free to download Messenger and use most of its features. And there will be some remarkable new ways to instantly share and connect with friends.
Yes, Yahoo! already has Photo Buckets where you can share images with each other in a very nice way. The suggested upgrades to the new version hardly make a dent. Trillian, Yahoo! & ICQ have all those things since a long time!
Windows OneCare Live beta
Coming soon - The things you should have to help protect your PC, but probably don't because they're such a hassle. Stuff like virus scanning, firewall settings, tune ups, and software backups-tied up with a bow and delivered to you in a friendly, easy-to-use package that runs quietly in the background.
I didn't quite understand the difference between this and the Windows Live Safety Centre beta
Windows Live Search beta-mobile
Coming soon - Picture this: You search for a restaurant with your phone, then click on the result to be connected immediately. Plus, you can see detailed maps, driving directions, and more-all formatted to fit the screen on your mobile device.
Yahoo! Mobile exists since 3 years. But well, that was WAP based, atleast the Microsoft iteration assumes people have xHTML browsers and attempts to offer richer content.
It's too early to comment on these things. But the confused and hurried release of these services might be a reflection of the chaos in the ranks. On one hand Google keeps scoring slowly and steadily, and has had a more number of "first"s. Microsoft, late in the race and all shaken up by the handicap is still recoiling.
Though I am not impressed by Microsoft's play, it's nice to see the battle ground heat up.
What I liked:
Didn't quite get it, but seems cool.
Next step, google or yahoo? Any guesses? I guess Google, but you never know.
Windows Live! Released today
Boy o boy o boy!
This is the worst of times, this is the best of times.
The rate of change is accelerating. Release cycles are getting shorter. There is no long term way of doing anything right anymore.
Change, realignment, reorganization, reconfiguration on demand is the only way to stay on top.
For people like me who thrive on change, this is really the best of times.
Latest change factor for humans: Windows Live!
The latest offering from microsoft has a host of online services. Will check out each one.
Microsoft addresses NAT conflict introduced by SP2 – News – ZDNet
Microsoft addresses NAT conflict introduced by SP2 - News - ZDNet
I installed XP SP2 and have had absolutely no problems with it.
Wierd problems seem to be cropping up for other people. I have to wait with fingers crossed & hope that none of the problems occur in the domain of my usage.
New worm spies on you – News – ZDNet
New worm spies on you - News - ZDNet
Interesting. Now you have worms which deploy trojans capable of accessing the webcam as well.
Of what use might your personal webcam footage be to a remote hacker!?
Windows Service Pack 2
Window's has released its much awaited Service Pack 2.
Download it from here
I downloaded and installed it.
It's quite a massive upgrade and it has rendered my firewall sorta useless as of now.
I am planning to do a clean reinstall on my computer and then will test the functionality of the firewalls etc. Shud be interesting.
