Android 2.3 ‘next major release,’ says anonymous Google engineer

A support thread on a corporate WiFi login issues leading to a somewhat bombastic news for the Android community, all thanks to the answer of an anonymous Google engineer. That’s how simple this news leaked. When the engineer meant that that particular issue will be patched in the “next major release” of Android, he actually meant the next specific version 2.3 of Android.

There’s no name for it though, but since frozen yogurt is used, maybe Google will name it “ice kacang”? Probably not, as Éclair was the name for both 2.0 and 2.1, so we should be seeing a repeat in this practise of ‘a name for two minor versions’. Android 2.3 will still be a major release emphasized on smartphones with lots of new features and lots of patches, while Gingerbread (3.0) will be the new Android with major facelift and more attentions to slate products.

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Speedlink Cue is your mighty mouse for your Windows 7

If you like Apple’s Magic Mouse for its fun gesture experience, and yet don’t want to buy a Mac cause you’ve been using a windows ever since you’re born, you’d kill Steve Jobs because he didn’t gave the Magic Mouse a driver for Windows system. But now, you can look elsewhere.

More specifically, over here at Speedlink. Their latest Cue mouse seemed to be your best (or only) choice of a multitouch gesture mouse for Windows system. The wireless 1000 dpi optical mouse is naturally PC-compatible, with software to allow you to configure your own gestures, and it has a somewhat flatter and more extensive touch surface than the Magic Mouse, which might make gestures a bit more doable. Basically, it’s somewhere in between the Magic Mouse and the Magic Trackpad, minus the hyperbole, and plus clear demarcation of right and left click. It’ll retail for €40 when it ships in November (about $56 USD).

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Windows 8 about two years away, according to Microsoft Netherlands

Well, this is according to Microsoft Netherlands, and also an allegedly leaked product roadmap. Buried at the bottom of a press release celebrating the first birthday of Windows 7, you’ll find the above Dutch phrase, which Google Translate miserably translated (with lots of grammar error it seemed) as “Furthermore, Microsoft is of course the next version of Windows. But it will take about two years before “Windows 8″ on the market.” But looking at Microsoft who likes to delay their products (oh hi Vista), I’ll take this with a pint of salt.

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That’s the total number of manly hours spent on Facebook games, monthly

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No wonder there’s so many people carrying Chi Hua Hua around when going out

Lately there have been many people that I know keeping exotic dogs as pets. Somehow the dogs’ life seemed better than mine at times. Now I’ve got an answer. The US security gun, or war command center, Pentagon, spends $19 billion only to discover that the best bomb-detector is the ‘man’s best friend’. Yes, all those drones with super high-tech metal detectors or chemical sniffers, and super x-ray lens can all just go down the drain.

Despite being equipped with a slew of bomb-finding gadgets that cost billions, the American military only manage to locate about 50 percent of the improvised explosives planted in Afghanistan and Iraq. But that number jumps significantly to 80 percent when U.S. and Afghan patrols bring along their pet dogs for a sniff-heavy walk.

“Dogs are the best detectors,” Lieutenant General Michael Oates, the commander of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, told a conference yesterday, National Defense reports. That’s not the greatest admission for a well-funded organization – nearly $19 billion since 2004, according to a congressional committee – tasked with solving one of the military’s wickedest problems. And oh, the little doggy at the top is supposed to be a very happy Pomeranian with a nicely done hair treatment.

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240 million Windows 7 licenses sold in a year, happy birthday Windows 7!

Today marks the one-year anniversary of Microsoft’s Windows 7, and what’s more to celebrate this grand birthday than with a big number celebration tagging along? Yes, in this one year since the release of Windows 7, Microsoft has sold 240 million licenses of it.

Brandon LeBlanc, a Microsoft spokesman, calls it “the fastest selling operating system in history” in a blog post.

“Six months after launch, 100 percent (over 18,000) of our OEM partners were selling Windows 7 PCs versus 70 percent for Windows Vista PCs at a comparable time period,” LeBlanc wrote.

Earlier this month, Microsoft brought back the Windows 7 Family Pack, which provides upgrade licenses to Windows 7 Home Premium for up to three devices for $149.99. It is available now in the U.S.; after Oct. 22, the family pack offering will expand to Canada, the U.K., Germany, France, Australia and other international markets.

Several Microsoft employees posted their seven favourite features about Windows 7 on the company’s blog. To commemorate the anniversary, LeBlanc asked people to do the same in the comments section for a chance to win a full copy of Windows 7 Ultimate (and some Microsoft stickers). You have until 8am Pacific on Oct. 27 to submit your thoughts.

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Nintendo Wii Remote Plus gets real, only $40, and is bloody red!

Yes, the Wii Remote Plus is a simple bundle that adds that MotionPlus into your typical Wiimote, but they’re doing it fair as it’s only priced at $39.99. You surely won’t miss it, as it’s packed in a super bright crimson red package. Might be the influence of that New Super Mario Bros included in the bundle. Regardless, that’ll be $199, and that new, 25th Anniversary red DSi XL bundle Nintendo announced last month is official too, costing $179. All three launch in just a couple weeks, on November 7, so get ready to ditch those dongles.

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