Intel announced the names for new generation CPUs. First of all, it will stop using the Centrino, Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad names, and instead it will name the CPUs: Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7. However, the names Pentium, Celeron (for low specced desktops) and Atom (for netbooks) will remain.
For more information click here: http://blogs.intel.com/technology/2009/06/over_the_last_year_or.php
Archive for June, 2009
New brand names for Intel CPUs
Monday, June 29th, 2009Vista SP 2 not always available via Windows Update
Thursday, June 25th, 2009Last week, TechieViews reported that Vista SP 2 was made available via Windows Update. This morning I checked again and the latest service pack did not reappear in my list of offered updates even though I never installed SP 2 in the first place. This means that either SP 2 was temporarily pulled off from Windows Updates or it is being offered on an intermittent basis.
For more information on Vista SP 2 click here:
Windows Vista Tip
Sunday, June 21st, 2009This tip is for those who had installed SP 1 but have not yet installed SP 2. After installing SP 1 on Windows Vista, one will be able to uninstall it at a later stage. However, for this to be the case, Windows will create a backup which eats up considerable disk space. If one is sure that an uninstall of SP 1 will never be needed, a command prompt can be opened and the following command typed: vsp1cln.exe . Following that it is just a matter of waiting until the backup is deleted. It has to be noted that upon completion one will not be able to remove SP 1 from the system.
Free Antivirus to be provided by Microsoft
Saturday, June 20th, 2009According to a press-release dated November 18th 2008 (but which many websites only recently referred to) Microsoft will release a free antivirus software in the second half of this year.
According to the press release “… this streamlined solution will provide comprehensive protection from malware including viruses, spyware, root kits and Trojans. This new solution, to be offered at no charge to consumers, will be architected for a smaller footprint that will use fewer computing resources, making it ideal for low-bandwidth scenarios or less powerful PCs.”
To read the rest of the press release click here: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/nov08/11-18NoCostSecurityPR.mspx
Vista Sp 2 Free Disk Space Requirements
Thursday, June 18th, 2009Today I tried to install Vista SP 2 and the installer informed me that I did not have enough free disk space. Hence, if you don’t want that the same thing happens to you, you must make sure there is enough free space on your computer’s hard disk prior to install the service pack. The minimum disk space requirements for SP2 depend on what method you use to install SP2:
Via Windows Update:
x86-based: 650 MB
x64-based: 900 MB
Downloading SP2 from Microsoft’s website:
x86-based: 1900 to 3000 MB
x64-based: 3300 to 5000 MB
More free Hard Disk space after installing Vista SP 2
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009Many users who have by now installed Vista SP 2 have reported massive increases in disk space following the update. This is done by permanently deleting previous versions of files (RTM and SP1) that are serviced by SP2.
For more information on Vista SP 2 click here:
Avoiding Domain Renewal Problems
Monday, June 15th, 2009When an Internet domain is about to expire, the registrar will usually start to notify the domain owner from 3 months before the actual expiry date. Once the expiry date starts to approach and a renewal has not been affected the notifications will start to be sent out on a more frequent basis. But what happens if the domain is not renewed on the expiry day?
Usually this is what happens:
(i) After a domain expires, most registrars have a grace period of 1 – 45 days, during which time the previous domain owner can reactivate the domain by simply renewing it. The grace period is not the same for all registrars and there is no guaranteed grace period so it is recommended that you check this with your registrar.
(ii) After the grace period is over, the domain is deleted from the registrar database. The domain is held for an additional 30 days (Redemption Period) by the registry. Note that this only applies to .com, .net, and .org domain names and that there is usually a fee of around EUR 120 – 250 (depending on registry, domain and exchange rate) to the registry to recover the domain.
(iii) This is followed by 5 more days (Pending Delete status), after which the domain will be released for anyone to purchase after that time.
Note that for .EU domains the procedure is different:
(i) As soon as the EU domain expires it is put in to a quarantine for 40 days – while in the quarantine it can be restored to the original owner at a higher cost than the standard renewal would have been. For example GoDaddy charges $US 80 plus the normal renewal fee.
(ii) After these 40 days if the EU domain is not restored the domain is released and is available for anybody (within the EU) to register again.
As you can see the procedure can be very different for specific domains so it is recommended that you always check with your registrar the policies which apply for your particular domains. The best policy is to renew the domain in time (unless you really wish to not renew it) because if the domain expires and you still want it, you will either have to pay a hefty additional fee or else wait until it is released again to the public. Although some people might prefer to wait for this to happen (instead of paying the additional fee) this is usually not recommended because apart from the fact that your domain (and associated website and email) will be offline for at least 40 days, once the domain becomes available it might be purchased immediately by someone else!
For more information related to domain registration issues:
(i) Visit this page: http://www.ctrlhosting.com
(ii) Click on FAQ.
Asus planning to launch a games console
Sunday, June 14th, 2009Asus is thinking of launching a games console, although when this might happen is still not known. According to Asus, the major obstacle that they have to tackle is not the technological know-how but how to convince video game developers to come on board and develop games for their console.
For more information on Asus click here: http://www.asus.com
Atom N270 to be phased out in September 2009
Saturday, June 13th, 2009Curretly the Atom N270 is found in the vast majority of netbooks. However, Intel plans to start phasing out this model in September of this year. Following that, Intel will start pushing the new Pineview CPU together with the Tiger Point chipset.
For more information click here:
Intel Atom N270 CPU: http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLB73
Intel Pineview and Tiger Point: http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/reference/Pineview_Moblin_disclosure.pdf
VISTA SP 2 on Windows Update
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009I have just noticed that Microsoft have started to push SP 2 of Windows Vista (which was released on the 26th of May) through Windows Update. Hence now there are three ways how to get SP2:
- As a standalone installer from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=a4dd31d5-f907-4406-9012-a5c3199ea2b3
- As an ISO image from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=9f073285-b6ef-4297-85ce-f4463d06d6cb
- Via Windows Update from http://update.microsoft.com
Which method you choose to get SP 2 depends on:
(i) Internet Connection: If you have a fast connection then go for either the standalone installer (348.3 MB) or for the ISO image (1376.8 MB), but if you have a slow connection get it via Widnows Update.
(ii) Type of deployment. If you will be installing SP 2 on more than one computer go for either the standalone installer (348.3 MB) or for the ISO image (1376.8 MB), but if you plan to install it only on one computer then get it via Windows Update from that computer.
The footprint via Windows Update is much smaller (and hence will download faster) because it only contains those parts which are required by the computer from which SP 2 is being downloaded.