We're letting the readers know about the release of vmcNetFlix Beta v1.0.22, a plugin that will enable you to stream Netflix movies from your Vista Premium Media Center PC to your Xbox 360. Further details on its features are available in the full article.



Download: vmcNetFlix Beta v1.0.22 (x86)
Download: vmcNetFlix Beta v1.0.22 (x64)

You have your TV, you have your PC. Ever wish you could just do away with one of them and just watch your shows on your computer? You may want to take a look at this little gadget: the AVerTV Hybrid Volar MAX, a TV tuner stick that allows you to receive TV signals (and FM radio to boot) on your PC. Details and pricing in the full article.

Here's some big news for the PC scene. We've just learned that a crack has been released for Windows Vista that allows a pirated version of Vista to become activated and fully operational upon use. More on this news after the jump!

Microsoft Corporation chairman Bill Gates bid the Consumer Electronics Show a bittersweet farewell as he opened it for the last time in his legendary career. After showing a cool video of what he'll do after stepping down from Microsoft, Gates talked about the next 10 years in the electronics scene, earmarking touch screen, faster, and more accessible connectivity, and HD technology as the future's pillars. Head on to the full article for more details.

After Sony had its big ad campaign for the PlayStation 3, it's about time that Microsoft followed suit as well. The software and gaming mogul is said to be setting aside a hefty US$ 300 million in advertising most of its wares. More details in the full article.

Advance Micro Devices, Inc. or AMD has just announced that it's expanding its line of TV Wonder products. This time AMD seeks to turn your ordinary PC into a HDTV multimedia system with new Tuner equipment called TV Wonder 650 Combo.

The ATI TV Wonder 650 Combo USB allows users to watch and record off-air Digital TV and HDTV, unencrypted Digital TV (ClearQAM) cable programming, analog TV, and lets you listen to FM broadcasts with two tuners included in the set. It sells for US$ 149 in NewTek stores found in Best Buys across North America. Wonder 600 PCI and TV Wonder 600 PCI Express TV tuners break new ground by offering high-quality ClearQAM at the affordable price of US$ 99.

Windows Media Center bundled with Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate easily recognizes the ATI TV Wonder and hybrid combo TV tuner solutions for ease of use to users of all skill levels.

"AMD’s TV Wonder family makes HDTV multimedia PCs a reality," says NewTek EVP Michael Innes. "The ATI TV Wonder 650 Combo USB and ATI TV Wonder 600 series deliver exceptional performance at a great price for PC owners who want to experience HDTV in their home, office or dorm room. "

The AMD TV Wonder comes along with the Catalyst software set which gives owners a big screen TV interface and advanced electronic programming instructions to give buyers the most out of their money.

Some people in the digital industry seem to believe that downloadable content is the future, but Blu-ray folks beg to differ. Blu-ray Association's European Chairman Frank Simonis believes that "exciting things" are bound to come to high definition discs in the next few months.

Among supporters that push for downloadable content is Microsoft's big man himself, Bill Gates. However, Simonis is not bothered by what MS has to say. "I think a lot of people make the mistake of thinking that Microsoft is the Holy Grail," he told Tech.co.uk.

Simonis continued, saying Gates just wants to spin a story that nobody wants HD. With Microsoft's failure to live up to its word in various occasions, like Windows Vista showing up as early as 2004, Simonis doesn't have much faith in the industry giant's prophecies.

"Microsoft is very bad at making predictions and I think that you can only judge that if the consumer truly has a choice in making use of that application," he added. High definition, as Simonis says, can carry a lot more than standard definition formats which should be attractive to consumers.

If the industry does take a turn to downloadable content, 25 GB movie downloads will simply be too painful to bear. Simonis wishes success for those who plan on getting their stuff online, and suggests that they should get Blu-ray instead.

Sony takes style and functionality one step further with the VAIO LT HD PC/TV. The system provides an all-in-one entertainment system for the living room.

Featuring a 22-inch display, the VAIO LT has a built-in camera and microphone, a Blu-ray drive, Wi-Fi, and a wireless keyboard and mouse so you can hide it when you just want to watch TV. It also has the PS3's new TiVo-like function, able to record programs on cable. The system runs on Windows Vista Ultimate and switches easily from its TV and PC modes with the press of a button.

The whole system will be available for US$ 2,900. Minus the Blu-ray drive, it'll go for US$ 1,900 and will be available this October. Now if only they could put in a PS3 mode as well...

 

Who doesn't love Nintendo's Super Famicom? If you've been a gamer since the 90s, chances are the first console you loved to the bones was the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, most commonly known as SNES. In the east, especially in Japan where they want their words short, Ninty's 16-bit console placed "family" and "computer" together to create the Super Famicom.

The first Famicom/NES dominated the 80s and introduced Mario, but more classic epic games only appeared past 8-bit. Among millions of Nintendo fans, someone loved the SNES so much that the person made Windows Vista run on the old machine

Before you get into any conclusions, it isn't very likely that the SNES can run the latest OS even at its lowest settings. We don't know the exact specs of that system, but we can say for sure that someone ingenious made it. Then again, since it was found in Akihabara, we wouldn't really be surprised if the thing could actually transform.

Security is a major issue, even for Microsoft's established programs. Although Microsoft releases one patch after another, the hackers still get their way around. Just this Tuesday, the biggest software company released four patches to relieve some troubled customers.

Windows Vista, which MS boasted to be the most secure, gained critical updates from a couple of these patches. Other Windows that get attacked when users visit websites with malicious code or open e-mail with similar content using Outlook Express or Windows Mail also got something to fix holes from three of these patches.

Another patch counters a specific program that allow hackers to gain remote access, while one more also fixed some problems on the Visio program. Seven other non-security, high-priority updates were released to improve service such an update tool that takes away dangerous software from PCs.

It's good that Microsoft addressed the problem of hackers quickly, even breaking their monthly-update ritual, but Vista is supposed to be secure in the first place. Looks like the cat and mouse game won't end anytime soon.