windows phone 7 second update arriving feb 2011

Microsoft is making the second update for windows 7 to be made available in feb 2011 even the last update is not completely out The second update is expected to be unveiled by Microsoft at the Mobile World Congress in February 2011.
If this information is correct the new update will come up with improved multitasking support, with in-app downloads and broader customization options for end users. However the second larger update according to developers will bring with it some great new features, improving the windows phone  7 OS in 2011 considerably

Skype outage affecting users around the globe

Skype appears to be suffering an outage.
Twitter users around the globe are taking to the social network to report that Skype is down for them. The tweets started hitting Twitter this morning and continue as of this writing. Users are also reporting that their mobile applications, including those on Android and on the iPhone, are inoperable.
I tested the Skype app on my Mac and it is down as of this writing. My Skype iPhone app is also down. CNET's Rafe Needleman had been experiencing outage issues this morning, but said that his service was soon restored.
Update 9:18 a.m. PT: Skype wrote in an e-mail to CNET this morning that it's "assessing the matter now and its extent. We apologize for the inconvenience caused to our users."
Update 11:12 a.m. PT: Skype then followed that up with a blog post shedding more light on the outage.
According to the company, it "noticed that the number of people online on Skype was falling, which wasn't typical or expected." After investigating the issue, Skype found that "a large number of supernodes," which act as the service's phone directory of sorts, "were taken offline by a problem affecting some versions of Skype."
To fix the issue, Skype's engineers are currently "creating new 'mega-supernodes'" that should get the service running normally in "a few hours." Skype's group video chatting feature could take even longer to be fixed.
Update 2:27 p.m. PT: As promised, Skype says that its service is "now returning to normal." However, the company also noted on its Twitter account that it could still "take several hours for everyone to be able to sign in again."


Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20026408-17.html#ixzz198WrybR1

ipad 2 rumorssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

The next major version of the iPad is said to bring some slight design changes that could impact how users interact with the device both in their hands and on flat surfaces.
AppleInsider links to Japanese Mac blog MacOtakara, which is reporting that the next version of the iPad is getting a flat back to match that of the most recent iPod Touch, as well as a slight change in dimensions, cutting a reported 3mm off the length and width while retaining an identically sized screen.
In other words, the next iPad could have a smaller bezel--the black area around the screen, and it won't teeter-totter or slide around when you press on something along the edges.
MacOtakara says a more substantial change to the exterior will be the location of the speaker, which could be moved from the side of the unit to the back. Presumably, this could keep someone who is holding the device in either portrait or landscape mode less of a chance of blocking the speaker holes. MacOtakara also says this speaker would be wide range, which could offer more evenly distributed audio at off-angle viewing.
One other small tweak MacOtakara is reporting is a change in the location to the iPad's ambient light sensor, which is moving from the front of the unit to the back. This would be a fairly large departure in location given where Apple keeps it on the current iPad, as well as on iPhones, iPods, iMacs, and its MacBook Pro and Air lines.
MacOtakara also weighs in on the longstanding rumor that the next iPad will gain dual cameras and support for Apple's FaceTime video chat service, saying only that it's a possibility


Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-20026549-37.html#ixzz198WUlv89

Google refreshes their UI

Google is known for sporadically rolling out new updates or test changes to the user interface for their search engine. Recently, the search giant has added something a little extra to their web page regarding the top bar, moving slightly away from their previously simple and flat theme to now more of a Chrome-like look.
Neowin reader Caleo posted his findings on the forums, showing the new Google user interface in action. However, their access was limited to using it when Incognito. This update has seem to hit others as well, and all the same disappeared too. The interface was recently shown off by accident, but is minus the rumored social features (called "loop") and sharing abilities. This may mean we might see the services added early next year.
Google's new user interface takes on a new look now shifting the logo to the left. The top portion seems to follow the theme that Chrome has shown adding a bit of a gradient to the previously flat interface. The addition of the thin colored lines above the selected text or options helps bring your attention to either what is selected or important links the average user needs.
While a small number of users have seen this update at some point, others are also reporting only seeing the new alignment of the Google logo itself, going against conventional design ideas and concepts by keeping the rest centered.
The new design for the top bar is a welcome change to many, however the non-centered Google logo may just simply play games with your eyes.

Source: neowin.net

Windows Phone vs. PC gaming now a reality

Microsoft has been pushing the gaming prowess of Windows Phone 7 devices since day one. But until now, one crucial link has been missing - multiplayer gaming between a Windows Phone and a PC.

That link has now been bridged, albeit in a relatively uninteresting manner, by "Game Chest: Logic Games", a US$2.99 app that allows for turn-based chess matches between a PC and a Windows Phone device. After sending an invitation to an opponent via email, the PC user can play via a web interface.
Gaming via Xbox LIVE has long been a cornerstone of Microsoft's mobile strategy and the company has indicated that Windows Phone vs. Xbox 360 gaming is on the cards at some point in the future. As far back as December 2009, Microsoft demonstrated cross-platform games that work across Windows, Windows Phone 7 and the Xbox 360 with the user's gaming session maintained between all three platforms.



SOURCE: Neowin.net

Google's best or worst of 2010

If discussing the googles best and worst for 2010. Google have accelerated its androids to keep in pace with iphone and apple

The Nexus One appeared Jan. 5 and Google never looked back. The company launched its Google Buzz social conversation service the following month as an alternative to Facebook, which this year emerged as the search engine's greatest threat. While Buzz hasn't exactly caught on with the majority of Google users, there are plenty of products and tools for the company to hang its hat on and be proud of this year, along with a bomb or two. Here eWEEK outlines Google's best and worst products and features of 2010. We tried to start with what we perceived as the best, then some middle of the pack items, and finally, the bombs. You won’t all agree with us, and you'll no doubt wonder where Caffeine and other improvements are on this list, but we tried to go with what users have told us and Google's own reporting about products as the deciding factors for us. Enjoy, and happy New Year

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