Amazon joins cloud-based syncing services with Cloud Drive

Amazon subtly joins the cloud-based syncing services bandwagon along with Dropbox, Google Drive and Microsoft's SkyDrive. Amazon's Cloud Drive now offers desktop file syncing capabilities similar to Dropbox.

Latest Windows Blue build 9364 Leaked

If you're one of the many users eager to try first-hand the latest and next version of Microsoft OS, you might want to download the unreleased Windows Blue OS. Its latest build 9364 is made available thru file sharing sites earlier today.

Windows 7 Rolling Out on August 6

Windows 7 will officially get RTM status some time this month, but as to when we'd be able to get our hands on it, turns out to be the big question. According to the official Windows blog, OEMs will get it approximately two days after Windows 7 goes RTM, and beta testers who are already subscribed to TechNet can download RTM immediately after that happens for free. Independent software and hardware vendors can download it via Microsoft Connect or MSDN on August 6th. Same goes for MSDN-subscribed developers and IT Professionals with a TechNet account, but only the English language version. Microsoft Partner Program Gold / Certified members will get it August 16th via Microsoft Partner Network portal on the 16th, and Action Pack Subscribers on August 23rd. All other language versions for those groups will have to wait until October 1st.



And for most of us ordinary consumers who don't fall in any of those categories, Windows 7 will be in retail stores and shipping on new PCs starting October 22nd. Microsoft is also reminding us that Release Candidate doesn't start giving the annoying reboots until March 1st, 2010, with full expiration happening June 1st -- plenty of time to avoid picking up a copy if you didn't get a chance to pre-order at the much more reasonable discount price.

Apple iPhone SDK 3.1 and iPhone OS 3.1 beta 2 Officially Released to Developers

A lot of things are still hazy about what's new in this batch of Apple iPhone beta releases, but we thought that you would like to be kept in the loop. Registered Apple developers should cancel everything and prepare for another series of sleepless nights as Apple has just posted iPhone SDK 3.1 beta 2 and iPhone OS 3.1 beta 2 (Build 7C106c) to the iPhone Dev Center.

iPhone SDK 3.1 beta 2 and iPhone OS 3.1 beta 2 are now available on the iPhone Dev Center. These versions are for development and testing only and should be installed on devices dedicated to iPhone OS 3.1 beta software development. Please read the iPhone OS beta Pre-Install Advisory and the iPhone SDK 3.1 beta 2 release notes before downloading and installing.

No word yet on what’s changed, although newer is always better, right? We will try to update you on this as more new features are discovered. If you downloaded this new update too, feel free to report any changes you find in the comments.

Windows 7 Build 7600 Rumored RTM Via Torrent

Once again, in drooling anticipation, Windows 7 build 7600 made its way to the file sharing service pipes. Quite interesting here is the major jump in build revisions from the current 72xx to 7600 build. It might be suggesting, but does not guarantee, that 7.7600.16384.090710-1945 is the Release To Manufacturing (RTM) build rumored for a July 13th release (yes today) -- the same Windows 7 build that will be handed out by Microsoft to its partners in the Microsoft's October 22nd consumer launch.



Please note that 7600.16384 may not be the final build of Windows 7 RTM and that any subset of build 7600 (7600.16385, 16386, etc...) can be RTM. And if it is the RTM build then we'd expect to hear some kind of announcement with the kickoff of Microsoft's Worldwide Partner conference in New Orleans later today. Let's see.

Google's Chrome OS, Coming to Netbooks Next Year

I always knew this one is coming. But still, it's hard to believe it's actually here. After hearing all the hums of a Google OS which seems like ages now, the company's now gone official with its plans. According to the official developer blog, it'll be an open source, lightweight platform that can "power computers ranging from small netbooks to full-size desktop systems," and will be capable of running on x86 (including Intel Atom) and ARM chips. Addressing potential overlap with Android-based netbooks, the official line is that "choice will drive innovation for the benefit of everyone, including Google" -- hmmm... sounds a little wild, but hey, it's still all Google. A large portion of its fresh out of beta Google Apps suite already supports an offline mode, so it looks like the groundworks has been laid out. The company says it's currently working with a number of OEM manufacturers and that it'll initially appear on a number of netbooks coming to market sometime in the second half of 2010.



Source: Google Official Blog

Nokia N97 firmware update (11.0.021) now available

As speculated, the latest firmware release on Nokia's flagship handset N97 is now available. In such little time has gone by and so much has been written about the Nokia N97. Both good and bad. But looks like this new firmware update 11.0.021 will have some solid bug fixes and a few new additions in place on your shiny new Nokia N97. The firmware should be available in most regions and if you can’t get it OTA, fire up Nokia Software Updater and give it a go. As for what you can expect from this release, changelog for the new N97 firmware update 11.0.021 are listed below:

* USB detection error fix
* PC does not detect N97 or USB charging connection not detected.
* Widget
* Home screen online/offline widget crash fix
* Fix for “Alphabetical and Number input are mixed in facebook until end key is pressed.
* Widget UI improvement - New facebook widget fixes a problem of Home Screen background visible on soft-key area.
* Browser fixes to improve widgets stability.
* MfE related fixes
* Partial fix for Messaging/calendar entry lost.
* Mail for exchange calendar entry synchronization error fix.
* UI transition error fixes (Portrait <-> landscape transition, there is a home screen corruption.)
* UI transition (Slowness and bad effects)
* Slow Touch UI response
* Picture of the device lock appears half of the screen when transitioning the UI sometimes
* Landscape: in some cases the soft buttons on touch (right hand) show the Home Screen in background (install maps.google.com)
* Photos thumbnail performance and stability improvements
* Device performance deteriorates when lots of content in the device - especially photos
* Partial fix no display backlight illumination when unlocking lock-key - CAP Genius reported already
* New version of Accueweather to improve the “Connection error” situation
* Device reset when browsing with high speed packet access (for Malaysia)
* “Browser soft key UI doesn’t work after putting Chinese character with qwerty keyboard”
* Java fixes (TCK, Pre-install app disappearing, *#7370#*)
* Operator fixes (CMCC, Hutchson and Telefonica, Vodafone)
* Ovi store client now embedded in the core image




The N96 was updated today as well to 30.033.