Chess genius Bobby Fischer dies in Iceland | Top News | Reuters.com

R.I.P Bobby Fischer... Check-mate from the Big Chess Master in the Sky.

Chess genius Bobby Fischer dies in Iceland | Top News | Reuters.com

-ZB

News from The Associated Press

Lots of M&A today... market slowdown is allowing for some consolidation...

The Associated Press: Oracle to Buy BEA Systems for $7.85 Billion

-ZB

Sun to fork out $1 billion for open-source firm MySQL | Tech news blog - CNET News.com

Lots of M&A today... market slowdown is allowing for some consolidation...

Sun to fork out $1 billion for open-source firm MySQL | Tech news blog - CNET News.com

-ZB

Poll: Are you spending $20 on new iPod touch apps? - Engadget

iPhone applications were not shipped with the iPod Touch. This new build released yesterday will give you that IF you pay 20$. I find that disgusting since the iPod Touch (16GB) is the same price as the iPhone without the phone technology!! So why would the iPod Touch user PAY for this??

My device is "jailbroken" and I have ALL of these apps on my 1.1.2 iPod Touch. I'm not updating! Fill out this poll to see if Engadget has some pull with Apple.

Poll: Are you spending $20 on new iPod touch apps? - Engadget

-ZB

Bink.nu | Microsoft to release Windows Vista Plus Pack - Bink.nu

It seems there is a plus pack for Vista on the horizon. Frankly, I would expect Microsoft to provide this for free given the mess they've achieved to create with Vista.

Bink.nu | Microsoft to release Windows Vista Plus Pack - Bink.nu

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Getting Started With Microsoft Windows Home Server -- Home Networking -- InformationWeek

Good overview document on Microsoft's Windows Home Server. I've been using this product for nearly a year (through the betas) -- I must say that it does fill a niche market and I really appreciate having it in my house. You could obviously setup a file server, media server, automate some backup scripts, stand up a VPN server and a Web server (etc...etc..) but then you'd have to manage each service, each script -- it's a hassle and who has time to do this these days? Check this out -- it might help give you back some of that weekend / evening time you miss so much :-)


Getting Started With Microsoft Windows Home Server -- Home Networking -- InformationWeek

-ZB

Microsoft Watch - Business Applications - Enterprises Are Deploying Office 2007 Without Vista

It seems that Microsoft has not build sufficient synergies between Vista and Office 2007... Also, Office 2007 is viewed as superior product to Office 2003 and Vista is seen as adding very little. Conclusion: Enterprises are migrating to Office 2007 and leaving Vista on the shelf.

Microsoft Watch - Business Applications - Enterprises Are Deploying Office 2007 Without Vista

-ZB

Windows Vista, Office 2007 Expelled From British Schools -- Windows Vista -- InformationWeek

Well, the title says it all... it seems the British school system doesn't see a compelling reason to migrate to a newer OS and Office version. They site compatibility concerns and Microsoft's failure to support the Open Document Format which is a recognized international standard.

Windows Vista, Office 2007 Expelled From British Schools -- Windows Vista -- InformationWeek

-ZB

Bloomberg.com: iPhone in Canada?

Another Macworld rumor -- could Apple finally launch the iPhone in Canada? I know a few Cannucks that have an iPhone via Rogers... hopefully they can make it legit soon :-)

Bloomberg.com: iPhone in Canada?

-ZB

35 Common Sense Rules for Investing | Moolanomy

If you're interested in the stock market -- you might want to take a peak at these rules... they are more suggestions than rules but they are common sense. Invest wisely!

35 Common Sense Rules for Investing | Moolanomy

-ZB

KDE 4.0 Screenshots | The Coding Studio Linux & Unix Screenshots | Linux & Unix Distro Screenshots | Screenshots of Linux & Unix

KDE 4 was released on Jan 1th -- reviews will start trickling in any time now... some mixed initial reactions are already out:

Ars
OSNews

Screen shots are here:
KDE 4.0 Screenshots | The Coding Studio Linux & Unix Screenshots | Linux & Unix Distro Screenshots | Screenshots of Linux & Unix

-ZB

Study: Telecommuting makes work worse for non-telecommuters

Interesting study on telecommuting where they look at the people left in the office and the effect of telecommuters on this demographic. The results are interesting....

Study: Telecommuting makes work worse for non-telecommuters

-ZB

DIY Macro Lens Made From Binoculars Video

Save yourself some dough :-) get some cheap binoculars and build your own Macro lens! :-)

DIY Macro Lens Made From Binoculars Video

-ZB

"iPod Tax" smacked down in Canada

It seems that Canada's equivalent to the RIAA has pulled the notion of an "iPod Tax" in Canada. They figured that the way the tax was setup {and it would have been expensive for the user 75+$ more when you buy a large MP3 player {>30GB}} -- it would allow or at least condone P2P file sharing. In other words, if you paid the tax, you could do what ever (non-commercial) you wanted to with the music. I'm sure there will be another battle -- this is not over yet.

"iPod Tax" smacked down in Canada

-ZB

Macworld.Ars: Rumors ad infinitum

Macworld rumors abound! An ultra-light solid-state notebook (Newton anyone?) seems to be the big rumor. We'll see if it pans out... New software update for the iPhone / Touch -- I saw some of the new features in an episode of GeekBrief... mostly eye candy (which I like).

Macworld.Ars: Rumors ad infinitum

-ZB

The Old New Thing : How does the calculator percent key work?

Explaining the mysterious percent calculation in CALC.EXE (and your cheap-o) Staples {That was easy} calculator. I feel mildly enlightened.

The Old New Thing : How does the calculator percent key work?

-ZB