Windows Developer Preview Apps
Here is a quick overview of some of the apps included in the developer build of Windows. Most have pretty good concepts but need a bit more work to make them useful. Overall, it gives you an idea of how the OS works and the power of the system.
More pictures will come soon as I discover new features
Windows 8 Developer Preview Pictures
So the new developer build of Windows looks pretty cool. It is pretty similar to what you've been reading in the news lately. There are a few bugs for example, after leaving it on for a while, the screen goes black and the computer freezes. It also sometimes randomly crashes while in any app so it isn't something you want to use permanently. Overall, its a pretty good idea but needs a few improvements. There are a few preinstalled apps which I still have to look at and I'll make another post with more information on that stuff. For now, enjoy the slideshow!
UPDATE: Another small flaw is how difficult it is to access the shutdown button. It is hidden away in the most difficult to find spot. It probably should be located somewhere on the home screen
UPDATE: Here is the download link if you want to install it yourself. I used virtualbox to install it but beware that it will probably run a lot slower than what it should
SSDs: Should you or Shouldn’t you?
With more and more manufacturers updating their products to include SSDs you might be wondering if it is time to make the move.
SSD stands for solid state disk. It is essentially the same as a hard drive except instead of using magnetic storage and moving parts, it uses flash memory which has no moving parts. Less moving parts means less mechanical components to fail as well as significantly faster read and write speeds. This makes SSDs highly shock proof since there is nothing mechanical to break inside. Although SSDs have been out for quite a while, for the most part they have been eye-wateringly expensive and, depending on how you look at it, they still can be. The reason for the high price is that flash memory is quite expensive but is slowly becoming cheaper. This is why RAM is coming in large quantities on computers now. 5 years ago it would have cost a lot of money to have 12GB of RAM, today it is considerably less and fast becoming the norm. As time goes on, capacities such as 128GB and 256GB will come down in price which should allow SSDs to replace the hard drive.
Review: Blackberry OS 6 on Bold 9700
Pros
- Feels faster than OS 5
- Better UI
- Social Feeds is awesome
- Improved Camera application
- Less Loading Times
- New Browser
Cons
- The new home screen works better on a touch screen
- Uses too much application memory
Review
After hearing that the new OS for Blackberry was out, I really wanted to try it out but unfortunately it hadn't come out on the Bold 9700. After a few months wait, a carrier in the US released it for their customers and I found a way to download and install the new OS regardless of what carrier you have. This is especially useful for those in Australia where OS 6 will probably never be released to the Bold 9700. Continue reading after the break.
Build A Computer for Under A$600
Ever wanted to try and build your own computer or you just needed a new computer but couldn't afford one. Well, here are the specs for a well rounded system which has decent speed, the latest processor and is perfect for normal everyday use. With Intel HD graphics you can do a bit of video and photo editing but no games at this price. Of course, the motherboard is compatible with a video card so if you want to add a video card on later, it is possible. So not only is this system cheap, it is flexible and pretty powerful. All for under A$600.
All of the parts I have chosen are good quality and like I stated in the previous post, I have gone with a reputable case manufacturer. The other components are made by trusted brands. One potential downside is that to get it this cheap, I have had to use Linux instead of Windows. It is pretty good if you give it a go and it is free but some people absolutely must have Windows in which case the whole computer will cost another $150-250 extra depending on the version.
So if you are on a tight budget but are looking for a computer which will last you 2-3 years (depending on how much you hate having outdated components) and has a bit of flexibility for future upgrades, then consider a build like this.
Depending on the store you buy the parts from, you can also bargain and get it for even less. Try StaticIce to see if you are getting the best deal on your parts.
| Motherboard: Intel BOXDH55PJ H55 lGA1156 | $ 89.00 |
| Case/PSU: Thermaltake Soprano RS 201 with 430W PSU | $ 69.00 |
| CPU: Intel Core i3-550 3.2GHz using integrated graphics | $ 139.00 |
| RAM: Kingston 4GB (2x2GB) kit DDR3 1333MHz | $ 47.00 |
| HDD: Seagate 3.5" SATA 500GB 7200rpm | $ 39.00 |
| Optical: LG DVD Burner SATA | $ 22.00 |
| OS: Ubuntu 10.10 | $ - |
| Keyboard and mouse: Logitech MK120 Desktop | $ 18.00 |
| Monitor: LG 20.1" E2040T-PN LED 5ms DVI Slim Monitor | $ 136.00 |
| TOTAL | $ 559.00 |
| Motherboard: Intel BOXDH55PJ H55 lGA1156 | $ 89.00 |
| Case/PSU: Thermaltake Soprano RS 201 with 430W PSU | $ 69.00 |
| CPU: Intel Core i3-550 3.2GHz using integrated graphics | $ 139.00 |
| RAM: Kingston 4GB (2x2GB) kit DDR3 1333MHz | $ 47.00 |
| HDD: Seagate 3.5" SATA 500GB 7200rpm | $ 39.00 |
| Optical: LG DVD Burner SATA | $ 22.00 |
| OS: Ubuntu 10.10 | $ - |
| Keyboard and mouse: Logitech MK120 Desktop | $ 18.00 |
| Monitor: LG 20.1" E2040T-PN LED 5ms DVI Slim Monitor | $ 136.00 |
| TOTAL | $ 559.00 |
Welcome to Build Your Own Computer Blog
You may be wondering why I have done the name change. Well, as most of you would have noticed, the URL of this blog is www.buildyourown-computer.com/blog . This is because my website also shares the same domain name as this blog. The original plan was to have the website and blog integrated into one. Well, the fact that there were no links from my blog to my website and most people who visited my blog had no idea about my website and vice versa, I decided to integrate everything into one. This blog is now part of the Build Your Own Computer Website and as you will notice, the navigation bar at the top has changed to be exactly the same as my websites. The blogs topic will still be exactly the same so nothing has changed apart from the name.
Sony’s Tokyo Event: New PSP, Playstation Suite for Android
Sony is currently holding an event in Tokyo which, if rumors hold true, could be the unveiling of the new PSP 2.
You can follow the event live here
Sony has announced Playstation Suite which allows you to play Playstation games through a PSP emulator and access Playstation content on Android devices. It is supposed to be available by the end of this year.
A new PSP repalcement has been announced with lots of social features. It has two analog sticks and a high resolution touch screen. (Photo from engadget)
The PSP features a 5 inch OLED screen with 960x544 resolution (About 4x the current PSP resolution). It has both 3G and WiFi and uses a new type of game media which looks kind of like a DS cartridge. (photo from engadget)